Blessings

 

I will be lighting a very special candle this evening, Fen Bride, made by the lovely Imogen Ashwin. You can find her musings at Braken & Wrack. Her posts are naturally magical.

Bright blessings to all of my wonderful blogging chums, I hope you all have a special All Hallows Eve.

A Little More From Marie A.

 A few more titbits from the V&A exhibition. Towards the end of the displays are some of the 'modern' interpretations of early French court fashions that have appeared in various films over the years. Some especially frothy and candy coloured from the 2007 Marie Antoinette film starring Kirsten Dunst, directed by Sofia Coppola.

This jewellery casket however is the real deal. A wedding gift to Marie Antoinette when she first arrived in France in 1770. This of course set a trend for small jewellery chests decorated with Sevres floral porcelain plaques, she was nothing if not a major trend setter. Jewels in the top compartment and a delicious drawer beneath that extends into a green velvet writing surface that can be used as a desk.

The exhibition closes 22nd March 2026.

Ooh La La Marie Antoinette at The V&A

 

The V&A 'Marie Antoinette Style' exhibition is literally mouth watering. I went along with my chum Vanessa and we walked around the sumptuous rooms grinning from ear to ear. It is such a confection and a delight in this time of weariness and worldly turmoil. 

I know she came to an awful sticky end and the exhibition doesn't shy away from that, but that fact doesn't determine the whole experience. 

This very clever picture above, which greets you as you enter the first room, was actually a moving image of her smiling and looking around, I did film it for you but my naughty computer will not load the film. Quite a lot of people entering the exhibition didn't even notice this clever portrait of her. I loved it.

But not as much as this chair.

I suspect most of my blogging chums know I have 'a thing' about the 18th century and the costumes from that era charm me and maybe even make me a bit giddy, how could they not?

The small fluffy white circles on this extraordinary dress panel are swan's down.

The delicate black ribboned collar was worn by Marie Antoinette as were the dazzling diamonds shown above. I have subsequently watched a short V&A film about these diamonds . They appear to be the catalyst for the downfall of Louis XV1 and Marie Antoinette.

I'll post another day with some more images from the exhibition, but I'll leave you now with a picture of a chair I spotted today in a local charity shop. Sadly already sold.

I'm Still Here

I have been absent of late in Blog World. My New(ish) PC had to go off to hospital for repair. It is back with me now and I have quite a few posts to get on with, which I hope you will enjoy. 

I'm also busily catching up with house and gardening duties, as I have been venturing forth and we have two house viewings next week, so needs must.

I'll get my blog head on in the next few days, but I will leave you with a picture of a most delightful teenager who I shared a bed with recently, ha ha. 

His name is Stanley, he is 18 years and I think he has the look of Leslie Phillips.

Ding dong.

Dame Patricia Routledge One of My Favourites Has Passed

 

I adore(d) Patricia Routledge, such a unique acting style and character. I've loved her in everything I've ever seen her in. She had reached a grand old age, 96, would that we all live as long with grace, vigour and enormous amounts of humour.

She once spoke of her future demise and said "I'd like to hear a champagne cork popping, an orchestra tuning up and the sound of my mother laughing".

She was I think at her funniest as 'Kitty' on the Victoria Wood show, back in the day. Her delivery of Victoria Wood's script still makes me laugh out loud whenever I watch it.

The London and UK theatres plan to dim the theatre lights for two minutes on October 7th at 7pm, as a mark of respect and love for her. Very fitting.

Making Money S-T-R-E-T-C-H

 Hello chums. The weather is on the turn or has it turned already? Anyhoo Samhain will be upon us before we know it.

With this colour palette in mind I 'purchased' some seasonal nail varnishes. I like having my nails done at the salon best, because they last for weeks and dry immediately after they are done,  but they are expensive and after a while make my nails very peculiar indeed.

This brand had a three for two offer so all three were valued at just under £8.00. I had around £8.00 worth of beauty points on my Boots the chemist loyalty card, so they cost me nowt!

I find that if I purchase my regular No7 lotions and potions on-line when there are amazing deals on, I always get one pot of cream free and they entice me with extra points, which equate to money back.

By looking on-line a bit before I actually run out, I can normally wait a bit for a really good offer.

Thrifty savings warm the cockles of my heart. For the rest of me the heating has to go on. Keep warm my friends.

Jane Austen & Enchanting Well Dressing

 

The Mr and I took ourselves off to a local village a few weeks ago to take a look at their well dressing offerings. Well dressings have a history deeply rooted in the tradition of honouring water sources and their natural world. Originally a pagan ritual and in my opinion it still is a pagan offering to the water gods. Large scale pictures entirely made of nature's bounty, what's not to like? 

I think the Jane Austen  well dressing is the best I have ever seen, absolutely wonderful in it's detail.

These particular dressings were in the village of Eyam, which is known nationally as a plague village. It is a well known story of the villagers cutting themselves off from contact with other folk during the worst of the bubonic plague, to halt the spread of the terrible disease. Very noble people. The village is considered almost as a 'museum' village with lots of interesting stories about the individuals who lived there at the time. It's no wonder they keep the well dressing tradition going.