We continue with the mourning jewelry exhibit. Today's samples are of hair work designs from the Victorian era. Yes, hair! Usually plaited and woven into intricate designs. Serpents (eternal life) and anchors (hope) were popular themes. Today's modern designs don't have the symbolism and not many bracelet selections are available. Regardless, the urn jewelry is very popular with our families. Have a lovely weekend! Today's tip for better living: If you HAVE hair....consider donating … [Read more...] about Locks of Love
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Family Jewels
Greetings! While doing research for an article on cremation urn jewelry, we felt the need to share early examples of the art form. So we are having an exhibit in the garden this week. Early memento mori featured skulls and crossbones and we'll display those later this week. Serpents symbolize eternal life and are often featured in the Victorian designs. Today's examples will feature brooches and pendents made from jet and ebony originating from the Civil War period. Soldiers going off … [Read more...] about Family Jewels
It’s Fun to Barbecue
Greetings! Three Beautiful Things: The fragrance of Lilacs Final Four basketball Firing up the grill Regarding the grill: We collect vintage barbecue cookbooks and while perusing an old favorite from the sixties, on the inside cover, in tiny print was a mention that the cookbook was made possible by Falstaff, Anheuser Busch, and several meat councils. Not one logo anywhere. Not one product placement in the pictures and illustrations. Here's an example of blatant disregard for … [Read more...] about It’s Fun to Barbecue
Winter Whiteout
Greetings and Happy Valentine's Day! Here's a couple of items we've learned this week: Naps can save your life. When you look into someone's eyes (the pupils) you can see their brain. Red, truly is a power color, symbolizing good, evil, and wealth. In China, brides wear red because white is the color of death and mourning. Red is the color of the Catholic church. Satan is known to appear in red. The Spanish Empire had the monopoly on the color red, creating the dye from the a small … [Read more...] about Winter Whiteout
Memento Mori
Greetings! Yesterday's post regarding death masks and infant mortality was a disturbing topic, but it triggered a memory about my late grandfather's habit of photographing the corpse at the funeral, he did it with all of our family members and I remember thinking it was odd. My mother may have returned the favor at his funeral but I don't recall. Anyway, I wanted to know, where did this bizarre custom come from? I didn't spend a lot of time on the research, but it looks like the novelty … [Read more...] about Memento Mori