Artiste Extraordinaire
When I found this handkerchief with its soft gray border showcasing Van Gogh’s painting of a gypsy caravan, I knew exactly what I had to do – gift it to my artist friend Elizabeth Barlow. . . Van Gogh invites the viewer to join this vibrant and inviting scene of sun washed travelers with their gaily painted carts. So, too, Elizabeth’s paintings draw you in; they tempt you to pause and enjoy. Her art tells a story, beckoning you to discover the unspoken tale contained in the image. Let’s take a look. This painting is titled Happy Birthday, and you know from the sheen of the satin the present...
Read MoreApril Showers
I love the rain. I want the feeling of it on my face. Katherine Mansfield The first umbrellas were actually fashioned for protection from the sun. The Latin word umbra means “shade” and historians claim the idea for the umbrella was inspired by the canopy of a tree, which offered relief from the sizzling heat. Originally, umbrellas were probably fashioned from tree branches covered with cloth. Although many attribute the umbrella’s origin to China in the 11th century B.C., there is evidence of umbrellas being used during the same time period in India. I guess I’m putting the cart before...
Read MoreEaster Rabbits
“April hath put a spirit of youth in everything.” William Shakespeare Much like the colorful eggs showcased in Easter Eggs, the rabbit too, symbolizes fertility and renewal. Hares and rabbits were deemed prolific procreators, thus an apt representation of rebirth, spring and the Easter season. Some believe the custom of the Easter Rabbit originated in Germany, where mention is found in literature as far back as the 1500s. German settlers, arriving in Pennsylvania in the 1700’s, brought with them their tradition of an egg-laying hare called “Osterhase” or “Oschter Haws.” Children would line...
Read MoreEaster
Happy Easter As with many long standing traditions or holidays, many groups claim Easter for their own. Early beliefs espouse Easter to be derived from the word Eostre, the Greek goddess of Spring. Legend has it Eostre returned each year after the long cold winter to bring light and warmth to the earth. Grand festivals were held to herald her return. Frankly, since she always returned at the vernal Equinox (March 21st) it was a pretty safe bet winter was winding down. Still, any excuse to celebrate, I suppose, and revelers “partied hearty” in the name of rebirth, rejuvenation, and the onset...
Read MoreNine Brave Men
Waxing nostalgic for my Irish heritage, I decided to share a great story. This version is written by Roy H. Williams, and is excerpted from his book The Wizard of Ads “It’s 1848. Nine Irishmen have been captured, tried, and convicted of treason against Her Majesty, the Queen. They are sentenced to death. The men are Charles Duffy, John Mitchell, Morris Lyene, Pat Donahue, Thomas McGee, Richard O’Gorman, Thomas Meagher, Michael Ireland and Terrence McManus. As the judge is about to pronounce their sentence, he asks if there is anything they would like to say. Meagher steps forward and...
Read MoreLimerick Lace
May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face; the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand. Gaelic blessing The following wedding handkerchiefs of Limerick lace are beautifully executed and contain symbols associated with Ireland, including the harp and the shamrock. For those wondering about the meaning of the symbols, the shamrock was discussed in the previous blog, but since Irishmen are known to repeat themselves, particularly if the yarn is a good one, here goes:...
Read MoreShamrocks and St. Patrick’s Day
Luck o’ the Irish Faith and Begorrah, it seems anyone with a bit o’ blarney in him is eager to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day – and doesn’t that include most of us? It’s doubtful you’ll find an Irishman on March 17th who doesn’t have a lucky shamrock tucked in his lapel. Why all the fuss about the lowly shamrock? This simple three-leafed clover is known as a symbol of Ireland. The name is derived from the Irish word seamróg, which means “little clover.” Legend has it that St. Patrick used the clover to illustrate the Christian doctrine of the Trinity – Father, Son and Holy...
Read MoreSweaters for Penguins?
BBBBBRRRRRRRRR…… “March comes in like a lion but goes out like a lamb” declared English playwright John Fletcher (1624-1647) in his play A Wife for A Month, and indeed, his observation still holds true centuries later. When my nephew and his family transferred from Minnesota to Kansas City last year, they garnered plenty of guffaws when their snow blower came off the moving van in 100 degree heat. Until last week, that is, when perhaps a neighbor or two lined up to borrow it, or simply sigh in surrender as they tossed endless shovels full of God’s bounty. Here my niece gingerly...
Read MoreOur Gang – Friends Forever
“Wherever you are, it’s your friends who make your world.” William James I love this hankie featuring Farina, Mary, Joe and Mickey (Freckles), all characters from the original Our Gang Comedies. Perhaps it should have been included in the Hollywood blogs, as heaven knows, it’s a classic, dating all the way back to a time before movies were “talkies.” It seemed to me, however, to fit another category or two even better – Wabi Sabi and Friendship, so I’m giving it ‘face time’ separate and apart from the hoopla of Hollywood for you to savor and enjoy. It’s not what we...
Read MoreHollywood Part II
“It’s funny how the colors of the real world only seem really real when you watch them on a screen.” Anthony Burgess The masters of light and shadow, shade and nuance, are most assuredly cinematographers. When immersed in film noir, or caught up in a masterpiece by Hitchcock, you may find yourself lightheaded when you realize you’ve stopped breathing. Black and white creates a perfect backdrop for terror, as forms become indistinguishable in the shadows. With the introduction of color, flesh takes on life, romance exudes heat, and comedy shimmers like a shower of confetti....
Read MoreHooray for Hollywood
“People who LIKE movies have a favorite. People who LOVE movies couldn’t possibly choose.” Nicole Yatsonsky The Oscars are upon us once again, with all the glitz, glamour and star studded splendor that is Hollywood. Gorgeous gowns and glittering gems adorn both sophisticated stars and wistful wannabes as they saunter and sashay along the red carpet into the Dolby Theatre. No big deal, you say? Hmmmmm. Where else can you find an audience of 40 million viewers? Regardless of the good, the bad, and all that goes with “box office” and “bottom line,” it’s still the place where dreams...
Read MoreValentine’s Day
One word frees us of all the weight and pain of life: That word is love. Sophocles Searching for just the right Valentine can be like searching for the perfect white shirt, neighborhood that feels like home, or special pet to love. Each offers something special and unique, but only one will speak to your heart. Valentines come in every shape, size and color, with far too many styles to showcase in a single blog. I’ve chosen a small sampling to illustrate the variety of ways hankies can convey “I love you.” Certainly there’s the ubiquitous Key to My Heart message. Sometimes the message is...
Read MoreSecret Love
. These “Secret Valentines” are not only great fun, they’re the perfect images to exemplify Valentine’s Day. Why? Because St.Valentine represents forbidden love. Stories about St. Valentine abound, but the one I favor is the legend about a priest name Valentinus or Valentine who lived during the third century in Rome. The reigning emperor at that time, Claudius II, decided that single men would make better soldiers than those who had wives, thus soldiers were forbidden to marry. The soldiers sought aid from Valentine, who married couples in secret, in violation of the law. When his...
Read MoreAddendum to Roses and Romance
Although Valentine’s Day is still a few weeks away, I’m hopping on cupid’s bandwagon because in today’s culture of texting and tweeting, some guys apparently need a wake-up call when it comes to romance. A recent lead story in the New York Times decried The End of Courtship, and the details were truly disheartening. (We touched on this trend in Flirting.) Apparently Millennial girls are drowning in a tsunami of boys with bad manners. The story opens with a social media manager in Philly, who thought she had a date for Friday night. The guy finally texted her at 10:30 p.m., with this...
Read MoreRoses and Romance
When I spied this luscious bouquet, it stopped me in my tracks. I couldn’t help but wonder if the gentleman who bestowed this on his sweetheart longed to give her live roses, but this hankie was all he could afford. That speculation immediately brought to mind the terrific anecdote about how actress Helen Hayes first met her husband. (Hayes is one of the select few to have attained EGOT status – Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony.) Attending a swanky soiree one evening, bored to tears, Hayes was contemplating how to gracefully exit, when she was suddenly approached by the man who would...
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