The Art of Astrology
The soul of the newly born baby is marked for life by the pattern of the stars at the moment it comes into the world, unconsciously remembers it, and remains sensitive to the return of configurations of a similar kind.” Johannes Kepler, Harmonies of The World Whether you’re astronomer Johannes Kepler, physicist Stephen Hawking, or just a stargazer admiring the heavens on a warm summer evening, the vast velvet vault overhead twinkling with constellations has captured man’s imagination for centuries. Whether a fiery gold harvest moon or icy silver sisters of the Pleiades, the firmament...
Read MoreThe Personalities of Astrology
“We are born at a given moment, in a given place, and like vintage years of wine, we have the qualities of the year and of the season of which we are born. Astrology does not lay claim to anything more.” Carl Gustav Jung The topic of personality is endlessly fascinating, and is thus an extremely popular topic for handkerchiefs. Add the element of astrology, and you have a foolproof conversation starter, regardless of whether you’re pro or con on the topic. A Zodiac hankie allows a woman to flatter a man by elaborating on his positive traits. It’s fascinating to watch a curmudgeon convert to...
Read MoreBirthday Cards
“A good man measures his life not in the number of his years, but in the quality of his friends.” Todd Stocker As we learned in our first birthday blog, a popular custom in years past (and for some of us, still today 🙂 ) has been to tuck a hankie in a card to say Congratulations and Many Happy Returns. A handkerchief card from Millie to her sister Flo in 1935 Other fun gifts to receive were “secret message” handkerchiefs, much like we saw in our Secret Love Valentine handkies. The message is revealed when the handkerchief is folded. Many handkerchiefs were designed to unfold...
Read MoreHappy Birthday
One lovely advantage in gifting a handkerchief – the recipient has a permanent reminder that they’re considered special. Once, when I was addressing an audience about “Leaving A Legacy”, a mother came up to me afterward, and withdrew a letter from her purse. It had obviously been read hundreds of times, as the folds were taped and re-taped multiple times. The letter was from her son, telling her how much he loved her. “I read it almost every day” she told me, her eyes glistening, “more than that, actually, when I’m having a particularly difficult time. I know he is busy, and I...
Read MoreRaymond Peynet – the Eternal Romantic
“Do you know what it’s like to love someone so much that you can’t see yourself without picturing her? Or what it’s like to touch someone, and feel like you’ve come home?” Jodi Picoult, The Pact Raymond Peynet knew, and expressed it exquisitely in his enchanting and often humorous drawings. You’ve seen his work here before in our romantic musings and New Year’s greetings. Delightfully innocent, and utterly charming, Peynet’s images captured the hearts of Parisians and romantics worldwide. (Note: this month we have a very special gift for you, so be sure to read to the...
Read MoreA New Year’s Greeting
I am the New Year. I am an unspoiled page in your book of time. I’m your next chance at the art of living. For many of us the thought of a new year contains the elements of both sunshine and shadow. Most of us hope for new beginnings, but no one wants to encounter the disappointment of unmet resolutions. Certainly it’s wise to take stock, but must we dwell on improving and perfecting yet again? For the moment, let’s just be grateful that we’re here to turn the page, and welcome with open arms whatever adventure lies ahead. Let’s celebrate the gift of twelve months of wonder, surprises,...
Read MoreDon’t Cry Rudolph
Even if a lady rarely received a handkerchief for a gift, come Christmastime, every mother, sister, daughter, aunt, mother-in-law, teacher, tutor, and favorite friend could count on Santa gracing her stocking with a beautiful embroidered hankie, or if she were really lucky, a boxed set of hankies under the tree. A full page ad in The Saturday Evening Post, December 5, 1953, features a wreath of Irish Linen handkerchiefs – embroidered, monogrammed, and more. They made the recipient feel like a lady, feminine and cherished. (An ad on the reverse for the “Magnificent Magnavox high...
Read MoreThe Walls Have Ears WWII WWI
“He who wishes to fight must first count the cost.” Sun Tzu, The Art of War Once in a while a handkerchief is so outstanding, it deserves a solo spotlight, as does this WWII silk crepe beauty. This hankie served her country as diligently as any soldier, doing double duty as both fashion accessory and lookout to alert companions “shhhhhhhh….mums the word.” When a cough, hand gesture, or even eye shift might be too obvious a warning signal, a gal could lay this little number on the table to advise a friend to keep QUIET! The main message resides dead center, with reminders at all...
Read MoreIndependence Day
It’s a star spangled holiday, ripe for celebration. The mood is festive as we conjure images of picnic hampers, deviled eggs and strawberry shortcake; of marching bands, sack races and yes, fireworks! This charming image on aged linen evokes all the innocence of childhood, excitement of the holiday, and anticipation of adventure. Ah fireworks! – vibrant but verboten, tempting but taboo. This duo in simple play clothes and sturdy shoes, remain clean and pressed, per mother’s orders, yet can’t help but experiment with the tantalizing pyrotechnics. We aren’t too worried, however, as...
Read MoreHonoring Mom
“All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.” Abraham Lincoln It’s that time of year when we honor mothers everywhere with flowers, cards, gifts, and homemade tokens resplendent with glue and glitter (which we learned as adults were always mom’s favorite keepsakes). Many a handkerchief can be found embroidered with flowers or the title Mother, but today we focus on the simple and cozy, on the feeling of security and warmth the image of Mother engenders. We honor moms who sat up with you long into the night whether you were suffering from chicken pox or a broken heart. And...
Read MoreEaster Bonnet
“Some hats can only be worn if you’re willing to be jaunty, to set them at an angle and to walk beneath them with a spring in your stride as if you’re only a step away from dancing. They demand a lot of you.” Neil Gaiman, Anansi Boys And who wears a jaunty beret better than the French? For some reason this confetti toss of chapeaus hearkens back to Mary Richards from the Mary Tyler Moore Show. Whether you’re tossing your hat in the ring or straight up in the air like a graduation mortar bard, the message is clear – “Game On. Count Me In. I’m going for it!” “A...
Read MoreValentine Oh Please
“You know you’re in love when you can’t fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.” Dr. Seuss Since handkerchiefs have long been a vehicle for flirting, it’s no surprise to find dozens of hankies adorned with images of amour. From richly embroidered roses to images of turtledoves and throbbing hearts, a hankie is the quintessential fashion accessory when it comes to romance. The variety of images is as vast as the legion of lovers of Catherine the Great. Today our tuning forks are trained on a single note – the reluctant ingénue – as we follow...
Read MoreUnder the Mistletoe
It’s mistletoe season once again, and we find this bashful beau blushing – either from shyness or smug satisfaction at his overwhelming success in the smooching department. My, he has been busy. I’ve been told this is an example of a ‘magic’ disappearing handkerchief. Once laundered, the image purportedly washes away, making the hankie utilitarian for everyday use, but why would you want to wash out all the fun? Now that we’ve entered the season of red & green as well as mistletoe, it appears essential for a girl to always have a lipstick at the ready, as well as a lipstick...
Read MoreVeteran’s Day – WWI WWII
“The soldier is the Army. No army is better than its soldiers. The Soldier is also a citizen. In fact, the highest obligation and privilege of citizenship is that of bearing arms for one’s country.” General George S. Patton Jr. This month we pay tribute to those who serve in the armed forces. Originally called Armistice Day to commemorate the end of WWI, the holiday was renamed Veteran’s Day in 1954 to honor veterans of all U. S. wars. The ubiquitous handkerchief also played a role in wartime. Not so surprising, when you think about it. Soldiers constantly on the move were limited to...
Read MoreLabor Day
“Every job from the heart is, ultimately, of equal value. The nurse injects the syringe; the writer slides the pen; the farmer plows the dirt; the comedian draws the laughter. Monetary income is the perfect deceiver of a man’s true worth.” Criss Jami We saw one interpretation of a woman’s work week in the blog 7th Day Chauvinist, and indeed, for decades Monday was reserved for washing laundry, Tuesday was spent ironing, Saturday was often baking day, and depending on the season, a week or more might be spent boiling, peeling, chopping and canning fruits and vegetables. Children had...
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