Meandering through this wonderous life

pixiewinksfairywhispers: What is the origin of the phrase ‘as...

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 11:14:34 -0700

What is the origin of the phrase ‘as mad as a hatter’?

The earliest documented use of the phrase “mad as a hatter” appears in Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, January-June 1829, So the term is at least one hundred and eighty years old.

It is believed to have come about because hatters in the eighteenth and nineteenth century frequently suffered from mercury poisoning. Mercury is a chemical which used to be used in the production of felt hats. It is extremely toxic and can cause symptoms which appear to be similar to ‘madness’.

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Wed, 12 Jun 2013 11:13:40 -0700

ornamentedbeing: Bunka Gakuen Costume Museum The world of...

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 11:13:14 -0700

ornamentedbeing:

Bunka Gakuen Costume Museum

The world of reality has its limits; the world of imagination is boundless. Jean-Jacques Rousseau

c. 1760-70

My fingers tremble at the thought of how much love went into this waistcoat.

By no means was the 18th century costume I just completed anywhere near this level but I know what love looks when written in thread. There were times when I found myself with a pile of taffeta in my lap weeping as the sun rose, a physical reminder of how fast time was running out. There were moments in the darkness of my flat where I found that even bandages couldn’t help my fingers recover and yet I would press on.

But I also remember that moment when I took a step back and actually looked at my finished work. When I realized that there wasn’t anything left to do, there were no strings to cut, nothing to straighten, no wrinkles to smooth. It was finished, over. I spent three years on a degree working towards this moment and I made it. Again I fell to my knees and in the theatre at University I put my face in my hands and wept because I was able to take my love and immortalize it in fabric for the world to view.

So when I look at this I don’t see a pretty piece of fabric, I see the love of a thousand ages stitched carefully thread by thread. A reminder of life and beauty and joy and heartbreak and happiness and I am enthralled.

My beaded mask, created for The Battle of the Beadsmith 2013....

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 08:00:57 -0700

My beaded mask, created for The Battle of the Beadsmith 2013. This is an original design and completely beaded. It is titled: Metamorphosis: A Venetian Mask.

wasbella102: Sycamore Or as we called them, Helicopters...

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 22:12:08 -0700

wasbella102:

Sycamore

Or as we called them, Helicopters :)

wb102

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Sun, 14 Apr 2013 22:01:10 -0700

abriendo-puertas: By Barbara Van Zanten

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 22:00:23 -0700

abriendo-puertas:

By Barbara Van Zanten

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Sun, 14 Apr 2013 21:55:00 -0700

oraclesofthefortuneteller: Paris, France

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 21:42:52 -0700

oraclesofthefortuneteller:

Paris, France

branwens-craig: This Aspen Forest in Colorado

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 21:41:53 -0700

branwens-craig:

This Aspen Forest in Colorado

queenbee1924: ❤

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 21:37:43 -0700

queenbee1924:

❤

Eva Hollyer (active 1891 - 1898) - Reverie, 1894

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 21:36:13 -0700

Eva Hollyer (active 1891 - 1898) - Reverie, 1894

Court dress, 1881-86 - From the National Historical Museum

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 21:35:25 -0700

Court dress, 1881-86 - From the National Historical Museum

fuckyeahpreraphaelites: An Al-Fresco Toilet (detail) Samuel...

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 21:27:58 -0700

fuckyeahpreraphaelites:

An Al-Fresco Toilet (detail)
Samuel Luke Fildes
1889

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Sun, 14 Apr 2013 21:19:46 -0700

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 21:19:25 -0700

notablegem:

Bless this house sign….(attic.©2013)

enchantedengland: bluepueblo: Isabella’s Window, Carisbrooke...

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 12:17:25 -0800

enchantedengland:

bluepueblo: Isabella’s Window, Carisbrooke Castle, Isle of Wight photo via vmburk

enchantedengland: I am contemplating a visit to the Isle of Wight when I return on 25 April which is in 137 days (not that I am counting I am simply a mathematical genius) and this photo has just about won me over. If you have been here, I would love to hear your opinions and advice!!!

enchantedengland: greatbritanniatravel: Old Town Bookshop....

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 12:16:46 -0800

enchantedengland:

greatbritanniatravel: Old Town Bookshop. Edinburgh, Scotland.

enchantedengland: This is my definition of a scenic shot.

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I have been having a terrible horrible very bad time with my computer, which WILL crash and burn twenty minutes after I get on it. EVERY TIME! I am trying to catch up on my Inbox and I have some extremely wonderful (in my opinion anyway) things to post and it is most frustrating. I will get Liz to sort it out, though, so do not fear- if you have even noticed, ha. She is brilliant with computers no matter what she will tell you.

enchantedengland: This is how they do stairs in Amberley,...

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 12:16:19 -0800

enchantedengland:

This is how they do stairs in Amberley, West Sussex, a tweeful town teaming with tourists and colourful characterful cottages and gaggles of gardens and I do not know why I am alliterating everything sorry.(photo Mark Wordy on flickr)

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Tue, 26 Feb 2013 12:14:35 -0800