A "French-Kissed" Invitation

We have all met or know of people in life who just simply stand out in a crowd. They are the ones with quiet elegance. They exude class and graciousness. They have an innate attitude of charm and mystery. I received an honor and outstretched hand from one such lovely friend this week, Jermaine of French-Kissed.

The first time I set eyes on her blog, I fell in love. I spent an hour there retracing her posts, and lingering over all her breathtaking photos. She is the kind of person that inspires me to come up a little higher, to enjoy my life, and to dream. She will take you with her to far-away places, and then beckon you to join her at her table.

Jermaine has been setting a variety of lovely tablescapes for Thanksgiving, using her wonderful collection of dishes and silver. She decorates with "nature", so feathers, roses, pumpkins and assorted elements find their way to dress her individual place settings. Her table is a reflection of who she is; "distinctively individual"!

I was honored to have my name at her table this week.
What a blessing to be given this invitation.


Please drop by her French-Kissed home and life
and say "Hello".
You will never want to leave!


Thank you, dear Jermaine,
Debra

Vintage Black Friday, Mourning Attire

Vintage Black Friday is here.

What will I do when this party is over?

I have enjoyed it so much.

Thank you Jill, at Gypsy Brocante,

 for hostessing this wonderful opportunity

 to fulfill all my "vintage black" desires.

 

When Queen Victoria of England lost her precious husband Albert, in December of 1861 she went into deep mourning. She took the custom of wearing "mourning black" to a new level. All the Victorian ladies of that time followed her in the custom. It became an outward showing of grief when a loved one passed. Many women created a whole new wardrobe for the now fashionable black attire.

Queen Victoria and daughter

with bust of Albert

another image (unknown) from late 1800's

Two current replicas of mourning attire

Mary Todd Lincoln

Two mourning blouses found at a local flea market

When I was in High School, Gone With the Wind

 was re-released in theatres.

I had read the book twice by then

and fell in love with the movie.

These two images are from the movie scene where Scarlett is attending a ball shortly after the death of her husband. For you not familiar with the story, Scarlett married a man she did not love, trying to invoke jealousy from her beloved Ashley Wilkes. When her husband died in the Civil War, she found herself in a strict code of mourning, but her heart was not in it.

Please click on this

YouTube link to see Scarlett and Rhett

dance the Virginia Reel.

You will love it!!

Have a Wonderful Vintage Black Friday

Do a little dance today!

Debra