ULLABENULLA

Botanical Treasures!

Its been a while since I did this post on Papier Mache Botanical Models.  I still love these wonderful scientific and didactic yet fanciful models!   These images, also from  Staetshuys Antiquairs are just as inspiring and wonderful...!

Moonlight Sonata...

Like stepping into a fairyland, this 'Antique Victorian Papier Mache Desk Blotter' is truly dreamy! Intricate Mother of Pearl flowers and delicate enamel and gilt flourishes make one think of dancing under diamond stars...

Link

Wedding Chair Class At The Castle!

What a day we had yesterday!  The Wedding Chair Class at the CASTLE was quite a hit!  Six lovely women, friends all, joined me in creating one of a kind French Style Wedding Chairs.  TRULY GLORIOUS little chairs were fashioned of a gold mine of Dresden, that the CASTLE is known for, hand dyed velvets from my own stash, various gold colored wires, and the ever present Hot Glue Gun!  It was such a treat for me to see the chairs take on the personality of the makers!  I think we need to change this classes name to 'Golden Fairy Chairs' - Don't you? Enjoy!!!

Last but not least, Amy Dean of San Francisco's  Crown and Crumpet, (photo directly above) brought in this wonderful vintage photo of a French Photographers shop window, shown below.  Just look at the top shelf in the window, filled with glorious old 'Globe de Mariee', in glass domes!  Wow oh Wow!  If only we could go back in time...

Victorian Paper Folly Class this Saturday at the CASTLE, and a Peek at My Inspiration!

I will be teaching my 'Victorian Paper Folly' class this saturday at the CASTLE!  There is still plenty of room. Here is the description:

Victorians loved to create elaborate 'tableaux' for holidays and other special occasions.  Often these tableaux mimicked architectural follies popular at the time, which were miniature, nonfunctional buildings designed to enhance the natural landscape.  You'll create your own romantic structure from a concoction of small paper boxes, paper tubes, antique printed paper, crepe paper, and Dresden.  Yours will look charming as a picturesque centerpiece or under a glass dome as part of your collections.

Fee:  $115.00, includes all materials

Saturday May 23, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm

Please call (510) 204-9801 to reserve your spot.

My inspiration for this class came from a lovely paper folly owned by a dear friend of mine - whose taste is exceptional!  I loved the simplicity and charm of her piece and knew instantly it would make a fabulous class! This antique was possibly used at a wedding, but I like to imagine it being created just for the pleasure of having something beautiful around...

Victorian Wedding Dome...

This is so unusual and lovely...  

LINK

Mica Disguises!

My good friend and fellow blogger Florizel featured this delightful 17th Century Dutch - handpainted on copper - miniature in a leather locket recently, and I just had to share it here.  What makes this locket extra special is that inside are numerous hand painted 'disguises' on Mica, so that the fashionable young lady can be shown 'transformed' as the wearer desires!  I think this piece is amazingly inspirational and would love to try something similar as a reliquary!

 

Fat Tuesday Necessities...

A place to store your 'Mouches', something every well appointed individual needs today...  1830 French Porcelain painted Patch box.

An elegant cane to help you jostle the crowds...  A German 'Tau' Shaped Porcelain Cane.  Surely no one will step on your cape now...

An elegant Fan to keep your truest identity hidden...  18th Century English Mask Fan.  It can be important to stay incognito...

Last but not least, under the fan,  a slightly sinister yet ethereal mask, because even though you're good, you would like it to be known that you could be very very bad...  Thoth Mask by Sean E. Conroy on Deviant Art.

HAPPY CELEBRATING!!!

French Bust Reliquary

Link

Life is a Dance...

And you my dear readers have twirled and spun me with so many wonderful comments - my head is dizzy with the attention!  I cannot begin to tell you how grateful I am for your input, ideas and suggestions!  I am soaking it all in, making lists, and beginning to take some baby steps... Please keep the conversation going, as I hope others can benefit from the wealth of shared experience and creative ideas given so far!  

I was reminded beautifully by fellow blogger Fleur "I'm sure your blog does create wealth for you in unseen ways."  YES, YES, YES!  I have been truly gifted with amazing new friendships both near and far, wonderful personal treasures sent from all over the world, and and many truly inspiring comments and conversations that money could never buy!  Not to mention a few personal '5 minutes of fame' that still tickle me when I think of them...  My post was not done purely for financial reasons, more a question on how can I improve what I have already created!

We are truly a blogging family, holding hands across the globe and dancing into creative idea success!  I am humbled and so grateful!!!

 

Carnet de Bal - French Dance Card 

Medical Sampler or Art?

Sometimes we find beauty in the most unexpected places...  This is an amazing Surgical suture sampler, circa 18th century, from the Zurich Medical History Museum in Switzerland.  Just look at the variety of stitch techniques and detail, all appropriate for different anatomical regions and types of injury.  If you put aside the use, and look at it purely for design, it's quite stunning!  Link via Bioephemera. 

  

Another Peek...

I have sooooooo much to do this weekend! Prepping for a class on Monday, scheduling for summer classes, more decorating and garden work. And then of course, I really want to be online, and post more about wonderful finds! Here is another tiny peek at my decorating frenzy... I have moved all my French Wedding Crowns (I'll show you later...) but kept this pink one aside. Hanging with it are: a wonderful red clay heart that my Mother made when she was 5, a tiny antique easter egg (I just adore the printing on it, can you see the children dancing with the rabbits?) and a lovely vintage enamel framed madonna... Have a wonderful Saturday!

Gifts and Decorating!

Sometimes all it takes is a very special gift to make one redecorate! I was thrilled Wednesday, when Donna gifted me one of her incredible 'French Wedding Wreaths' which I have coveted ever since she posted on them!! It is truly a magical work of art ~ in need of a very special display!!! While out shopping with Donna, we found a wonderful French silk child's dress from the 1920's, and it just screamed to come home with me. I could immediately see my new wreath with the amazing creamy silk of the little dress... (please ignore the plastic hanger, I couldn't wait to show you, but I am planning on covering the hanger in silk too...) After pulling apart my living room, I re-assembled this little corner with a few of my favorite things. Look closely and you'll see my favorite dove painting from Erla, a pair of worn wedding shoes, a lovely hand-painted fan, 2 etched and painted glass vases, and a wonderful old chinese paper crawfish. But truly its the Wreath and dress that make the display, don't you think???

Now to find places for everything else... more to come...

Sunday's Dance...

(Two charming engravings of Tahitian women dressed in festive costumes seen by Capt. James Cook and John Webber, LINK.)

Valentines Weekend...

I am off to teach Vicorian Valentines this weekend at the CASTLE. Here are a few Vintage Valentines I discovered via eBbay Forums and Victoriana. Nothing compares to the real thing...!

Our Last Stop

After leaving Wendy Addison's studio THEATRE OF DREAMS on Tuesday, we decided to peek in at Tail Of The Yak in Berkeley. Ironically none of us took photos, except I did ask if I could photograph this lovely santos, who took my breathe away... If you feel cheated, I highly encourage you to look at this post by Amy of Inspirico, lots of photos, including some of the Castle! Enjoy!

Wendy's Eye Candy!!!

Following our visit with Stephanie Blythe the other day, we headed over to the tiny town of Port Costa to visit Wendy Addison's studio THEATRE OF DREAMS! As her sign so whimsically proclaims on the front door, she is open only by Chance or Appointment! Not wanting to 'take the chance' of missing her we made an appointment for 1:30!

Walking into Wendy's shop is like entering WONDERLAND. Glass cases are filled with one of kind creations and vintage finds and glittering constellation's hang from the ceiling... Magical Theatres beckon from every corner, and delightful visual poetry fills the air... We were swept away with fairy dust, while being serenaded by 'Queen' Wendy herself. Like little children, we put our noses right up to the glass, and looked with wide eyes, trying in vain to decide which 'candy's' to bring home... Each of us did finally find a few special things to steal away, with the hope that we could bring Wendy's magic with us as we went home... Come join me here in a THEATRE OF DREAMS!!!!

Dolls and Inspiration!

I spent a couple of wonderful hours at the Doll Show with my daughter yesterday. Having not been to a show like this in over a decade it was quite overwhelming! So many beautiful antique dolls, doll clothing, miniatures, and other toys. I did find a delightful old Asian child doll, that will look perfect with my chinese baby hat collection. Right now she is spending quality time with my husbands teddy bear... I also scored a box full of tiny unpainted bisque doll-heads (25 in all) for $15.00!!! My head is whirling with ideas on how to use them, not to mention what to paint on them...!

Last week, I saw these wonderful shadow boxes in a shop, while out and about, and thought I'd share them with you. I love how this artist used simple black and white images in a sophisticated manner. The houses are pinned in like little paper insects... Very Inspiring!!!

Scandinavian Winter Holidays Inspiration

As a Dane, I read quite a few Scandinavian blogs. My favorite by far, for eye candy is Marie's Min Lilla Veranda. She captures the serene ideal in Scandinavian beauty with a hint of French glamour... here are a few images that speak to winter decor. ENJOY!!!

I Want One Of These In My Driveway!

Anyone have a spare wooden wheel thay can part with? Professional Miniature Paper Theater

Gunhilds Silver and Papercut Wonders...

Every time we go to Minneapolis, I always make sure to visit the American Swedish Institute, housed in the historic Turnblad mansion, built in 1908. My wonderful Sister-in-law came with me this year! My Husbands Grandmother, Gunhild, was a prominent figure at the Institute in her lifetime, and left many lasting memories. Years ago, she began the tradition of installing Christmas Tables and Trees, one for each country in Scandinavia, in the beautiful rooms of the mansion. When she died, memorial money went into the purchase of silver cutlery for the Swedish room. It is vintage Gense Silver, in the Vassa pattern.

I was so excited to be allowed permission to take a photo of her silver (and only after trumpeting Gunhilds name, whom everyone knew!) that I didn't get a photo of the full table set for 12. I did manage to sneak a photo of this years tree, full of swedish flag garlands, and the beautiful chandelier in the middle of the room.

Much to my delight, the museum also had a Danish Papercutting Exhibit with wonderful work by Minnesota native Cynthia McKeen. Feeling brave with my camera, (I know Gunhild wouldn't have minded...) I took some photos to share with you. There was a special paper cutting of the Turnblad mansion that McKeen has designed for the 100th anniversary of the completion of the mansion in 2008. This four-layer standing piece depicts the outside of the mansion, whimsically surrounded by figures inspired by Swedish stories and culture. A tomte stands by the front gate, and trolls, birds, and even Santa Lucia can be seen floating above the castle.

I loved her original interpretation's of 'The Princess And The Pea', and 'The Rose Bush' beautifully displayed hanging by big open windows...

There was a marvelous display showing Cynthia's process, from initial drawings and scissor cuts, to multiple cuts with rubber-cushion dies.

My favorite part of the exhibit, by far, was the 'Christmas Table Setting' in the middle of the room, filled with Cynthia's papercut trees, like a winter wonderland come to life!!! The last photo, showing more papercut trees, is from the Danish Immigrant Museum where Cynthia recently had another exhibit. Now my fingers are itching to cut a winter wonderland of my own, I hope this post may have inspired you to do the same!!!
(Cynthia's papercut trees are available for purchase online HERE!)