Monday, July 29, 2013

Hair Receivers

 
Hair receivers were an important part of the Victorian dresser set.
 Just like modern women, Victorian ladies spent a great deal of time and effort on their hair.



For more on these little gems and their purpose visit:
 A collection of vintage hair combs is also included in the aforementioned post:).
Have a happy hair day!
 
 

Friday, July 26, 2013

Facebook Link

 
 
For those of you have tried to find my Truer Words Facebook page, here is the link:
 
 
I don't know why it is difficult to find but for some reason it is:).
Every week I post something about the Victorian era as it relates to the main character of the novel, Emma.
Please visit the page and 'like' it.
 
You can also visit the BlogSpot for the novel at:
 
Thanks!!!
 
Blessings,
 
Kim

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Getting Hooked!!!

One of my many collections of Victoriana are button hooks.

These tools have been around for centuries but this post focuses on those used in the latter part of the 19th century to the early 20th century.
 
 
Used for buttoning boots, gloves, and clothing, they come in a variety of sizes and materials.
Handles are often found in silver, metal, celluloid, porcelain, or wood and can be stamped with an advertisement or have initials engraved.
Some have duel hooks for both boots and gloves.
 
 
 
They are a nice collectable in that they do not take up much space, are readily available, and are fairly inexpensive.
 
Happy Collecting!
What is your favorite collection?

Thursday, July 18, 2013

The Story of Faith Cottage

Just over three years ago we were blessed with Faith Cottage, so named because she was a leap of faith.
We discovered this little gem more than ten years ago when we stopped for a yard sale.
Historic homes in our town were EXTREMELY expensive so we were always on the look-out for a fixer-upper or the ever elusive 'deal.'
After ten years of searching we finally realized that a historic home was impossible.
Don't get me wrong, the house in which we lived was beautiful in a lovely neighborhood:).
And so the search stopped.
But God had other plans, after all, He never said it was impossible.
Faith Cottage finally went on the market at an astronomical price ending our hopes of ever living there. She stayed on the market for two years with several changes in real estate agents and price reductions. Still she was beyond our means.
Every time I drove past I was always relieved to see the sale sign still there, as if some miracle would happen and she would be ours.
One December night I had one of those dreams that was so real I was disoriented when I finally awoke. The dream was one that I truly wanted-we were living in the little Victorian house we had stalked (yes this would be an accurate description) for years. Heart broken I reminded myself that our house was truly a blessing and I had no right to be disappointed.
What I did not know at the time was it wasn't a dream, it was a vision. God was letting me know that it would be our home, just not yet.
A few months later I contacted the real estate agent, a very old friend of ours. I only called out of curiosity and before I knew it we were looking at the house.
Four weeks later she was ours.
And so the lesson was well learned,
nothing is impossible with God.
And so the name Faith Cottage was given because she was definitely a leap of faith!
A cozy chair for tea in the parlor of Faith Cottage, an 1890 Victorian home.

Crystal prisms and lace add beauty and sparkle.

Flowers are a must in Victorian homes,
even the silk kind:).

Victorians loved to display their collections.
Imari and Royal Derby patterns are a favorite in our house.

Faith Cottage's original fireplace was long gone so we added an antique mantel ($35 thrift shop find).
We painted the inside black and added fireplace accoutrements to make it look as if it had always been there.
 
Vignettes of porcelain add a delicate touch to a horse sculpture

Antique books are always a treasure.

Victorian décor can be masculine too.

Displaying a collection of antique combs and feathers in a silver vase.

A lacey view to the porch.

View just beyond the transom window.

Faith Cottage gardens in full bloom.

A welcoming door bedecked with fretwork.

Fretwork details on the porch.

Raindrops from the storm the night before.

The rain makes the garden grow.

Front porch at Faith Cottage.

Lace curtains allow the sunshine to filter in.

Even the dogs enjoy this sunny summer morning before the heat of day sets in.

SQUIRREL!!!

Flowers in front of the fireplace for summer.
 
Roses are a Victorian favorite.

A lovely thrift store find at $3.
Beauty doesn't have to cost a fortune:).

I love lace!

Guest bedroom view to the gardens beyond.

A nice way to create privacy in a bathroom window.

The man cave also doubles as the library.
 
Man cave vignettes...

OK, I had to put something of mine in the man cave!
Brown and white transferware seemed a good choice.
 
Thanks for sharing a morning at Faith Cottage.
May you all have a blessed day and remember to always keep the faith!!!
 



Monday, July 15, 2013

Painted Porcelains

One of the popular pastimes of Victorian ladies was porcelain painting. Blanks from Europe were imported to be decorated in an array of flora, birds, cherubs, or whatever the artist chose to paint. Despite the notable talent of American ladies, their work was denied entry into the 1901 World's Fair in Paris as they were looked upon as mere amateurs.





I have been collecting these one-of-a-kind treasures for several years now. To learn more about American painted porcelains and their history read American Painted Porcelain, by Dorothy Kamm.
To get a bird's eye view of Victorian life in the Lowcountry of South Carolina read Truer Words, a historical fictional novel set in the Lowcountry during the Victorian era.
 
 

Friday, July 12, 2013

Too Long!!!

My goodness I can't believe it's been a year since my last post.
I have been busy with travelling, performances, and book signings.
Unfortunately, this has kept me from blogging but I hope to return on a more regular basis.
 
Here are some photos from our most recent excursion to Gettysburg for the 150th anniversary of the battle.
 
















 


 
Please visit my facebook page, Truer Words, for more pics and Victorian era tidbits!