The Ambiance of the Renaissance

Yesterday my mom and I ventured into the Renaissance Festival. I was enthralled by the entire display. Granted this was my inaugural visit, so every sign and building was viewed as artwork that must be admired. I took a lot of photographs and was even repremanded for doing so by one particular store owner. Everyone else seemed excited to pose for the camera and understood that I was not mocking their efforts nor intending to steal their design. The whole time I felt like Belle in the village of Beauty & the Beast. I kept waiting to hear the townspeople break into the song, "Look there she goes, that girl is strange no question...a most peculiar mademoiselle, such a pity & a sin, she doesn't quite fit in..." Because we definitely stood out by not wearing garmets from the 1600's and mainly because people were pushing around carts in what resembled a marketplace. Here are a few of my favourite images captured yesterday.

"Will you not sit?"

I often frequent rummage sales and friends can attest that I can't pass by a disheveled chair without considering its potential. I intend to post current and future projects for the fellow chair-enthusiast. Here is a recent find. Inspired by Miss Austen and an issue of Victoria magazine, I chose to cover the seat with a delicate worn cornflower blue & white toile. I was especially drawn to the chair solely because of the harp design its back. Once I primed and painted the chair country white, I sanded away portions to reveal the original finish, thus creating a shabby chic effect.

Below: I painted the finials on this little oak seat metallic gold, plum, & magenta to complement the velvet striped cushion cover. It was originally outdated 70's burnt orange pleather. The envelope pillow was made from an upholstry sample and features a collage of antique buttons.

Below: This chair was purchased for $6 at my favourite Antioch, TN boutique, Alabaster Box. I did nothing to alter this particular chair, although I did fashion the costume rubies to the square senorita floral pillow.

Introductions

As of late, I have been madly absorbed with remnants from the past. Be it literature & music from another time or customs & etiquette that have long since died, I contantly wonder what it would be like to live in 1804 or 1912 and I attempt to create that environment around me. Perhaps it stems from a longing to experience elegance that is rarely found in this day and age or maybe I have seen Sense & Sensibilty one too many times. After the gentle persuasion of two dear friends, I have come to the conclusion that my love for all things vintage must be shared with others.

So to my reader, who also cherishes her tattered edition of Little Women or his grandfather's typewriter, I hope that you may find inspiration among the entries of this composition to further your pursuit to travel through time and escape to another world.