fragile as leaves in fall

I've been scanning pictures from my family photo album, and I find myself charmed by the actual photos themselves - the faded borders, folded corners, even the yellowed glue on the back. With everything now digitized, we're losing the presence that actual photographs have - instead of being objects to hold, they're now only images to observe. What can be done?

Luckily, I came across these fabric brooches and necklaces via Poppytalk and was instantly smitten. And you can see why! Created by jewelry designer and stylist Miranda van Dijk at Puur Anders in the Netherlands, these leaves are created by imprinting digitized images on unbleached cotton. Their tactile, faded quality is part of their charm - they remind me of sentimental flowers pressed in old book. Fragile yet precious.

Although these pieces are part of a collection called "Hidden Memories", Miranda is also taking custom orders. These would make a thoughtful gift, especially for Mother's Day!

When this you see

After being inspired by 19th century memorial needlework, I asked Jessica Marquez of Miniature Rhino to create a special needlepoint. I already have a couple of her needlework constellations, which I adore.

And here's what she did! Don't you agree that the vintage-inspired stitching is absolutely gorgeous? Look at the detail of the flowers:

This piece is so sweet and versatile, with enough space for a special memento between the phrases Remember me/When this you see. Jessica included some thread for sewing on small tokens. Here's the needlepoint with a lock of my grandmother's hair:

And here it is with the Order of the Eastern Star pendant that belonged to my great-grandmother:

And finally, a sprig of lavender that my mother gave to me:

This sentimental needlepoint is handmade, and can be passed on between generations, giving us a lovely opportunity to remember those we love every time we see it. It also would make an awesome gift. Thanks Jessica!

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What I remembered about you

Of all the endangered species, I'm campaigning to save the written word. It's an increasingly rare thing of beauty, and holds much more meaning than helvetica or ariel ever can. And that includes Braille - physically touching words seems like the most intimate way to communicate. Here's a letter from my blind aunt, written to me when I was a child. (The fact that my grandmother wrote the "interpretation" is a bonus.) I took advantage of January's grazing light to take some pics - behold the beauty of the raised dots, like little pearls on paper.

(Speaking of vintage paper, my friend Ashlee Temple made me this lovely gift, an antique library card drawer filled with sheets from a vintage book. I've been tempted to pull out the sheets and try to read them, but they are much more lovely this way, don't you think?)

As communications become increasingly digitized, here's an option to keep in mind - Juliet's Quill can take any recipe and transform it into calligraphic cards, or even a decorative dish towel. As mothers and grandmothers around the world take up Facebook for posting their recipes, this handmade artistry's a lovely way to preserve the love behind the words.

the beautiful reach

As a child I loved the Ouija board, but mostly for thrills during sleepovers. But as I've grown older I've come to realize the beauty of the board and planchette, and how it was once an earnest oracle to communicate with lost loved ones. I think of the mourning, the grieving, the lovelorn, and suddenly the Ouija is a beautiful symbol of eternal love.

Bloodmilk's plancette pieces (at least for me) convey that sense of loss and love. They are modern mourning jewelry, both symbolic and aesthetic.

I'm also intrigued with this Victorian funerary piece, recast as a dramatic ring. Made of oxidized sterling silver, this "Our Darling" emblem is gorgeously embellished, a stark contrast to the planchette, but just as captivating.

And a final piece - this reliquary locket, created from repurposed rosary beads and a beautiful brass heart locket, connected by a silver seven sorrows rosary connector.

Bloodmilk's jewelry can be worn for its dramatic style. Or these pieces can act as signifiers, letting others know of your longing to reconnect with someone you've lost.

The sentimental can be found in the every day

I don't know about you, but I'm very sentimental when it comes to coffee mugs. In the morning when I'm choosing my mug, I sometimes think the day's fortune will be determined by the mood of the mug - the cheap coffee cup from our Kauai trip means I'll have a relaxing, laid-back day, while the mug that belonged to my mother means she'll be looking out for me. I choose this one when I need an extra boost of love. And God forbid if I should break a mug! I think I would cry for days.

It's time to recognize the inherent sentimentality of the everyday coffee mug, and make sure our cupboards are filled with beautiful cups. If you know someone who is going through a tough time, a well-intentioned mug with a cheerful or comforting thought might be the perfect sympathy gift. I love these mugs from Brookish:

Brookish is a Jane Austen fan (as am I!) In the words of Captain Wentworth in Jane Austen's Persuasion, Half Agony Half Hope captures that sentiment of being separated from the one you love. Despite the agony, there is always hope. My personal favorite is the Mr. Darcy's proposal mug:

And there is always the option to customize your mug with your own words of comfort.

Thank you, Deliasthompson, for this lovely link!

bound by love

Memorial services are about expressing love.

Like a wedding, we gather to declare our love, respect and honor. But instead of witnessing the love of two who are wed, we witness the encompassing love of friends, family, and all those whose lives were touched by the one gone before. Instead of till death do us part, we find out our love means death cannot make us part.

And we realize that our love is like a giant puzzle - all the little pieces come together to create an amazing portrait. I've been thinking about how best to capture this multi-faceted love. A book like this one by Quotes and Notes is a good way to gather collective memories. Divided into separate note cards, everyone can write a thoughtful note or memory. The fact that they are not bound like a book makes them more fluid - they can be spread out, flipped through, organized in any fashion that's meaningful.

I also love the simplicity and lack of frills with this design. Lovely.