Antique Automobile Luggage Rack

We found this abfab antique luggage rack at the flea market this week-end. We re-purposed it to display a folded quilt and then turned it on its side and hung it as a display rack. This would be perfect in the bathroom, expanding to fit your towels. We completed the look by hanging a bundle of lavender and an antique dress from the Civil War Era. Watch for this in our Ebay auctions!

The Magic of Lavender

We have a decided penchant for lavender! Lavender takes its name from the Latin word lavo meaning "to wash." We named our first shop, "Twin Sisters Lavender and Lace," and still continue the love affair by tucking sprigs of lavender or sachets into each of our parcels that we mail. We also offer bunches of lavender for sale in our shop! In the Christian tradition, Mary hung Jesus' freshly washed clothes on the lavender bush and that is how the plant got its divine fragrance! How wonderful a scent must be that derived from infant Jesus' gown!
From the divine to the mundane, lavender was much used in the medieval toilette, for bathing, cleaning hands and washing and storing linens. From ancient times to present day, lavender is used as a moth repellent, tucked between linens and hung in between garments. In medieval times lavender was a welcome addition to home-keeping, strewn on floors to impart a delicious scent when trod on! (Remember baths were far from an everyday occurrence and deodorant's invention was a long way off!) Lavender also has its place in the kitchen and not just on the kitchen floor. It is used in salads, but more to our liking is delicious in shortbread and ice cream! As much as we love lavender to some it came to symbolize distrust. The origins of this belief trace to the passing on of the tale that the asp that killed Cleopatra hid under a lavender bush!
Lavender water was thought to cure headaches, preserve chastity and enable you to see ghosts! Seems like the perfect water to swig at your next Halloween party!!(although we would not suggest dressing like Cleopatra!)

scrumptious red dancing slippers

We found these divine red leather dancing slippers last week-end. They retain their original label from a Boston store on Marlborough Street that pledges to mend all rips! One faded pink bow has gone missing perhaps during a long ago waltz! We investigated throat, waist(isn't it funny how a shoe is described in terms of the human form?) etc. and have dated the shoes to c. 1815-1830. The tiny inside heel leather is the most wonderful shade of gold! The shoes are straights but ink scratchings inside one indicate left! Women of the period rotated their shoes so their delicate slippers stayed fashionably straight! Can you just imagine the lady who donned these slippers dancing the quadrille with its wide variety of rapid, skimming steps, such as the chassé, jeté assemblé and entrechats. I wonder if she ever had to avail herself of the guarantee of a free mend!! Do you think a suitor found the lost bow and kept it as a love token?!

We found this gown at the flea Market this week-end! This dress is such a stunning show stopper! Can't you just picture Ginger Rogers dancing up and down a flight of stairs with Astaire by her side. I would keep this dress and snap myself into it,hoping for a special autumn event to wear it to. Unfortunately the corset hasn't been invented yet that would make that possible. And so the gown is currently for sale in our Ebay auctions under shemarielizabeth (or go directly to the item at http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170703783342&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT)...Happy bidding!!!!!!!!!

Nantasket Beach In August

Is there anything more wonderful than a trip to the seashore in August?????????? We sunbathed, shopped, met with two dear friends and laughed until our sides ached! We ate at the most amazing sea food restaurant right on the water and topped it all off with a ride on an historic carousel! As twilight turned to night we walked the beautiful beach and even found shells by the light of the moon! Delightful!

We had the most marvellous time at our Cousin's home on Cape Cod. She treated us like queens, treating us to shopping trips and lobster!! From her patio you can see a bay and then the Atlantic Ocean! We watched boats coming and going and flocks of gulls circling by. We walked her private beach and out her dock. Our sister collected the lovieliest seashells and we collected the loveliest memories of quintessential summertime at the seaside!

Cape Cod At Cousin Ginny's House