The Stuff of Dreams.
What a great couple of weeks! Ive been having lots of girlfriend time for one thing, which is always wonderful. I need to replenish my soul with these amazing women friends, and so Ive been lunching and shopping and chatting and laughing and crying. Important stuff, ya know.
The artistic muses are also chanting, and so Ive done some artwork for my sister Pams latest amazing, endearing and important project. Its still under construction, and we have much more work to do–but if you want a peek, (and there’s a link to hear a sample of the music she and my sisters did together, which you’ve got to hear), go see:Cradle of Wings
And then and then and THEN, something else really wonderful happened.
Serendipity, thats what is was. Dulcie, the theatre teacher got a phone call the other day from a woman who wanted to donate her collection of vintage clothing/shoes/hats/jewelry to the theatre department. This woman has done some traveling around over the years with some of these clothes, giving talks on historic fashion. Im ready to get rid of most of my collection, she said, and Id rather not deal with Ebay. So Dulcie and I went up to the collectors mountain home to take whatever she wanted to give us.
I had tried not to build up my expectations muchbut nothing could have prepared me for what she has collected over the past 40 years. Jan had giant piles of clothing that she had taken off several (12 foot long) racks in a basement room. You will probably end up with all of this eventually, but some pieces I just cant bear to let go of yet. So Ive just started to pull out what I know I dont want anymore. she said.
I caught glimpses of period gowns and coats in the piles she had pulled for us and I started to feel light-headed. And then Dulcie took me by the shoulders and turned me around to face one whole wall of jewelry. Floor to ceiling racks of necklaces, a wall covered solidly with brooches, a huge printers file with narrow drawers holding hundreds of bracelets, and ringsall rhinestone, bakelite and covering decades of vintage costume jewelry. And a SHOEBOX of old charms. I have never seen such a collection in even the dreamiest of vintage clothing stores.
I went into a state of shock. I could not speak in anything more than incoherent little sounds and my eyes filled up with tears. Dulcie bent over double in hysterics at my reaction, and Jan was pleased and flattered. She then opened cupboards filled with petticoats, camisoles, and corsetspulled open drawers of gloves, lace collars and I had to sit down. I have literally had dreams like this.
We loaded 400 pieces into Dulcies truck and then Jan invited us to tour the rest of her house and have some tea. The bedrooms held astonishing quilt collections in beautiful wardrobes, a rack of at least 50 beaded and mesh purses, an ancient wedding gown on a dress form each room was a treasure chest of delightful collections. I could not personally live with so much stuff, but I appreciated the charm of what she had. And her amazing generosity! We are going back up there in a couple weeks for another load. Jans goal is to empty out her room, and the clothing she gave us didnt even put a DENT into her racks.
When Dulcie and I got back to the school and unloaded the costumes, we couldnt stop exclaiming Look at THIS!!! as we hung up each piece. What a boon to our costume department!
My summer project will be cataloguing and organizing all our stock. I think costume rental may become a new little side project for us.
Anywaysorry to go on and on about this, but sheesh! Somebody pinch me!
It’s been March Madness Basketball around here….our house full of laughing and yelling men for the past several days and nights. They try to draw me into their craziness. As if.
I was quite amused yesterday when I passed through the TV room during the Bradley/Pittsburgh game and saw this on the screen. Check out the bottom right-hand corner.
Brad Pitt. Heh. (Okay, okay…maybe it’s just me that finds that amusing…)
:)xo
Adagio
The artwork is lovely. Such a sad subject, but beautifully done. Congratulations on all the costumes. What a great gift!
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The website artwork is heart-warming and heart-rending at the same time — exactly the right combination, IMO. As for the vintage clothing and jewelry — isn’t it amazing that such wonderful stuff is going to such a good cause? And the entrepreneurial side-line? You ARE brilliant, my dear. (And now I MUST meet you — where in heck are you, anyway?)
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hahaha, Brad Pitt!
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The artwork brought tears to my eyes. I envy your gift! And the vintage clothes… *swoon* Any plus-sized stuff you’d like to send my way? *G*
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wow! what a wonderful gift! I can see why you would feel overwhelmed. I’m glad you’ve had girlfriend time. I’m needing some of that, too. I’ll get it in a couple of weeks, I think. Your sister’s site is heartbreaking but beautiful.
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What a treasure trove that must be.
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It amuses me too 🙂
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Our little theater would KILL for a dontaion like that, but how nice for your kids!! Be sure to do your best to set up an apparatus for the school to take care of that treasure. So often management of that type of thing falls by the wayside after a few years. I’m so envious!!
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*giggle* Brad Pitt. ;o) Sounds like a wonderful time! We’d love to see pics of all the new treasures!! (hint, hint) 😉
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Oh it’s lovely….the way to link is to use following format: (A HREF=”insert the whole URL here”) write whatever you want in here, then close with (/A) Use instead of () the note system will not allow slutty self to show you HTML, but this should highlight it.
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Ok, have noticed the Brat pitt too, lol…someone sent it to slutty self, fehhhh. Am happy reading you going about with friends….need to do more of that myself, :-).
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What an amazing gesture to donate all that beautiful clothing and jewellry. You will be anxious to see what the next production will be!
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heehee brad pitt. Funny, did the guys even notice? oh the costumes sound so dreamy. Ooh la la. How lucky! Thanks for your notes of support. It is hard, but I think it is what I need to do to make room in my life for what I really want. Enough of crappy relationships with people, whatever their title.
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That’s amazing! Those pieces must be worth a fortune! And you get the lucky job of cataloging it all 🙂 xoxo
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VERY amusing!! 🙂 and wow… what a wonderful beautiful coup for you…
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I don’t know if a personal weblog is different from open diary. the guy who wrote his nasty anti-personal blog rant thinks people who share intimate thoughts with millions are daft. 🙂 My girl IS magical. I was mean about her dad. wasn’t fair. he is what he is, and she knows where she can go for chocolate at those times. smooch!
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…what an incredible gift you have! And…you certainly hit the mother lode didn’t you? I can just picture you amidst all that glorious “stuff”! That’s funny about Brad…I wonder if they always have the schools in alphabetical order…Pitt Brad wouldn’t have been nearly as funny!
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The Brad Pitt reference is too funny! I’m not even a fan of his anymore but I’d be much more inclined to spend a Sunday afternoon watching one of his movies than watching the basketball game!
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Well it might just be you that is observant enough to notice but it IS amusing. But the big thing – the collection donated is well I’m stuck for words but I think like you I would have been in a great state of shock. What a perfect person to be in charge of this stuff for the school. Oh the productions you will be doing now! Yes, yes yes we have a trip to CO planned for this summer.
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I have almost no time to plan etc lately with two jobs but you’ll be kept up to date as plans materialize I certainly hope we can co-ordinate a get together. Are you going to the BBQ in Seattle?
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How wonderful of Jan to donate so much of her life’s joys! Can’t you imagine the memories attached to each piece? Reminds me of finding long-lost treasures in the attic. Lovely!
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Ryn: I was so hesitant to post that entry. You were the messenger today. Thank you. Almost instantaneous this time, this time it was you. As if there is a taking of turns. I like you too, very much, how you shine your soul into the world, allow Life such creation. Your entry here an uplift, I smile and feel good in the warmth of all those lives sharing bread. 🙂
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Ah, how I wish I could laugh with you and be a part of that amazing, artistic circle you and yours hold! How wonderful. And that wardrobe story is truly like dreams I’ve had. That is the BEST! Post pics when you get a chance to get through the wonder of it! : ) Happy Spring!
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Ok, bear with me, certain white cat is all over me right now. Hopefully he wont start typing! Thanks so much for your notes. It’s hard, her words can make me second guess myself and my perceptions, but the impact is much less than it used to be. Having my therapist and people like you who know me well and who can support and acknowledge my perception make a big difference. I’m a lot stronger.
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How wonderful to receive all those costumes etc. My theatre company would go green with envy…..love the ‘Brad Pitt”
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Time with other women is key for those of us in male dominated households. Will check the link next. WHAT?!? You didn’t fall to your knees and raise hands in supplication, saying, “I am not worthy” in exchanges for all that cool vintage stuff? Ah, well. Next week. Funny on the Brad Pitt. 🙂 RYN: **Waves back atcha!**
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Okay. For that price, I can buy several to keep on hand as extra baby gifties. Let me know when she’s set up for ordering through PayPal. Fantastic voice, great artwork, NICE JOB!
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The thought of the wall of jewelry made my heart race! What a lovely find! 🙂 Be well,
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What a marvellous collection of costumes – and a generous owner to give some away. But she’s chosen people who will really appreciate and use them, obviously. RYN: A whole field of sunflowers; what a feast for the eyes! And thank you for your note because it’s nice to meet you. (Must admit I’ve already lurked here a few times with enjoyment, following notes you’ve left with mutual friends.)
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*Picking jaw up off floor* Mama mia, that’sa lotsa clothesa! And JEWELRY! *Fanning self* You’re one lucky puppy! As to your artwork, it’s always so graceful, even as is your sister’s voice and music. Funny – now that I read more on that site, I’m noticing quite a few things that your sister and my sister have in common…
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