#mourningmonday

I’ve been quiet for several days because the crisis in Ukraine has weighed heavily on my heart. It’s hard to image what the people of that country must be experiencing right now. But I decided that one teeny tiny way I could fight the ugliness was with beauty, so I’m back to regular posts. And since it’s #MourningMonday, this guy, whom I’m going to call Robert James for today, is making an appearance. His tintype photo is set in yellow gold under glass with a primitive pin stem to the reverse. I have to wonder what @hotvictorians would think about that beard? 😉 If you need to add him to your collection, just tap the photo to his link in the shop. #hotvictorians https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca0DiBPJ_Ya/?utm_medium=tumblr

Let’s play a game on #MourningMonday. Who can tell me what this is? (Thanks, @ladyonchestnut for the cool pic!) #NotGivingYouAnyHints https://www.instagram.com/p/CaP18LZpSDy/?utm_medium=tumblr

Are you more mourning ring or mourning brooch? #MourningMonday https://www.instagram.com/p/CObDnkaJ3YO/?igshid=tp10q8w1n5co

Last evening, I spent a little over an hour watching a live stream feed of a memorial service for the 14 yr old daughter of a good friend. I found there was nothing I could post here yesterday that felt like it mattered. Today, I want you all to know that she mattered. To me. To her family and friends. And to her parents. She will be missed greatly. Sleep in peace, sweet girl. #MourningMonday (at Raleigh, North Carolina) https://www.instagram.com/p/CBLf0e1pt4W/?igshid=q7ezw6qo8vmr

Last evening, I spent a little over an hour watching a live stream feed of a memorial service for the 14 yr old daughter of a good friend. I found there was nothing I could post here yesterday that felt like it mattered. Today, I want you all to know that she mattered. To me. To her family and friends. And to her parents. She will be missed greatly. Sleep in peace, sweet girl. #MourningMonday (at Raleigh, North Carolina) https://www.instagram.com/p/CBLf0e1pt4W/?igshid=q7ezw6qo8vmr

Don’t you wish we always had the stories behind the pieces? I sure do! Like these two ladies. Who are they? Did someone have these painted to commemorate a pair of sisters or are they merely fictional? Did they each live to a ripe old age or were they lost early to one of the many life interruptors of their time? Sadly, we’ll never know. sigh* What I do know is that we’ve named them Myrtle and Gertrude and I’m in 💙 with their blue shoes. And if they are depictions of two real women, now gone on before us, may they Rest In Peace. #MourningMonday (at Katie Callahan & Co) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-Fe4aIJMtu/?igshid=jflqshy9p1kb

In uncertain times, many of us want to keep thoughts of loved ones near. Those before us were no different. The Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian people didn’t have FaceTime, Twitter, email or even photos (well, not for the Georgians and early Victorians). But they did have portraits. Wearable ones even. And I’ll go out on a limb here to say they wore them in times of plague, epidemics and hardships. Today’s post is a throwback to a sweet portrait from days gone by. I’ve been close to bringing you a line of similar pieces for a while now, but we took another step closer this week. Stay tuned. 👁 #MourningMonday (at Raleigh, North Carolina) https://www.instagram.com/p/B9z3_WdJJbZ/?igshid=1c7dhjz7kqn3e

It’s a dreary Monday here in North Carolina and I needed something to be uplifting. You know what works for me? Gorgeous mourning jewelry disguised as an innocuous everyday piece. This “Gone With The Wind-esque” cameo brooch (think Scarlett in the scene at the dance, wearing her mourning outfit) had a secret. At the reverse, under glass, was lovingly braided hair. No insight into to whom it once belonged. But it was a very special piece, nonetheless. And now it lives in a very special place, with a very special person. Which makes my happy, no matter the weather. 😊⛈ #mourningmonday (at Katie Callahan & Co) https://www.instagram.com/p/B89dG5ipZDk/?igshid=1fh22b1nj1wau