I am looking forward to February's first blooms of crocuses, snowdrops, camelias, hellebores, wild narcissis, daffodils, and the intoxicating sweet scent of daphne... 

A few years ago, I was absolutely delighted to come across the work of British illustrator Kate Greenaway  who had a thriving illustration business during the Victorian Era and who mostly became known for depicting her subjects in early 18th century garments. A Victorian gal inspired by the likes of Jane Eyre, or rather Regency style! Isn't that just delightful?!?

I love coming across artists in history who were very clearly inspired by another era other than their own. Perhaps because I always look to the past for inspiration that I feel such a kinship to these artists. What I adore about Kate Greenaway's work is that while she was inspired by a different era, she didn't try to replicate it exactly and instead took the notes of inspiration and made them entirely her own. 

I adore her use of color and her color palettes I am forever inspired by. I adore how she illustrates flowers and especially the tiny little blossoms she illustrates into frames around her subject and also the way the garments seem to appear as if her subjects were just caught in a brisk Spring or Autumn wind. Her work has hints of art nouveau, but only just a bit which I adore. Sometimes too much art nouveau can be a bit too gaudy, for me personally anyway. 

A Special Talent in... Dainty Colours

Kate Greenaway first got her start illustrating greeting cards! During the Victorian era, greeting cards became a HUGE industry and Kate's freelance work with Marcus Ward & Co, a prominent publishing company known for illustrated books and greeting cards, were very well received and it was said that “her special talent was in the direction of costume figures and dainty colours...” and some of her valentine's day card illustrations would sell 25,000 copies in a week! Can you imagine selling 25,000 copies of your illustrations every week? 

Nostalgia for the Country

Kate lived in London and as you can imagine, Victorian era London was noisy, busy, and dirty. Her father was a draughtsman and received a large new commission to work on engravings for a new edition of The Pickwick Papers, a novel by Charles Dickens. He sent Kate and her mother to live in the countryside (with Dear Ole Mum's family) while Dear Ole Dad stayed in London to work in solitude. Sadly, the company that had hired Kate's father went bankrupt and so the family became nearly penniless. However the time spent in the countryside was formidable for Kate's young years and she would often recall such fond memories of the countryside as "...she felt it to be her real home, a country of the mind that she could always reimagine." (I feel ya Kate!)

Influence on Fashion

Kate's mother was a seamstress and after the engraving commission fiasco, she opened up a dress and millinery shop in Islington and the family lived above it (Kate was an only child). There was a little garden in the back where Kate could often be found spending hours admiring and studying all the flowers and having little moments of solitude. Le sigh, this sounds like a dream to me, I want to live above my shop and have a garden in the back! Also, Dear ghost of Kate Greenaway, you are an AV Girl through and through if there ever was one!

Perhaps it was because Kate's mother was a seamstress that she paid such close attention to the details of the garments her subjects wore. Her decision to depict children and adults in Regency inspired clothing really influenced the fashion of her time and mothers (in higher society circles) started to dress their children in "Kate Greenaway Fashions" and even the famed Liberty of London came out with a collection inspired by Miss Greenway.

I mean, how MODERN does that sound? An illustrator influences fashion trends and does a collaboration with a hugely known brand? Sounds a lot like what's happening in our current times. Ahhh, I adore coming across stories and tidbits of history like these because it reminds me we are not so different so apart from one another even in the threads of time. 

Further Reading

If you would like to find out much more about Victorian illustrator Kate Greenaway, do visit Illustration History / Kate Greenaway and the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers. I had so much fun researching Kate and spending hours pouring over her illustrations many of which are now part of the Public Domain, so a quick and simple search will afford you many more examples of her work!

- F I N -

le MUSES articles feature inspiring women from history and modern day who capture the essence of mypiggywiggy's favorite quote, "Live the life you always imagined" (Thoreau). We love to research and share information about women who have paved the way to living truest to oneself... independent, creative, driven, daring, unconventional, and timelessly beautiful.

Perfume and the use of essential oils dates as bar back to the ancient Egyptians who used it for religious rituals. In the 1650s, perfumed gloves became all the range in France probably due to the fact that Catherine Medici was quite a fan of them in her native Florence and brought them with her when she married the future king of France, Henry II.  

France is known the world over as the perfume capital of the world, particularly the region of Grasse in the south of France where the particular microclimate has helped cultivate thousands of flowers and plants to produce 2/3 of France's natural aromas. C'est incroyable, non?

Perfumes and oils were considered highly luxurious and only the very wealthy could afford such luxuries. It makes sense then that the vessels in which perfumes were housed in had to be little pieces of art themselves! And of course the labels... which is really what started this whole journal post, the labels of French perfume bottles were intricately painted canvases for artists. 

French perfume bottles were swathed in flowers of every imaginable kind that would recall the pleasure of walking through a scent filled floral garden. Roses, lilies, jasmine, violets... anything that would remind the wearer that she herself was a jewel of a flower.

It bares noting that perfumes and oils were mostly used to cover up body odors and other offensive smells... apparently baths were not all the rage. While I was in France visiting Versailles last Autumn, I was told that King Louis the XIV had essential oils mixed into the fountains in his gardens as to help cover up the stench of urine and feces. Mmm...delightful! 

Remember that one of the first appearance of perfumes arrived in France in the form of scented gloves as worn by Catherine de Medici... which of course makes sense because when you're holding your nose due to an unpleasant odor in the air or coming across a marbled walkway where men have decided to relieve themselves along the walls all summer long, well, a scented gloved hand would be a Godsend!

-  F I N  -

Petits Plaisirs are short quips and entries in the mypiggywiggy journal of the little things we find pleasure and delight in throughout everyday life. If you have a suggestion for a future post or enjoyed this article, do leave us a comment below!

In the way of traditions, there is a something sacred about carrying on those of your elders. However, we believe there is a special feeling of joy and future-oriented optimism that one experiences when creating "new" traditions as well. Whether you've moved away from home, are new to celebrating holidays you hadn't in the past, or just think it's time to dust the cobwebs from off the last 10 years of family routine, creating a tradition that feels relevant, unique to you and your loved ones, and sustainable for the future can be very exciting. After all, an experience can be shared and enjoyed for many generations to come, like an intangible heirloom for friends and family. 

Yesteryear's Parlor Games 

We all love a game of Uno, Scrabble, or watching our favorite movies to pass the time over family holidays and get-togethers...though how about something "new"? And by new, we mean, in fact, old! Today, the Victorians are known for a quiet, composed and altogether well mannered nature, though they did love a good excuse to get silly and loosen up after-hours much like ourselves. Since they didn't yet have TV or radio to entertain them, they had to invent their own diversions from boredom. Parlor games were a treat for families, friends, and neighbors to enjoy after meals were had, everyone had relaxed, and wanted something fun to while away the hours. We hope you try one of these at your next fête!

Squeal Piggy Squeal

This is an odd one, and not for those that are necessarily shy, or perhaps afraid of pigs. However, if you have been practicing your farm animal noises, you might enjoy this!

Requirements: 1 blindfold

How to Play:

1. Players stand around in a circle, with one player standing blindfolded in the center.
2. In turns, each player on the outskirt performs their best squealing pic imitation.
3. When the blindfolded player makes the correct guess of who it is, they switch out with that player.

Sardines

A possibly more fun, more involved, and more giggly version of hide n' seek.

Requirements: none

How to Play:

1. One player is the Hider, and has up to a minute to find an excellent hiding spot while the other players wait with eyes closed. 
2. Each of the Seekers runs about in a wild eyed frenzy trying to find the Hider, without giving away any information to the other players. 
3. Whoever finds the Hider first must join them in their hiding spot. In time, the rest of the Seeker's will cram themselves into this shared hiding spot as well, with an effort to keep silent and unexposed. 
4. The last person to find all the "packed sardines" becomes the next Hider.

Reverend Crawley's Game

If you ever did high school theater games, this may sound oddly familiar.

"It provides gentle exercise, enforced intimacy, and ultimately has the effect of a conjuring trick, so there really isn't much to be said against it and everybody should give it a go" (Victorian Fun)

Requirements: best for 6-10 players who aren't afraid of their personal bubbles vanishing

How to Play:

1. All players stand in a circle and you link hands...though not with those on either side of you, and certainly not holding both the hands of a single person. You may find yourselves turning into a veritable human knot.
2. In a joint effort, you try to untangle yourselves-never losing grip on the hands you hold-with various acrobatics and contortions to make it work. 
3. In the end, players usually work themselves out into a single, orderly ring of people (sometimes two).

Victorian Decorations 

The Victorians were a creative lot, not least of all in their decorating. Before the Industrial revolution came into full fruition, families had to draw on what resources they had at hand to brighten up their homes, rather than going out to purchase readily made baubles, aerosol powdered snow, and the like. 

Bring the Outdoors, Indoors

Since the Victorians were a romantic lot, they did a lot of musing on nature, love, life and death, and enjoyed the bitter sweet beauty of that which is ephemeral. How can you blame them, when they had Tennyson, Byron, Shelley at their fingertips? 

While elaborate paintings, old ceramic works, and other art is always celebrated in one's home, there is something joyful, relevant, and poetically wondrous about decorating with plants. 

A Few Decorating Ideas

(With Links to DIY Tutorials)

• Dried Orange Garlands
• Paper Rosettes (For backdrop, wall decorations, garlands)
• Classic Christmas Wreath
• Bunting Flag Banner
• Popcorn Balls and Garland 
• Foraged Evergreen Garland

Sending Postcards

Of course, even if you can't spend the holidays with loved ones near and far, it's always a nice gesture to remind them you care. We love collecting vintage postcards to send to loved ones, since they carry a timeless beauty and can sometimes be quite funny, too. Here are a few favorites.