I went to my dad’s place this weekend. It was my step mother’s birthday and a mutual friend was also there. We had a girl’s day out, visiting antique shops and galleries. We drove through the country, which at the moment is green and lush.
Then we walked along the beach and I collected up a whole lot of natural treasures for artworks. Shells, eggs, lovely worn wood, sand, seaweed…my bought, and found treasures, are pictured below. Can’t wait to get started.
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I’m starting to wind down my jewelry making for the year. I have a huge project on at work, my day job, and am also getting ready to go to South Africa on 20th December. I have hardly any spare time until we leave, so it’s wind-down time.
My mind is not winding down and I am busily dreaming up ideas for new products at La Comtesse, and new artwork and new jewelry designs for L’Atelier de Talaru. I’m also very excited about enroling in Judy Wilkenfeld’s class at Creative Soul Retreat 2010, which will be held in Melbourne in March. The retreat is at a place only about 20 minutes from my home. I’m so so looking forward to this class, and have started building up my collection of emhemera and treasures for using in the class.
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A continuation of the story from ‘Par Avion’ …Armand told me nothing. His apprentice had played the music sent by Gabriel, and in the notes he heard the message. His demeanor was serious, but efficient. The apprentice penned a message for Gabriel, and placed it into an old envelope. I took a carriage to Paris, the envelope resting safely in the secret pocket inside my jacket.
The carriage arrived at l’Opera.
I went inside. The air was electric. There were many people, dressed fine and fancy – wigs and silk and ribbon and lace. Perfumes and pomaded, powdered and preened. Music drifted through the air. Music everywhere. Someone I don’t know saw me enter and guided me to a door off to the side. I went in.
There was a soiree in progress – lots of beautiful people, dancing and singing. I felt a sense of magic. Things were happening such as I had never seen before – beautiful voices, ladies dancing lightly, like fairies flying. Watching it all was a person I knew right away to be Gabriel. But I was wrong, it was not Gabriel but Gabrielle – a woman.
I handed Gabrielle the letter. She invited meto stay. I was to return to Armand with a message, but in the meantime I was to be her guest and enjoy the evening.
I watched the entertainment, wondering all the time, who was Gabrielle? Why all the secrecy?
<Mixed Media artwork, concept and story (c) 2009 Melanie Dooley>
** This artwork is for sale on my Etsy shop ‘L’Atelier de Talaru’
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A mysterious package arrived by courier. A thin box, lightweight. The handwriting on the lid was familiar. The fleur de lys on the front told me all I needed to know about the sender. The postmark, Paris, it had to be….could it be? Was it time?
What Could It Be?
I opened the box and my skin went cold, and the hair on the back of my neck bristled and tingled. Someone was there, right behind me, or did I imagine it?
The Box Revealed
The letter was from Gabriel. I recognised the elegant sloping style of his penmanship. The words mean little, obligatory chit chat to throw the spies off the scent. It was not his name at the end of the letter. It was signed and sealed with his masque de bal.
A letter from Gabriel
Gabriel's Masque Mystere
The little symbol spoke volumes to me: the need for secrecy and discretion was paramount. The real message was not in the words but in the music, and only one man could decipher it. Armand, the blind musician.
Music and Secrets
The winged doll, a symbol of Gabriel, was my passport and guarantee of safe passage, first to Armand and then onto Paris to see Gabriel. All would be revealed, in time, when I needed to know. I had to have faith in Gabriel and trust in Armand…it was time.
The story will continue…
<Mixed Media artwork, concept and story (c) 2009 Melanie Dooley>
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A little mixed media artwork I made from lots of luscious antique elements: An old letter, French, dating to 1833, tintype photo, frozen Charlotte 100 year old doll, old lace and antique velvet ribbon, a WW2 parachutist insignia, some fringing from a lodge medal…I have a great product which can create a rusty finish on almost anything, so I’ve been busily rusticating all sorts of things. It’s fantastic! I’m thinking it needs something to finish it off, so I will sew some calico ruffles and affix them around the edges as a soft frame.
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…only for a few days. I’ve had an urge to do some mixed media work. I’ve collected together lots of little treasures over the past year: lace, ribbons, metal bits, ephemera. Today I went out to Tyabb, where I go to get a lot of antique things…it’s a huge antique warehouse of hundreds of sellers. I picked up some cigar boxes and lots of antique lace.
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This is my latest tee design for sale on Red Bubble. I’m really loving these old French fashion plates. I think I’ll do 12 designs and also make a calendar. This design is called ‘Chasing Butterflies’.
Chasing Butterflies Tee
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I just updated my About Me page. It was a year old…
Me age 4 or so….
Me at age 4 or so, Aunty Nan had been to Hawaii and bought me back an outfit.
Great Granny Marsie, my grandfather's mother.
My great-grandmother, Jean Fox. I called her ‘Marsie’. I remember the last time I saw her, it was an Xmas party, and my brother and I gave her a beer. She was so gentle and serene. Such a character though. She died a week days later. Ooooops. I was convinced we’d killed her by giving her a beer, but in fact she was well into her 90s. It was her time. That serene look I remember – she’d lived a long and happy life. I hope I have the same.
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…with a book!
I feel fortunate to now own this delightful old book. It’s a French edition, dating to 1831 and contains lots of amazing hand coloured fashion plates. The pages are almost like parchment and there are stories, poems, plays, fashion advice…even a section on the latest model carriages. You can see what mean wear in the evening, the latest hat styles, there are even illustrations of jewelry.
I can just imagine a young mademoiselle pouring over each page, coveting a lovely bonnet, imagining a glamorous life of balls, and opera and carriage rides.
I also recently bought this beautiful swatch of fabric. It is antique French silk brocade and dates to around 1800. The silk feels so lovely. It is a small piece, suitable for framing.
*I’ve put a watermark over the images to discourage unscrupulous downloads and distribution.
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