My Belle Epoque Hat

In the movie Cheri Michelle Pfeiffer wears the most Beautiful hats of the Belle Epoque era,i adore this movie as it is visually stunning and i recently discovered the era which i love and always gravitate towards has the most beautiful title of 'Belle Epoque'.........it is so true that you can learn something new every day isn't it?......

The Belle Époque or La Belle Époque (French pronunciation: [bɛlepɔk]; French for "Beautiful Era") was a period in European social history that began during the late 19th century and lasted until World War I.

After watching the movie again this week i decided to make my own hat in the style of 'Belle Epoque'

I started with an old straw hat that i sprayed  heirloom white.......

 I rummaged through hat boxes and drawers in my sewing room searching for soft old lawn cottons,vintage polka dot bridal veil,feather plumes,laces,vintage millinery carnation flowers each with a soft touch of aqua in their centers.....

 Large hats of this era were known as The Merry Widow Hat after the famous operetta of the time starring Lily Elsie pictured above.....

I didn't want to use glue as i know it can yellow and spoil fabrics after time so i set to stitching and ruffling by hand,adding and taking away as i went,soft ruffles and flouncy lace all coming together and making my heart light.....

 When i had finished i placed my hat on our chandelier...imagining it was  Belle Epoque Paris and a crowd had just shouted 'Happy New Year' and a glamorous lady threw her hat  up in the air only for it to land on a chandelier draped in a 1930's soft pink feather stole.........

 I told Steve i would love to wear it one day and he said 'i hope you do! it's beautiful ' i smiled and thought to myself maybe with my wedding dress? i would love that!

 It is a little bridal looking is it not?

 I shall have to gaze at the stars and dream a while...........

I love how all the fabrics blend softly together in a soft matt sepia........

I  shall name my hat 'Cheri' after the movie that inspired me to create it......

Have you seen the movie Cheri? did you enjoy it?.....do you love the era....the hats....the dresses...bags....shoes.....furniture and soft furnishings as much as i do?

La Belle Époque mmmmm such a dreamy name................


The End XxX



Linking to.....

Show And Tell Friday

Feathered Nest Friday

White Wednesday

Sea Sunrise

26th September 2011
It's early morning at the beach cottage and i awake to see our room flooded with pinkish orange light,Steve is sleeping and i hurry myself into my clothes,there is no time for breakfast or a drink,i tie my hair up on  top of my head,grab my camera and tip toe to the cliff top,the air is warm,i pass by caravans with windows open and i see curtains gently blowing in the breeze,it had been a warm night.........i am thankful to see the sun just coming up over the sea......

I sit quietly alone on the grass and watch the sun turn everything orange as it begins its rise  including a gull that passes in front of me........i change my camera to record and begin to film........

I love that i can show you  more than just a picture,please press play below..............

I stay a while day dreaming..........praying........thinking.........watching.........
just being....

Before i return to the beach cottage for a days work i make a wish that i will be here in the early morning watching the sunrise and finding it just as beautiful when i am eighty years old.


3rd October 2011

I wake up earlier this weekend and hurry to the door but i am a little scared as it is so dark outside but i can not resist my love for the sea, i make my way quickly down the garden path,through the gate,past the picket fence and across the grass to the cliff top,it is beautiful and i want to stay but when i turn around the Avenue is so dark,i quickly take a picture and run back to the cottage......

I tell Steve how beautiful it is and that i was too scared to stay as it is so dark outside,he tells me to have a drink and go in five minutes when it is lighter,he snuggles up and falls back asleep as i drink my strawberry tea and watch the garden from the window,it starts to get a little lighter and i am on my way once more.......

The colours in the sky are breath taking and i wonder where the waves are? the sea is still like a huge lake with just a gentle rippling at the shore,the sounds of birds screeching above and below is  oh so beautiful.......

I sit quietly and watch  in high definition  on the biggest wide screen i have ever seen........

On to the sea ever!
On to the sea!
There and there only
My stream can be free;
There,where the heaven
Just kisses the Earth,
There it will find a more glorious birth.

reo.J.M.Neale D.D



I may be a day dreamer and a romantic but when i feel what i feel and i see what i see i wouldn't have me any other way,

I am thankful for our weekends by the sea,

The End xXx

Nostalgia At The Stone House

Nostalgia At The Stone House is a very beautiful Blog that belongs to a lovely lady called Niki,over my years of blogging i have had the pleasure of buying a few hand crafted and vintage items  from Niki's online shop.....

I would like to thank Niki for all the beautiful pictures she has posted on her blog since 2006 and all the lovely words she has written to go with them,i as i know lots of others have enjoyed and looked forward to each and every post,Thank you Niki x

The next rainy day go to Niki's blog and put on some old vintage music,pour a cup of tea (pj's are optional) turn the lights down and go back to 2006,start reading and enjoy all the vintage beauty that is Nostalgia At The Stone House. 


First in line for 'Nostalgia At MY House' is this vintage photo album which lives inside a cupboard at the side of the bed,it looks lovely when the room is dark and the lamp light is glowing....

Niki had kindly started off the collection of old postcards.....

I have added more but i have a long way to go until it will be full of roses......

My lovely little spoolly doll,i love how Niki has decorated her hair with flowers and a velvet bow.....

She watches over my dressing table below,all Niki's hand crafted items have specially selected vintage fabrics and trims so they have a one off unique look and style of their own......

I adore this sweet bridal cushion,Niki had this on one of her blog posts and it was sat in the window of her pretty shop,i quickly emailed her and asked if it could possibly be mine and Niki said yes and popped it in the post,i always double click the pictures of her shop now and scan the shelves for something small enough to post :)......

I have it displayed on my shelf opposite my bed so i see it as soon as i wake up,is it just me who has a tea pot in the bedroom?.................

Niki's work is of the highest quality and you can see here how the lace,fabric and picture just blend perfectly to make a real treat for the eyes,you are getting hours of work and talent when you make a purchase from this very clever lady....

This quilted bag my mum bought for me when we decided we were getting married... update: we are not married,a beach cottage or a wedding? you know which we chose ;)) as soon as funds allow....

I keep this book titled 'Bridal Bouquet' bought by my mum  inside my bag.....

Along with this jewelery and yes i might wear all of it in one go :)..........

My stunning calendar from 2010,this was July my birthday month in pretty pink,everything you see in the pictures of the calendar's are from Niki's personnel collection's,sigh too much prettiness for my eyes......

Britt my big rag doll who loves to show of her bloomers......

I am going to display Britt with this vintage seascape picture and the picture from August 2010 calendar in the guest room at the beach cottage,she is dressed in perfect nautical colours....
Bloomers again!.....

This is a picture of Niki's shop in Shepton Mallet which i am going to visit one day and run around grabbing everything i can and spending money like a crazy woman...ahem i mean to meet Niki and walk around the shop in an orderly fashion picking up some Nostalgia to take home with me,isn't the shop just beautiful?

Do you have Nostalgia at your house? if so what is your favourite piece?

If not you can visit Niki at Nostalgia At The Stone House ..........

 

Opening Hours:
	Monday	CLOSED
	Tuesday	9:30am to 4pm
	Wednesday	CLOSED
	Thursday	9:30am to 4pm
	Friday	9:30am to 4pm
	Saturday	9:30am to 4pm Closed 8th October
	Sunday	CLOSED
Address:
No.1 Market Place Shepton Mallet Somerset BA4 5AZ UK

XxX