View allAll Photos Tagged WrappingPaper
This year the Flickr Friends Melbourne Group have decided to have a monthly challenge which is submitted on the 5th of every month. This month’s theme is “geometry”.
I had lots of ideas for this theme, and I took plenty of photos of things that were geometric. I had a whole array of details from the Art Deco style villas from the 1920s and 1930s in my neighbourhood that still have their original facades, fences and gates. I also photographed pieces of a beautiful Victorian Anglo-Indian occasional table that belonged to my Great Grandparents who acquired it whilst working in the diplomatic corps during the Raj. My intention had been to make collages of these photos, however once they were done, I really wasn’t satisfied with the result.
Then the solution hit me! Earlier this year I paid a call to Zetta Florence, which is a wonderful shop that specialises in beautifully made papers. Amongst the papers I had bought was a roll of hand stencilled paper featuring a geometric Art Deco fan pattern used quite commonly in the 1920s and 1930s. Unfurling it down my table it gave the crisp look I wanted for my submission for the theme! So you see, that sometimes the simplest ideas can offer a perfect geometric solution!
Art Deco is a European style that celebrated the exciting and dynamic aspects of the machine age. It was all about sleekness, sharp lines, and vivid decorative elements like fins, fans, speed lines, portal windows and low relief sculpture. There was also a drive towards the clean lines of geometry in design.
Geometry is the part of mathematics that studies the size, shapes, positions and dimensions of things. Squares, circles and triangles are some of the simplest shapes in flat geometry. Cubes, cylinders, cones and spheres are simple shapes in solid geometry.
Vintage xmas wrapping paper - 50s probably.
I think they're supposed to be deer, but they look quite a lot like lambs too
Is it even Christmas Eve if you're not scrambling to get last minute wrapping done?
Merry Christmas!
Hope everyone is doing well and staying safe.
Click "L" to view on black.
Origami Kusudama (Maria Sinayskaya)
rectangles (2:5), 12 units, no glue
Some other rectangles will work with this folding sequence too.
double sided paper - turquoise/chartreuse and pink/red and it's fabulous quality too!
printed on 80% recycled paper with soy inks so very very friendly :)
Whilst cooking a meal and placing the pan lid on the pan the lid shattered. Alternate plans were needed for dinner as we didn't fancy eating glass shards.
However before throwing it away it needed a few shots with some macro tubes and an old M42 Pentacon 50mm lens. This is roughly about a 1 inch/2.5 cm section of the lid.
Dec 24th Advent Gift - Claim for Free by by 11:59 PM SLT on Dec 24th 2021
Follow the reindeer until you find Santa by the fireplace, the Calendar is on the mantle.
If you miss today's gift from the Advent Calendar you can purchase it for just 10L from under the Christmas tree between Dec 25th - January 6th.
Return daily for you new gift, always free on the corresponding day's date on the Advent Calendar!
Bring a friend or three and spread the holiday joy with others. No group is required. Happy Holidays!
Advent Calendar FREE on that calendar day SLT time
"Love is not love which alters when it alteration finds" - Shakespeare - Sonnet 116 - written in 1609.
The many shades and aspects of love which enthral us all.
True love should be constant through any difficulties.
Under-/background : colourful wrappingpaper
Strobist info : NikonSB910Speedlight handheld right cam.
Cavendish Mews is a smart set of flats in Mayfair where flapper and modern woman, the Honourable Lettice Chetwynd has set up home after coming of age and gaining her allowance. To supplement her already generous allowance, and to break away from dependence upon her family, Lettice has established herself as a society interior designer, so her flat is decorated with a mixture of elegant antique Georgian pieces and modern Art Deco furnishings, using it as a showroom for what she can offer to her well heeled clients.
Today we have not ventured far from Cavendish Mews, remaining in Mayfair, going only a short distance south to 145 Piccadilly*, a rather large terraced Georgian townhouse facing Green Park, which is the home of the Duke and Duchess of York**. Lettice is very good friends with Elizabeth, the Duchess, albeit their relationship became a little more distant when Elizabeth married the Duke in 1922 and took up Royal duties as part of the monarch’s household, but their bond has remained strong in spite of this. The Duchess has recently given birth to her first child, a daughter: Elizabeth Alexandra Mary***, and has not long returned home to 145 Piccadilly after giving birth at her parents house a shirt distance away at 17 Bruton Street. Lettice is visiting her friend to wish her congratulations, to give her a gift for her daughter, and perhaps see the little Princess Elizabeth for herself.
Lettice presents herself at the front door of the York’s London home, which is opened by a tall footman**** dressed in fine red livery, trimmed with gold braid, and announces with the self-assured presence of the daughter of a viscount, that she is expected. Having visited the house several times since the Duchess’ marriage to the Duke, she is recognised by the household staff, who welcome her warmly. Divested of her powder blue coat, arctic fox fur stole, gloves and umbrella by the first footman, she is ushered past three more liveried footmen, who bow in deference to her, Lettice is presented to the York’s butler in the large hallway with green marble columns. “Right this way, Miss Chetwynd.” he says politely, in the same stiff and affected way as Bramley, the butler at Lettice’s family home of Glynes in Wiltshire. Lettice smiles as he leads her along the familiar route to the electric lift, rather than the staircase they are situated behind, and takes her to the first floor morning room which is situated to the east of the house.
“The Honourable Miss Chetwynd, Your Royal Highness,” the butler announces proudly as he pushes open the inwards swinging white painted and gilt double doors and stands to one side to allow Lettice to enter the room before him.
She walks into a beautiful, spacious room, flooded with light from French doors that open out onto a balcony overlooking a long walled garden, featuring a stone terrace, lawns, abundant borders and wooden benches.
“Your Royal Highness*****.” Lettice says as she drops a deep and perfect Madam Vacani curtsey****** before her friend the Duchess quickly puts aside her copy of the London Illustrated News******* and smiles from her place in an overstuffed link floral armchair at Lettice.
“Lettice darling!” she exclaims enthusiastically. “How much I’ve been looking forward to your visit. Burton.” She turns her head and addresses the butler. “You may serve tea.”
“In the drawing room, Ma’am?” the manservant asks.
“Oh no, Burton!” the Duchess exclaims. “This is informal enough an occasion for us to have tea in here, isn’t it, Lettice darling?”
“Yes, Elizabeth darling.” Lettice replies, dropping the formal address of ‘ma’am’ usually reserved for most people, and reverting to the informal use of name used between intimate equals as she stands in the middle of the thick Chinese silk rug.
“Very good, Ma’am.” Burton replies unflappably, before retreating from the room, not turning his back on the Duchess or her friend.
As the doors close softly behind him, the two friends can no longer contain their mirth, and both snort over half muffled giggles.
“I don’t think I’ll ever get used to you being a Royal Highness, Elizabeth darling!” Lettice titters.
“You should try being a Royal Highness, Lettice darling!” Elizabeth giggles girlishly. “You think after several years of marriage, I’d be used to being addressed as Your Royal Highness by all my friends, but I’m not.” She waves her hand towards the plump floral sofa that matches her chair. “Please do sit down, Lettice.”
“Thank you, Your Royal Highness!” Lettice says with mocking solemnity in her voice as she makes an over accentuated curtsey to her friend, causing both of them to laugh again. As she takes her seat, Lettice adds, “Your butler is so pompous, Elizabeth darling.”
“I know, but Burton came highly recommended, and he is very competent. I imagine he feels that he has reached the pinnacle of his career, serving our household, even if we are only the Duke and Duchess of York, and therefore of no real importance.”
“Yes, butlers can be rather snobbish. I can imagine him in his dotage, boring the other servants around him with his pomposity as she shares stories of ‘what it was like when he served the Duke and Duchess of York’.”
“Oh don’t Lettice darling!” Elizabeth giggles again as Lettice imitates the plummy and stuff tones of the male manservant. “What if Burton comes back in? I shall not be able to look him in the face.”
“Isn’t that part of your role as Duchess, Elizabeth darling, to ignore the servants?” Lettice says cheekily.
“You are wicked, Lettice!” Elizabeth scolds her friend.
“I know, Elizabeth darling,” Lettice replies before adding cheekily, “And you love it!”
“I do adore you, my darling!” Elizabeth agrees.
With her interior designer’s critical eye, Lettice quickly takes in the decoration of the room in which she sits. There are many fine antiques around the room, including many Georgian pieces, however in her mind, it is overly stuffed with furnishings and bibelots******** which detract from the beauty and quality of the pieces. Elizabeth’s love of chintz is also at odds to Lettice’s own aesthetic tastes.
“Now don’t sit there judging my décor, Lettice!” Elizabeth observes.
Caught out, Lettice defends herself. “Oh, I wasn’t Elizabeth darling.”
Elizabeth gives her a shrewd look. Her stare is enough without words to say that her friend doesn’t believe her.
“Thinking of decorating,” Elizabeth goes on brightly, with a gentle smile that tells Lettice that she isn’t cross with her for appraising her chosen interiors. “I believe you and Sir John hosted David******** and Mrs. Dudley Ward********* a few months ago in Bedfordshire.”
“We did!” Lettice concurs. “His Royal Highness was very complimentary of my work, actually, Elizabeth darling. He even suggested that I might have a hand in decorating Ford Belvedere********** if His Majesty allows him to have it when the current lease is up on it***********.”
“Oh, don’t worry on that account, Lettice darling.” Elizabeth chuckles softly. “David is used to getting what he wants, and even though they have a strained relationship, my brother-in-law always manages to win around his father in the end.”
“Well it would be quite a feather in my cap if I were to decorate the home of the most famous man in the world.” Lettice enthuses. “He likes my more stripped back and modern, Art Deco designs. He said so.”
“I’m sure he did, Lettice. However,” Elizabeth cautions her friend as she looks at her seriously. “As your friend, I would give you a gentle word of warning.”
“Yes?”
“David is probably more likely to be a headache for you, than a feather for your cap. He’s famous for his lavish spending habits, but notorious for not paying his bills, even when, however delicately, asked to do so.”
“Well, I’ve dealt with Mater’s cousin, the Duchess of Whitby. and her reluctance to pay her bills. How much worse can His Royal Highness be?”
“He is rather preoccupied with hoarding money*************, rather than spending it, Lettice darling.”
“Well his endorsement of my designs for him…” Lettice begins.
“Will never come to fruition, Lettice darling.” Elizabeth concludes matter-of-factly. “Mark my words. Take heed of what I said before.” she goes on. “David usually gets what he likes, and what he likes at the moment is entirely whatever Mrs. Dudley Ward likes and wants. He’s in her thrall, and she can do no wrong. He’s already confided in me that between the two of them, they are already working on interior designs for Fort Belvedere, even before he has secured the lease of the place from His Majesty.”
Lettice’s face falls.
“I’m sorry to be the harbinger of such disappointing news, Lettice darling, but you’re better off without him, even for all his celebrité. Trust me.”
“Oh pooh!” Lettice says irritably. “That is a nuisance. I thought the men in my profession might actually pay me some attention and start treating me with respect and consideration, rather than dismissing me as a female dilettante with no knowledge or taste, if His Royal Highness recommended my work.”
“Sorry Lettice darling.” Elizabeth says again, sadly.
The two fall momentarily silent.
“Is that a gift for us?” Elizabeth says, breaking the quietness that has momentarily blanketed the two friends, indicating to a rater large and odd shaped parcel, wrapped in brightly coloured floral chintz wrapping paper, sitting in Lettice’s lap.
“Oh yes!” Lettice exclaims. “I had quite forgotten. Yes, this is for the Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary.”
“Bertie and I are in the habit of calling her Lilibet**************,” Elizabeth says as she accepts the present, tied with a large red bow, from her friend. “It helps to differentiate between her and me when we speak of her.”
“That’s lovely, Elizabeth.” Lettice says.
“You know, you really shouldn’t have, Lettice darling.” Elizabeth admonishes her friend very mildly as she removes the bow from atop the wrapped gift, now sitting in her own lap.
“Nonsense Elizabeth darling. It’s my pleasure.”
“No,” Eliabeth counters. “Really you shouldn’t have. We have so many presents arriving on a daily basis from every corner of the Empire. Just before you arrived I was reading a few very deeply heartfelt well wishes the Countess of Airlie************** thought I might like to respond to personally.” She indicates to the silver salver on the table between them on which sit a few opened envelopes with correspondence jutting out of them, and a silver letter opener. “And you should see the cabinet of curios Her Majesty has already had installed in the day nursery***************. It’s full of curios and gifts from all over the Empire for Lilibet.”
“Getting her into the habit of collecting early?” Lettice asks cheekily, referring to Queen Mary’s propensity to conspicuously acquire beautiful curios****************.
“Something like that,” Elizbeth laughs as she tears away at the wrapping which falls away noisily, revealing a large fluffy white stuffed toy dog. “Oh Lettice!” she exclaims in delight. “He’s a whizzer!” She ruffles his floppy ears, making the bells inserted in each jingle prettily. She holds him out admiringly at arms’ length, appraising his happy face and cuddly proportions.
“Well, if she’s a Bowes-Lyon,” Lettice replies proudly. “The Princess will doubtless love dogs, so I thought I’d try and instil that in her from an early age.”
“How very clever you are to think of that, Lettice darling!” Elizabeth enthuses, carefully placing the toy dog on top of the discarded paper on the floor at her feet. “She has plenty of dolls and teddy bears from family and friends, but you’re the first one to give her a dog. Thank you.”
Just at that moment, the doors of the morning room open and Burton appears carrying a small circular footed tray carrying a fine porcelain tea set featuring hand painted blue roses on it. He carefully places it on the low tea table between the two friends.
“Thank you Burton.” Elizabeth says politely to her manservant. “I’ll be mother**************** today I think.”
“Very good Ma’am.” he purrs in reply.
“Burton, do you know whether the Princess is awake?” Elizabeth goes on.
“I’m not sure Ma’am.”
“Could you be a good chap and go upstairs and check with Allah******************, please Burton? If Lilibet is awake,” She glances back at Lettice and smiles broadly. “I’d very much like Allah to bring her down so that Miss Chetwynd can meet her.”
“Very good Ma’am.” Burton says again before retreating, closing the doors behind him again.
“I… I didn’t want to ask.” Lettice manages to say awkwardly.
“You don’t have to, Lettice darling!” Elizabeth laughs. “I knew you’d want to meet Lilibet when you came for tea.” Elizabeth pauses as she lifts the teapot, leaving it poised in mid air. “You do want to meet her, don’t you?”
“I’d love nothing more, Elizabeth darling!”
“Good!” Elizabeth begins pouring tea into Lettice’s dainty fine china teacup. “That’s settled then.”
“So,” Lettice asks as she accepts the proffered cup of tea from her friend. “Which of you is the softer parent then, Elizabeth? You or Bertie?”
“Oh, I’m definitely the gentler parent out of the two of us.”
“Well, this is no revelation to me, Elizabeth darling.” Lettice says smiling brightly as she adds sugar to her tea and then milk.
“Not that Bertie is gruff, mind you.” Elizabeth assures her friend as she begins to pour her own tea. “He adores our daughter.”
“Of course he does.”
“He calls Lilibet his ‘pride’*******************, and he’s taken up to calling the three of us ‘we three’********************.”
“That’s rather endearing, Elizabeth darling.”
“However,” Elizabeth goes on as she places her cup on as of yet untouched tea on the table and worries the longest length of her three strand pearl necklace as she speaks. “Bertie is, as we all are, a product of our upbringing.” Elizabeth pauses for a moment and then leans forward in her seat towards Lettice. “I know I can speak my mind with you, and share confidences with you, Lettice darling.”
“Of course you can, Elizabeth darling!” Lettice assures her.
Elizabeth looks around furtively and lowers her voice a little. “You know, I always thought the servants in Bruton Street******************** were a gossipy lot in comparison to Glamis Castle*********************. London staff are so less discreet than county domestics. You are fortunate in your choice of such a discreet maid, Lettice darling.”
“Oh, I’m sure Edith gossips on occasion, Elizabeth darling, like all servants. No-one is a saint, but yes, I will agree that my private business is not widely shared about, so far as I am aware. Do the servants here talk?”
“The walls have ears here, and worse than gossip, the finest details of the comings and goings here go back to the Royal household: even when I ask for a Dubonnet and gin.”
“Well, whatever you share with me won’t go further than we two,”
“Well, going back to Bertie being a product of his upbringing, I don’t wish to speak ill of His Majesty, who is just a darling to me**********************, and has been the most supportive and attentive father-in-law I could hope for as I navigate Royal life, but he has very strained relationships with all his children, except perhaps for the Princess Royal, and he is forever picking on them and yelling at them. He gets very frustrated with poor Bertie and his stammer***********************, and David makes sport of Bertie’s speech problems at every opportunity he gets.”
“Yes, he made fun of Bertie’s stammer with me over luncheon at Rippon Court.” Lettice admits a little guiltily.
“And Her Majesty is so formal and remote with Bertie and David. So, I’m having to teach Bertie that there is a different way to rais children than that of his parents************************: a more kind way. I believe that one should love one's children and should spare the rod to spoil the child, to maintain their affection.”
“It worked for me. Pater showed me so much love and affection when I was a child, and let me get away with so much, and I still love him dearly to this day, despite his gruffness.”
“You were the youngest, Lettice darling, and your father indulged you!”
“You sound like Mater, Elizabeth darling.” Lettice laughs.
The double doors to the morning room swing open again as Burton announces, “Her Royal Highness, the Princess Elizabeth.”
Lettice glances at Elizabeth and rolls her eyes, which makes Elizabeth start to chuckle. She quickly muffles it behind her teacup which she raises quickly to her lips.
A tall and noble-looking mature woman dressed in a smart, yet dourly coloured, nannies’ uniform, steps into the room, and drops a deep curtsey, as Burton closes the doors behind her.
“Your Royal Highness.” the nanny says in a commanding voice.
In her arms Clara Knight, Princess Elizabeth’s nanny, holds a pretty baby swaddled in white linen and lace. She proudly holds her charge in her arms, rather like a prize turkey won at a county fair, Lettice thinks. The Princess’ pudgy fingers extend about her, reaching for things but grasping nothing. Her cherubic face with bright cheeks and lively and intelligent blue eyes that look about with wonder, peers out from beneath a lace trimmed cap.
“Ah, Allah!” Elizabeth says, standing up. “Good! I was hoping Lilibet was awake. Lettice, this is Nanny Knight – Allah – Lilibet’s nanny. Allah, this is my very dear friend Miss Chetwynd.”
“A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Chetwynd.” Allah says, dropping another efficient and respectful low curtsey towards Lettice, lowering her head with deference.
Princess Elizabeth gurgles happily at the sight of her mother and extends her arms and wriggling fingers towards Elizabeth. Elizabeth in turn stretches out her arms to her child. “Thank you Allah.”
The dour nanny carefully hands her charge to her mother, muttering, “There, there.” as the princess starts to become more vocal.
Lettice smiles at the joy on her friend’s face as she holds her child in her arms and carefully bounces her up and down.
“Did she sleep well, Allah?” Elizabeth asks, looking up at the nanny with genuine interest as to her response.
“Very well, Ma’am.” Allah affirms. “She slept through most of the night, except for feeding Miss Macdonald’s feeding times, and then she went back off to sleep straight away.”
“Very good Lilibet, darling!” Elizabeth says to her daughter, continuing to move and sway her gurgling infant around. “What a good little girl you’re being for Allah and Miss Macdonald, not making a fuss.”
“Is that for the Princess, Ma’am?” Allah asks, indicating to the toy dog at her mistress’ feet.
“Yes, it is Allah,” Elizabeth affirms. “Miss Chetwynd,” She nods at Lettice. “Brought it for Lilibet.”
“That’s a fine choice for the Princess, as a Bowes-Lyon infant, Miss Chetwynd.” Allah says, bestowing Lettice a beatifical smile. “You obviously know the family’s love of dogs well.”
“I do, Nanny Knight” Lettice affirms.
“Oh, please call me Allah, Miss Chetwynd.” Allah says. “Everyone has been calling me that, ever since Her Royal Highness and her brother were children.”
“Very well, Allah.” Lettice replies.
“Here, Lettice darling!” Elizabeth says, walking around the oblong low table and leaning down.
Lettice opens her arms and accepts the infant princess into it.
“You are a natural, Miss Chetwynd.” Allah observes with another smile as Lettice bounces the baby on her knee, supporting her around her waist, making the child giggle and squirm happily.
“Thank you, Allah.”
“You’ll make a fine mother one day.” the nanny goes on.
“Well, I am engaged to be married, Allah, and my fiancée does desire an heir.”
“Men like Sir John usually do.” Elizabeth remarks a little sharply, a look of distaste tainting her happy smile.
Lettice decides not to acknowledge Elizabeth’s small slight towards Sir John, and she holds her tongue. Instead, she focusses on the Princess Elizabeth in her arms and coos at her.
“Oh!” Elizabeth cries. “Let me fetch my Box Brownie*************************, so I can take a photograph of you with Lilibet, Lettice!”
Elizabeth hurries away to her Hepplewhite desk in the corner of the morning room overlooking the gardens, where she shuffles papers and she rummages noisily, before finally appearing from behind it once more, triumphantly holding her camera.
“Now.” Elizabeth says with a smile as she looks through the viewfinder at Lettice holding her daughter. “Ready yourself Lettice and Lilibet. One… two… three!”
The camera clicks and whirs as Elizabeth takes her photograph.
This week's chapter of "Life at Cavendish Mews" is dedicated to the memory of Her Late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, who was morn on the 21st of April 1926, and would have turned 100 years old on the Tuesday just gone.
This upper-class Mayfair drawing room may appear real to you, but it is in fact made up of 1:12 miniature pieces from my extensive collection.
*145 Piccadilly was a large, terraced townhouse on Piccadilly in the London district of Mayfair that was built in the late Eighteenth Century. It was the residence of Hamar Bass in the late Nineteenth Century and home to the Duke and Duchess of York (subsequently King George VI and Queen Elizabeth) and their two young daughters, Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret, from 1926 to 1936. It was set over five storeys with twenty five rooms, a ballroom and a library. The house opened onto a large hallway with green columns. The house had an electric lift, and a large glass dome was situated in the roof. A morning room overlooked a small garden which led to Hamilton Gardens, a communal garden shared with the other residents of adjoining houses. Hamilton Gardens directly joined Hyde Park. The Yorks would stay at the Royal Lodge in Windsor when outside London, but made 145 Piccadilly their base when in London, and made it a very private family home. The house had day and night nurseries for the young princesses. Princess Elizabeth's rooms were on the fourth floor of the house. Elizabeth's sister, Margaret, was born in 1930. It was badly damaged in an air raid during the Second World War in 1940, and was finally demolished in 1959.
**Prince Albert, Duke of York, known by the diminutive “Bertie” to the family and close friends, was the second son of George V. He and his wife Elizabeth Bowes Lyon as she was known prior to her marriage to Bertie and becoming the Duchess of York, went on to become King George VI and Queen Elizabeth of the United Kingdom and the Dominions from 1936 to 1952.
***Elizabeth Alexandra Mary (later Queen Elizabeth II) was the first-born child of the Duke and Duchess of York (subsequently King George VI and Queen Elizabeth). Her middle names were given in honour of her paternal grandmother, Queen Mary, and her late great grandmother, Dowager Queen Alexandra, who had died less than six months earlier in November 1925. Princess Elizabeth was born on the 21st of April 1926 at the London residence of her maternal grandparents, the Count and Countess of Strathmore and Kinghorne, number 17 Bruton Street, Mayfair, before returning with her mother to the York’s London home of 145 Piccadilly a few days after her birth.
****Footmen were historically chosen for their height (typically over 6 feet) primarily as a display of wealth, acting as a luxury status symbol, similar to a "matched team of horses" for wealthy households. Tall, strong, and handsome footmen in elaborate livery served to impress visitors, while also providing practical utility as bodyguards, messengers, and coach attendants
*****Etiquette stipulates that when addressing the Duchess of York (or any female member styled as "Her Royal Highness"), you first address her as "Your Royal Highness," upon presentation, and then in subsequent conversation, you address her as "Ma’am", rhyming with "ham".
******Founded in 1915 by Marguerite Vacani (aunt of Betty Vacani) the Vacani School of Dance originally taught the sort of dancing and social etiquette that was a necessary accomplishment for young ladies and gentlemen of quality. Pupils were taught the ballroom dances of the day and debutante ladies learned the curtsy needed when presented at court.
*******The Illustrated London News was first published on in May 1842, by Herbert Ingram. It was the world's first illustrated weekly newspaper, featuring extensive wood engravings and, later, photographs, with regular publication continuing until 1971 before becoming a monthly broadsheet, and eventually ceasing publication in 2003.
********A bibelot is another name for a small decorative knickknack, ornament or trinket.
*********Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII), was called "David" by his family and close friends because it was the last of his seven given names: Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David. The name was chosen in honour of St. David, the patron saint of Wales, and used informally to distinguish him within the royal family.
*********Winifred May Mones, Marquesa de Casa Maury, commonly known by her first married name as Freda Dudley Ward, was an English socialite. She was best known for being a married paramour of Edward, Prince of Wales, who later became Edward VIII. She was twice married and divorced. Her first marriage was on 9 July 1913 to William Dudley Ward, the Liberal MP for Southampton. Her first husband’s family surname was Ward, but ‘Dudley Ward’ became their surname through common usage. They divorced on the ground of adultery in 1931 and were the parents of two daughters. Although married in 1913 to William Dudley Ward, Freda was also in a relationship with Edward, Prince of Wales from 1918, until she was supplanted by American Thelma Furness from 1929 to 1934 before he then took up with Wallis Simpson, whom he eventually married and abdicated for.
**********Fort Belvedere (originally Shrubs Hill Tower) is a country house on Shrubs Hill in Windsor Great Park, in Surrey. The fort was built as a folly by Henry Flitcroft in 1750–1755 and was later predominantly re-constructed by Jeffry Wyatville in a Gothic Revival style in the 1820s. The fort was occupied by numerous members of the British Royal Family and associated personages from 1750 to 1976. From 1929 Fort Belvedere was the home of Edward, Prince of Wales, who greatly renovated the house and grounds, and it was the site of his abdication as King Edward VIII in 1936. The property remains part of the Crown Estate, is home to private tenants and is not open to the public.
***********In 1929, Fort Belvedere became vacant, and was given to Prince Edward, Prince of Wales, by his father, King George V. The King had originally expressed surprise at Edward\'s request asking him "What could you possibly want that queer old place for? Those damn weekends I suppose", but then smiled and gave his permission. During Edward\'s occupancy, extensive renovation of the interior and grounds was carried out. He built a swimming pool at the fort between 1931 and 1932, that replaced an old lily pond, and added a tennis court and developed stables in the grounds of the fort. Edward added modern conveniences at the fort, many of which were still rare in British homes, including bathrooms adjacent to nearly every room, a steam-room, showers, built-in cupboards and central heating. The Prince initially renovated the house with the assistance of his then mistress Freda Dudley-Ward.
************In 1926, Edward, Prince of Wales (later Edward VIII), was arguably the most famous and photographed celebrity in the world. At the height of his popularity during the 1920s, the Prince of Wales commanded unprecedented global attention due to his role as the "poster boy" of the British Empire, his bachelor status, his charming personality, and his status as a trendsetter in men's fashion.
*************Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII and then the Duke of Windsor), was exceptionally wealthy while younger but often exhibited lavish spending habits. While he did not suffer from the crushing debts that plagued his royal ancestors like George IV, he was noted for being extremely preoccupied with his wealth, hoarding money, and negotiating large financial settlements for his private comfort. Contrary to the stereotype of royalty, the Prince often inquired about the price of goods rather than paying exorbitant amounts. Edward was known for hoarding jewels as well, leading to the nickname "Magpies" for himself and Wallis Simpson. He was known to have "grossly minimised" his assets to the British government to negotiate better financial terms upon his abdication. After abdicating, he continued to "run through his money like water" and frequently badgered his brother, King George VI, for more money, to the point where the King stopped taking his telephone calls.
**************Princess Elizabeth (the future Queen Elizabeth II) was affectionately nicknamed "Lilibet" by her close family, including her parents, the Duke and Duchess of York, from a very young age. The nickname originated because it was what she called herself when she first started to talk and couldn't pronounce her own name properly. The nickname was used exclusively by her close family, including her parents, her grandfather King George V, and later her husband, Prince Philip. Although the Princess Elizabeth is still far too young to be talking by this time in 1926 when the chapter is set, I hope you will indulge my creative licence with this fact, as I say that the Duke and Duchess are already calling her that in April 1926.
**************The Countess of Airlie (Mabel Airlie) was a trusted friend and lady-in-waiting to Queen Mary. She was spared from the Queen’s retinue of staff temporarily when she was tasked with visiting the Duchess and helping her with the onerous task of the barrage of official correspondence after the birth of Princess Elizabeth. She also visited the Duchess on May 14, 1926, just after the General Strike, to deliver a gift for the baby's christening.
***************The day nursery of 145 Piccadilly had a tall cabinet with curios and gifts from all over the British Empire given by the Princess Elizabeth's grandmother, Queen Mary.
****************Queen Mary (wife of George V) was an avid and compulsive collector. She loved, and was expert at locating, items with royal provenance and she referred to collecting and organizing items in the Royal Collection as her hobby. The Queen collected Battersea enamels, late jades, miniature elephants, gold tea sets, lacquerware, fans, and jewellery. She bought three of the famous Russian Fabergé eggs after the 1917 Russian Revolutions and purchased pieces from Empress Maria Feodorovna (her aunt-in-law) and other survivors to help them financially, including Boucheron brooches and large pearls. The most famous of these is the Vladimir Tiara which the Queen purchased in 1921 from Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna, who had smuggled the tiara out of Russia with the help of British diplomats. Queen Mary had it repaired by Garrard and made the pearl drops interchangeable with emeralds. In a telling anecdote about Queen Mary, Grand Duchess Xenia recognised a pink onyx Fabergé box (part of her own collection) on a writing desk during a visit to Queen Mary. Queen Mary reportedly replaced the box in a cabinet without commenting or offering to return it to the Grand Duchess Xenia, illustrating her rather possessive nature. She was well known for her intense desire to acquire pieces, sometimes nicknamed a "kleptomaniac" for her persistent requests for items from her friends, who took to hiding objects they thought might take her fancy when she visited them. For all her magpie hoarding and kleptomaniac acquisitions, Queen Mary was a committed curator who aimed to preserve the history of the House of Windsor, restoring pieces that had been scattered.
*****************The meaning of the very British term “shall I be mother” is “shall I pour the tea?”
******************Princess Elizabeth's first senior nanny was Clara Knight, known as "Allah", who had also been nanny to her mother, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. Knight was born near the Hertfordshire home of the Bowes-Lyon family, and was raised in a deeply Christian family. Her father was a tenant farmer from Whitwell, Hertfordshire, and her brother farmed the earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne's land at St Paul's Walden Bury. The Bowes-Lyon family employed Knight as a nanny for their children when she was seventeen, and she spent the rest of her life raising the family's children and grandchildren. Her charges included Elizabeth (Later Queen Elizabeth and then the Queen Mother) and David Bowes-Lyon, children of the 14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne. Because David and Elizabeth could not pronounce "Clara", they called her Allah, and the nickname stuck for the rest of her life. When the then Duchess of York gave birth to her first child, Princess Elizabeth, in 1926, Lady Elphinstone (the Duchess’ elder sister) agreed that Knight should go and take charge of the princess. Knight moved into the York family residence at 145 Piccadilly, where she was allocated the top floor. She raised Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret until their adolescence. Knight was a "no-nonsense" nanny who set up a rigid schedule for Princess Elizabeth lest she grow up into a spoiled adult, from breakfast at half past seven every morning until bedtime at a quarter past seven each night. Even the princess's bowel movements were strictly regulated. Knight was aided by a more flexible, much younger nursery maid, Margaret MacDonald, while their education was entrusted to a governess, Marion Crawford (Crawfie). Princess Elizabeth's companion Lady Elizabeth Cavendish described Knight as "formidable". Nannies were expected to stay single, and Knight never married; she was referred to as "Mrs" by virtue of her senior position among the family's staff. Knight was tall and noble looking. She was never photographed out of uniform and never talked to the press, unlike later carers for the princesses.
*******************King George VI famously referred to his daughters individually, saying, "Lilibet is my pride. Margaret is my joy". This is believed to have begun during both their childhoods, although I am only supposing he used the term “pride” to describe Princess Elizabeth so early on in her infancy.
********************King George VI frequently referred to his wife (Queen Elizabeth) and their two daughters (Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret) as "us four" or "the four of us". The King used this phrase to emphasise the unity of himself, his wife, and their two daughters, and it stems back from before he was the King, and the family lived a much simpler and more private life as the Yorks. This phrasing was used to describe their close-knit, supportive family unit, particularly during the turbulent times of the abdication crisis in 1936 and the subsequent Second World War of 1939 to 1945.
********************17 Bruton Street was a large, eighteenth-century townhouse located next to Berkeley Square in Mayfair. Built in 1742, it was leased by Claude Bowes-Lyon, 14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne during the 1920s. In June 1920 the Earl and his wife Cecilia, Lady Strathmore, vacated No. 20 St James's Square, which had been used as the family's London townhouse since 1906. A temporary lease was taken over a house in Eaton Square, and by April 1921 the lease of No. 17 Bruton Street had been acquired, and renovations were underway in preparation for the Bowes-Lyon family's occupation of the house. The family had moved in to their new Bruton Street residence by March 1922. In January 1923 the Strathmores' youngest daughter Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon had become engaged to Prince Albert, Duke of York. Lady Strathmore arrived at 17 Bruton Street on the 9th of April in preparation for her daughter's wedding. On the 26th of April 1923 Lady Elizabeth departed from No. 17 Bruton Street for Westminster Abbey where she and Prince Albert were married, On 21 April, Elizabeth, Duchess of York gave birth at the house to Princess Elizabeth of York, who would later become the longest-reigning Sovereign of the United Kingdom. The building was demolished in 1937 and replaced by Berkeley Square House.
*********************Glamis Castle is situated beside the village of Glamis in Angus, Scotland. It is the home of the Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne, and is open to the public. Glamis Castle is the ancestral seat and home of the Lyon family since the 14th Century, though the present building dates largely from the 17th century. It became the Bowes-Lyon family’s main home after Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon’s father, Claude, inherited the title of Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne in 1904.
**********************King George V was very fond of his daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, Duchess of York, (the future Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mother). He regarded her as a charming and stabilising influence on his son, Prince Albert ("Bertie," later George VI), and enjoyed her vivacious personality, often allowing her to break the strict rules of his court, treating her as his favourite daughter-in-law. Elizabeth for her part, noted that the King seemed to enjoy having someone "new and young" join the family, helping to lighten the atmosphere among the Royal Family, many of whom he had strained relationships with, including all his children, due to his demanding and gruff temperament.
***********************King George VI had a severe stammer that developed around age eight. It was a lifelong struggle that caused him great anxiety, particularly with public speaking, but he managed it with the help of Australian speech therapist Lionel Logue, a story famously depicted in the film The King's Speech.
************************King George V and Queen Mary had a stern, distant, and formal relationship with their children, typical of high-ranking Edwardian-era parents who relied heavily on nannies and tutors to do the caring whilst they attended to their formal duties as monarchs. Whilst Queen Mary was known to be a warmer, nurturing presence at times, both parents held strict views on duty, often creating an intimidating atmosphere that left their sons particularly strained or fearful of their father. King George was a martinet for order, applying a severe, often harsh, disciplinary style to his sons. He was known for outbursts of temper and created a strict upbringing. Queen Mary was perceived as colder in her maternal duties, having little interest in her children as babies, but she was seen as a source of comfort to her sons in contrast to their father, and she grew to love her children dearly later in life. Princess Mary was the only daughter and the youngest for a time, making her the favourite. King George was much more lenient with her, and she frequently caused disruptions in her brothers' study times. On the other hand, he was famously tough on his sons to ensure they avoided scandal, which caused resentment and fear.
*************************A Kodak Box Brownie is a simple, inexpensive, cardboard or metal box camera introduced by Eastman Kodak in 1900 that revolutionized amateur photography. . Priced at five shillings, it featured a simple lens and shutter, allowing the mass market to take "snapshots". With Royal patronage from Princess (later Queen) Alexandra, wife of Edward the Prince of Wales (the future King Edward VII) who was an avid amateur photographer, the Box Brownie popularised photography in the upper and middle-classes, bringing it to children and families for over eighty years. Like her husband’s grandmother, The Duchess of York also enjoyed and was a keen amateur photographer, and was often photographed with cameras. She in turn passed the love of photography on to her daughter, the future Queen Eliabeth II, who famously owned and used a Kodak Box Brownie camera, often referred to as her first camera given to her by her father before the Second World War, who used it to take candid shots of family and friends.
Fun things to look for in this tableau include:
The beautiful white plush dog that is the gift from Lettice to Princess Elizabeth is a handmade artisan miniature from America. He (or she) has an articulated head and limbs and has a hand stitched face. The paper the dog sits on is real wrapping paper that is double sided with different patterns that comes from the Melbourne paper emporium Zetta Florence.
The pretty floral tea set for two I acquired from a curios and collectables shop in Daylesford in provincial Victoria. The silver tea caddy, round tea tray and the silver salver on the round table were made by Warwick Miniatures in Ireland who are renown for the accuracy and detail they pay to their miniature pieces, all of which are based on real items. The letter opener on top of the salver is sterling silver and was made by made by the Little Green Workshop in England who specialise in high end, high quality miniatures.
The letters on the salver and the copy of the Illustrated London News are 1:12 size miniatures made by the British miniature artisan Ken Blythe. Ken Blythe is better known for his miniature books. Most of the books I own that he has made may be opened to reveal authentic printed interiors. In some cases, you can even read the words, depending upon the size of the print! I have quite a large representation of Ken Blythe’s work in my collection, but so little of his real artistry is seen because the books that he specialised in making are usually closed, sitting on shelves or closed on desks and table surfaces. He also created smaller paper based products, like letters and newspapers. To create something so authentic to the original in such detail and so clearly, really does make this a miniature artisan piece. Ken Blythe’s work is highly sought after by miniaturists around the world today and command high prices at auction for such tiny pieces, particularly now that he is no longer alive. I was fortunate enough to acquire pieces from Ken Blythe prior to his death about four years ago, as well as through his estate via his daughter and son-in-law. His legacy will live on with me and in my photography which I hope will please his daughter.
The Duchess of York’s floral chintz sofa and chair are made by J.B.M. miniatures who specialise in well made pieces of miniature furniture made to exacting standards. The floral cushions on them with Art Nouveau Charles Rennie Macintosh roses designs were acquired from Kathleen Knight’s Dolls’ House Shop.
The Marie Antionette suite with pretty floral upholstery consisting of the sofa in the background, the salon chair in the foreground and the coffee table in the midground, have been made by the high-end miniatures manufacturer, Creal.
The footstool in the foreground and the galleried chinoiserie style black japanned Chippendale butler’s table to the right of the photo were made by high-end miniature furniture manufacturer, Bespaq.
The hand painted French bombe chest of drawers in the centre background has been made by high-end miniature manufacturer, Hansson. In its hand painted “marble” surface stand two miniature diecast lead Meissen figurines: the Lady with the Canary and the Gentleman with the Butterfly, made by Warwick Miniatures in Ireland, who are well known for the quality and detail applied to their pieces, The pair have been hand painted and gilded by me. The two statues flanking them: a bull and an Eighteenth Century gentleman, are made by British miniature ceramicist, Kay Lewis.
The vases of flowers around the room are all beautifully made by hand by the Doll House Emporium.
The screen with hand painted soapstone panels is an antique I acquired from an antiques and collectables auction some years ago.
All the paintings around the Duchess’ morning room in their gilded frames are from Kathleen Knight’s Doll’s House Shop in the United Kingdom, as are the miniature silhouettes, and the wallpaper is an authentic copy of Georgian wallpaper from the 1770s, printed by me.
The Chinese rug on the floor is a copy of a style that was very popular in the 1920s, and has been woven by Pike, Pike and Company in the United Kingdom.
Candidate photo for Looking close...on Friday: Oil on water (not used)
Explored 27 April 2024 at No. 396
023 // 365
facebook page // blog // website.
Today is my birthday! ^-^
Tomorrow I am going on a weekend away, so wont be commenting or posting until next week. Hope everyone has a great weekend!
Geschenkpapier aus Altpapier
Wrapping paper from waste paper
Auswahlfoto
Für "Smile on Saturday"
Thema "Recycled" am 16.01.2021.
A "Happy Smile on Saturday" and
a nice weekend for all of you.
Stay safe / Bleibt gesund.
Wishing you all the best for Christmas and the New Year. Thank you to everyone for all their support and comments. This was quite a technically challenging shot, mainly because of the low light levels at this time of year. There are 4 exposures, combined. 3 bracketed shots with the light lit and 1 without the light to get better colour on the curtains. Shots blended using painted masks, all in Affinity Photo on an iPad.
The We're Here group members are visiting the stripes ||| group today and the only stripey thing I could find in the house was a roll of wrapping paper.
Dec 18th Advent Gift - Claim for Free by by 11:59 PM SLT on Dec 18th 2021
Follow the reindeer until you find Santa by the fireplace, the Calendar is on the mantle.
If you miss today's gift from the Advent Calendar you can purchase it for just 10L from under the Christmas tree between Dec 19th - January 6th.
Return daily for you new gift, always free on the corresponding day's date on the Advent Calendar!
Bring a friend or three and spread the holiday joy with others. No group is required. Happy Holidays!
Maddie falls asleep with the wrapping paper roll IN her mouth. *With special thanks to my daughter for quietly fetching my camera so that I could take this shot.
EXPLORE Dec 23. Reached #80 on December 25th. Thanks, Flickr Friends, for all your visits, comments and invitations. MUCH appreciated.
This week its the theme Long, and as Christmas is approaching I though I would use the Long rolls of wrapping paper to project my contribution to this week’s theme…
Covid-19 has upended daily life in nearly every corner of the globe. Events have been cancelled, gatherings postponed and major life moments have been forced online.
But, Finland’s Santa Claus has a message of reassurance for worried children around the world as numerous countries reimpose new restrictions amid rising cases – despite everything going on, Christmas will not be cancelled.
In an early Christmas message as he answers post sent in from around the world, Santa responded to a little boy called David who was worried the festive season would be postponed this year.
The jolly St Nicholas reassured the youngster that Christmas would not be cancelled but to remember, “one of the most important wonderful aspects of Christmas is spending time together” before a helpful elf reminds watchers that they should do so while following relevant public health guidelines in their areas.
We're here visiting How many days till Christmas
Have a Covid-safe Christmas
So in the process of doing our grocery order, online, I added salsa. It wasn’t until I hit the order confirmation that I realized it was going to be shipped— for heaven’s sake!! I tried canceling it but their website was obstinately stuck in an unproductive recursive loop.
I figure it took at least three (probably more like six+) people to get it to us: the person who picked it up off the shelf in the warehouse, the person who wrapped it so carefully and boxed it up, the person who applied the label (that could also be the boxer) and the fedex person who put it into the shipping system, the person who put it on the truck in Johnstown, NY and the person who delivered it just now in eastern New England!!
At least I got a photo op out of this comedic error.
ANSH scavenger13 frame your subject