Memoires of a Closet Victorian

I am embarking on a new adventure regarding Victoriana existing in a modern day world. With several upcoming events and Christmas celebrations I have been a bit behind on my posts. I hope to be posting very soon about this new endeavor. Until then here are some photos of my Victorian Christmas dresses:).

Living the Victorian Life-An Awakening

Rustling taffeta, like the swirling of leaves on a blustery autumn morning, brushed the worn wooden floorboards of the mercantile as she stepped gracefully through the front door...

It will come as no surprise that my love of Victoriana and all that it encompasses fills my thoughts daily. I recently shared a link about a young woman who has embraced this elegant way of life leading me to redefine my own Victorian life, or should I say refine it.

Many of my facebook and blog posts as of late have focused on living a simpler more genteel lifestyle . I actually believed I had achieved the pinnacle of historic living until I read her article.

Humph.

There is more out there than I had imagined. Granted, I am in no position to abandon my car or the technology on which I am presently typing this post. However, I have come to realize there are more opportunities available in my Victorian pursuits. So I am endeavoring to try something different as I grow and refine my Victorian persona. I hope you will join me on this journey as I feel certain it will be entertaining (and maybe a bit crazy:).

Thus far I have shared my passion for brewing tea leaves and taking tea from delicate rose laden cups, dressing for reenactments, surrounding myself with Victorian antiques, and learning many of the period correct pastimes such as needlework and archery. Alas, there are still some areas I have yet to entertain.

I must say I am excited at the prospect of this journey and where it will lead...

Living the Victorian Life-Literally!

I stumbled across this article on Facebook the other night and it has haunted me ever since. I love that this young woman has embraced the Victorian lifestyle so fully and yet I have contemplated my own Victorian life ever since reading the article. Over the next few days I will be addressing how those of us who love Victoriana can live the life (perhaps not to the degree that this young woman has done) in a modern day world. I have ordered her book and look forward to reading it:).

Stay tuned for more...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2506542/Wearing-corset-liberating-Meet-woman-living-modern-day-Victorian-life--cell-phone-car-home-appliances.html

Living the Victorian Life-Archery

This weekend at the Battle of Brattonsville I took up a new sport, archery.

I had a wonderful instructor who was very knowledgeable and extremely patient. 

I never would have thought I would enjoy archery as much as I did and now I am hooked!

Archery was an acceptable and popular sport for Victorian ladies.

Emma's World-It's About Time

 Keeping time in the Victorian era looked much different than the digital world in which we live today.

Instead of an electrical cord or batteries clocks were wound with a key.

 

The clock was powered by the swing of a pendulum.

Some were very ornately embellished.

 

Clock faces varied greatly from simplistic to fancy designs...

 A series of gears, chimes, and other workings kept the clock running.

 

Various types of clocks could be found in Victorian homes including grandfather clocks, 

mantel clocks,

and shelf clocks.

 

Most clocks were eight day clocks wound weekly using a key.

Two holes in the face of the clock were used, one to wind the chimes and the other for the time.

 

The rhythmic tick tock of an antique clock announcing the hour with melodic chimes to pass the time of day is a comforting sound indeed.

How do you prefer to keep time?

Emma's New Dress

I attended an event this evening wearing a new 1880s ensemble.

Lizzy wanted some love.

 The patterns are from Truly Victorian.

 I hand embroidered the flowers on the front panel and side inserts.

Antique tatting frames the front panel.

 Detail of side panel.

The tassels came from a thrift shop and are backed by a piece of vintage tatting.

Instead of adding a gathered  ruffle to the underskirt I did a pleated ruffle to compliment the Asian pattern of the fabric.

The tasseled trim on the overskirt was a remnant from a friend:).

 The sleeve is trimmed with antique lace and tatting.

 

Thanks for visiting!

 

Blessings,

Kim

Tea-The Perfect Brew and Decaf Too!

 

Tea has been a favorite drink from royalty to the working class for centuries.

As part of  the 'Living the Victorian Life' series it was only natural to begin with tea.

 

Brewing the Perfect Pot of Tea:

1. Start with your favorite blend of tea leaves.



 2. Place tea leaves in tea strainer.

 3. Temper the teapot (this is done by swishing hot water in the pot and then emptying it before adding the tea strainer).

 4. Fill tea pot with hot water.

 5. Steep tea for 3-5 minutes depending on how strong you like your tea.

(I like my tea strong:).

 6. Once steeping is complete remove tea strainer with leaves.

 7. Pour tea into your favorite cup and enjoy!

 

 Decaf Tea:

To decaf tea follow steps 1-3 above.

At step 4 add the hot water and steep for approximately 30 seconds.

Remove tea strainer with tea leaves and empty liquid from the tea pot.

Replace the tea strainer in pot, pour hot water in pot until full and continue process as shown above:).

 

To make your tea experience special try the following:

Use your favorite tea pot and tea cup-even if it is the good china-that's what makes it special!

Brew a favorite blend of tea. I prefer Harney and Sons loose leaf teas which are available online and in some retail settings (generally tea bags are tea dust and don't provide the perfect pot of tea).

Flavor tea with sugar, cream, or honey. For fun, try a flavored creamer (I like vanilla creamer in  flavored teas-a dash is all it takes:).

Invite a friend to join you:).

 

 

Blessings,

 

Kim

 

 



Living the Victorian Life-A new series

I contemplated starting another blog about living the Victorian life in a modern day world.

But with all I have going on I didn't need another thing added to my already busy days.

So I decided to do a weekly post on this blog, since anything Victorian does relate to Truer Words, about how to live a simpler, more genteel life in the current world.

 

And so I will start with the relaxing beauty of taking tea:).

 

First, start with a nice blend of loose leaf tea.



 

Next, stroll through the gardens for fragrant blooms.

 

Brew the tea (be sure to use the good china:), place blooms in a favorite vase or container, and sit down to a relaxing cup of  tea.

Tea paired with a favorite magazine or a good book can make an afternoon relaxing and enjoyable.

Of course, I would be happy to recommend a lovely historic novel...

 

I will be posting later in the week about brewing the perfect pot of tea (including how to decaf it:).

To order the delicious chocolate and coconut Soho Blend from Harney and Sons teas visit:

http://www.harney.com/soho-tea-blend-chocolate-and-coconut.html

 

Just a few words about this tea...

It is scrumptious!!! As soon as you open the package the chocolate aroma makes your mouth water.

The subtle hints of coconut intermingled with the chocolate flavors makes this more like desert than just tea:).

Emma's World-Parasols!

Ladies in the Victorian and Edwardian eras used parasols to shade their delicate skin and eyes from the harmful rays of the sun.

The following parasols date from the 1860s to the early 20th century.

 

 

For more pretty parasols visit:

 

http://pinterest.com/victorianparlor/parasols/