The paisley pattern dates as far back as the Sassanid Dynasty (200-650 AD) in Persia. Originally it was referred to as a boteh or buta (1), a Persian tear dropped shaped motif. It became popular again during the Safavid Dynasty (1501-1736) (2). During the time of the Qajar and Pahlavi Dynasty (1785 to 1925) the pattern was used for textile designs in royal and court garments, as well in the wardrobes of commoners (3). Historians believe the design was inspired by the pond frond; therefore it has been believed to be a symbol of fertility and celebration.
It was later, in the West called the Paisley, after a town in Renfrewshire, Scotland; where the textile mills manufactured lots of textiles with the design (4). From the time of 1800 to 1850 there were large quantities of paisley shawls produced there. European mills at the time still could not produce shawls with more than 15 colors, even at 1860. Soldiers who had been to the East often brought back Kashmir shawls which had far more multicolored facets. (5) The designs were first made on hand looms, then later on Jacquard looms (6). It is said that the design was also popular in Scotland on jewelry. During the 1900’s the design was produced on cotton; which began the popular bandana’s we know of today .
Eventually the pattern evolved and became larger with floral bouquets spreading in its design. In 1968 when the Beatles went to India; the paisley became very popular and was associated with psychedelic style and Indian spirituality . Baby carriages and everyday items were covered with the print during this time.
Paisley has gone in and out through the years. If you like classics it is considered a classic. I know in all the years since I made my paisley skirt in 1979, every time I wear it I still get compliments. When I worked at Liberty of London we sold thousands of paisley ties, handkerchiefs and blouses, as well as household items with paisley fabric on them. I have always enjoyed seeing paisley patterns; perhaps since I remember how lovely my mother looked in them when I was a child. The retro pictures in this post are of my mother and my brother and I. They were taken during a trip to Galway, Ireland in 1968. I made the paisley skirt in the picture of me with the hat. The other paisley skirt is from the late eighties when I worked for Liberty of London up in Rockefeller Center, NY. My African print dress I bought at the Boulder, Colorado coop in 1994. I have taken really good care of it and recently when African dresses came back in style several people commented that they thought it was new.
Fall is here. This time of year I tend to wear my polka dots dresses more often. They are black with white dots and in the summer I mostly avoid wearing black. When I was younger I associated polka dots with freedom. They are zany and fun! I prefer to wear my black dresses with red to brighten them up. My friend Angie Delacroix came and took a few pictures of me. A few of them are in this post. I forgot to put a necklace on it one! I have to get more used to all this posing, etc… I also am trying to learn to use the tripod. A few of my pictures are in this post as well. I will get the hang of this with more practice! I am still having trouble getting a full body pose. There is a lot to learn having a blog; slowly but surely I think I am getting it!
I haven’t had much time to write so today I will post a poem by John Reed that he wrote for his wife Louis Bryant. I think it is a beautiful poem:
A Letter to Louise
Rainy rush of bird-song
Apple-blossom smoke
Thin bells water-falling sound
Wind-rust on the silver pond
Furry starring willow-wand
Wan new grasses waking round
Blue bird in the oak..
Woven in my word song
White and slim my lover
Birch-tree in the shade
Mountain pools her fearless eyes
Innocent all-answering
Were I blinded to the spring
Happy thrill would in me rise
Smiling half afraid
at the nearness of her
All my weak endeavor
Lay I at her feet
Like a moth from oversea
Let me longing lightly rest
On her flowers petal breast
Till the red dawn set me free
To be with my sweet
Ever and forever…
Picture by Angela Delacroix
The polka dot dresses are thrifted. The red cashmere sweater above is vintage. The black polka dot skirt with red, pink and white dots is also something I found thrifting. Black tank with it was second hand. The red shoes I found in a resale store. Antique brooch is vintage. The grey pearl necklace is from a discount shop. I really dig those grey pearls! The bracelets are both ones I made. Only new items were stockings and the red sweater at the bottom which is several years old by now. My black boots were a gift.
I have seen a lot of women running around wearing these little bows and vintage looking accessories in their hair. So I bought this little polka dotted head band. Vintage blue sweater in that picture. Vintage Heidi picture from my childhood.
I have been so busy the last few days I didn’t get the time to write and do a post. One of my friends came over to take some pictures of me for the blog and I was preparing for that. I also had several other things happening. I decided to post a small handful of pictures from an old road trip back many years ago. In Crested Butte, Colorado they have some fun, quirky ways of recycling or up cycling things in their yards, or on their houses, or as a couple of pictures show a decorated car! So I hope you enjoy these few pictures.
When I tell city people stories of mountain folk they often think they are quite bizarre, or funny. People get bored sometimes up in the mountains when its cold. They come up with some fun ideas. In Nederland, Colorado they celebrate a Frozen Dead Guy Day once a year! They have coffin races, people dress up dead and then at night they have a ball. They have tourists coming from all over now to see this crazy, festive day! Yes, there is a frozen dead guy up there. That’s another story.
I have also seen young children who are growing up in the mountains start successful small businesses. I was in a Crafters Guild with a young lady who started a soap business at twelve. Down in Boulder, Colorado they sell chocolates made by brothers who live up in Nederland, Colorado. Their mother drives the chocolates down the mountain and sells them to stores. In my experience mountain folk are fun and creative.
Many years ago, when I attended a Catholic high school, we were required to wear navy and white plaid skirts, white blouses and navy sweaters. We also were required to wear navy or black shoes. If it was very cold or we so desired, we could wear the uniformed navy slacks. By the time I finished high school I had had enough of navy to last me about twenty five years!
It’s only recently that I’ve been wanting more than a handful of darker blue pieces in my wardrobe. I also like the color teal or a softer shade or a deep turquoise blue. Several weeks ago I came upon a vintage large pocket wrap skirt at Stellah’s Vintage Groove in Bedford Stuyvesant. It was handmade so the quality caught my eye. It is that deep turquoise kind of blue, with little yellow apples with black stems. When I saw that hanging on the rack I immediately thought of how those colors could liven up my fall/winter clothing. It was a mere ten dollars and I am not sure when it was made. It has those large pockets like in the late 1940’s. If it was made later the fabric is vintage. I believe it was made about 1948 when those little apples seemed to be a popular pattern. I have enjoyed wearing it with either a white blouse or a deep golden yellow tee shirt . In the cold winter I will wear it with tights and a bulky sweater.
Picture by Angela Delacroix
Several months ago I bought a teal, navy mixed plaid dress with soft green and purple lines in it. It’s a vintage Prince Charmer dress, from the 1950’s. I find it kind of fun that it reminds me of my old Girl Scout dresses when I was very young. It is in good shape, other than a bit of fading from wash and wear. There are times it is difficult to deal with the pressure of trying to dress appropriately for offices and still trying to retain one’s own style. This dress is perfect since it has a lovely office look, yet is vintage and plaid. I always like plaids!
Picture by Angela Delacroix
I also have this lovely pale blue Fifth Avenue Mussallhem Product apron from the 1970’s. It is so pretty that sometimes I am tempted to upcycle it onto a skirt. The scene on the front is so cheerful ! It reminds me of Vesuvio Bakery on Prince Street in Soho, NY even though it is a different scene on the apron.
When I used to live in Colorado, my favorite apartment that I have ever lived in ever had a turquoise antique stove! The building had another just like it across the way, both used to be a 1950”s hotel. Then later it became a residential apartment building. When apartments there were for rent either people came to see them and loved it, or they took a look outside, saw that it looked like an old hotel and split. The people who lived there all loved it. Our neighbors tended to be other artistic and creative people. We had picnic tables between the buildings, and each apartment had a swinging love seat outside. It was such a quaint place to live. I could sit and watch the snow fall in winter from out my kitchen window. Often as I was cooking dinner I saw packs of raccoons or a couple of deer out in our yard between the two buildings. From my neighbor’s apartment on the second floor patio, we could at night and watch the sun setting over the mountains. So that turquoise stove remains fondly in my memory for inviting me to live in such a lovely place for several years.
I cannot think of blue without thinking of my Southwestern silver jewelry. I like to wear silver bracelets and turquoise with new clothes, thrifted outfits and even vintage. I enjoyed the nature and mountains out in the west. I loved seeing animals every day when I lived in Colorado. Often I saw deer, rabbits, raccoons, and even foxes on occasion. It is a beautiful feeling to be walking on a road and come across a family of deer. I remember one family where the mother or father looked me in the eye, as to see what my decision would be about allowing them to pass. I waited for the traffic to pass and crossed the road so they felt safe to continue. I also really thrived on the feeling one gets when digging and growing plants in a large garden plot such as I had in Boulder, Colorado. I rented it from the city for a small fee every spring. It was only three blocks from my apartment. I grew lots of herbs and flowers. I miss those kinds of feelings so much living in the city; so my Southwestern jewelry is a reminder of that spirit. I think the jewelry has become incorporated with who I am. I have carnelian pieces as well, or little red stones, prehnite pieces, yet they all have that Southwestern feel.
Life in the city for me is often brings up conflicting feelings. There are times I feel like I am on a long business trip. I came here hoping for more financial security. The recession has been a rough tumble. Perhaps things will turn around. I am in a state of flux, looking for more steady work right now.
I also wanted to be a part of Bedford Stuyvesant (in Brooklyn), NY, becoming more diverse as a neighborhood. It is a great neighborhood in Brooklyn, at least in my opinion. Years ago it used to be an area with a huge amount of crime and violence. Even twenty years ago I used to walk as far as I could, (one had to think of one’s safety) within the area and look at the old brownstones. I saw such promise there. Now I have actually seen the brownstones being renovated, I became a part of the community as well. I don’t live in that area anymore, but I am within a twenty minute bus ride away. One of the things I love about that neighborhood is that it is religiously and racially diverse area. People are respectful of one another, and very neighborly.
One of the hobbies I have during my time off is taking pictures of old brownstones and old houses. A couple of the houses in this post were built around 1903-1910 in the Ditmas Park area of Brooklyn. For this post I chose houses with lots of blue! This neighborhood is filled with lovely, old Dutch homes. The subway came to the Ditmas Park area around 1903, and during the 1900’s many homes were built. I have a lot of pictures of brownstones that I have taken through the years. I will share some of those in later post. The first few years after I moved back to Brooklyn I lived in two different brownstones. I wanted to live in a brownstone so much, to have that experience. It was great in some ways. Walking around and looking at old brownstones is really fun. I didn’t have a whole apartment living that way though, so eventually I moved further into Brooklyn. Now I have more space and rent stabilization; yet in order to get that I live in a larger building.
I hope you are enjoying fall where ever you are! It is such a lovely time of year. The changing of the season is an experience that I have always enjoyed.
