making memorials

In the olden days, people called Memorial Day Decoration Day. Families visited graves and memorials, paid their respects to the war dead and adorned these sites with flowers. We believe the date was chosen as so much of our country is in bloom in late May.

In the modern age (that's us), we also mark the official start of summer, we approve the wearing of whites and we fly the American flag at half mast from dawn until noon.

my maternal grandfather, floyd e. johnson, 1909-1999, charlottesville, virginia

I've come to think of the holiday as a time to recall our personal and national history.  I use the day to tell the children about their extended and distant family. I tell them the basics, the legends and the lies (let's don't let the truth get in the way of a good story!)  As a child, my father amused and taught with stories whose characters came straight out of Big Fish or The World's Largest Man; that's entertainment. And to pull all these sentiments together, last year, my sister sent me this New York Times article that suggests that families that tell family stories stick together longer and better.

In the last ten years, my husband and I start one selected project on or about Mother's Day. We garden, plant trees or flowers, build something.  Sometimes we finish in a day, but we often finish on or about Memorial Day. Then we go fishing as a family.

Of course, all the fish take our sorry, undersized bait as soon as it hits the water. We spend all day and half the night passing the pole between our muscle fatigued arms. The monster won't tire!  The sand gnats swarm in island sized clouds. We land the beast on deck just in time before the tidal waters disappear. We've narrowly escaped being beached and with a hearty supper that will feed all of Vernonburg! True story!

2010: springhouse roof redux, 2013, spring house "porch", 2014 springhouse vertical garden, 2015 potting bench, sink (wip)

Also true, it strikes me as I write this post that I am making memorials to my family, passed (in service to our country or simply in service to our family) and present. I pay homage to Savannah and to the life that I am carving out. I'm also creating a standing memorial that refers to the past, present and future. Our projects are informed by and honors those around us, some dear, some strangers. Both the making and the associated story helps us to create our own traditions and to recall some part of our past.

I'm looking forward to torturing my children with history and projects this entire month, but especially on Memorial Day. Whose story will you tell? Who will you honor and what form will that endeavor take?

plant in vertical garden adopted from lynn serualla + adam kuehl in turtle shell found by family in the georgia woods 

Blogging this week for The Paris Market, artist and collaborative designer katherine sandoz makes abstract paintings, fiber arts, illustration, portraits and collaborative works of art in a barn behind her home in Savannah, Georgia. The flora and fauna of the low-country serve as fodder for her imagery. Sandoz, a former service member herself, is moved and inspired by soldiers and warriors of all kinds and times.  

Vintage Find of the Day: Engineering Plans

We are absolutely swooning over one of our most recent vintage finds: engineering plans from a Pennsylvania-based firm, Reading Company, dating to the the early 1900s. Although these plans may show seemingly boring things like switchboards, lighting fixture installations, & cable & control rod ducts, we think there is something truly beautiful in their precision. We've all heard it before: "they just don't make things like they used to," & this is one instance where that is absolutely the case. From the durability of the old wax vellum to the meticulousness of each hand-drawn line, we're so glad these plans have stood the test of time. We took the liberty of framing two of them so you can get an idea of how to display them, but there are many more unframed ones to choose from. So be sure to come by the store soon so you can take a truly wonderful piece of history home with you! 

Throwback Thursday: Calling Cards

"To the unrefined or underbred, the visiting card is but a trifling & insignificant bit of paper; but to the cultured disciple of social law, it conveys a subtle & unmistakable intelligence. Its texture, style of engraving, & even the hour of leaving it combine to place the stranger, whose name it bears, in a pleasant or a disagreeable attitude, even before his manners, conversation & face have been able to explain his social position." -John H. Young, 1879

We've got some great new modern-day calling cards in the store right now & after doing a little research on the history of this social tradition, we just had to share what we found out. Calling cards were mostly popular during the Georgian, Regency, & Victorian eras, & they were used when a gentleman or lady wished to call upon friends or acquaintances, or to announce their presence in town. They were generally quite simple, in a lady's case, bearing only her name, & in a gentleman's case, only his name & address. Men's cards were typically slightly slimmer than women's as they had to carry the cards around in their breast pocket. The blank space on the cards was often used for written notes or to invite the recipient to a social event. Cards were also often initialed or had a specific corner folded down to signify something.


The turning down of the card’s corners:

• A visit in person (as opposed to being sent by a servant): the right hand upper corner
• A congratulatory visit: the left hand upper corner
• A condolence visit: the left hand lower corner
• Taking leave (if you were going on a long trip): right hand lower corner
• If there were two of more ladies in the household, the gentleman turned down a corner of the card to indicate that the call was designed for the whole family.

Initialing a calling card:
(The initials stood for French words)

• p. f. – congratulations (pour féliciter)
• p. r. – expressing one’s thanks (pour remercier)
• p. c. – mourning expression (pour condoléance)
• p. f. N. A. – Happy New Year (pour feliciter Nouvel An)
• p. p. c. – meaning to take leave (pour prendre congé)
• p. p. – if you want to be introduced to anybody, send your visiting card (pour présenter)

We are just absolutely taken by the idea of this social tradition from the past & we would love to see it catch on again! So come on by the store & peruse our collection of calling cards so you too can become a proper lady or gentleman of society! ;)

Pick of the Week: The Fragrances of Santa Maria Novella

When it comes to selecting the perfect fragrance, quality is everything. It takes the perfect balance of precise ingredients to create a scent that is unique, flattering & lasting. Officina Profumo – Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella is one of the world's oldest pharmacies - they've been around since the 13th century, in fact - so we're pretty sure they know a thing or two about fragrances by now. Keep reading below to find out more about their amazing history...

The old pharmacy

The Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella was founded in 1221 in Florence by the Dominican Friars who started making herbal remedies & potions to use in the monastery. Their reputation became world renowned and the pharmacy, sponsored by the Grand Duke of Tuscany, opened to the public in 1612. 

Many of Santa Maria Novella’s products have become a part of history: the world famous pot-pourri is still hand crafted in large terra cotta vats using local essences & plants as has 
been the tradition since the 1200’s. The first “Eau de Cologne” has been attributed to the pharmacy’s creation in the 1500’s of Catherine de Medeci’s “Water of the Queen.” She used the citrus & bergamot scented water constantly & gave it to all of her closest friends during her reign as the Queen of France. It’s popularity in France lasted into the 18th century whereupon a certain Italian, Giovanni Feminis, took it with him to Cologne & began to make it there, renaming it Acqua di Cologne or Eau de Cologne as a tribute to the city where it was produced. Today this refreshing mix uses the same original formula from the time of Catherine de Medeci & is simply called Santa Maria Novella. It is Santa Maria Novella’s Signature Fragrance and surely the most sought after of all of their scents. 

Some of the oldest products from Santa Maria Novella are among the most popular today. The Almond Paste is an excellent rich cream made from almond butter. The Rose Water can be used on the face for washing & removing make-up or for scenting linens. The Pot-Pourri with its pungent, spicy scent, is still hand made & left to ferment in large terra cotta jars. The Milky Soaps, scented with Santa Maria Novella’s own fragrances are made with whole milk to protect & soften delicate skin. And of course the Santa Maria Novella fragrances themselves; classic scents like Honeysuckle, Rose & Iris, exotics such as Patchouli, Marescialla & Calycanthus, &, romantics like Jasmine, Violet & Lily of the Valley.

Today, the Pharmacy is run under the direction of Eugenio Alfandery, a gentleman who has kept the tradition & legacy of Santa Maria Novella intact, while at the same time updating the centuries old methods & procedures that are the mainstay of the reputation of this great brand.

An early 20th-century photograph of the old distillery

Throwback Thursday: 36 West Broughton Street

One thing that we get asked about a lot is the history of our amazing building. And while we know bits & pieces, we decided to take a little field trip to the Georgia Historical Society to do some more serious digging. And we found out some pretty interesting stuff!

Our building in the distance on the left

Our building is located in Derby Ward, which was one of the first four original wards in downtown Savannah when the city was founded in 1773. In 1851, the structure in our current building's location, as well as many of the buildings around it, were completely lost in a fire. This was due largely in part to the fact that the buildings at this time were primarily constructed of wood.

Derby Ward

It wasn't until 1878 that the building that we occupy today came to be, thanks to a man named John Lyons. We found this excerpt published in the Savannah Morning News on May 31, 1978: "The handsome building known as the "Lyons Block," at the corner of Whitaker & Broughton streets...is the adoration of every citizen & is justly regarded as not only a decided ornament to Broughton Street, the great retail business thoroughfare of Savannah, but as probably the handsomest & most stylist row of buildings in the city." (Whew those writers back in 1878 were wordy!)

The article goes on to say: "The first floor of the corner building, which fronts on Broughton & Whitaker streets, will be occupied by Mr. John Lyons as a wholesale & retail grocery establishment...The store is provided with large magnificent show windows on both streets & splendid commodious entrances, and will be the finest looking establishment in the city. The cellar is 30 x 90 feet, has a brick floor cemented, thorough ventilation & light, and is perfectly dry & clean. In fact, no better cellars can be found anywhere than those with which the various stores in this block are provided."

Early 1900s

From then on, the Lyons Block became the mixed-used commercial center of Broughton Street. In addition to Mr. Lyon's grocery store, other rooms in the property served as everything from a dentist's office to a shoe store to a pub. The third floor of the building was even at one time known as Lyons Hall & served as a meeting place for social organizations. Although the facade of the building was drastically altered & modernized in the 1950s, by the time 36 West Broughton Street became home to The Paris Market in 2005, the building had been beautifully restored to it's original Italianate style.

1941

Bonne fête de Saint Nicolas!

Although today may be just another Friday here in America, today marks a special day in France & many other European countries. It is the eve of Saint Nicolas Day & tonight children will place out their shoes & stockings with the hope that Saint Nicolas will visit them to deliver gifts & goodies. But where did this tradition come from? 

The origin of Saint Nicolas dates back to the third century when Nicholas of Patara (what is now modern-day Turkey) was born. After his parents died in an epidemic, Nicholas used his entire inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, & the suffering. He was soon made the Bishop of Myra & became known throughout the land for his generosity to those in need, his love for children, & his concern for sailors and ships. After a relic of Saint Nicolas was brought back to France during the Crusades, he became the main saint for the Lorraine region in France.

Throughout the centuries, many stories & legends have been told of Saint Nicolas & his deeds. However, the most popular story in France is of three children who wandered away while playing & got lost. A wicked butcher, believing the children to be wealthy, lured them into his shop & killed them in order to rob them. Saint Nicholas discovers this horrible crime & revives the children & returns them to their families. Ever since, the evil butcher has followed St. Nicolas in penance as Père Fouettard, who doles out punishments for the naughty children.

Today in France, Saint Nicolas is primarily celebrated in the regions Alsace, Lorraine, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, & Brittany. The whole family gets ready for the saint's arrival on December 6, with grandparents telling stories of the saint. Meanwhile bakeries & home kitchens are a hive of activity as spiced gingerbread cookies & mannala, or brioche shaped like the good saint, are baked. At school, children learn songs & poems about Saint Nicolas, as well as draw pictures of him & do crafts based on him. Saint Nicolas often visits nursery schools, giving children chocolates & sometimes even a little present. Though Père Fouettard carries switches to threaten the children, what they really fear is that he may advise Saint Nicolas to pass them by on his gift-giving rounds.On the eve of the saint's day, children put their shoes near the chimney & sing a song to Saint Nicolas before going off to bed. The shoes overflow in the morning with little gifts, biscuits, & sweets, but even good children find ribbon-tied birch twigs, as everyone does something a little naughty!

Source: The St. Nicolas Center

Vintage Find of the Day: Hardbound Books

We've loved vintage books for as long as we can remember. Admittedly, we haven't read every word in the majority of the old books on our shelves. However, we do tend to continually obsess over the old illustrations and vintage typography that adorn the covers and spines of each book. Being the history lovers we are, it should come as no surprise that old books are right up our alley. Every book is evocative of its own era and our vintage collection sparks the imagination with another time and place altogether. Sometimes we get so caught up with the cover of vintage book that we forget to look at what's inside. As beautiful as a cover of a book may be, discovering the mysteries that lie inside is like finding buried treasure. Lately, as we've been thumbing our way through our collection of vintage books we've been finding scraps of history that we didn't even know existed! What excites us even more than the historical clippings is seeing the personalized touch of the book's previous owner. Which, for us, is what makes vintage finds much more exciting than anything new.  

Vintage Find of the Day: Correspondence Collection

If it were up to us, we would spend all day everyday sorting through old papers and correspondence letters. The abundance of memories and personalized stories waiting to be discovered is a dream for history lovers like us. So rarely do we find ourselves in a situation where we can read an individual's personal experiences, and gain insight to a time now long past. As we've been sorting through our collection of vintage letters, we've been amazed by how current some of them feel. Even though it may have been written over a century ago, it still carries with it the emotions and sentiments every individual experiences in their lifetime. Which we find to be both equally inspiring and encouraging. And to top it all off, it goes without saying we are and forever will be, obsessed with vintage envelopes. Beautifully decorated in a collage of postage stamps and hand lettered addresses, each letter is a time capsule containing a unique history all of its own, and we can never get enough! Stop by soon and check out our entire collection of vintage letters. You never know what you might find!

Objects of Desire : New Jewelry Baubles

We can't deny how much it excites us to unpack new treasures that have come from all over the world. Some items will always remain a mystery as to their origin and use, but others we get to learn all about. Either way it's a thrilling experience seeing trinkets and artifacts that offer a tiny glimpse of another time and place. As with the case with our newly acquired collection of jewelry baubles, items that inspire creativity are especially exciting for us, which is why we wanted to share a few of our new favorite pieces! As beautiful as these objects are on their own, when intermixed with other pieces of jewelry they really stand out as the unique artifacts of history that they are. It's true we love creative projects, so anything that sparks our imagination is easy to gush over, but our new jewelry baubles are just too exciting not to share. With items like miniature pocket knives, religious medallions and police whistles, what's not to love? Stop by soon and see what pieces inspire your creativity!

Vintage Find of the Day : Courtroom Anatomy Charts

It's always exciting when you think you know an item's history and then you find out its intent is something completely different. Discovering the actual context reveals a fresh perspective that only makes the object all the more desirable. Such is the case with our vintage medical prints, which we originally thought were just charts for Doctors and medical specialists. Beautiful as they are as simple anatomical diagrams, learning they we're actually used in courtroom proceedings instantly made all of our heads turn with curiosity. Dating back to right around the 1960's, each chart is printed with simplistic, legible type and bold black and white diagrams of human anatomy. It's no surprise that removing the charts from their original context allows them to become works of art, worthy of hanging on a wall. However, placing them in context adds a level of intrigue that makes each print a beautiful and interesting piece of history.