Moss Garden

Morigirl Secret Santa 2011

2012-01-13T14:07:00.000-05:00

This is my second year of participating in the annual morigirl livejournal community's Secret Santa gift exchange and once again I'm really pleased with the result! The gifts I received from a fellow morigirl came in a book-shaped box, which I intend to use for some of my jewelry findings and lace remnants.

Inside was a little moss terrarium, a handmade chou-chou and mug rug, and some delicious tea. These gifts really fit my style, even including my favorite motifs and colors.

The moss terrarium is something I was particularly excited to see. It came with a hand-sculpted fawn nestled inside, as well as some extra sheet moss. I can't wait to set it up on my bedroom vanity!

♥

Some of you may remember the earmuffs and scarf I decorated for my gift last year, so I tried to give something different this year: a tote bag, brooch, and vest set. The first gift is a sturdy tote bag made of paisley tapestry, which can come in handy for shopping or even carrying heavy books.

The flower, bow, and tassel brooch I made is detachable, so it can be pinned to a cardigan or even worn as a hair accessory because it has a claw clip on the back as well. For some extra whimsy, I added the miniature pom-pom trim on one side of the tassel and a pearl chain with a tiny key on the other.

Finally, there's the embroidered tulle lace vest. I think this vest could be worn a number of ways-- with a floral dress or even casually with a loose top and jeans. An all-white outfit would be really striking with a piece like this.

The lace is delicate-- the tulle parts near the middle are completely transparent, so anything worn underneath shows right through. Open vests like this with no front closures are fun to wear because they create a lovely frame for a special necklace or scarf.

Now that the holidays are over and the new year has begun, I hope all my readers are doing well. Did you give or receive any great presents this holiday season?

Dressing Gown for Dances of Vice

2011-12-30T23:20:00.000-05:00

sources: Costumes of Nashua and the Quilt Museum and Gallery

Nightgowns and dressing gowns were once incredibly lavish! Ladies of leisure often spent time in a boudoir-- their private dressing room-- to bathe, dress, and prepare themselves for the day as well as relax with some tea or embroidery. While I dont own any antique dressing gowns like the ones pictured above, I do have some vintage pieces in my closet, so I tried putting together a coordinate inspired by traditional dressing gown ensembles (click the photos for larger versions).

My outfit for the Dances of Vice: Pure Imagination brunch was a sort of stylized boudoir look using a vintage nightgown and dressing gown and handmade accessories. At first glance, it doesn't seem to fit the theme of the event since it's not related to winter or candy, but some fairy tales characters do wear a nightgown or dressing gown in their stories, such as Wendy Darling from Peter Pan or Clara from the Nutcracker.

The vintage chiffon nightgown came from a thrift store a few years ago, as did the faux fur stole. I attached a Pink House rose corsage and some H&M pink rose clips to one side of the stole to add some color.

The velvet dressing gown is another thrift store find. I chose to leave it open to show more of the nightgown. As a result, the outfit was very loose and comfortable!

I added a tassel to the stole's satin bow and made a pearl chain sash to drape across the front of the ensemble. Necklace-style sashes like this remind me of natural kei, so I think I'll try one in a natural kei coordinate next.

For my bag, I used a fawn print faux fur pochette I bought on a japanese auction site a few years ago, adding a handmade leaf brooch, some remnant lace, a handmade ribbon rose, and some wired pearls.

My hair accessory was a handmade sleep mask! I didn't have time to make a functional one, but since I didn't intend to wear it over my eyes anyway it didn't really matter. I just cut a sleep mask shape out of cardboard and vintage lace and then added some paper roses and pom pom trim. Attaching clips to the back made wearing it easy-- I just clipped it to my hair and wore it a little askew.

I wanted shoes reminiscent of boudoir slippers, so I chose my Miss L Fire Ellison heels. These shoes are my dream shoes! I wanted them a long time before I found a pair (as you can see from the "Email Me" link photo to the right of the page).

They're very comfortable and warm; I was able to walk around the city in them with no problem! Here's a side view:

Tomorrow is New Year's Eve, so I wish all my readers a happy new year!

♥

Dances of Vice: Pure Imagination

2011-12-26T21:28:00.000-05:00

source: Dancesofvice.com

Two weekends ago, I attended the Dances of Vice event called Pure Imagination: A Winter Toyland Holiday Brunch and took a few photos! Click the pictures to see the larger versions.

Click the jump cut to see more photos and an I Do Declare fashion show!

The Tickled Pinks performed some delightful retro holiday songs (listen to them here):

Our Master of Ceremonies, Dandy Wellington:

One of the burlesque acts, Calamity Chang:

Another burlesque act, Ekaterina Sknarina:

There were more performances, but I'll jump straight to my main reason for attending the event: the I Do Declare fashion show! The clothes in this show displayed the calling cards of creator Kelsey Hine's design style: high spirits and a big nod to period fashion.

Unfortunately my photos of two models didn't turn out well, but you can see them in these final lineup shots:

I wish I had sat closer to the front of the audience, but the heads silhouetted in the foreground are pleasantly similar to Mystery Science Theater 3000. ♥ You can find out more about I Do Declare by clicking the links below:

blog

webshop

In the next entry, I'll post some photos of what I wore to this event. I hope everyone is enjoying the holidays!

Happy Halloween

2011-10-31T10:35:00.000-04:00

I decided to create a witch outfit this year for Halloween, so I just used what was in my closet already and added a hat! My inspiration was the stylized type of witch you find in fairy tales, so I tried to make the coordinate cute as well as creepy.

The hat is from the Shannon Dockery Bakos hat shop on Etsy. This seller makes many interesting hats, but this one was my favorite! The crumpled shape of the hat crown and the tassel on the end give it a lot of character. I made a brooch of feathers, velvet ribbon, pom-pom trim, and a paper flower to add to the side of the crown. It's rather difficult to see the details with all the black, so here's the brooch by itself:

This dress is one of my favorites, an older release from Innocent World. The bodice has a quaint lace-up style and the skirt is a mass of gathered tiers bordered by delicate rose lace trim. To see the details of the outfit better, here's a closeup without the hat:

The blouse is a 1980s secretary blouse I found on Etsy as well. I tied a black georgette scarf in a bow and pinned it to one side of the collar so I could balance out the tilted hat.

Here's a closeup photo of the bodice itself. I love the criss-cross laceup! The necklace is from Innocent World as well. The mirror on the back of the watch face design came off, but I always wore it facing this way anyway.

The skirt is very full and heavy with all that gathering, so I usually only wear this dress in the colder months. This is one of the things I like about wearing solid color dresses: the design isn't as striking as a print, but details like this can make it feel luxurious and special.

♥

In the spirit of this spooky season, here's a necklace I made for a friend recently! I chose antiqued bronze for the metal rather than silver or gold so it would have a more old-fashioned look.

The miniature heart keys and diving swallows are puncuated by a single tiny porcelain doll arm for an understated creepy touch. I think this necklace could be worn with casual outfits as well as styles like dolly kei or gothic.

Happy Halloween, everyone!
If you're dressing up today, I would love to know what your costume will be ~

Fawn Headdress

2011-10-18T12:45:00.000-04:00

Last week I made a hair accessory for a friend because she wanted something involving deer and moss (right up my alley)! Here's a photo:

The base is a dark green velvet leaf-- similar to the ones I used in the last hair accessories I made-- topped with a remnant of lace, a circle of faux moss, a flocked fawn figurine, some spun-cotton mushrooms, and a few gold leaf charms. I added three dangling pearl chains with knotwork design pendants at the end and a waterfall of soft embroidered tulle lace to the back. For extra whimsy, I added some tiny lace circles and gold leaves to the waterfall of lace itself.

This piece can be worn as a hair accessory or a brooch, but I could also imagine it attached to a bag or the brim of a hat. Here's my friend wearing it--doesn't it look lovely with her complexion? This accessory works with the lolita dress she was wearing, but I think it would look good with a morigirl or dolly kei outfit as well.

♥

End of Summer Coordinate and NYCC 2011

2011-10-09T13:36:00.001-04:00

It's time to put away the summer clothes because autumn is here, but I thought I would make one last summer coordinate to celebrate the passing of the season...

Natural kei can be worn year round because it's all about layering, but in summer this style conveys a truly nostalgic feeling. The color palette of light green (I've been calling it "antique pistachio"), dusty rose, and antique white adds to the romantic mood.

The cardigan is a lucky eBay find! I've always been a fan of floral embroidery and harlquin checks, but never seen them combined until now. The miniature scallop along the edges is a delight as well. The ruffled camisole worn underneath is from Pink House. Upon closer inspection, I noticed that the ruffles actually alternate two similar shades of dusty rose. What detail!

The ruffled rosette skirt by Wonderful World is full of details as well; each ruffle layer has pin tucks, along with yet another miniature ruffle. I love the stylized rosette print.

I finished off the outfit with the straw bowler hat and a Pink House rose corsage. The soft silk roses and bits of straw surrounding it really lend this corsage a natural look.

If any fans of natural kei are attending New York Comic Con next weekend, please come to my panel-- Natural Kei: Little Pink House on the Prairie on Sunday, October 16 at 12:30 pm! This year I'm focusing entirely on natural kei, so I'll be describing it's origins and characteristics, explaining where to find it and how to wear it, and presenting a natural kei fashion show. Even if you can't make it to the panel, I'll be at the convention all weekend so please come up to me and say hello ♥

Changes for Moss Garden

2011-08-28T21:52:00.000-04:00

As some of you might have noticed, I recently created a Facebook page for Moss Garden (see the right side of the page), so if you click "Like" then you'll be notified automatically through Facebook about new blog posts! For those who don't already use Google Reader or Bloglovin', this Facebook page may make my blog easier to follow.

If you've already seen my new business cards, you'll notice that I added two new items to my roster of subjects: music and book recommendations. Some people have emailed me requesting suggestions on these subjects, so I thought I would make it official. Also, I'll probably throw in some movie recommendations now and then, so I hope everyone enjoys these additions!

Also, I want to thank everyone who's been reading. I've been writing this blog for over a year now, and even though I don't always have time to update, but I appreciate your comments and email!

Otakon Tea Party photos

2011-08-09T14:46:00.001-04:00

Here are some photos taken at the Otakon tea party hosted by myself and fellow American designers and blogs Morrigan NYC, I Do Declare, Perianth, and Tea, Love, Crochet! Here we are greeting the guests with candy and a raffle number:

Three lovely guests!

A view of the table from the opposite end

Our raffle winner on the right!

All photos by Petrina of Tea Love Crochet and Miakoda of Perianth!

I didn't get any photos of the food, but there was an assortment of scones with lemon curd and Devonshire cream, tea sandwiches, miniature desserts, and several varieties of delicious tea. My favorite was the Wedding tea, but the Darjeeling tea was a close second place.

It was lovely to see so many people turn out for the event! Since it was such a success, there may be other American brand and blog events in the future.

Otakon Tea Party crafts

2011-08-05T15:14:00.001-04:00

I'm so pleased with how this tea party went! Thanks to all the hard work of my co-hosts, we were able to pull everything off without a hitch. For my contribution to the gift bags, I made a combination brooch and hair accessory:

I cut some green velvet into leaf shapes and hand-stitched them together, then added lace remnant circles, paper leaves, and paper roses. The finishing touch is the miniature key charm, which dangles from a pearl chain. These accessories look good worn as a hair accessory on the side of the head, or perhaps worn as a brooch on a jacket lapel or pinning up a scarf. As you can see in the photo below, I made four color varieties: lavender, mocha, cream, and pink.

I attached my new blog business cards to each favor with some ribbon. I ordered them on Etsy a few weeks ago and I'm really happy with how they turned out! One side has my information and the other has a lovely damask pattern in light blue and cream.

For the main raffle prize, I made a necklace in antiqued bronze with a leaf pendant. The design is fairly understated, so I think it can be worn with practically anything. Those little swallow-in-flight connector charms end up in almost all the jewelry I make.

There were also little bags of Jordan almonds for each guest, so I put them in a basket I decorated (which also ended up being the raffle prize basket). The robin's egg blue organza treat bags and bird decorations gave the basket a distinct "nest" impression.

In my next entry, I'll post photos of the event itself!

Otakon

2011-07-27T18:44:00.001-04:00

I apologize for not posting in a long time, but I have big plans in store for Moss Garden! For one thing, I'll be at Otakon again this year, not running a panel but instead helping to co-host an American lolita brand and blog tea party (see more details in the egl livejournal community post).

Inspired by the Japanese tea parties from brands like Victorian Maiden and Baby the Stars Shine Bright, a few of us American indie designers and blogs have decided to try to recreate that experience. Other cohosts are I Do Declare, Morrigan NYC, Perianth, and Tea, Love, Crochet, all of whom are contributing to gift bags for the attendees as well as a basket of lovely raffle prizes! If you're coming to the tea party, please come up and say hello to me because I'd love to meet more of my readers in person.

After the convention is over, I'll post photos of the favors and raffle prizes my other co-hosts and I made ♥

Hope to see you at the convention this weekend!

Spring Blossoms Coordinate

2011-05-07T13:09:00.001-04:00

It's been a lovely spring so far! Here are a few pictures I took of the trees in bloom at a local park, and a spring-themed coordinate:

Cherry trees are some of my favorite ornamental trees. When the fluffy pink or white flowers eventually fade, they leave behind a carpet of petals that reminds me of confetti.

I hope everyone took time to enjoy the blossoms this spring!

Here's the outfit I wore to a small cherry blossom picnic with friends:

Dress: Baby the Stars Shine Bright

Cardigan: H&M

Hat: vintage

I'm in love with this straw derby hat I found on Etsy! Originally, a cheap raschel lace band was glued around the crown, but I replaced it with a lace scarf instead. The straw makes it cool and lightweight, so I should be able to wear it all summer.

Innocent World Victorica dress

2011-04-29T14:39:00.000-04:00

I haven't been buying much lolita fashion lately, but I was lucky enough to get my hands on a Victorica dress from Innocent World! This dress is part of the collaboration series Innocent World did with Gosick, an anime about the adventures of a secluded young girl who solves mysteries à la Sherlock Holmes. Here are images of the dress and other items from this series:

image from Innocent World website

I was glad these pieces can all be bought separately because I only wanted the dress. It comes in three colorways and three sizes! The bordeaux and chocolat colorways looked too flashy to me-- a bit like a costume-- so I chose the beige colorway. Here are some photos:

I prefer the way the neckline looks without the detachable lace jabot. If it needs any more decoration, I think it a necklace would be just right.

There are many different styles of lace on this dress, but most of it is soft embroidered net lace. Here's a closeup of the different styles of lace used on the skirt:

Since I received the package in the mail, I've been trying to figure out the best way to style this dress. It's surprisingly versatile! I was even able to create a pirate lolita coordinate using an Alice and the Pirates jacket and tricorn.

Here's a closeup:

A few other ideas I had are a natural spring look using a floral hair wreath, lace shawl, and floral brooch, or a princess look with a mini tiara, pearls, gloves, and fan. ♥ How would you coordinate this dress?

Brothers Grimm series, part 3: Brother and Sister

2011-03-21T00:45:00.001-04:00

It's been a while since I made a post in my Brothers Grimm Fairy Tale series! Look below for a morigirl coordinate inspired by this story.

Brother and Sister

Little brother took his little sister by the hand and said, "Since our mother died we have had no happiness; our stepmother beats us every day, and if we come near her she kicks us away with her foot. Our meals are the hard crusts of bread that are left over; and the little dog under the table is better off, for she often throws it a nice bit. May Heaven pity us. If our mother only knew! Come, we will go forth together into the wide world."

They walked the whole day over meadows, fields, and stony places; and when it rained the little sister said, "Heaven and our hearts are weeping together." In the evening they came to a large forest, and they were so weary with sorrow and hunger and the long walk, that they lay down in a hollow tree and fell asleep.

Illustration by Sir Arthur Rackham

The next day when they awoke, the sun was already high in the sky, and shone down hot into the tree. Then the brother said, "Sister, I am thirsty; if I knew of a little brook I would go and just take a drink; I think I hear one running." The brother got up and took the little sister by the hand, and they set off to find the brook.

But the wicked step-mother was a witch, and had seen how the two children had gone away, and had crept after them privily, as witches do creep, and had bewitched all the brooks in the forest.

Now when they found a little brook leaping brightly over the stones, the brother was going to drink out of it, but the sister heard how it said as it ran, "Who drinks of me will be a tiger; who drinks of me will be a tiger." Then the sister cried, "Pray, dear brother, do not drink, or you will become a wild beast, and tear me to pieces." The brother did not drink, although he was so thirsty, but said, "I will wait for the next spring."

When they came to the next brook the sister heard this also say, "Who drinks of me will be a wolf; who drinks of me will be a wolf." Then the sister cried out, "Pray, dear brother, do not drink, or you will become a wolf, and devour me." The brother did not drink, and said, "I will wait until we come to the next spring, but then I must drink, say what you like; for my thirst is too great."

And when they came to the third brook the sister heard how it said as it ran, "Who drinks of me will be a deer; who drinks of me will be a deer." The sister said, "Oh, I pray you, dear brother, do not drink, or you will become a deer, and run away from me." But the brother had knelt down at once by the brook, and had bent down and drunk some of the water, and as soon as the first drops touched his lips he lay there a young deer.

And now the sister wept over her poor bewitched brother, and the little deer wept also, and sat sorrowfully near to her. But at last the girl said, "Be quiet, dear little fawn, I will never, never leave you."

Then she untied her golden garter and put it round the deer's neck, and she plucked rushes and wove them into a soft cord. With this she tied the little beast and led it on, and she walked deeper and deeper into the forest.

Illustration by John B. Gruelle

And when they had gone a very long way they came at last to a little house, and the girl looked in; and as it was empty, she thought, "We can stay here and live." Then she sought for leaves and moss to make a soft bed for the deer; and every morning she went out and gathered roots and berries and nuts for herself, and brought tender grass for the deer, who ate out of her hand, and was content and played round about her. In the evening, when the sister was tired, and had said her prayer, she laid her head upon the deer's back: that was her pillow, and she slept softly on it. And if only the brother had had his human form it would have been a delightful life. For some time they were alone like this in the wilderness.

But it happened that the King of the country held a great hunt in the forest. Then the blasts of the horns, the barking of dogs, and the merry shouts of the huntsmen rang through the trees, and the deer heard all, and was only too anxious to be there. "Oh," said he, to his sister, "let me be off to the hunt, I cannot bear it any longer;" and he begged so much that at last she agreed. "But," said she to him, "come back to me in the evening; I must shut my door for fear of the rough huntsmen, so knock and say, 'My little sister, let me in!' that I may know you; and if you do not say that, I shall not open the door." Then the young deer sprang away; so happy was he and so merry in the open air.

The King and the huntsmen saw the pretty creature, and started after him, but they could not catch him, and when they thought that they surely had him, away he sprang through the bushes and could not be seen. When it was dark he ran to the cottage, knocked, and said, "My little sister, let me in." Then the door was opened for him, and he jumped in, and rested himself the whole night through upon his soft bed.

The next day the hunt went on afresh, and when the deer again heard the bugle-horn, and the ho! ho! of the huntsmen, he had no peace, but said, "Sister, let me out, I must be off." His sister opened the door for him, and said, "But you must be here again in the evening and say your pass-word."

When the King and his huntsmen again saw the young deer with the golden collar, they all chased him, but he was too quick and nimble for them. This went on for the whole day, but at last by the evening the huntsmen had surrounded him, and one of them wounded him a little in the foot, so that he limped and ran slowly. Then a hunter crept after him to the cottage and heard how he said, "My little sister, let me in," and saw that the door was opened for him, and was shut again at once. The huntsman took notice of it all, and went to the King and told him what he had seen and heard. Then the King said, "To-morrow we will hunt once more."

The little sister, however, was dreadfully frightened when she saw that her deer was hurt. She washed the blood off him, laid herbs on the wound, and said, "Go to your bed, dear fawn, that you may get well again." But the wound was so slight that the deer, next morning, did not feel it any more. And when he again heard the sport outside, he said, "I cannot bear it, I must be there; they shall not find it so easy to catch me." The sister cried, and said, "This time they will kill you, and here am I alone in the forest and forsaken by all the world. I will not let you out." "Then you will have me die of grief," answered the deer; "when I hear the bugle-horns I feel as if I must jump out of my skin." Then the sister could not do otherwise, but opened the door for him with a heavy heart, and the deer, full of health and joy, bounded into the forest.

Illustration by Kay Nielsen

When the King saw him, he said to his huntsmen, "Now chase him all day long till night-fall, but take care that no one does him any harm."

As soon as the sun had set, the King said to the huntsman, "Now come and show me the cottage in the wood;" and when he was at the door, he knocked and called out, "Dear little sister, let me in." Then the door opened, and the King walked in, and there stood a maiden more lovely than any he had ever seen. The maiden was frightened when she saw, not her little fawn, but a man come in who wore a golden crown upon his head. But the King looked kindly at her, stretched out his hand, and said, "Will you go with me to my palace and be my dear wife?" "Yes, indeed," answered the maiden, "but the little deer must go with me, I cannot leave him." The King said, "It shall stay with you as long as you live, and shall want nothing." Just then he came running in, and the sister again tied him with the cord of rushes, took it in her own hand, and went away with the King from the cottage.

The King took the lovely maiden upon his horse and carried her to his palace, where the wedding was held with great pomp. She was now the Queen, and they lived for a long time happily together; the deer was tended and cherished, and ran about in the palace-garden.

But the wicked step-mother, because of whom the children had gone out into the world, thought all the time that the sister had been torn to pieces by the wild beasts in the wood, and that the brother had been shot for a deer by the huntsmen. Now when she heard that they were so happy, and so well off, envy and hatred rose in her heart and left her no peace, and she thought of nothing but how she could bring them again to misfortune. Her own daughter, who was ugly as night, and had only one eye, grumbled at her and said, "A Queen! that ought to have been my luck." "Only be quiet," answered the old woman, and comforted her by saying, "when the time comes I shall be ready."

As time went on, the Queen had a pretty little boy, and it happened that the King was out hunting; so the old witch took the form of the chamber-maid, went into the room where the Queen lay, and said to her, "Come, the bath is ready; it will do you good, and give you fresh strength; make haste before it gets cold."

The daughter also was close by; so they carried the weakened Queen into the bath-room, and put her into the bath; then they shut the door and ran away. But in the bath-room they had made a fire of such deadly heat that the beautiful young Queen was soon suffocated.

When this was done the old woman took her daughter, put a nightcap on her head, and laid her in bed in place of the Queen. She gave her too the shape and the look of the Queen, only she could not make good the lost eye. But in order that the King might not see it, she was to lie on the side on which she had no eye.

Illustration by Warwick Goble

In the evening when he came home and heard that he had a son he was heartily glad, and was going to the bed of his dear wife to see how she was. But the old woman quickly called out, "For your life leave the curtains closed; the Queen ought not to see the light yet, and must have rest." The King went away, and did not find out that a false Queen was lying in the bed.

But at midnight, when all slept, the nurse, who was sitting in the nursery by the cradle, and who was the only person awake, saw the door open and the true Queen walk in. She took the child out of the cradle, laid it on her arm, and suckled it. Then she shook up its pillow, laid the child down again, and covered it with the little quilt. And she did not forget the deer, but went into the corner where it lay, and stroked its back. Then she went quite silently out of the door again. The next morning the nurse asked the guards whether anyone had come into the palace during the night, but they answered, "No, we have seen no one."

She came thus many nights and never spoke a word: the nurse always saw her, but she did not dare to tell anyone about it.

When some time had passed in this manner, the Queen began to speak in the night, and said --

"How fares my child, how fares my roe?
Twice shall I come, then never more."

The nurse did not answer, but when the Queen had gone again, went to the King and told him all. The King said, "Ah, heavens! what is this? To-morrow night I will watch by the child." In the evening he went into the nursery, and at midnight the Queen again appeared and said --

"How fares my child, how fares my roe?
Once will I come, then never more."

And she nursed the child as she was wont to do before she disappeared. The King dared not speak to her, but on the next night he watched again.

Then she said --

"How fares my child, how fares my roe?
This time I come, then never more."

Then the King could not restrain himself; he sprang towards her, and said, "You can be none other than my dear wife." She answered, "Yes, I am your dear wife," and at the same moment she received life again, and by God's grace became fresh, rosy, and full of health.

Then she told the King the evil deed which the wicked witch and her daughter had been guilty of towards her. The King ordered both to be led before the judge, and judgment was delivered against them. The daughter was taken into the forest where she was torn to pieces by wild beasts, but the witch was cast into the fire and miserably burnt. And as soon as she was burnt the deer changed his shape, and received his human form again, so the sister and brother lived happily together all their lives.

♥

Since much of this fairy tale takes place in a forest, I created a morigirl coordinate that reflects some elements from the story.

The gold heart locket necklace brings to mind the golden garter that the sister places around her brother's neck when he becomes a deer (interestingly enough, the sister does use a gold necklace in some versions of this tale). The fawn collar of course reflects the brother's transformation into a deer.

This is an example of h.Naoto GRAMM styled in a morigirl way. GRAMM clothing is very versatile; pieces from this brand can work with gothic, dolly kei, morigirl, and even lolita fashion depending on how you style them. To make this dress correspond with the morigirl look, I added a ruffled underskirt in a neutral color and made sure to choose accessories-- items like a lace scarf and fur tippet-- with a natural feel.

Outfit rundown:

Dress: h.Naoto GRAMM

Skirt: Metamorphose

Collar: Earth Music & Ecology

Scarf and Necklace: Forever 21

Pink House photoshoot

2011-03-12T07:55:00.000-05:00

Last weekend, I visited my friend Bianca and decided to put together a natural kei photoshoot. I hope everyone enjoys the results! Click the photos to see the larger versions.

For anyone who isn't already familiar with it, natural kei is all about loose fit, layers, and a natural, country look. Check out my "What is natural kei?" page for more information about this style.

Regarding the layers of this outfit, I used one dress, two underskirts, and three shawls. I gathered one side of the dress up with a pin to make the underskirts more noticeable from the front and create the appearance of even more volume. Natural kei doesn't typically use crinoline petticoats, so multiple layers help create the impression of depth and softness.

It was really fun trying to style her in the traditional Pink House way, with lots of layers and volume mixed with cute, quirky accessories. The red dress, teddy bear skirt, and teddy bear brooches are the only actual Pink House items. The tassel accessory and green bow in her hair are from the Etsy shop Mousse au Chocolat, a brand that works really well with morigirl and natural kei.

I think Bianca looks lovely in Pink House clothes! Many people might be overwhelmed by this much material, but she seems completely at ease in the many layers. If you can't get enough Bianca, check out her blog, Curly B!

I couldn't let the day end without getting one moss picture. I don't want winter to end, but seeing that patch of velvety green was very stirring. I think I may be ready for spring now!

Giveaway Winner Announcement & Happy Valentine's Day

2011-02-14T13:09:00.007-05:00

Thank you for all the kind comments on the giveaway post! I was really touched reading them. According to the randomizer I used, the winner of the giveaway is...

♥ ama-hime ♥

Congratulations! Send me an email with your contact information and I'll send you your prize!

Also, I hope everyone has a lovely Valentine's Day! Here's a coordinate in honor of the occasion.

It probably looks a bit sombre compared to most Valentine's Day coordinates, but I really wanted to use this jumperskirt because of the romantic rose motif. Here's a closeup of the gorgeous fabric:

I layered a vintage fur collar over the top of the blouse, and pinned a Victorian Maiden rose corsage to a plain beret for the hair accessory.

Dress: Innocent World
Blouse: vintage
Fur Collar: vintage
Necklace: handmade

Hat, hair accessory: vintage, Victorian Maiden

200 Followers Giveaway

2011-02-11T08:57:00.001-05:00

To celebrate breaking the 200-follower mark and to thank all my readers for their support, I'm offering another giveaway! This time the prize is a hair accessory I made. I think it would look good with any of the styles I talk about in this blog-- morigirl, lolita, natural kei, or dolly kei.

I used a folded antique doily as a base, then added some winter berries, pom-pom trim, a lace remnant bow, and two miniature silk ribbon bows. Put it in your hair, pin it to a shawl or cardigan, slide it onto a hat band-- you can wear it however you like!

If you want a chance to win this accessory, simply comment on this entry by midnight of February 13th! At that point, I'll randomly pick a name and announce the winner in the next post.

♥

Good luck and thank you for reading!

The Anatomy of an h.Naoto GRAMM Coordinate

2011-01-27T18:47:00.004-05:00

The brand h.Naoto GRAMM is known for its ghostly, ethereal gothic style. The name of the brand comes from the Brothers Grimm, which explains the haunting fairy tale and folklore look of the GRAMM line. Here are some coordinates from the h.Naoto staff blog:

As you can see, filmy layers of lace in black, white, cream, and faded lavender fall loosely around the body to create these mysterious, dark fairy tale looks. Layering is absolutely essential to create a successful GRAMM coordinate. The following four outfits are taken from the h.Naoto webshop:

Sometimes, GRAMM makes pieces that have a real morigirl feel to them due to all the layers, looseness, and lace, but I prefer to think of it as a gothic brand. Antique touches such as decorative buttons, shawls, and delicate lace are important to this style as well and add a lot of character.

Here's a coordinate using one of my own h.Naoto GRAMM dresses, but I've tried to make it match my personal style. The top dress and shawl are the only GRAMM items. The purple dress underneath is a lucky off-brand find; I think it goes well with the faded lavender shades. I added some warm cream touches in the accessories and underskirt to make it a little more natural than gothic. I think this coordinate has a late winter/early spring feel.

An easy trick to add interest and fullness to a dress or skirt is to hitch up one side with a safety pin or brooch. Doing so will draw more attention to the underskirt and create an appealing sort of asymmetry in the coordinate. This technique is used fairly often in natural kei.

This photograph doesn't show it very well, but the lavender trim on the lace shawl is actually braided! I'm using my Victorian Maiden hair corsage as a brooch here because the shoulder looked a little bare.

Here you can see the special hair accessory I commissioned from Amaranth Opulent! It's a bird nest trimmed with pearls, moss, charms, and lace-- all of my favorite things. ♥ I clipped an antique lace doily to the back to add a little more GRAMM flavor. Check out the Amaranth Opulent link below to see more examples of gorgeous nature-inspired jewelry and accessories!

Dress and shawl: h.Naoto GRAMM

Underdress: off-brand

Underskirt: Metamorphose

Pearl and Roses corsage: Victorian Maiden

Hair accessory: Amaranth Opulent

Flower brooch: gift from a friend

Bag: handmade

Morrigan NYC's Moby Dick Nautical series

2011-01-17T22:38:00.002-05:00

I recently pre-ordered a dress from Morrigan NYC, a lolita brand based in New York City, so I thought I would post a few photos.

The Moby Dick Nautical series is available in skirt or dress form, with several sizes, colors, and even lengths available-- a pleasing diversification rarely seen in the lolita fashion world where dresses often come in only one size. I chose the longer-length black dress because it seems like it will work well for both natural kei and lolita fashion. I can't wait to pair it with an over-sized cardigan, carpet bag, and straw boater hat this spring!

Here's a close-up picture of the bodice and collar. I usually avoid puffed sleeves, but I have to say I'm a fan of these puffs. They seem to perk up a bit higher on the shoulders, so the effect is cute and flattering rather than depressingly broad. The red bow adds a jaunty touch to the neckline.

Of the two screen printed illustrations that decorate the bottom hem, the first depicts the Pequod surrounded by marine life and beautifully framed with a ship's wheel and tentacles. The line "A noble craft, but somehow a most melancholy!" comes directly from the book; it was one of Ishmael's observations when he first spied the Pequod and decided he would join the crew.

The dramatic second illustration shows Moby Dick, the White Whale himself, in the act of breaching the water's surface. The image is bordered by seaweed, eels, and sea birds, and includes a few giant squid swimming beneath the waves. "The White Whale! The White Whale!" is a line shouted by the character Daggoo, one of the harpooners aboard the Pequod, when he first thinks he has spotted the creature.

All in all, I've been blown away by the craftsmanship and true artistry of this dress. It's comfortable, well-constructed, and beautiful, but most importantly, this dress has real character and uniqueness-- two qualities I treasure in the clothes I choose. I'm looking forward to any future designs from this brand!

Recently, Tokyo Rebel, one of the few boutiques in New York City to sell lolita fashion, announced that it has Morrigan NYC items for sale in the store. You can see the shop's page with more information, photos, and prices here. Some other resources are the Morrigan NYC website and the Morrigan NYC Livejournal Community.

Brands: Dolce Piu Amabile

2011-01-15T17:25:00.005-05:00

I think it's about time to feature another lesser-known fashion label, this time a Japanese lolita brand called Dolce Piu Amabile. I wasn't able to find out much information about this brand, but did manage to collect a few scattered facts and some pictures worth sharing! All the images are from the Dolce Piu Amabile webshop.

The designer, Yoshie, translates the Italian phrase dolce piu amabile as "sweet and lovely." To paraphrase the brand concept, Dolce Piu Amabile's designs are based on sweet clothes for young girls but with a more elegant style. According to the brand blog, the original webshop first went online in 2007.

Dolce Piu Amabile's style looks like it came straight out of a fairy tale! Many of these dresses have square or round necklines and use materials like velvet, brocade, and cotton printed with traditional patterns, so there's a definite folklore feel. Look, fringe trim:

There aren't many garments for sale on the website because these clothes are all handmade by Yoshie and her mother! Thus, many of the pieces are one-of-a-kind.

Follow the brand's blog in case you're interested in updates. It's written in a personal style-- which is very cute-- but not updated too frequently.

In the following photo, some of you may recognize Misako Aoki modeling a Dolce Piu Amabile dress. Doesn't she look beautiful in classical lolita style? I love how the vines twine together to form diagonal check frames in that gobelin fabric.

Unfortunately, Dolce Piu Amabile does not ship overseas, but you can still order their clothes by using a shopping service. Visit the brand's website for more information!

Extra #1:
There are some lovely photo shoots of Sachi wearing Dolce Piu Amabile available on a photographer's website: one with a Snow White theme and one with a Sleeping Beauty theme.

Extra #2:
Yoshie made some bridal gowns at one point and I managed to find the blog of the girl who wore them. Check out the blog entry with photographs here!

More Etsy Treasuries

2011-01-04T13:08:00.000-05:00

I made a few more treasuries on Etsy, this time dedicated to classical lolita and natural kei. They were a bit more difficult to put together considering the specificity of both styles, but I'm pleased with the results! Click the links to check them out for yourselves:

Classical Lolita Treasury

Natural Kei Treasury

If you want to visit all my Etsy treasuries, visit this link: etsy.com/people/marthaness/treasury

In blog upkeep news, I've added an "email me" button in the sidebar to the right. So if you ever want to chat about anything in the blog or in case you have any suggestions, click away! I also added a long list of blogs I enjoy reading to the links tab below the header. If your blog is on the list, thank you for inspiring me and please keep writing!

New Year, New Necklace

2011-01-01T18:10:00.002-05:00

Happy New Year, everyone! To celebrate, a few friends and I went out for tea yesterday and exchanged belated Christmas presents. I wrapped mine in a gold box trimmed with grosgrain ribbon and holiday berries:

My friend had asked for some morigirl jewelry, so I decided to make her a necklace! I used antique-toned metal for the base.

I tried to match the bird pendant by using fixtures that look like swallows in flight:

And on one side, I sewed on an assortment of frilly bits made from lace, ribbon, and trim remnants:

The necklace actually went well with the outfit she was wearing that day!

Tell me, readers, did you make or receive any nice presents this year? I'd love to hear about it. ♥

The Joy of Etsy Treasuries

2010-12-28T18:51:00.004-05:00

It seems as though Etsy Treasuries are pretty popular at the moment! I've shopped on Etsy for a long time but never tried a treasury of my own until now. I created one for morigirl and one for dolly kei, though I made them a little more structured than traditional treasuries. Each horizontal row has the key ingredients for a coordinate, although it would be up to the buyer to find more accessories and layers, especially for dolly kei outfits. Considering how many layers both of these fashions typically have, limiting each coordinate row to only four pieces was pretty challenging. Take a look for yourself!

Morigirl Treasury

Dolly Kei Treasury

I'll post more treasuries in future if everyone likes these-- maybe ones for lolita and natural kei!

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-24T10:55:00.003-05:00

Whenever I bake a Christmas dessert for my family I usually make a pie, but this year I decided to make an apple cake instead. For as long as I can remember, my family has used a Depression-era recipe that's quite simple but still turns out delicious every time.

Apple Cake

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
   3 or 4 Granny Smith apples
   5 tablespoons sugar
   1 teaspoon cinnamon
Peel and slice the apples into medium-sized slices. Mix the apples, sugar, and cinnamon together in a bowl and let the mixture stand while you prepare the rest of the batter.
   3 cups flour
   2 cups sugar
   3 teaspoons baking powder
   4 eggs
   1 cup oil
   1/2 cup orange juice
Mix these ingredients together in another bowl until completely blended. Pour about a third of the batter into a greased bundt pan, then add about half of the apples, then pour on another layer of batter, then another layer of apples, and finally pour on one last layer of batter.
Bake for about an hour and 20 minutes, or until the surface browns and cracks.

Here's what the finished product looks like in case anyone is curious:

Observe the strata of cinnamon apples in each slice:

In celebration of the season, I put together a holiday-themed lolita coordinate. Lately my mind has been so full of toy soldiers, nutcrackers, and the Little Drummer Boy that everything I coordinate ends up looking vaguely military.

Skirt: Innocent World
Blouse: Anna Sui for Target
Jacket, necklace, and faux fur collar (taken from a sweater): Forever 21
Cap and bag: vintage
Bear brooch: Wonderful World
Velvet cockade: Morrigan NYC
Pearl chain brooch and white flower brooch: gifts from friends

I'm sure everyone can see a bit of dolly fashion inspiration in this outfit as well. ♥

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Morigirl Secret Santa Gift Preview

2010-12-16T13:27:00.001-05:00

I'm participating in the morigirl livejournal community's secret santa gift exchange, so I decided to contribute something appropriate for the season: a winter accessories set.

For the earmuffs, I wrapped the headband in ribbon, gluing it in place as I went along. This particular ribbon looks nice wrapped because it's double sided-- one side fawn-colored velvet and the other side light blue satin.

Next, I made two bows, glued them on each side, and added some adorable wool felted acorns.

For the scarf, I tied cream-colored pom-pom trim around alternating tassels at the hem and stitched it in place. Then I finished off one side with velvet ribbon to match the earmuffs and the other side with bows made from lace remnants.

I like the assymetry of the scarf because I feel like it fits in well with the whimsical, handmade aspect of morigirl style.

Now it's all wrapped up and ready to ship. I hope whoever receives this set likes my gift!

Dances of Vice: Secret Life of Toys

2010-12-10T09:08:00.004-05:00

Tonight I'm going to the Dances of Vice: The Secret Life of Toys event in New York City! I'm modeling for the I Do Declare fashion show, so I'm really looking forward to this event. From what I've seen, Kelsey's new pieces are gorgeous, like always!

image from dancesofvice.com

When I'm not busy getting ready for the fashion show, I'll be wearing a coordinate inspired by teddy bears.

And here's a closeup of the faux fur stole! I piled on the decorations because Dances of Vice is always so over the top.

Jumperskirt: Metamorphose

Velvet cardigan: Metamorphose

Velvet cockade brooch: Morrigan NYC

Teddy bear brooches: Wonderful World

Pearl chain brooch: a handmade gift from a friend

If you're coming to the event, say hi!

Where and How to Buy Pink House Online

2010-12-09T13:25:00.002-05:00

image from the Pink House webshop

Natural kei is one of those styles that takes my breath away every time I see it done well, particularly clothes from the brand Pink House. Pink House clothes are so feminine and whimsical-- they vary in style from delicate to rustic and never fail to cheer me up. Collecting Pink House pieces has recently become a passion of mine, so I thought I would relate how I buy them without breaking the bank.

If you want to buy new clothes directly from the brand, the Pink House online store is still up and running. Unfortunately, buying directly from the source can be very, very expensive. A single new Pink House dress can be as much as 79,800 yen (roughly $951 USD according to the current exchange rate)-- a staggering figure, especially considering how many other pieces are necessary to put together a complete outfit. The complete cost of the layered outfit and accessories shown above would be astronomical.

Needless to say, I've never bought anything directly from the Pink House web shop. For now, I've been collecting used Pink House clothes from online auctions and my experiences have all been good. Since the brand has been around for over 30 years, you can imagine the sheer amount of clothes available for sale by former collectors and current wearers of the brand. The two Japanese auction sites I use most often are Yahoo!Japan Auctions and Mbok. Since I don't know Japanese, it's easiest for me to rely on general brand categories like the following:
Yahoo!Japan: Pink House

Mbok: Pink House

Within each category, the clothes are sorted into subcategories by type. There is a category for long dresses, one for cardigans, one for bags, one for blouses, etc.

If the brand-specific categories don't turn up anything you like, you can try copy/pasting "Pink House" or "ピンクハウス" into the search blank of either site. This may seem like a useless process since the brand categories already exist, but it can be helpful in finding items that sellers have placed in the wrong category.

Speaking of sellers, there are several of them on Yahoo!Japan Auctions that consistently sell Pink House and other natural kei brands, so I often visit them to hunt for bargains. Here's a list of their usernames, so click the links to visit their pages:
birdman_0055
lovenorimomomado
chii_cookie
pink001v
leilashinobu
mikamitk0
marguerite_bouquet_com
hprxx611
caf6666

Once you've found your perfect outfit on Yahoo!Japan Auctions or Mbok, you can't simply bid on the items you want; most people living outside Japan need a shopping service to bid for them. The shopping service usually takes a money deposit through Paypal, bids for you, and then sends you the item when the auction is won. There are many shopping service options out there such as i-TM4U, Mukunoki-jp, Japonica Market, Japan Auction Center, and Rinkya.

Shopping services can also be used to purchase clothes from web shops! Here is a small list of some of the online stores that carry used Pink House clothing:
Cotton Garden

Accent Brand Recycle Boutique
Little Trunk

Wonderful Market

Emy's Shop

Accent Brand Recycle Boutique
Daisy

Tartan Check
Club Candy
Happycat
Alice + Fururun (no shopping service needed because they ship internationally!)

When I first started buying Pink House clothes, I set a simple rule for myself: don't buy anything more expensive than 10000 yen. Sticking to this rule wasn't as limiting as you might think because there are many cheap pieces for sale-- you just have to shop around for them. I managed to find many bargains that I now treasure just because I shopped carefully rather than recklessly. Now that I have more experience with the fashion, I've branched out to include more expensive pieces that I like, but having this relatively thrifty starting point has helped me to achieve some moderation in my Pink House spending habits.

In case anyone is interested in seeing more examples of Pink House clothes and clothes from other natural kei brands, visit the "What is natural kei?" page.

Giveaway Winner Announcement

2010-12-02T22:56:00.002-05:00

Thank you to the 53 people who participated in the morigirl bag giveaway by commenting on my last post! I put all the names into a randomizer and chose the first one on the list:

Miss Eliza Sea

Congratulations! Send your contact information to mossgardenblog@gmail.com and I'll send you the prize. ♥

image from Pink House webshop

In other news, I just added another style page-- "What is natural kei?"-- to the "What is..." pages about lolita, morigirl, and dolly fashion under the blog header. Most of the information comes from my Out of the Woods panel, but I added and clarified a few things and included new photos. If you have any interest in natural kei, please check it out!

What is natural kei?

Over 100 Followers Giveaway!

2010-11-29T10:20:00.001-05:00

It feels like only a short time ago that I made my first post in June. I have exciting plans for December, but meanwhile, to thank everyone who follows my blog, I've decided to offer a little giveaway!

I saw this bag in the mall the other day and thought it had a distinct morigirl flavor, so I added some decorations of my own:

Here's a closeup of the detail I created with antique lace, a twine tassel, some pom-pom trim, and velvet ribbon:

It's perfect for those upcoming holiday shopping trips. Leave a comment by 11:59 pm on December 1st and you'll get a chance to win!

Sleeping on a Bed of Moss

2010-11-18T14:47:00.002-05:00

A few weekends ago, some friends and I went for a hike in the woods. We stopped by a river for a while and enjoyed the atmosphere. There was so much amazing moss! As you can probably tell from my blog title, I love moss.

To me, moss means warmth and comfort. Birds line their nests with moss and some animals hibernate under it in winter. In fairy tales, maidens lost in the forest will curl up on a bed of moss to sleep.

Moss can look like a miniature forest in a tiny fairytale kingdom seen from far above.

A few years ago, my sister introduced me to the French film Peau d'Âne ("Donkey Skin"), an avant-garde musical version of the fairy tale known as "Roughskin" in the Brothers Grimm version or "Donkeyskin" in the Charles Perrault version.

All the sets and props in this film are beautiful, especially the Princess's bedroom. Her bed appears to be flanked by two giant stags and a silver castle, and her bedspread is a rich green velvet embellished with flowers, so it truly looks like a carpet of moss in spring.

I would love to recreate that bedspread for my own room.

Peau d'Âne also has many elements that would appeal to morigirl sensibilities, such as woodland scenes, rustic cottages, and the donkey skin itself. I highly recommend it!

Most screencaps courtesy of Ooh La La! Designs.

The Queen's Coach Has Arrived

2010-11-05T11:06:00.003-04:00

My reservation from Alice and the Pirates arrived a few weeks ago:

It's the Queen's Coach jumperskirt in black! Colors always look a little different in person to me, so I was pleased to note the beige stripes are darker than I thought they looked in the stock photo.

I've been thinking a lot about how to use lace pieces with lolita coordinates lately, so here I tried adding an antique lace collar to the jumperskirt. The hat is a vintage ladies military style cap.

I love the medallion prints from Alice and the Pirates and Baby the Stars Shine Bright-- prints that look a bit like wallpaper, such as Name of the Rose and Marie Antoinette.

It's nice the weather finally feels like autumn! Tranquil fall days are ahead of us.

On an unrelated note, I changed the banner and background of the blog! I like it, but I'll probably continue tweaking it until I'm satisfied. What do you think?

Visiting Teaberry's Tea Room

2010-11-03T10:46:00.001-04:00

Last Saturday, two friends and I drove to Flemington, NJ to visit Teaberry's, a tea place I had heard a lot about but never visited. It turned out to be really lovely and I can't wait to go back!

The inside was decorated with cute knick-knacks everywhere.

I really wanted the green velvet hat.

Our table, complete with fresh flowers, pink depression glass salt and pepper shakers, and sugar cube bowl with tongs:

I ordered the Gingerbread tea because it was a bit chilly outside. It was delicious!

The warm Black Forest Ham sandwich had a tasty combination of ham, melted brie, raisin sauce, and sautéed apples. If I could eat one sandwich for the rest of my life, it might be this one.

For dessert, I chose the Yorkshire Apple Torte a la Mode!

I didn't have the guts to ask someone to take my picture for me, so here are two pictures I managed to take myself:

And I'll leave you with a parting picture of the eerily beautiful abandoned chapel we saw in the Teaberry's parking lot:

Apple Picking

2010-11-02T00:08:00.002-04:00

A few weekends ago, I hosted the second New Jersey morigirl meetup! There were only three of us, but it was a lovely day. We went apple picking at Terhune Orchards in Princeton, NJ.

Miakoda reaches for an apple!

Red Delicious apples grew clustered on the branches.

The overripe, unpicked apples lay thick on the ground.

This neighboring field looked a bit like heaven to me.

Squash, squash, squash.

There was a small wildflower farm on the premises as well. These blue flowers were so tall in person!

One of the best things about apple picking is the cider doughnuts.

I made an apple pie with some of my apples... I love the way unbaked pies look.

It's my initials!

Here's my morigirl outfit:

Happy Halloween!

2010-10-31T16:14:00.002-04:00

Here's a gothic coordinate I made in honor of Halloween...

Dress: h.Naoto GRAMM

Faux fur stole: H&M

Headdress: handmade

Fur bag: offbrand

I modified the bag by clipping a handmade bracelet to the strap!

What shall I sing to my lord from my window?
What shall I sing, for my lord will not stay?
What shall I sing, for my lord will not listen?
Where shall I go, for my lord is away?

Whom shall I love when the moon is arisen?
Gone is my lord, and the grave is his prison.

What shall I say when my lord comes a-calling?
What shall I say when he knocks on my door?
What shall I say when his feet enter softly,
Leaving the marks of his grave on my floor?

Enter my lord, come from your prison.
Come from your grave, for the moon is arisen.

Welcome my lord.

-- excerpt from The Innocents (1961)

Happy Halloween, everyone!

After the Con is Over

2010-10-19T01:10:00.004-04:00

Now that NYAF/NYCC is thoroughly finished, I can safely say that my "Out of the Woods" panel about morigirl, natural kei, and dolly kei was a success for the second time. What a relief! My friend Jen took some pictures during the panel, so here's what the presentation looked like for those who couldn't make it to the convention.

A shot taken from the back of the room:

Here are a few slides from the natural kei portion of the presentation:

I talked a bit about Pink House and designer Kaneko Isao's influence on the fashion.

Next, I talked about morigirl style:

I also talked about some morigirl brands like Wonder Rocket and Syrup among others.

Finally, the segment about dolly kei...

Here are some shots of my lovely models! I was able to provide most of the clothes for the natural kei and dolly kei models from my own wardrobe, but the morigirls brought their own coordinates. Yanise modeled natural kei, wearing a Pink House dress and off-brand accessories. Doesn't she look as though she was made for this style? She suits the Pink House look so well.

Next, here is Kelsey (of I Do Declare) modeling natural kei and Bianca (of Curly B) modeling dolly kei. Kelsey wore a Pink House dress, vintage Ralph Lauren skirt, and off-brand accessories. Bianca wore a vintage Gunne Sax dress and off-brand accessories. They look so cute together!

Here's my friend Petrina modeling morigirl style! She put together her own coordinate made up of a Wonder Rocket tunic dress, offbrand accessories, and a handmade cardigan. Petrina has such a peaceful morigirl style!

My friend Aria (of Dixmacabre Sewing Chronicle) also modeled morigirl and put together her own coordinate for the panel. She's wearing a Wonder Rocket dress, offbrand accessories, and a handmade hat! I love all the handmade details my morigirls incorporated into their outfits.

Aly (of Miss Lumpy) modeled dolly kei. She wore all offbrand and vintage clothes and pulled off the look really well! I think Hitomi and the Grimoire shop girls would really have liked her brightly-colored hair. You may recognize the skirt from my last post about buying dolly kei online!

I'm lucky to have such attractive and cooperative friends. Thank you for modeling for me, everyone!

When the panel was over, the raffle began. The main prizes were two complete outfits-- detailed in this post-- but there were also many other amazing prizes contributed by my friends. I was tempted to keep some things for myself!

First, Shanda (of Sweet Daydreams) hand-crafted these floral hair accessories. Whimsical details like seed pearls and tassels made these hair clips to die for! Besides her blog, Shanda runs an Etsy store for her creations: Mousse au Chocolat. Check it out for more hand-crafted ornaments!

Second, Aly, my dolly fashion model, made some adorable birdsnest accessories, a hair clip and a brooch. Tiny twigs, acorns, and bits of moss mix playfully with pearls and ribbon-- making these ornaments the perfect complement for morigirl and many other styles. Aly sells many hand-crafted accessories in her Etsy store, Amaranth Opulent, so be sure to take a look!

Third, Aria, one of my morigirl models, contributed two of these gorgeous handmade corsages. Pom-pom trim and a variety of laces blend to form a beautiful tail to the hand-crocheted flowers. These corsages can be clipped in the hair, or to a bag, or even a dress. Visit Aria's blog for other examples of her sewing talents!

Thanks to all my friends with cameras, I was able to get a shot of the dolly kei outfit I wore on Saturday. The skirt is a genuine trachten skirt from Germany that I was lucky enough to find in an outdoor flea market a few weeks ago, and everything else is either vintage or offbrand.

I had a wonderful time! If you want to see more photos and the post Jen made about my panel, visit the morigirl livejournal community.

Out of the Woods Panel Redux

2010-10-04T15:17:00.003-04:00

Good news! If you missed my natural kei, morigirl, and dolly kei panel "Out of the Woods" at Otakon, you can still catch it this weekend at New York Anime Fest/New York Comic Con. It will be a bit different this time with more photos in the slideshow and more models wearing the three styles! I'll be presenting the panel by myself because Miakoda is busy with preparing her line for the Never-Ending Closet fashion show, but I hope to see everyone there!

Out of the Woods: Natural Kei, Morigirl, and Dolly Kei
Date: Saturday, October 9
Time: 2:30-3:30 pm
Location: Room 1E12

Here's a quick preview of some of the raffle prizes...

First, we have a comfortable autumn outfit cobbled together from a Forever 21 dress, vintage hat, and cardigan from Japanese brand Nice Claup. I made the fox necklace myself!

Next, here's a dolly kei outfit featuring a genuine Gunne Sax dress and Forever 21 jacket...

I made the silver bird + mirror necklace with this outfit as well...

There will also be a slew of handmade accessories offered as prizes, so I hope you get a lucky ticket!

Where and How to Buy Dolly Kei Online

2010-09-16T18:31:00.007-04:00

The biggest piece of news in the dolly kei world lately is that Grimoire, the pioneer dolly style kei in Japan, has opened a web shop. This online shop sells vintage dresses, tops, skirts, and even accessories like shoes and bags. Here are a few examples of the vintage clothes Grimoire offers:

The web shop also sells pieces from Dolly, Hitomi Nomura's line of accessories that started it all in 2007.

Yes, that is a fork necklace on the left. For those interested, the store blog has updates and photos of new pieces as they are added to the store.

All this excitement aside, I think now is a good time to remind everyone that dolly kei is almost entirely built around vintage clothes from western countries. The vintage brands that wearers of dolly style treasure most-- Gunne Sax, for example-- are not Japanese. According to the blog, Grimoire buys almost all of its stock online or in shopping trips to western thrift stores, flea markets, and antique sales.

If you're already familiar with the gauntlet of shopping services, custom fees, and rising shipping costs that come with buying clothes from Japan, the idea that dolly kei comes directly from the West can be very appealing. It could mean that all the tools you need to complete an outfit are in your own backyard. Re-importing clothes that were originally bought here is a little much even for me-- not that I don't support Grimoire and hope the store does well. I just think that, though it does take international orders through email, the web shop is mainly intended for the convenience of Japanese buyers who must find it troublesome to buy clothes from western countries.

So while I'm naturally excited about the opening of the Grimoire web shop and I see this as a big step forward in dolly kei, I don't plan to purchase many items from it. All the shopping resources I need are local thrift stores and websites like eBay and Etsy. Some of my favorite Etsy shops do stock 50-70's vintage fashion at reasonable prices, so here are a six of my favorites. I've picked out some examples of their clothes that would work with dolly fashion-- all priced less than $50.

Bohemian Bisoux

This skirt definitely embodies the elements of dolly kei: it's antique-looking, a bit ethnic, and it has a mysterious folklore feel to it. Can you imagine the skirt with a peasant top, vest, and fur stole? Best of all, the price is only $45.

Astral Boutique

This dress is a genuine Gunne Sax, which is easily the most popular brand in dolly kei. You can see how perfect this dress would be in an autumn dolly fashion coordinate-- just add a fringed shawl and a tooled leather shoulder bag and you're ready to go. The price is $44.

Hellcat Vintage

Though the vintage brand Young Edwardian is less famous than Gunne Sax, it's my favorite. This Young Edwardian dress features exquisite design details like a velveteen bodice and embroidered appliques. Priced at only $42, this dress is a vintage treasure.

Calico Vintage

The Gunne Sax series of "Black Label" dresses is particularly coveted because, as seen here, the design evokes the idea of the medieval princess gown. Medieval romance is a large part of the dolly kei aesthetic, so this dress would be the ideal foundation for a coordinate. Add jewelry, a 70's tapestry shoulder bag, and some high-heeled clogs for the complete look. This dress is on sale for $40.

Moonchild Vintage

This quilted 70's vest has that striking ethnic look that so many dolly kei wearers treasure. Add it to a black calico dress with boots and a vintage fedora and your dolly outfit is perfect. This vest is selling for $28.

Madgirl Vintage

This vintage paisley print dress is the perfect length for showing off a unique pair of tights and vintage shoes. Finish off the coordinate with a crocheted scarf and leather belt for the complete dolly kei look. This dress is priced at $32.

These are only a few of the amazing examples of vintage fashion I found on Etsy. Many more can be found there by the intrepid online shopper, not to mention on other sites for online thrift like eBay.

Brands: Journal Standard

2010-09-06T17:49:00.002-04:00

I recently discovered a Japanese brand called Journal Standard and found it so inspirational that I had to post about it. There are several collections within the Journal Standard label-- some for men and some for women-- but they all focus on easygoing looks, the kind of outfits that allow you to relax in style. The store's staff members describe the clothes as "casual" or "just right" and I have to agree with them. Here are some examples of the Journal Standard style:

These outfits have a tomboy flair, but still retain a certain elegance and femininity with little details like messily-rolled cuffs, ballet flats or heeled clogs, and fringed scarves. Seen individually, the casual tops, dresses, pants, and skirts can be used in styles like morigirl and natural kei.

The Journal Standard catalog also seems to have been influenced by patterns and styles from the American Southwest and Mexico.

This website not only sells items from its own brand, but also imports items such as genuine Minnetonka Moccasin fringe boots:

Here are some coordinates from the Journal Standard blog that I found inspiring! A lot of them have a lovely end of summer or early autumn feeling to them, so they're perfect for this time of year.

Tea at The Village Tea Room

2010-08-22T19:00:00.002-04:00

A couple of weeks ago, I visited a friend in New Paltz, NY, a historic little town with plenty of antiques and thrift shops. We went to The Village Tea Room and had a lovely brunch:

The dishes and tableware were a hodgepodge of delightful earthenware and glazed ceramic, similar to what you would imagine in a farmhouse. They even gave us a miniature hourglass timer so we would know when our tea was perfectly steeped.

I chose the Pumpkin Spice tea, which was delicious. I've been looking forward to fall all summer so it was the obvious choice. :3

Then I was served the scrumptious Cheddar Cheese & Herb Fritatta, along with Potato Pancake with Sour Cream & Chives:

We ended up leaving with enormous cream puffs that I didn't get a chance to photograph, but they were excellent.

Overall, I think I could live in this tea room. It had such a haphazardly charming, farmhouse atmosphere, and the layout was cozy with all the wooden beams and natural touches. The Village Tea Room also procures most of their ingredients from local farmers and producers, which is always a plus. You can taste the freshness.

That whole morning was charming. We saw a giant moth larger than my palm (no exaggeration) on the sidewalk:

It looked so soft and velvety.

The Quirky Side of Kaneko Isao

2010-08-20T21:13:00.005-04:00

If you're like me, you've been busy swooning over the Pink House 2010 Autumn Collection:

I want that coat.

But Pink House and other natural kei brands don't always release such refined, elegant clothes. Some of the older prints are downright... strange. I confess that browsing for old Kaneko Isao prints especially (whether they're from Pink House, Wonderful World, Ingeborg, or the eponymous brand "Kaneko Isao") has become an obsession of mine. Here are a few of the most unique ones I've found lately...

1. The Kewpie Doll print: I've seen this Kewpie Doll motif many times in many different colors in older Pink House designs.

2. The Pineapple print: pineapples are the traditional fruit of hospitality... and Pink House, apparently.

So festive!

3. Speaking of festive, here's the Santa Print: Kaneko Isao created a disturbing number of Santa prints, but this version from Wonderful World takes the cake (the Christmas cake, that is).

This under-dress, jumperskirt, and kerchief set is overwhelmingly jolly.

4. The Christmas Tree print: I sense a theme. This Pink House print is a little more sedate than the Wonderful World print above, but still bursting with Christmas spirit.

5. Finally, we have the Kangaroo print: here Pink House-- ever the purveyor of interesting animal prints-- takes a trip down under with a khaki vest and skirt set.

You can see a joey or two peeking out inquisitively.

As random and odd as these prints seem, perhaps the prevalence of these iconic Western symbols demonstrates the romantic view of Western culture that is still a big part of natural kei fashion. Other than that, all I can say is Kaneko Isao must have a fantastic sense of whimsy. :D

If you're curious to see more vintage prints, you can browse auction sites like Yahoo!Japan Auctions and Mbok as well as used clothing sites like Alice + Fururun and Cotton Garden.

Brothers Grimm series, part 2: Spindle, Shuttle, and Needle

2010-08-16T15:44:00.003-04:00

Here's part two of my Brothers Grimm series (this time a shorter tale, but one of my favorites)!

Spindle, Shuttle, and Needle

Once upon a time there was a girl whose father and mother died when she was still a little child. Her godmother lived all alone at the end of the village in a little house, and earned her living with spinning, weaving, and sewing. The old woman took the orphaned child into service and gave her a pious upbringing.

When the girl was fifteen years old the godmother took ill, called the child to her bedside, and said, "My dear daughter, I feel that my end is near. I leave to you this little house, that will protect you from wind and weather; and also a spindle, a shuttle, and a needle, with which you can earn your living."

She then laid her hands on the girl's head and blessed her, saying, "Keep God in your heart, and it will go well with you." With that she closed her eyes. When she was laid to rest in the earth, the girl walked behind the coffin crying, and paid her last respects.

The girl now lived all alone in the little house. She was industrious. She span, wove, and sewed; and everything she did was touched by the good old woman's blessing. It was as though the flax multiplied itself in her kitchen, and whenever she wove a piece of cloth or a carpet, or sewed a shirt, she always immediately found a buyer who paid so well that she was never in need and always had something to share with others.

At this time the king's son was traveling throughout the country in search of a bride. He wanted neither a poor one nor a rich one. He said, "My wife shall be the girl who is at the same time the poorest and the richest."

When he came to the village where the girl lived he asked, as he had done everywhere, who was the richest girl and the poorest girl. First of all they named for him the richest girl, and then said that the poorest girl was the one who lived in the little house at the end of the village.

The rich girl sat in her doorway in all her finery, and when the prince approached she bowed before him. He looked at her, said not a word, and rode on.

When he arrived at the poor girl's house she was not standing in the doorway, but instead was sitting in her little kitchen. He stopped his horse and looked into the window, through which the bright sun was shining, and saw the girl, sitting at her spinning wheel and diligently spinning. She looked up, and when she saw the prince looking in she blushed all over, closed her eyes, and continued to spin. I do not know if the thread was entirely even at this time, but she continued to spin until the prince had ridden away.

Then she stepped to the window and opened it, saying, "It is so hot in the kitchen," but she continued to follow him with her eyes as long as she could recognize the white feathers on his hat.

The girl sat back down in the kitchen and continued to work at her spinning. Then a saying came to her that the old woman had sometimes said while she was at work, and she sang it thus:

Spindle, spindle, go on out,

And bring a suitor to my house.

What happened? The spindled immediately jumped out of her hand and out the door. Amazed, she stood up and watched it as it danced merrily across the field, pulling along a glistening golden thread behind it. Before long it had disappeared from her eyes.

Because the girl no longer had a spindle, she picked up her shuttle, seated herself at her loom, and began to weave.

Now the spindle danced ever onward, and just as the thread came to an end it reached the prince.

"What do I see?" he cried. "Is this spindle showing me the way?"

He turned his horse around and followed the golden thread back.

The girl was seated at her work singing:

Shuttle, shuttle, weave so fine,

Lead a suitor here to me.

Just then the shuttle jumped from her hand and out the door. However, it began to weave a carpet before the threshold, a more beautiful one than anyone had ever seen before. At its sides blossomed roses and lilies. In its middle, against a golden background, there were rows of green upon which hares and rabbits were jumping about. In between, stags and deer stuck out their heads. Colorful birds sat above in the branches. The only thing missing was their singing. The shuttle jumped back and forth. It was as though everything was growing by itself.

Because her shuttle had run away, the girl now sat down to sew. She held her needle in her hand and sang:

Needle, needle, sharp and fine,

Clean up the house for the suitor of mine.

Then the needle jumped out of her fingers and flew about in the kitchen as quick as lightning. It was as though invisible spirits were at work. The table and benches were soon covered with green cloth, the chairs with velvet; and silk curtains hung at the windows.

The needle had scarcely made its last stitch when the girl looked through the window and saw the white feathers on the prince's hat. The spindle had brought him here with its golden thread. He dismounted and walked across the carpet into the house. When he stepped into the kitchen she was standing there in her simple dress, but she was glowing in it like a rose in a bush.

"You are the poorest, but also the richest," he said to her. "Come with me. You shall be my bride."

She said nothing, but reached out her hand to him. Then he gave her a kiss and led her outside, lifted her onto his horse, and took her to the royal palace where their wedding was celebrated with great joy.

The spindle, shuttle, and needle were secured in the treasure chamber, where they were kept in great honor.

♥

Silk ribbon embroidery, also known as rococo embroidery, was popularized in mid-18th century France. It was used to embellish gowns, frock coats, and accessories, and was the pastime of elegant ladies everywhere.

I recently bought a book called Silk Ribbon Embroidery by Sheena Cable, so I could learn a few basic stitches. It has clear instructions, illustrations, and photos as well as both simple and elaborate embroidery projects.

Some of the projects are really lovely, so I'll post pictures of things I'm working on in the future. For now, here's some leaves I've been stitching on scraps of velvet to help me practice the basic stitches:

I need more practice, but I'm going to keep trying on scrap material before I try embroidering something like a cardigan. :3

One Dress Many Ways

2010-08-12T23:25:00.006-04:00

Have you ever tried to see how many different coordinates you can make with one dress? Beware, it can be addictive. :3 And it's a godsend for people with limited wardrobes who don't want to wear the same look over and over again. For example, here are a few coordinates I created with my Metamorphose Revival Bouquet pinafore jumperskirt and just the items in my wardrobe! I'll use each outfit to illustrate a coordination tip.

The most basic way to create a jumperskirt coordinate-- besides wearing it plain-- is to wear a blouse underneath it...

... or wear a bolero or cardigan over it. Both these options, besides being simple and comfortable, present a look with very clean lines. Plus, you can always switch blouses or cardigans if you want some variety.

Mixing whites is not a crime-- don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Even though the main white tone in the Revival Bouquet fabric is antique white, wearing a true white blouse can create an interesting look.

Simply adding or switching accessories is an easy way to give a coordinate a different feel. Here the white blouse coordinate has gone from simple to lavish just by adding a lace shawl and bonnet.

If you wear a buttoned-up jacket with a jumperskirt, it will look like a jacket and skirt. This trick works especially well in winter because the extra layer means extra warmth.

Add some black. Black lends sophistication to almost any outfit. This coordinate had a 1920's vibe, so I accentuated it with pearls.

Don't be afraid to mix prints and patterns! When done right, the result can be astonishingly pretty. Here I've mixed the floral print jumperskirt with an embroidered floral cardigan, but separated the two patterns with a chiffon camisole so it's not too overwhelming.

Try a color that compliments rather than matches the color scheme of the base garment. For instance, there are no peachy-pink tones in this colorway of the Revival Bouquet print, but nevertheless this cardigan works because the peach tone compliments the blue.

Not all the outfits I've created here are lolita, which brings me to my final point: do use lolita clothes for non-lolita outfits. Try a natural kei look, a morigirl look, or a dolly kei look using your lolita jumperskirts and dresses and you'll be surprised by how your view of your closet will change. Fashion is about creativity and experimentation, so try something different!

Otakon Coordinates and Business Cards

2010-08-09T13:57:00.006-04:00

Otakon was a real delight this year! I saw old friends, presented a panel, and got to see the amazing fashion shows. Plus, my inner nerd was very happy to be back at a convention. :3

For my panel on Friday, I wore this coordinate:

The only brand items I'm wearing here are the Baby the Stars Shine Bright parasol and the Metamorphose ruffled underskirt. Everything else is either handmade or from Target, Walmart, Forever 21, and thrift stores, so it was a relatively inexpensive outfit to put together. You might recognize the straw bag from my last post! It proved invaluable at the comvention because it holds so much stuff.

Here's a closer shot of the headdress I made using a Hot Topic hair fascinator as the base and adding a fox head skin, some velvet ribbon, feathers, and a Victorian Maiden hair corsage:

The vintage fox head skin came from an eBay estate sale auction and cost only $9. I was calling him Bernard by the end of the weekend. haha

On Saturday, I wore a more gothic coordinate in honor of the h.Naoto show that took place that morning:

The tunic dress is h.Naoto GRAMM (see the stock photo here in my flickr wardrobe), the ruffled underskirt is Black Peace Now, the rose hair corsage is Victorian Maiden, the hair jewelry is Forever 21, the necklace is handmade, and the furs and leather pouch are from the dealers room. The bag is actually from Walmart and I decorated it with a vintage doily. I use it every day for work, but it coordinated well with the outfit.

I tried to make the outfit as GRAMM-like as possible using only one GRAMM item, so I went for something more Old World fairy tale, backwoods gothic. It was so comfortable!

Finally, on Sunday, I wore classic lolita:

This photo was taken in a gorgeous hotel we visited right before we left Baltimore. I wish it were a few blocks closer to the Baltimore Convention Center so we could stay there instead. ;o;

The jsk is Baby the Stars Shine Bright, the bolero, necklace, and hairpin are Innocent World, the hat was a gift, the shoes are Payless, and the tights are Anthropologie.

In an unrelated note, I finally got business cards for this blog! I found some cute rounded-edged blank business cards and some stamps on Etsy that I liked, so I decided to make them hand-stamped. Here's the finished product:

The cards are made from recycled paper and came in a variety of cream tones. I had a customized stamp created with the blog information and was lucky enough to find the bunny and lace stamps elsewhere on Etsy. Here's a photo showing the card variety created by the mixed tone cards and hand-stamping:

They're cute! And I like the handmade look. ♥

Whimsical Straw Bags

2010-07-26T23:06:00.010-04:00

Morigirl, natural kei, and dolly kei sometimes use basket bags or totes made of straw because they have a very natural, vintage feel. What does carrying a basket as a purse say about you? Maybe, "I could be carrying embroidery or flowers or fresh strawberries or... muffins." And that's never a bad thing.

There are winter basket bags that use fur trim:

Summer bags decorated with lace and flowers:

And straw bags of every kind-- the decorating possibilities are endless!

I tried my hand at one yesterday using a plain straw tote and some vintage doilies and lace remnants:

back view:

and the detail at the front (gathered knit ribbon and dangling fur pom-poms with lace bows attached at the top for extra whimsy):

I think I'll take it with me this weekend ♥

"Out of the Woods" panel at Otakon

2010-07-22T18:58:00.010-04:00

This year at Otakon, I decided to present a panel about my current favorite Japanese fashions: morigirl, dolly kei, and natural kei. There will be a slideshow with photos to illustrate the history and influences behind each style, as well as cute models walking around the room dressed in whichever fashion we're talking about at the moment. Finally, there will be a raffle with prizes including the following...

I made a morigirl-style antique lace bib necklace. It looks fantastic with dresses or even plain t-shirts! Here's a closeup:

And here's the grand prize: a complete outfit! It comes with a floral tunic dress, a long ruffled sweater vest, a pompom & lace scarf, and a straw hat. I decorated the hat, but everything else comes from Forever21 and mbok.jp. :D

This can be worn alone with sandals or layered over a longer skirt or jeans for cooler days.

My friend Miakoda (you may know her from her blog keynotecraze) will be joining me as co-panelist! She's also bringing some delightful handmade prizes for the raffle.

Come see us on Friday at 2 pm in Panel Room 4 of the Baltimore Convention Center! I hope it will be a successful panel, seeing as Otakon hasn't had one like this for as long as I've attended the convention. I'll bring back a lot of photos!

Independence Day and Pink House

2010-07-06T01:28:00.005-04:00

Happy belated 4th of July! I celebrated Independence Day at a barbeque with some friends and fireworks:

Also sparklers, which made me really happy :3

Since it was almost 100 degrees, I decided to keep cool by wearing one of my vintage Pink House dresses. Pink House clothing is meant to be worn loose, so it's perfect for warm weather as long as you don't layer too much. Here's the dress I wore:

Notice the pintucks, covered buttons, and delicate lace-- all staples of Pink House design.

Generally, the skirts of these dresses are left unbuttoned to highlight a decorative underskirt. I chose a beige-colored skirt to match the beige hats in the print.

I'll show more of my Pink House collection in future posts, but for now take a look at the Pink House website!

The Picket Fence Tea Room

2010-06-29T08:56:00.003-04:00

Yesterday afternoon, I took my sister to The Picket Fence tea room in Haddonfield, New Jersey. It's a lovely little place with a store in front and tea room in the back. The store sells knick-knacks, shabby chic bedding, scone mixes, dishes, and of course, tea.

I chose the Chesterton tea, a mixture of black tea that tasted delicious with cream and sugar.

It came with a chocolate chip scone and Devonshire cream and jam, garnished with a strawberry.

The cute store at the front proved irresistible, so I purchased some lemon curd and Tiger Spice chai mix (for the name alone, obviously). I'm going to make my own scones to go with the lemon curd. ♥

The First Saturday in June

2010-06-06T11:55:00.003-04:00

To celebrate International Lolita Day, a friend and I drove to Fairmount Park for a craft picnic! We found the perfect tree for our picnicking spot:

The view from under the branches was lovely!

I found a huge leaf...

... and turned it into a plate, naturally. :3

I decided to wear something casual because the weather was blisteringly hot. This cutsew dress, an older release from Baby, the Stars Shine Bright, is light and comfortable for summer days. The accessories are from BtSSB, Victorian Maiden, and Innocent World.

Brothers Grimm series, part 1: The Goose Girl at the Well

2010-06-01T09:59:00.012-04:00

Growing up, I read a battered 1970's edition of The Complete Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales over and over. Sprawling on my bedroom floor with the book in the warm sunlight was one of my favorite ways to spend an afternoon.

We're all familiar with classic Brothers Grimm tales like Rapunzel, Hansel and Gretel, Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, and Sleeping Beauty, but there are many charming tales that few people seem to know. I'm going to start a short series of posts that include a lesser known fairy tale and then a Grimm-inspired coordinate or craft to go along with it.

The following is the first tale as it appears in the book...

The Goose Girl at the Well

There was once upon a time a very old woman, who lived with a flock of geese in a waste place among the mountains, and there had a little house. The waste was surrounded by a large forest, and every morning the old woman took her crutch and hobbled into it. There, however, the dame was quite active, more so than any one would have thought, considering her age, and collected grass for her geese, picked all the wild fruit she could reach, and carried everything home on her back. Any one would have thought that the heavy load would have weighed her to the ground, but she always brought it safely home. If any one met her, she greeted him quite courteously. "Good day, dear countryman, it is a fine day. Ah! you wonder that I should drag grass about, but every one must take his burthen on his back." Nevertheless, people did not like to meet her if they could help it, and took by preference a round-about way, and when a father with his boys passed her, he whispered to them, "Beware of the old woman. She has claws beneath her gloves; she is a witch."

One morning, a handsome young man was going through the forest. The sun shone bright, the birds sang, a cool breeze crept through the leaves, and he was full of joy and gladness. He had as yet met no one, when he suddenly perceived the old witch kneeling on the ground cutting grass with a sickle. She had already thrust a whole load into her cloth, and near it stood two baskets, which were filled with wild apples and pears. "But, good little mother," said he, "how canst thou carry all that away?" "I must carry it, dear sir," answered she, "rich folk's children have no need to do such things, but with the peasant folk the saying goes, don't look behind you, you will only see how crooked your back is!"

"Will you help me?" she said, as he remained standing by her. "You have still a straight back and young legs, it would be a trifle to you. Besides, my house is not so very far from here, it stands there on the heath behind the hill. How soon you would bound up thither." The young man took compassion on the old woman. "My father is certainly no peasant," replied he, "but a rich count; nevertheless, that you may see that it is not only peasants who can carry things, I will take your bundle." If you will try it," said she, "I shall be very glad. You will certainly have to walk for an hour, but what will that signify to you; only you must carry the apples and pears as well?" It now seemed to the young man just a little serious, when he heard of an hour's walk, but the old woman would not let him off, packed the bundle on his back, and hung the two baskets on his arm. "See, it is quite light," said she. "No, it is not light," answered the count, and pulled a rueful face. "Verily, the bundle weighs as heavily as if it were full of cobble stones, and the apples and pears are as heavy as lead! I can scarcely breathe." He had a mind to put everything down again, but the old woman would not allow it. "Just look," said she mockingly, "the young gentleman will not carry what I, an old woman, have so often dragged along. You are ready with fine words, but when it comes to be earnest, you want to take to your heels. Why are you standing loitering there?" she continued. "Step out. No one will take the bundle off again." As long as he walked on level ground, it was still bearable, but when they came to the hill and had to climb, and the stones rolled down under his feet as if they were alive, it was beyond his strength. The drops of perspiration stood on his forehead, and ran, hot and cold, down his back. "Dame," said he, "I can go no farther. I want to rest a little." "Not here," answered the old woman, "when we have arrived at our journey's end, you can rest; but now you must go forward. Who knows what good it may do you?" "Old woman, thou art becoming shameless!" said the count, and tried to throw off the bundle, but he laboured in vain; it stuck as fast to his back as if it grew there. He turned and twisted, but he could not get rid of it. The old woman laughed at this, and sprang about quite delighted on her crutch. "Don't get angry, dear sir," said she, "you are growing as red in the face as a turkey-cock! Carry your bundle patiently. I will give you a good present when we get home."

What could he do. He was obliged to submit to his fate, and crawl along patiently behind the old woman. She seemed to grow more and more nimble, and his burden still heavier. All at once she made a spring, jumped on to the bundle and seated herself on the top of it; and however withered she might be, she was yet heavier than the stoutest country lass. The youth's knees trembled, but when he did not go on, the old woman hit him about the legs with a switch and with stinging-nettles.

Groaning continually, he climbed the mountain, and at length reached the old woman's house, when he was just about to drop. When the geese perceived the old woman, they flapped their wings, stretched out their necks, ran to meet her, cackling all the while. Behind the flock walked, stick in hand, an old wench, strong and big, but ugly as night. "Good mother," said she to the old woman, "has anything happened to you, you have stayed away so long?" "By no means, my dear daughter," answered she, I have met with nothing bad, but, on the contrary, with this kind gentleman, who has carried my burthen for me; only think, he even took me on his back when I was tired. The way, too, has not seemed long to us; we have been merry, and have been cracking jokes with each other all the time." At last the old woman slid down, took the bundle off the young man's back, and the baskets from his arm, looked at him quite kindly, and said, "Now seat yourself on the bench before the door, and rest. You have fairly earned your wages, and they shall not be wanting." Then she said to the goose-girl, "Go into the house, my dear daughter, it is not becoming for thee to be alone with a young gentleman; one must not pour oil on to the fire, he might fall in love with thee." The count knew not whether to laugh or to cry. "Such a sweetheart as that," thought he, "could not touch my heart, even if she were thirty years younger." In the meantime the old woman stroked and fondled her geese as if they were children, and then went into the house with her daughter. The youth lay down on the bench, under a wild apple tree. The air was warm and mild; on all sides stretched a green meadow, which was set with cowslips, wild thyme, and a thousand other flowers; through the midst of it rippled a clear brook on which the sun sparkled, and the white geese went walking backwards and forwards, or paddled in the water. "It is quite delightful here," said he, "but I am so tired that I cannot keep my eyes open; I will sleep a little. If only a gust of wind does not come and blow my legs off my body, for they are as rotten as tinder."

When he had slept a little while, the old woman came and shook him till he awoke. "Sit up," said she, "thou canst not stay here; I have certainly treated thee hardly, still it has not cost thee thy life. Of money and land thou hast no need, here is something else for thee." Thereupon she thrust a little book into his hand, which was cut out of a single emerald. "Take great care of it," said she, "it will bring thee good fortune." The count sprang up, and as he felt that he was quite fresh, and had recovered his vigor, he thanked the old woman for her present, and set off without even once looking back at the beautiful daughter. When he was already some way off, he still heard in the distance the noisy cry of the geese.

For three days the count had to wander in the wilderness before he could find his way out. He then reached a large town, and as no one knew him, he was led into the royal palace, where the King and Queen were sitting on their throne. The count fell on one knee, drew the emerald book out of his pocket, and laid it at the Queen's feet. She bade him rise and hand her the little book. Hardly, however, had she opened it, and looked therein, than she fell as if dead to the ground. The count was seized by the King's servants, and was being led to prison, when the Queen opened her eyes, and ordered them to release him, and every one was to go out, as she wished to speak with him in private.

When the Queen was alone, she began to weep bitterly, and said, "Of what use to me are the splendours and honours with which I am surrounded; every morning I awake in pain and sorrow. I had three daughters, the youngest of whom was so beautiful that the whole world looked on her as a wonder. She was as white as snow, as rosy as apple-blossom, and her hair as radiant as sun-beams. When she cried, not tears fell from her eyes, but pearls and jewels only. When she was fifteen years old, the King summoned all three sisters to come before his throne. You should have seen how all the people gazed when the youngest entered, it was just as if the sun were rising! Then the King spoke, "My daughters, I know not when my last day may arrive; I will to-day decide what each shall receive at my death. You all love me, but the one of you who loves me best, shall fare the best." Each of them said she loved him best. "Can you not express to me," said the King, "how much you do love me, and thus I shall see what you mean?" The eldest spoke. "I love my father as dearly as the sweetest sugar." The second, "I love my father as dearly as my prettiest dress." But the youngest was silent. Then the father said, "And thou, my dearest child, how much dost thou love me?" "I do not know, and can compare my love with nothing." But her father insisted that she should name something. So she said at last, "The best food does not please me without salt, therefore I love my father like salt." When the King heard that, he fell into a passion, and said, "If thou lovest me like salt, thy love shall also be repaid thee with salt."

Then he divided the kingdom between the two elder, but caused a sack of salt to be bound on the back of the youngest, and two servants had to lead her forth into the wild forest. We all begged and prayed for her, said the Queen, "but the King's anger was not to be appeased. How she cried when she had to leave us! The whole road was strewn with the pearls which flowed from her eyes. The King soon afterwards repented of his great severity, and had the whole forest searched for the poor child, but no one could find her. When I think that the wild beasts have devoured her, I know not how to contain myself for sorrow; many a time I console myself with the hope that she is still alive, and may have hidden herself in a cave, or has found shelter with compassionate people. But picture to yourself, when I opened your little emerald book, a pearl lay therein, of exactly the same kind as those which used to fall from my daughter's eyes; and then you can also imagine how the sight of it stirred my heart. You must tell me how you came by that pearl." The count told her that he had received it from the old woman in the forest, who had appeared very strange to him, and must be a witch, but he had neither seen nor hear anything of the Queen's child. The King and the Queen resolved to seek out the old woman. They thought that there where the pearl had been, they would obtain news of their daughter.

The old woman was sitting in that lonely place at her spinning-wheel, spinning. It was already dusk, and a log which was burning on the hearth gave a scanty light. All at once there was a noise outside, the geese were coming home from the pasture, and uttering their hoarse cries. Soon afterwards the daughter also entered. But the old woman scarcely thanked her, and only shook her head a little. The daughter sat down beside her, took her spinning-wheel, and twisted the threads as nimbly as a young girl. Thus they both sat for two hours, and exchanged never a word. At last something rustled at the window, and two fiery eyes peered in. It was an old night-owl, which cried, "Uhu!" three times. The old woman looked up just a little, then she said, "Now, my little daughter, it is time for thee to go out and do thy work." She rose and went out, and where did she go? Over the meadows ever onward into the valley. At last she came to a well, with three old oak-trees standing beside it; meanwhile the moon had risen large and round over the mountain, and it was so light that one could have found a needle. She removed a skin which covered her face, then bent down to the well, and began to wash herself. When she had finished, she dipped the skin also in the water, and then laid it on the meadow, so that it should bleach in the moonlight, and dry again. But how the maiden was changed! Such a change as that was never seen before! When the gray mask fell off, her golden hair broke forth like sunbeams, and spread about like a mantle over her whole form. Her eyes shone out as brightly as the stars in heaven, and her cheeks bloomed a soft red like apple-blossom.

But the fair maiden was sad. She sat down and wept bitterly. One tear after another forced itself out of her eyes, and rolled through her long hair to the ground. There she sat, and would have remained sitting a long time, if there had not been a rustling and cracking in the boughs of the neighbouring tree. She sprang up like a roe which has been overtaken by the shot of the hunter. Just then the moon was obscured by a dark cloud, and in an instant the maiden had put on the old skin and vanished, like a light blown out by the wind.

She ran back home, trembling like an aspen-leaf. The old woman was standing on the threshold, and the girl was about to relate what had befallen her, but the old woman laughed kindly, and said, "I already know all." She led her into the room and lighted a new log. She did not, however, sit down to her spinning again, but fetched a broom and began to sweep and scour, "All must be clean and sweet," she said to the girl. "But, mother," said the maiden, "why do you begin work at so late an hour? What do you expect?" "Dost thou know then what time it is?" asked the old woman. "Not yet midnight," answered the maiden, "but already past eleven o'clock." "Dost thou not remember," continued the old woman, "that it is three years to-day since thou camest to me? Thy time is up, we can no longer remain together." The girl was terrified, and said, "Alas! dear mother, will you cast me off? Where shall I go? I have no friends, and no home to which I can go. I have always done as you bade me, and you have always been satisfied with me; do not send me away." The old woman would not tell the maiden what lay before her. "My stay here is over," she said to her, "but when I depart, house and parlour must be clean: therefore do not hinder me in my work. Have no care for thyself, thou shalt find a roof to shelter thee, and the wages which I will give thee shall also content thee." "But tell me what is about to happen," the maiden continued to entreat. "I tell thee again, do not hinder me in my work. Do not say a word more, go to thy chamber, take the skin off thy face, and put on the silken gown which thou hadst on when thou camest to me, and then wait in thy chamber until I call thee."

But I must once more tell of the King and Queen, who had journeyed forth with the count in order to seek out the old woman in the wilderness. The count had strayed away from them in the wood by night, and had to walk onwards alone. Next day it seemed to him that he was on the right track. He still went forward, until darkness came on, then he climbed a tree, intending to pass the night there, for he feared that he might lose his way. When the moon illumined the surrounding country he perceived a figure coming down the mountain. She had no stick in her hand, but yet he could see that it was the goose-girl, whom he had seen before in the house of the old woman. "Oho," cried he, "there she comes, and if I once get hold of one of the witches, the other shall not escape me!" But how astonished he was, when she went to the well, took off the skin and washed herself, when her golden hair fell down all about her, and she was more beautiful than any one whom he had ever seen in the whole world. He hardly dared to breathe, but stretched his head as far forward through the leaves as he dared, and stared at her. Either he bent over too far, or whatever the cause might be, the bough suddenly cracked, and that very moment the maiden slipped into the skin, sprang away like a roe, and as the moon was suddenly covered, disappeared from his eyes. Hardly had she disappeared, before the count descended from the tree, and hastened after her with nimble steps.

He had not been gone long before he saw, in the twilight, two figures coming over the meadow. It was the King and Queen, who had perceived from a distance the light shining in the old woman's little house, and were going to it. The count told them what wonderful things he had seen by the well, and they did not doubt that it had been their lost daughter. They walked onwards full of joy, and soon came to the little house. The geese were sitting all round it, and had thrust their heads under their wings and were sleeping, and not one of them moved. The King and Queen looked in at the window, the old woman was sitting there quite quietly spinning, nodding her head and never looking round. The room was perfectly clean, as if the little mist men, who carry no dust on their feet, lived there. Their daughter, however, they did not see. They gazed at all this for a long time, at last they took heart, and knocked softly at the window. The old woman appeared to have been expecting them; she rose, and called out quite kindly, "Come in,--I know you already." When they had entered the room, the old woman said, "You might have spared yourself the long walk, if you had not three years ago unjustly driven away your child, who is so good and lovable. No harm has come to her; for three years she has had to tend the geese; with them she has learnt no evil, but has preserved her purity of heart. You, however, have been sufficiently punished by the misery in which you have lived." Then she went to the chamber and called, "Come out, my little daughter." Thereupon the door opened, and the princess stepped out in her silken garments, with her golden hair and her shining eyes, and it was as if an angel from heaven had entered.

She went up to her father and mother, fell on their necks and kissed them; there was no help for it, they all had to weep for joy. The young count stood near them, and when she perceived him she became as red in the face as a moss-rose, she herself did not know why. The King said, "My dear child, I have given away my kingdom, what shall I give thee?" "She needs nothing," said the old woman. "I give her the tears that she has wept on your account; they are precious pearls, finer than those that are found in the sea, and worth more than your whole kingdom, and I give her my little house as payment for her services." When the old woman had said that, she disappeared from their sight. The walls rattled a little, and when the King and Queen looked round, the little house had changed into a splendid palace, a royal table had been spread, and the servants were running hither and thither.

The story goes still further, but my grandmother, who related it to me, had partly lost her memory, and had forgotten the rest. I shall always believe that the beautiful princess married the count, and that they remained together in the palace, and lived there in all happiness so long as God willed it. Whether the snow-white geese, which were kept near the little hut, were verily young maidens (no one need take offense,) whom the old woman had taken under her protection, and whether they now received their human form again, and stayed as handmaids to the young Queen, I do not exactly know, but I suspect it. This much is certain, that the old woman was no witch, as people thought, but a wise woman, who meant well. Very likely it was she who, at the princess's birth, gave her the gift of weeping pearls instead of tears. That does not happen now-a-days, or else the poor would soon become rich.

♥

Here's a coordinate! It's not particularly inspired by this story, but I think it fits the fairy tale aesthetic. I would say this works as either classic lolita or dolly fashion.

dress: Metamorphose
hat: Metamorphose
shawl: Charlotte Russe
rose corsage: handmade

Molasses raisin cookies

2010-05-21T19:09:00.003-04:00

According to my mom, this was one of the recipes my great-great-grandmother brought with her from Germany when she came to America.

Originally the recipe called for lard, but that's a little too hardcore for me so I use butter or vegetable oil. You can make drop cookies or bar cookies with no alteration to the recipe; I prefer bar cookies myself because they're easier to make. The molasses, nutmeg, and cinnamon flavors remind me a little of the holidays, but the cookies are delicious all year long!

1 cup sugar

3 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

¼ tsp baking powder

½ tsp salt

½ cup dark molasses

½ tsp nutmeg

1 egg

½ cup milk

½ cup shortening, butter, or vegetable oil

1 cup raisins

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Mix sugar, shortening, and egg. Add flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg. Add molasses, milk, and raisins and beat until batter is completely smooth.

Bake 10-15 minutes on greased cookie sheet, or pour batter into pan for bar cookies.

Here's one of my bar cookies (I added the powdered sugar heart for fun).

Molasses isn't used much in modern recipes, but it was once the most popular sweetener in America because it was less expensive than refined sugar. It has more vitamins and minerals than refined sugar, which is why blackstrap molasses in particular is considered a health food.

On a more tragic (or hilarious?) note, in 1919, a 50 foot-high tank of molasses burst, flooding the streets of Boston in a disaster called the Great Boston Molasses Tragedy. The tank could hold almost 2.5 million gallons, so it's no surprise that the deluge of sweetener managed to topple buildings and even derail a train. It is sometimes humorously referred to as "The Boston Molassacre."

Introduction

2010-05-16T20:00:00.005-04:00

elcome to Moss Garden, a little blog about books, crafts, and clothes. I've already created some stand-alone pages for links and information about the clothes I enjoy most, so check them out in the bar beneath the page header!

Today I went to a craft picnic in Central Park with some friends. The weather was perfect: warm with a cool breeze. It was sunny, so we sat beneath the shade of a tree.

I had a bunch of crocheted strawberries and ribbon, so I made a hair comb.