My cousin Barbara (below right) and I reconnected last summer at a family reunion — our first meeting since we were in high school. We were delighted to discover that we were cousinly clones: we showed up wearing the same style (and label) clothing, and shared a history of similar jobs and interests.
Since then we've stayed in touch in a one-sided way: she reads the blog, I think about her. She sends me mementoes and I envision creating appropriately personal responses but don't seem to quite get around to actually doing anything. Luckily, being family, she doesn't hold my delinquency against me. As proof, she recently sent me one of her exquisite hand-made creations for my birthday.
This mysterious woman in white is about 17 inches long and made of a bits of lace, fabric, ribbon and beads plus a little loop of thread so I can easily put her on display. There is a message to me on the back that looks like it was written with a fountain pen (or even a quill!). It would be hard to determine the age of this treasure if the note wasn't dated 2011.
Something this beautiful was, of course, also elegantly presented. The monochromatic missive arrived ensconced in two kinds of tissue paper and nestled within a long box whose lid was decorated with floral images. A perfect present from my perfect cousin.
That is such a lovely object, and the subtlety of the face is especially touching.
Posted by: Altoon | Monday, May 09, 2011 at 06:40 AM
You ladies look like sisters. What an enchanting gift. It is like something from the past.
Posted by: Lisa at Greenbow | Monday, May 09, 2011 at 05:37 PM
Wow. What a wonderful woman in white that is, what a delightfully mysterious face!
Posted by: Inkslinger | Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at 12:10 PM