Capturing the Castle

In another life elsewhere, I dreamed of a place where castle spires curled upward to the sky, where cobbled streets led to secret passageways...

Castles figure in our collective daydreams, holding an  allure that lies in forgotten fairytales. Perhaps that is why one of my favourite books is, I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith.

The picture on my dresser reminds me of the book, a girl trailing  balloons behind her, as if  she has slipped away from the party unnoticed, to spend her time in quiet contemplation, much as the heroine of the book, Cassandra does.

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The voice of young Cassandra makes abject poverty sound almost appealing. Dripping taps within an ancient, crumbling setting evoke a lost English bohemian existence. Dodie Smith twisted the state of melancholia into something  almost a delight to the senses. The transience of natural beauty and the stabbing pain of love lost serve to remind me of my own youth.

It is said Dodie wrote the book whilst enduring bouts of homesickness during her time in America. This may explain the almost idealised representation of England, an aged castle and the eccentric family that reside there.

Castles were places of safety, perhaps for a fortunate few. Sanctuary may still lie within their walls, where past heroic deeds were performed. We may fall under their spell, time suspended momentarily.

When we grow up, we become aware of the shadowy world behind  fairytales, the spectres that mock  happy endings,  faintly perceptible figures that lurk in narrow corridors. Our childish hopes are peppered with uncertainties. Like Cassandra giving up writing her poetry, we relinquish our dreams.

The novel falls into coming of age territory, yet it  is also a celebration of unconventionality and artistic endeavour. Cassandra devotes much of her time to imagining, writing in her diary and commenting on other much celebrated writers. She is surrounded by creative people,  her novelist father and her stepmother who serves as his muse. On reading the book, we believe again in a world of possibilities. We may begin to realise the worth of our own creative qualities, for their own value, not for their monetary worth..

 Cassandra captures the castle, using her practial skills to force her father to write again. She grows to love herself, refusing the advances of someone that does not love her as they should. Her sensitivity and tendency to daydream, to fall into reverie, live alongside this practical self.

Castles are a  symbol of beauty, mystery and years long past. They inspire the imagination when the world looks gloomy and sad. They are a place of inspiration for sagging spirits. To capture the castle, we can form a mental image of everything we ever gave up, reuniting us with a past  self full of hope, that expected the story to turn out for the very best.  

Thoreau once said: “ Go confidently in the direction of your dreams!" It  is entirely fitting advice.

Dolly days

I love the little dollies on this adorable coat my friend Cat sent me for my tiny girl. Eliska has been wearing it this week with my hat and scarf, which she has taken a bit of a shine to, the cheeky little minx. It is bitteŕly cold at the moment and you need to wrap up.

She also sent us this gorgeous Disaster Designs plate and bowl. I think they are the cutest. I am never quite sure whether the doll on the plate is a Matroyska or a Baboushka.

Cat is opening a shop selling Scandinavian clothes for kids, which I hope to post details of soon. I am sure you will agree she has great taste.

Vintage Stories

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Clothing is more expensive here, which seems wrong considering most people here earn significantly less than those in the UK. There are no bargain type shops that I used that to enjoy frequenting, such as TK Maxx. Just pause for a moment and reflect on how simply intolerable and unjust that is.

But all is not lost. For there are...

SALES

I particularly liked a range for children called Vintage Stories, in Scandinavian store, Kappahl. It was a bit expensive, so I stalked it until it came into the sale. It has a nineteen fifties theme and is very sweet. I bought the red shoes, hairband, dress and teddy from the range.

I love the little red shoes. They remind me of the Charlie and Lola episode, I do love my red shiny shoes. Eliska has been trotting around in them, so I think she loves them too.

There once was an uly duckling

Oh, the sweet relief. Our house is finally taking shape. We almost have the  kitchen done.

I love our sink.

Our tiles are meant to bekind of old looking, if you are thinking, what are those old knackered things.

Look, kitchen cupboards,hurrah. Imagine how they will look with pretty things on the glass shelves.

Sorry for the poor pic quality.We have wonky beams. Friends of Romi who were helping him do up the house suggested we cover them up, due to their wonkiness. Czech taste seems very different to mine. Is it just me or is this a bonkers and er, quite bad taste idea. I would rather have the wonkiness any day. I find it rather charming and a bit hobbit dwellingy.

The windows used to be square and kind of normal window shape. The house was once a shop, so they were massive and not attractive. It was my idea to have the windows and doors in an arched shape. I think it suits the house and adds a bit of character. It seems to make it softer and homelier.

I was not sure about the bathroom tiles when they were finished. I thought it was a bit revenge of the mosaics and they were taking over the bathroom. I think it will be better when everything else is in.

Oh, the sweet relief. Our house is finally taking shape. It gets quite stressful renovating a house and seems like it will never happen. I know it is still in a messy state, but it is much better now I can see an end in sight.

It was interesting to read your comments on my previous post. It seems white is an easier option than coloured kitchens sometimes, although a splash of colour is sometimes good. I always like the idea of an all white home, then long for colour, then paint it, then regret it and wish it was white and airy again.

Ah, but these things are mere trifles. I look forward to when I can show you my littleugly duckling house transformed into a swan.

She makes cupcakes

Hello, there is someone I would like you to meet.

This is Cupcake Girl.

She has a little pocket for a cupcake, one attached to her skirt and two larger cakes.

She has a little headscarf and fabric plaited in her hair.

She even has a little recipe book.

Pale and pretty

I saw the home of Silke and Ralf Buestrich in a German home magazine I bought here. I found some more cute snaps at Schwaisch Hall, under the title, Alter Charme.

I particularly like the bathroom, the aged wrought iron touches and the kitchen. I would have loved painted wooden cupboards but am having simple white in mine. Do you readers have any thoughts on kitchens regarding colours. I would love to hear or see your plans.

Torie Jayne exquisite things giveaway

 Torie Jayne blog has a fabulous giveaway worth thirty pounds for Hampton Blue online boutique. It is open to readers worldwide. To enter, you just need to  visit Hampton Blue and leave a comment on what you would spend your store credit on. The giveaway ends on Saturday, February 26th at 10pm.

The boutique features Disaster Designs, Lisbeth Dahl and East of India and is worth a peek. Good luck folks.

Love in the shape of a cup

I am a bit cynical about Valentines day. After all, romance ought to be spontaneous, impulsive and unpredictable. BUT, apart from one boyfriend who made me a beautiful card many moons ago, I  was largely forgotten by  previous loves on Valentines day. So it is good to be remembered, to have someone acknowledge that you matter.

Romi sees Valentines as a commercial thing. He says it is relatively new to Czechs and many of them are not keen on it. Despite this, he bought me two cups, as I am an eccentric cup collector. I now have so many it would be rude not to at least open an exquisite little tea shop.

So that for me, is romance. Getting over yourself for the sake of someone else. As for the tea shop, I can just imagine it, a sweetly peculiar sight on a dusty Czech street. Maybe one day...

Hello Monday

Here are some lovely pretties for Monday to swoon over, from two of my favourite homeware companies, Greengate and Bloomingville. I often just look at their sites just to daydream and take inspiration. Hmm, now for imagining I live in a Scandinavian cottage with a mixture of rough hewn furniture and gorgeous china.

                                                            Greengate

Greengate

Bloomingville

Bloomingville

The styling in the Greengate and Bloomingville catalogues is exactly the kind of place I want to live in. They are cute, not overdone and so homely.



Winter doll

I made this small doll with some remnants from clothes that belonged to Eliska that I could not bear to part with. She is the first doll I have made wearing trousers and a hat.

Every hero must meet a sticky end

The film, Janosik, is spectacularly beautiful. I watched it without subtitles, only understanding snippets, because it was so lovely to look at. Filmed in the Slovkian mountains, it captures the essence of a chaotic time, when superstition and custom ruled. There are scenes of raucous dancing and drinking, throughout the film there is  sense of people teetering on the edge of life, enjoying it while they can.

The actors in film are beautiful real looking people, interesting faces that you want to look at. These kind of actors seem much easier to believe in.

Romi gave me a brief summary of the story. Janosik is a folk hero, akin to Robin Hood, who stole from the rich and gave to the poor. The story originates from neighbouring Slovakia. Sadly, our hero does not meet a happy end. Throughout the film, there is a feeling of the intensity of life, that is slipping from his grasp. It may be this brief fleeting tumble through life that makes Janosik so popular. He can stay forever the handsome young rebel.