Regency Colour nº2- Puce

A purplish brown shade of red or more specifically pantone 19-1518. Puce was a very popular regency colour and in 1805 The Lady´s Magazine states "The prevailing colours are green, yellow, and puce. Spanish hats of coloured velvet, with feathers to match, are generally worn. Black velvet pelisses, trimmed all round with lace, are most prevalent." It is however thought the colour was made popular in the Summer of 1775 when Louis XVI observed that Marie Antoinette´s brownish dress was "coleur de puce". Puce in French means literally "flea" and so it is the colour of this little blood sucker. The fabric dyers of Marie´s time made distinctions between young and old fleas as well as their different body parts as a means to subdivide and define the various shades of puce.

Buonanni Philippo´s 1681 "Puce"...

...and a portait of Marie from around the time puce was made popular as colour in France.

The 5 Cs of Christmas in Lisboa

Christmas Candles

Christmas Cakes

Christmas Cabbage

Christmas Cards

Christmas Clutch

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Air de Paris. I + can= go to Paris

Yesterday I found this at my parents place. My dad went to Paris when I was young. He must have brought back this great souvenier. It is an old fashioned can, the ones you need a key to open, filled with Paris air. It contains according to the label: Nitrogen - Hydrogen - Oxygen and Pollutive agents. On the side of the can there appears this, IMPORTANT: Do not puncture, contents irreplaceable. I think this is the best. I am not sure you could really analise the contents of the can, but I can´t help but wonder how different Paris air must be today.
I have always wanted to go to Paris, maybe this is a sign.

Catarina´s Quilt #1: Fuxico

My auntie Catarina has made many patchwork quilts. This is one one of my favourites. The flowers are made from circles that are sewn around the edges, gathered to the center and then finished with another smaller solid circle of a different fabric. Normally the flowers are a lot simpler and don´t have the extra center. It is thought that this technique originated in colonial Brazil and was the creation of enslaved African women. At the end of their days work they would gather to sew and talk. Hence the name given to these fabric flowers is "fuxico", a Brazilian word that means "to gossip".

Sweet & Sweets

I have been away from a computer since tuesday. I had tonsolitis and was bed ridden for 3 days(those who know me enjoyed the silence). Many cups of tea, spoonfulls of honey and lots of medicine later things seem to be back on track. Of what was supposed to be a few relaxing days with family down south in Lagos turned out to be quite frustrating but I did manage to get out and about 2 mornings, to the local market and the family farm and the Christmas Bazaar. The rest of the time I spent indoors resting or photographing my aunties quilts, rag bags and other curios. For today... a new purse and pretty roses to match and below a sneak preview of my morning at the local growers market. These cakes are amazing...pure sugar...made from almond meal, like marzipan but not bitter, and filled with strings of egg yolks that have been funneled into sugar syrup at high temperatures...hard to explain that last bit...suffice to say...delicious!! they are called "bolos de doce fino". My favourites are the animals, I like to eat them in bits, first the lips, then the tail, then the head...
Lots more photos to follow in the next few days.