Monday, January 18, 2010

marvelous things










dear friends,
I appreciate all of your lovely comments and each new follower. I love you!
I want to do some sort of give away, but I'm not sure what to give. Maybe an embroidery?

Tomorrow, second semester of school begins. Today, I want to do anything/everything relaxing before becoming overwhelmed in classwork.
I'm thinking book reading, magazine page flipping, tea sipping, and letter writing.
Speaking of letter writing, the one shown in the polaroid above was written to Eleanor Roosevelt from my grandfather's first wife in 1943. The opening paragraph says:
" Dear Madam:
During these busy times, it is with much reluctance that I approach you upon a personal matter of such volume, but believing that you, like myself, feel that each and every American citizen is entitled to justice (if need be, tempered with mercy) I am taking the liberty of inquiring if something cannot be done about the case which I shall attempt to describe and which attached photostats cover, subject shown above."
My grandfather spent his whole life writing to the government, trying to get his named cleared from something he didn't do (it would really make a marvelous film!). I love that people used to actually get replies from the president or first lady, like my grandfather did. Today it seems that we're so far detached from our president, I'd never in a million years expect a handwritten reply, or for my letter to even be read. But I guess one could never know!


ps
my friend meg, from 1918 vintage, has a new wonderful blog, and is having a really, really fantastic giveaway.
check it out!

31 comments:

Ingrid Mida said...

How amazing that you have this letter and thanks for sharing it!!! I love old letters. Getting one is such a rarity these days.
As for giveaways, your embroidery is fab! I have a giveaway for a Chanel dvd this week if you are interested.

La fille d'Avril said...

awww ur welcome!
i really love ur blog, it's so cute!

Taylor Kitto / The Little Deer said...

oh how i love old letters! and how interesting that one is!

p.s. your new instax pictures are SO lovely! how are you liking it!?

M. said...

ah please do a giveaway soon I would love that! and that letter is amazing, how did you find that? that's so cool. & I love the last polaroid you posted, everything in it is wonderful!

lovelove, M.
http://marissaexplains.blogspot.com

Angelica said...

your pictures are so beautiful, and an embroidery giveaway would be just lovely <3 your grandfather's story sounds so interesting, and it truly is amazing that he actually got replies from such "famous" people!

i'm so very happy i've found your blog <3

angelica
x

_ said...

great story! i should dig through my grandparents letters and see what gems i can find.
s.

chris is short said...

Those letters sound really neat.

That's awesome there are some good local bands in Minneapolis. I'm starting to find some good ones around Lawrence/Kansas City. I have never been to Minneapolis, so hopefully that'll finally happen this year! That'd be great.

bee said...

What a sweet letter, and how interesting your grandfather sounds... maybe YOU should make a movie about him one day :) I know what you mean about presidents and people like that feeling so detached these days... although it's funny, because I used to live near Kirribilli in Sydney which is where our Prime Minister lives and I would see him going on his daily walk down quiet suburban streets. Flanked by security of course, but it was still odd to be just a few metres away from someone so "important" under such normal circumstances and be able to say "good morning". I guess Australia is a smaller place and we are still a bit more casual about that sort of thing. Can't really imagine Obama striding about suburban Washington in his gym gear... Though maybe he does?!?

Megan Hahn said...

I wish people still wrote so eloquently.

lisa said...

all very amazing things, keeping a piece of history is wonderful in that way. the English language doesn't seem as tainted then, there was much thought and care into writing letters. this is inspiration for so much that is now lost in words felt.

Clara said...

I love your pics, dear.
Obviously I do not spect for the president to read any letter I send but I do also love people like your grandfather. I like people that, in general, are used to send letters :)

Unknown said...

i adore your blog, please do keep posting! i'm a new follower and have fallen in love with your adorable embroidery works. i very much enjoy sewing which is probably why i've taken such a liking. your photographs are lovely, as well!

Casey Lewis said...

this is my new favorite blog! i love it so much a read several months back into the archives <3

Anonymous said...

Embroidery sounds like a lovely idea for a giveaway!

anna elsa said...

all of your photos are so magical
i'm in love with all of your embroidery - what a good idea, a giveaway! (:
those items from your grandparents are really great, and it's such a foreign concept yes to be able to communicate with the president (or first lady). different days

teri said...

Old letters AND dusty pink is just too much for me- sooo pretty. AH kill me now, LOVE IT. Also, EMBROIDERY WOULD BE AWESOME.

teri at tintedseaglass.blogspot.com

Life At Victoria House said...

LOVE THIS :)
So cute :)
Blog giveaway, please enter :)
www.clashingtime.blogspot.com <3

Anonymous said...

This is pretty neat and your Pictures are amazing.

June said...

i love the last photo

Rachel said...

That's such a rad story about your grandpa writing letters! Love the pictures, too. xx Rachel

Emily said...

Wow, what a cool letter
I found your blog through lookbook.nu and I must say its beautiful we have very similar taste
xoxo
Emily

Frances Davison said...

really touching story, and wonderful images!

Grace said...

Ashley, I assumed I was following you and wondered why you hadn't posted in quite some time - only to visit your blog to realize I HAVEN'T BEEN FOLLOWING!
Shame on me.
I have posts to catch up on and comments to leave.
;]

I think you already know that I would adore any sort of giveaway from such a talented lady!

<3 Grace.

lavender and honey. said...

how did your first day go? or week?

I hope well!

I would love to have one of your embroideries : )

kate maggie said...

That is so cool about your grand father!..ahh, i love that type of stuff. <3 I love your blog ashley..so inspiring and lovely. x

Annie, Time Enough for Drums said...

I can't remember if we bonded over this before (chat with just so many bloggers) but we are both Minnesota bloggers! Annie.

Dirty Hair Halo said...

beautiful images!

www.SeekingDirtyHairHalo.blogspot.com

Anouk said...

oh my, such beautiful warm photos.
i like it here a lot.

Lo said...

you have such a lovely blog! I gave you an award on my blog.

Anonymous said...

you are ever so glorious. x

Faux Naif said...

oh, you just have the loveliest blog. i can't believe i didn't know about this before. you are so, so wonderful.