Sunday, November 8, 2009

Childhood, an honest confession

I was the sort of child who grew up emotional, and dreamy,
the sort of little girl who was fond of taking large pieces of
silky fabric out to the w i d e field,
and running about for an hour with the wind and her dreams.


My struggles with falling asleep at night
were remedied with my ever present imagination,
and the fairytales that were birthed from it,
the young girls in their long hair and medieval gowns
racing through my dreams on color-coordinated horses.


Thus, when I watched for the first time, the film,
The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood,
and met Olivia de Havilland's enchanting Maid Marian,
my girlish heart was thrilled beyond words.

My dreams of wedding gowns turned medieval...


My favorite artwork were soft portraits of chivalrous knights and fair ladies,
and Tennyson's Lady of Shalott took me by storm.

The Maid Marian weekend at AmandaBethOnline is unfortunately over.
I wanted so to do something for it... and with my sisters,
almost managed to.

I discovered the perfect model...


Assembled the wardrobe...


And called the photographer.

Grace wore a crisp white cotton blouse
whose high neck and sleeves are trimmed with cluny lace,
found at Bealls.

Over it, she wore a floor length black dress,
With a length of black brushed lace for an elegant cloak.


For trim, we added a deep green ivory dotted scarf,
inherited from our grandmother,
and cluster of crystalline flowers in amethyst and silver.

Grace's hair required little.
Her burnished curls are like spun silk...

... And with a few quaint braids and sprigs of dried lavender...

...she is, suddenly, with her glowing brown eyes...

the dreamiest of Rapunzels.

But... time took its course and ran away on winged feet.
We could not catch it.

Thus, this cannot count as an entry in
AmandaBeth's Fashion Week,
But, with such a model, and such a photographer,
and such a history as mine, steeped in the romance of Marian...

Who can resist?

Photos by Johanna Ramsey.
Sketches by Emma Ramsey.

10 comments:

Mrs. E said...

Glorious indeed! :)

Hanna-col said...

Lovely! Just simply lovely!

~ Hanne-col

Gaby said...

Lovely times! :) I loved the pictures and the sketches were just lovely, Emma!

~Gabrielle

Rebecca Ann said...

Lovely! thank you for posting even if the maid marian contest is over!

I love love her outfit and you all always have gorgeous pictures and you all are so pretty! I love your old fashioned styles! I have been looking at your blog for a while but never posted till now! Love it! keep up the great blog!

Rebecca

Oh and here is my blog www.xanga.com/icebluechick

hannah queen | honey & jam said...

Emma, thank you for your great idea, I'm going to work on that soon!

Lovely, lovely photos and sketches!

Grace Ramsey said...

Your so flattering! You made me blush.

Grace Kathleen

SisterlyLove said...

oh so lovely!
inspiring as usual and so beautiful!
~Marguerite

Bramblewood Fashion said...

Emma & Johanna, Gabrielle and I have tagged you over at Bramblewood Fashion.

http://bramblewoodfashion.blogspot.com/2009/11/we-have-been-tagged.html

MirandaLeigh said...

Robin Hood was always one of my favorites as well! As well as "Lady of Shallott". Grace makes a wonderfully beautiful medieval princess. :) Miss you girls, Miranda

Mia said...

Beautiful!!
The music in the background was *perfect*
I'd love for you to stop by my blog!

Mia