Mamma & The Magic Teapot





































Like her mother before her, my mamma pinned all her hopes and dreams on her children.. She hoped they would have happy lives and dreamt they would find love, adventure and their own creative spirit.  And like all good mothers, she nurtured our imagination and taught us we could do anything we put our minds too..


I always imagined my mamma came from a wealthy family.. The faded snapshots documenting her youth spoke of  finely dressed youth from rambling homes with backyard tennis courts and suburb size parcels of lands as summer hideaways. But those were the homes of her school friends and buddies. Her own beginnings were much more humble. She grew up in the modest quarters above the local Fire Station which my grandfather commanded. A modest life with simple needs, scant of wealth, but rich  with honour, respect and tradition.. And as such my mamma lived in two worlds.. her own simple life and the life of luxury belonging to her friends.



As fate would have it she married a working class man of working class dreams.. and the riches and luxuries would be stored in the cupboard with inherited treasures from my grandmothers home. As a child this was my favourite playtime.. As my mother pottered in the kitchen rustling up the family meal.. I would play in the world of make believe.. rummaging through the heavy old sideboard to unearth imagined treasures of a life of luxury... The sideboard was choked with all manner of mysteries.. and although I had done this a thousand times before, each find would seem new and thrilling and bespoke of a glamourous life of worldly riches and adventure. Whereas in fact it was just the old tarnished silver and dusty damask tablecloths crammed in tight behind the other bits and bobs of a busy family.


The silver treasures were always my favourites .. Old tarnished flatware and vessels of little importance became new and shiny with a little applied industry. A symbolic ritual becoming an adventure to a child's imagination. Flatware and vases would speak of glamour and luxury... the opulence of the forties and the privileged lives of the stars  of the silver screen.  Luxurious sitting rooms with velvet ottomans would play in front of my mind..  and women with satin gowns and perfectly applied  finger-waves would arrange soft scented roses on silver trays and serve afternoon tea from beautifully engraved vessels..  Yes this was where my child's imagination would roam whilst my mother quietly cooked the humble meal for an everyday family.


My favourite treasure of all was the large silver teapot.. Such a curious shape and prettily applied markings spoke of mysterious lands with turreted rooftops. Too many pirate movies had me convinced it was a magical lantern.. and vigorous polishing would reveal a frightening genie.. his loud and thunderous voice belying his gentle intentions to grant my wishes. I would be transported to exotic lands and luxurious destinations and the silverware would glimmer a little brighter reflecting the light from a child's happy eyes. All too soon playtime would be over and my world would return to the wallpaper walls of the family dining room.. The treasures would be jammed haphazardly back into the cupboard sitting in waiting for the next adventure. My mother would smile as she set the table, knowing her humble dining room was really an opulent salon filled with silver treasures from faraway places.









... Dedicated to my Mum ... 
&  Katherine who requested a silver post...




[Texture Tuesday]
All images except #5&7 use a combination of Kim Klassen;s texutres 'Love' & 'Luminous'
Pop over and view other Texture Tuesday's Entries at Kim's blog ...  'Kim Klassen Cafe

[Silver Sunday]


I'm also linking up with the generous Beth from Gypsy Fish Journal.. for Silver Sunday



Thanks ladies for hosting!!






Giveaway Update
I've had a bit of a crazy week and very little internet access so completely forgot about my giveaway.  So think I'll leave it open until midnight Tuesday [May 10th: Sydney Time]. Hopefully that'll give me time to figure out how to put the comment count back in my format.. 








Wishing You All A Beautiful Week








Image Source & Credits
Vintage photo from my family library & restored by [BeingRuby©]
All other Photgraphy, Text & Artwork [BeingRuby©]


53 comments:

Sarah said...

Beautiful post. Happy Mother's Day to you! ~ Sarah

Sharon said...

Oh Julie, you did it again! I was in tears scrolling through your hauntingly beautiful photogaphs. Then I started to read your story and now I am crying so bad I can't type. You find the essence of what is true in a most beautiful way.

rjerdee said...

What a lovely picture of your childhood life...it's so easy to imagine you sifting through the things in your mother's sideboard.

My mother's sideboard never had such wonderful things...she never possessed any family treasures. My grandfather was a banker and I think they lost EVERYTHING in the Great Depression. But I DID pull books from her desk for reading :)

Johanna Gehrlein said...

Hello Julie,
this is a very nice post with wonderful photos and a touching story. Old memories are a real treasure. Wish you a wonderful Mother's Day, too.
Warmest regards, Johanna

Jeanne Henriques said...

Julie, I just love, love, love this post. Your words are magic. I am very envious of your silver teapot and magic genie... "an opulent salon filled with silver treasures from faraway places" and your smiling mother setting the table, priceless. You are so lucky to have such a rich and wonderful imagination Julie...it serves you well :)

Best wishes Julie...
Jeanne xxx

PS...if your magic genie is every looking to far distant lands...send him my way!

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

You rock my world, Julie. Your photos and now THIS..this brilliant recollection of a dream and a woman that unfortunately was not with you long enough to see that she did VERY WELL and was a RICH WOMAN indeed to have brought YOU into this world. The mind and heart that you demonstrate weekly speaks of a soul that was well-nurtured by a great woman of vision. What a sweet and darling photo of her! I too have the most adorable pictures of my mum who had the most beautiful hair....next year I will share those...nine years old were you when you lost her? Then your REUNION one day will be spent in eternity catching up all the more my friend...what a beautiful world you have here.

Thank you for visiting, Anita

count it all joy said...

Julie...you are more precious than you can imagine. Your words and photos are exquisite. Thanks for being you. Meredy xo

Shellbelle said...

My dear Julie, you have such a way with words. Your recollections of your childhood always take me right there with you and today I was searching through that cupboard with you; delighting in each story you related as each treasure was found.

You capture and captivate with each word and every photo in each and every post.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Cheryl ~ ZanyMayd said...

Beautiful Thoughts, Fabulous Photos.... Have a Wonderful Day~

Giulia said...

I totally understand about this teapot & all else. Your mama would be proud of you, Julie.

♥ from little Julie (& me)

PS: I'll put the giveaway buttons back up on the blogs.

Teresa Hatfield ~ Splendid Sass said...

Such a beautiful tribute to your mother and the women before her. Reminds me so much of my own childhood.
I hope that your day is as beautiful as you deserve.
Teresa
xoxo

Anonymous said...

Lovely post, Julie. Happy Mother's Day to all the beautiful women in our lives.
Hugs,
Zuzu

Marilyn said...

I love your blog! Your photos and words make me want to reach out and touch the images.

La Petite Gallery said...

That was said so well. Beautiful momeries, nnever fade. I tpp carry My Mama with me , in my heart and mind.. Happy Sunday Dear Julie
your make believe mom..
yvonne
xxxxxx big hug dearie.

Loree said...

What a lovely post. Your photos are gorgeous, as always and I especially love the one of your mamma.

Princesa Nadie said...

Dear Ruby
Your photographs are always so magnificent!
Visiting you is a pleasure but today has been very special,I love specially all your last posts
I am very glad meeting you
Hugs

simon said...

I think all mothers do that! this is how mothers day went for me..... 3pm (oops better give the old girl a call)...ring ring... "hi you old bat.... happy mothers day!" (etc etc etc) lol!

Claudia Lane said...

Dear Julie, I find myself longing for more of your posts every time...just like a child waiting anxiously for her bedtime story...
Thank you my beautiful blog friend.
Hope you had a great day yesterday :))
xo

michelle said...

What a beautiful post dear friend! The way you write is truly captivating. Our imagination is so incredible, the places that it takes us and the things that we see and dream of. Your photos are gorgeous and the teapot, stunning and magical in so many ways.
Hugs to you!
xoxoo

Sue said...

What a wonderful post...such special memories for you. I hope you had a wonderful day. I had both of my kids here, so all was really great. I have to put one on a plane in the morning:( but my dad will be here before I get back from the airport for a month. Busy times around here!

debra @ 5th and state said...

how lovely julie, a touching tribute to your beautiful mum. oh what a darling child
thank you for sharing
xx
debra

Karena said...

Julie you have painted such a rich story of your family history! Beautiful..

xoxo

Karena
Art by Karena

design elements said...

what a touching post, Julie! thank you for all the beauty. Happy new week to you! Hugs

Gypsy Fish said...

Thanks for joining in with Silver Sunday....your story is so touching and magical! Love your photos of the teapot...amazing! Have a great day
hugs
Beth

Melissa said...

ahhhh...i do love my *julie morning fix*...
this one is totally lovely...
the words matched by the beautiful imagery...
i have a very special morrocan silver teapot that i hope will bring back such memories for my children one day...
hope you had a wonderfu mothers day also...melissa xxx

FILIGREE MOON said...

Oh, so beautiful, in every way! ~ A

shannon i olson said...

Absolutely gorgeous lovely post!!!

Linda said...

Wonderful texture work!!

Cedar said...

These are all fabulous! I love the one of Shirley!

Gardening in a Sandbox said...

What a lovely post and beautiful memories. V

desde my ventana said...

Lovely memories for your mother with this wonderful post,Julie....fabulous.

Hugs

Cecilia

Leah C said...

Such a lovely post:) Stunning photos!

Kim Klassen said...

oh my.... sooo soo beautiful... both images and words.....

thanks for linking up with texture tuesday.... xxo, kim

Deb said...

Beautiful post ♥

peggy gatto said...

I so enjoyed your words and your photos, beautiful!

Charlotte Wilson said...

Beatuiful post. I wish I were that gifted at expressing myself. And your photos are gorgeous!

Pat Mark said...

I LOVE your silver teapot shots and your story that goes with it. Great entry in Texture Tuesday. I have found so many wonderful blogs thru the TT listings. WOW,great women doing great art.

My Grama's Soul said...

Beautiful as always...Julie.....thanks for sharing this sweet story about your beautiful mom.

xo

Jo

Anonymous said...

A child's imagination can not be compared...if only we kept it our entire lives! Excellent post with wonderful photos!

Life love, clutter and other beautiful things. said...

Oh Julie I love love love this post.

Your images are gorgeous I love that teapot too! Your reminiscence is beautiful love xox

Kathryn Costa said...

so gorgeous. I adore that silver pot.

yvette said...

Beautiful images and I was entwined within your story...Your images swoon with romanticism!

June said...

What a sweet post Julie. I love reading posts like this. It takes me right back to childhood. What a lovely remembrance of your mom and her silver. And as always, gorgeous photos! Your mother was a darling girl!
hugs from here...

Kia said...

Really lovely, great processing!
Saw it in Texture Tuesday.

Gloria said...

Hola Julie! precioso tu recuerdo, cariño y pleno de historias mágicas. Un beso, una delicia de fotos! Gloria.

Elaine said...

Beautifully written story and perfect for Mother's Day. Not sure if you have Mother's Day Down Under.

Imagination is key at any stage of life but especially important in childhood. Sounds like you had some special times when you were young.

And that teapot is fabulous!

Ella said...

Happy Birthday one girl! @>----- ;-D (mine was the 10th) I read this and was amazed; your writing is beautiful! I just recently wrote an essay about my grandparents and they magic(one being tea) and the appreciation of how they transformed the ordinary into joyful, poetic moments.
http://ellasedge.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2011-05-14T09%3A01%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=7
After I wrote and submitted; I found this statement in an email, that blew me away.
It said, I should go out tonight on my porch glider, with a cup of hot tea and watch the stars.
I submitted an article about a porch glider that will be published in June. This article I just sent is about tea and I made my grandparents into a star. I like you, appreciate tarnished silver and the ordinary joy that arrives in our memories~ Thanks for sharing! I love the photo of your Mom, Shirley. My Mom's name, too~

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

HEY THERE PRECIOUS!

Oh now wasn't that Blogger meltdown this past week just a stress-inducing situation? I freaked out not being able to communicate with all y'all.....I love every one of you and what a shame to have lost posts. I only lost a handful of comments, but some people like you...lost entire works...Dearest, do think about joining the Paris link party! You would have EXTRAORDINARY PHOTOS!! Let me know. It is in two weeks.

For now, relax, create and love....Anita

Charlotte Wilson said...

Hi Julie,
You have a wonderful gift for telling a good story. I so enjoyed reading your post. And your images are supreme!

Jayne said...

Beautiful photos; I love the composition of each one. And the picture of your mum - oh isn't she adorable? What a wonderful picture. The story was lovely as well, I could really see you sitting there playing with the silver, and your mum smiling at you as she sets the table. :)

Bohemian said...

Beautiful photos and a cherished story to go with them...

Dawn... The Bohemian

Kathy Sandler said...

Exquisite.

Unknown said...

Such a beautiful post and stunning photography.
Your blog is so lovely...I'm a new follower.
http://wwwcatherinerobinsoncashmere.blogspot.com/