Thursday, April 14, 2016

COLOURFUL CREATIONS


Hello
I bought these heavily discounted items on the Red Phoenix Emporium's fabulous Instagram Auction.
It seems I am having an orange moment these days.


Indian Folk Art, Untitled, 1999 by Sonabai


William and Kate arrived in Bhutan today.


Here they go, off to meet the King and Queen.
Her outfit is inspired by Bhutan traditional costume, the skirt made in London from a textile woven by a lady from Bhutan.
Bhutan is cold, up there near Mt Everest - and Kate is warm in a wool cape embroidered in India.


Did you enjoy Kate's India outfits?
She goes to great lengths to be appropriate, to acknowledge the host country and culture, and provide royal style and dignity.





Her bush safari shirt is by R M Williams, an Australian brand.
That was nice.


There have been many different styles, new looks for Kate.
The this last one is definitely my favourite:


Art Deco elegance.  Wouldn't that look good in New York?



I went to see my father today.
He had this butterfly creation in his room.
Dad always loved butterflies - and his lovely carers have helped him make his artwork from butterfly stickers.

He hardly speaks now, and we took him outside for a while to read some poetry.
He nodded and listened, then suddenly found his voice:
'Time we got going' he declared.

He wanted to go for a drive.  Obviously is feeling brighter these days...


and off we went...


At last, a touch of cold air outside tonight.
Could it be the missing Autumn??

XXXX










24 comments:

  1. Your two new Red Phoenix items are cheery and vibrant and who among us does not love a pop of colour now and again?
    As we roll into warmer weather you are experiencing the cooler temperatures of Fall...it always amazes me that our continents are opposite seasons.
    Kate is looking so lovely...
    Hope your week is ticking along nicely Patricia.

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    1. Love the Red Phoenix girls' work. Yes, moving in opposite directions, and it seems to reverse very quickly. Busy days here, and hope you are going well over there.

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  2. I think that Kate was a wonderful addition to the Royal Family...
    It must be quite an exhausting life, while travelling....
    Still hoping for Spring here..this weekend looks good for a cottage stay!
    Enjoy your weekend...
    Cheers!
    Linda :o)

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    1. Yes, Kate is doing really well isn't she? No scandals, like back in the past... And yes, exhausting. I would miss my baby! Have a great cottage weekend. Love you lake :)

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  3. Kate always looks so glamorous and sparkling. Her dresses for this Bhutan visit are stunning!
    Love the butterfly picture your dad created. Such a colourful piece for his room. It must have been a relief to you that your dad showed interest in heading out for a drive. That's a cute photo of him in the car with the open road before him. Have a wonderful weekend Patricia. We're finally getting our warm weather now, and they're calling for a sunny and warm weekend! Patio here I come ;)
    Wendy x

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    1. Yes, Wendy, it was a relief to see Dad much brighter and 'with it'. Some recent visits have been quite awful. He does love the open country very much - and so do I! Enjoy your sunny weekend on the patio - sounds good. x

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  4. Kate always looks so lovely and friendly towards everyone she meets, in that respect she reminds me of Di. I love the long red Indian fabric dress she is wearing as she walks along the street with the long haired man.
    How wonderful that your father seems to have taken a turn for the better and is able to go out for a trip with you both once again.

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    1. Yes, Kate certainly has the Diana touch now, and good for her. She brings stability to the monarchy after the turbulent years in the past. I like the red dress too, a bit bohemian and nice to see Kate wear something a little different.
      We think sometimes the weekend staff could be the cause of Dad's extra confusion on Sundays - during the week he always seems to be much brighter. It was so good to see him more alert and looking around.

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  5. It's funny how computer monitors can play tricks with colours. I didn't realize the objects in the first picture were orange until I read your paragraph below them. They look a lovely shade of red on my Mac!

    Kate's outfits are all brilliant, but there were two things I enjoyed even more than her clothes from the pictures of their recent tour. The first was when she was trying her hand at cricket. I have no idea of she has ever played before, but she had the look of a competitor on her face as she held the bat. The second thing I noticed was how she and William look like they actually enjoy each other's company. I hope their marriage is able to withstand the pressures it must constantly be under.

    Bless you sweet dad, and his love of butterflies and long drives in the country.

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    1. Aha, now you will wonder what else looks different on your Mac. Yes, Kate seems good at any sport she tries, which makes me wonder how she keeps so incredibly fit. I love the way the two of them relate also; you see many pictures of eyes meeting in a lovely way. Yes, let us hope they last forever.
      Dad the butterfly man!!

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  6. Ooo, I didn't think of that, but have noticed lots of special glances between them. So much better than the tensions of the past with Diana, which was so sad to see. Taj Mahal today - I'll be watching out for those pics.

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  7. Patricia, the orange cross is so lovely. Are those Rosary beads? I love the color orange too. I've heard it is the happiest color. So many different outfits on Kate. I think my favorite is the blue gown. Oh my, look at that white bird! It looks like the Lorikeet, only white. What type of bird is he, do you know? It's nice that your dad still likes to go for rides.

    I always enjoy your posts, Patricia. They are delightful, interesting, and filled with beauty.

    love, ~Sheri

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    1. No, the orange are not a Rosary, just a necklace (but I do own several nice Rosaries). The blue gown is stunning, and I hope she wears it again some time. The white birds which come almost daily are cockatoos, known as Sulphur Crested white cockatoos. They are quite destructive, but are also funny and like to imitate and learn human speech. Glad you enjoy! x

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  8. Never heard of the Red Phoenix, I'll have to look. Suddenly a spot of orange seems to catch my attention too. Then again bright colors are on my decorating list. Glad to read that your Dad wanted to go for his usual drive, and his butterflies, small pleasures he still enjoys.

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    1. Red Phoenix is a local Brisbane business Darla. Their necklaces are very popular. A bit of orange works wonders to brighten things up.
      It was a relief that Dad was brighter than we have seen in several months. Still has a bit of life in him!

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  9. Kate looks lovely in everything. She can certainly carry off a traditional outfit.
    Amalia
    xo

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    1. Yes indeed, and it was nice to see variations from her usual style. I liked the traditional outfit too.

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  10. Ahh, it's great to see your dear old dad out for a drive. Glad he is well enough, and I pray he continues to have many good days ahead.

    The Anita Dongreand dress of Kate's is my favorite. I posted it on The Savvy Shopper's Facebook page, so I could go back to look up it's details. I understand it was much longer and came with a matching scarf. Kate's stylist shortened a maxi dress to a midi and made a belt out of the scarf. It's more form fitting than the original too.

    Since I have limited sewing skills (my level is putting back and reparing buttons and sems) and no stylist, I often buy fit and flare, or shift dresses. With my lack of skills, a boxy dress would have to remain boxy and a maxi, a maxi -- so it is best for me to leave those on a rack.

    Can you imagine what it's like for your wardrobe, hair and overall appearence becoming your job and such a huge part of your concentration? A tradeoff for the luxuries and access Kate married into, I guess. They always look happy, which is good to see.

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    1. Hi Debbie, I didn't ever notice you were on FB so just found you. I noticed the changes in Kate's outfits, and the way she works with designers is very clever, adapting to make the clothes more suitable. There are limits to my sewing skills too, and I only buy and plan to alter when I know I can do it.
      Yes you would have to be keen on fashion/beauty to marry into a royal family, because it is a key part of the whole business. The Queen has had it all worked out since forever!

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  11. I'm so glad you managed to get your dad out for a drive and I like the butterfly stickers. I'm not a royal follower, but I will say that I think these royal wives must be chosen for their figures as much as anything else. Kate would look good in a sack! I can't imagine any of these clothes looking half as wonderful is she were short and dumpy, can you?

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    1. I have thought the same re the royal wives - how do they do it? With all the banquets you'd think weight watching would be quite the challenge. All the European royals seem to be very slender too. Maybe the secret is not doing one's own shopping and cooking?

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  12. Such lovely creations! ;)

    I've loved following William and Kate's travels too. And I LOVE how Kate dresses and carries herself. Such a classy Gal. I love that art deco dress too - so gorgeous!!

    Oh my isn't your Dad the sweetest and cutest fella. Love his butterfly art work and so happy you got out for a nice drive together. Precious moments. ;)

    Blessings on your week Trish!! xoxo

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    1. It is nice to follow the fashions of Kate, who can wear interesting things, and never look vulgar, I think.
      Dad is very popular with his carers, which is always reassuring. He never gives any trouble and is thankful for everything :)

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  13. Orange and Autumn go together, to my way of thinking. I think it is my childhood memories of Marigolds.

    Yes, your father may be confused if staff change - or any of his surroundings. It's nice that you had that magic moment of the drive.

    Kate's dresses are always pretty, but quite a change of style - still, this folkloric look is all the rage at the moment and quite fitting for the hot weather and culture she is visiting. I think he always looks wonderful too, I love a man in a suit.

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