White Wednesday and A Cinderella Story....

I found her outside. 

She was cold, wet and all but forgotten. 

She called to me and, at first,  I ignored her pleas.....

...but she persisted and, with some hesitation, I finally answered her call and brought her home with me.

She had been neglected....discarded...

...her "purpose" no longer useful.

Signs of her "age" were hard to hide and, still, she stood straight and tall.

She fell in love with this old tatted-edged table runner I had and asked if I might make her a new skirt with it.

"Nothing fancy", she said.... "I like simplicity."

And so I wrapped her in two layers of the fabric so that the lovley tatted trim could be seen....

...a vintage length of lace cinched her waist nicely along with a charm I created from an old French letter.

The year she was born and where she came from was hand stamped on the skirts' edge so that all who saw her would know how long and far she had traveled.

"And now", she said...."I'd like some sleeves.

These tired shoulders could use some help from the weight they've carried for so long."

And so I used some scraps from the skirt and fashioned some simple cap sleeves for her....

...and added just a touch of vintage ribbon trim to them.

She smiled brightly when she saw them and her tired eyes began to shine.

 "I am not embarrassed by the stains on my bodice," she said.... "There's no need to hide them...

...they remind me of how far I've traveled and how much I've seen of this beautiful world. I wear them proudly."

"But you may adorn my bodice with treasures from your own travels.... 

...with gifts that bring you joy...

...and beloved tokens that remind YOU of where you've come from....

...and how far you have traveled too." 

I thought she deserved a crown.....

...but she was too humble to accept one.

And so I simply adorned her with a much-loved string of old pearls.

Today..... she stands in a corner of my studio....

...no longer cold and forgotten...

...always reminding me....

...to be proud of where I come from and "who" I am...

...stains and all.

(Happy White Wednesday mes amies)