Musings On Impose Ta Chance

Rene Char (1907-1988) was called the greatest poet of all time by writer

Albert Camus .

He was part of the surrealist movement, among his contemporaries were

Andre Breton, Paul Eulard, and Pablo Picaso.

His poetry emphasized hope in the face of struggle, which would later serve him well

in his efforts as a resistance leader against the Nazis in WWII.

Artist Valerie Dawlat-Dumoulin takes words from a poem by Char for her design,

Impose ta Chance.

A line from one of Char's poems is quietly inscribed among the rocks of this design.

The words read:

"Impose ta chance, serre ton bonheur et va vers to risque. A te regarder, il s'habitueront"

Loosely translates to:

Impose your luck, use your good will and to your risk,

a look at you they will get used to.

I take that to mean that we are what we dream,

we must dream big, believe in ourselves and others will believe in us.

This past year has had historical depths not just for our county but for the world.

Many people need hope in the face of struggle during these times.

The past few months have been no different, we have all been a part of

historical moments, that will be discussed for generations to come,

long after we are gone.

This next week may just prove to be among one of the most

defining moments in this nations history.

And so I dedicate the musings on this particular design

to the week that lies ahead.

An Hermes Scarf Holds A Love Story Within It's Silken Threads

The greatest love stories are often tragic. But how many times are they associated with a scarf? In Medieval times a lady would often tie her scarf around the armour of her favored knight, a sign of adoration.

The story by Chhengiz Aytmatov, "The girl With The Red Scarf" was translated by french poet Luis Aragon who called it the "world's greatest love story..."

If we were to truly look back in time many a heart struck gentleman has formally stated his love by the gift of a scarf to the lady of his affection. But how many of those moments, or stories have been preserved in time, only to be rediscovered at a later time?

I had the privilege of such an occurrence, when years ago I purchased a lovely old Hermes scarf, simply because it was a rare design, and I was attracted to the simplicity of the piece.

Think about your favorite or even the greatest love story that you remember hearing. Are they not often tragic?

I was gifted to be the person to whom a great though tragic love story was passed to, preserved in the silk of an Hermes scarf.

"En Vente Chez Hermes a Paris"

The scarf had come to the person from whom I received it, from her Great-Aunt. The scarf had come to her in its box inside of its original tissue with a note. The note read:

"A very special Hermes-Paris scarf from my love Gus. Worn 2-3 timeswith him, never to be worn again. My beloved Gus died in 1961."

The person I received the scarf from explained the note this way:

"My aunt was a career woman who never married. She had this love affair with Gus for 15 years! He was Catholic and his wife would not give him a divorce. He separated from his wife and was working in New York City when my aunt met him. He had been separated for 3 years. They each had their own apartment, but they were together for 15 years. He died of a heart attack in 1961 in my aunt's arms. My aunt died in 1969."

Sometimes I don Gus' memento of his love for this lovely woman, wrap myself up in my favorite cashmere sweater, make myself a cup of tea, light some candles, grab a good book of poetry, and let the threads cast their magic of memory of a tale of strong yet tragic love, that has stood the test of time, and lived on even after the lovers are gone.

Musings On Citrouilles et Coloquintes Oh So Very Fall

Scroll Down For More Pictures of Citrouilles et Coloquintes

The leaves are turning and there is a chill in the air, that whispers the onset of fall. A time for hot cider, and pumkin pies. We turn the soil over saying goodbye to the fare of summer, in preparation for the winter frost and rain. The season changes, and things around us get just a little more still as winter approaches.

Those are the feelings that Valerie Dawlat-Dumoulin's design Citrouilles et Coloquintes stirs within my soul. I want to get my cup of tea and snuggle up with a good read. Fall is here.

Musings On The Royal Mews

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Located in the very heart of London are the royal stables, known today as the “Royal Mews”. The word “mews” is a derivative of an old French word “mue” (which is taken from the Latin “mutare, meaning to change). In this case it is the changing of plumage. For in the Middle Ages the king kept his falcons in a “mews” during their “mewing” or molt.

Prior to 1537, the royal stables were in Bloomsbury. However fire destroyed the Bloomsbury stables and the horses had to be moved. At this time the mews for the falcons was at Charing Cross. Needing quarters for the horses after the fire, the falcons were moved from their mews and the horses were then stabled there.

Buckingham House was purchased by George III in 1762, and later became Buckingham Palace. This gave the Monarchy the stables at Charing Cross and Buckingham Palace. In 1824 George IV had the stables and the coach houses at Buckingham Palace re-designed, and in 1825 this became the “Royal Mews”.

In 1855, Queen Victoria established at her own expense the “Royal Mews School” to provide education to the children of the servants belonging to the Royal Mews. The school remained for over 20 years.

Today all state vehicles are housed and maintained at the Royal Mews, thus it serves as an important working department within the Royal Household.

Jean-Louis Dumas-Hermes (President and fifth generation descendant of Hermes founder, Thierry Hermes) visited London in 1990. As part of his stay he visited the Royal Mews. Here he was inspired by the exquisite craftsmanship and beauty of the Royal coaches and the historical association with horses. He knew he was experiencing the perfect subject matter for an Hermes scarf.

He also knew that he had in mind the perfect artist for such a piece, his old friend and someone who had designed other scarves for Hermes, Colonel Jean de Fougerolle. Colonel de Fougerolle was beseeched to visit the Royal Mews himself. Once there he too was inspired by the rich possibilities for design offered by the setting.

Appropriately in 1993, during Hermes theme the “Year of the Horse”; Colonel Jean de Fougerolles rendition “The Royal Mews” scarf was released. And would remain The exclusive to Great Britain until the end of 1993.

The scarf’s design incorporates at its center depictions of the horses and carriages of the royal family, the Queen’s Equerry and Master of Horses are facing each other. The carriages depicted are: The Golden State Coach, The Irish State Coach, The Barouche, The 1902 State Landau, and queen Alexandra’s State Coach.

Hermes presented this scarf to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at the Royal Windsor Horse Show, on May 13, 1993.
An interesting side note is that the site where Buckingham Palace now stands was originally a mulberry garden planted by King James I (r. 1603-25) to rear silkworms. Unfortunately, he chose the wrong kind of mulberry bush, and silk production never took off in Britain.

We can be forever thankful that this was not the case in France.