Friday 13 January 2012

Lady Ophelia....Diplomat's wife...


After a most romantic few days in Austria, Sir Richard swept his young wife off to the sultry climate of Spain...where Effie is feeling a little frustrated at the amount of time her husband is spending with strangers, but it has given her ample time to send her second postcard to Miss Lillian.


"My Dearest Miss Lillian,
I can not believe we have reached Spain so quickly. So much warmer here.
Richard is tied up for most of the day with other gentlemen, discussing some "revolutionary" named Jose Marti, who is "stirring things up" with the Americans in some place called Cuba. I wish I had payed more attention to your geography lessons. Why on earth the Spanish should be bothered by some little island miles away is a mystery to me.
Richard says he will make it up to me by taking me to the Prada Museum in Madrid, where a MR RENOIR is exhibiting this week. I wish my maid would not lace my corsets so tightly, can barely breathe in this warmer climate.

affectionately yours
Effie xxx
p.s. I will bring you red roses with beautiful scent."
I have decorated my page with images of Jose Marti, a scene from the Cuban revolution against Spanish rule circa 1895 and a piece by Renoir that makes me think this is Effie visiting the museum.
and this is the card on it's page...a simple red rose from Spain :D

Miss Lillian as ever is quick to reply....

"My Darling Effie,
You do infuriate me so. Cuba is part of the Spanish Empire and is currently vying for independent rule. Where on earth would Our Nation be if the countries of the Commonwealth started breaking away? The Spanish will probably end up going to war with the Americans over this, you mark my words.
On less serious topics, the works of Mr Renoir are causing quite a commotion throughout the art world, I am very excited that you will get to see them up close, and you are the "Lady of the House" now dear, so tell your maid to loosen your laces if you wish.

Your ever-loving Governess
Miss Lillian xxx"
Photobucket

38 comments:

  1. WOW I think I shall start and end with WOW, beautiful postcards and the background page is stunning. I just about manage one postcard and a bit extra!

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  2. h ah ha

    we coudl all sometimes do with lossenign our laces!

    I'm loving your story, and your postcards,

    dx

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  3. Loving the history lesson as well as your work. Great postcard and page.
    Jen x

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    1. Wow this rose is amazing. Great story. A xx

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  4. Sweet rose postcard, and I'm enjoying the storyline too. Like Effie, I'm beginning to think I should have listened more in my history/geography lessons!

    x

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  5. what an amazing postcard! love it x

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  6. Ahw, Effie is so sweet! ♥
    You made an amazing page in your book with the card and envie and all. Wow, it must have kept you busy all week! :)

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  7. Beautiful postcard and page! Love the story!!

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  8. beautiful rose, so delicate. I can almost smell it. Love the line about the corset lol

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  9. LOVE the way your mind works, Gina. This is right up my alley so to speak. Enjoying it ever so much! xoDonna

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  10. Lovely rose! The teacher continues to teach.

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  11. wonderful story! love it so far...

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  12. wonderful! history scented with roses

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  13. I do love reading these postcards. :) ¨¨"loosen your laces if you wish" Lol. Great job, Gina!

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  14. A history lesson for free with this post! Loved it!!

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  15. Wow Gina I am blown away, I think I need to go back to school!

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  16. Wow Gina gorgeous rose..i was gonna wise ass but dang it there isnt anything to point and laugh at...yet..lol

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  17. Fantastic postcard, beautifully composed, and love the story, too - I can feel with her about the corsets, my jeans are too tight, too! Valerie

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  18. who wouldn't like to get a postcard that romantic and gorgeous?????

    not much snow but too friggin' cold!!! haven't left the house in 2 days! but then, i have that damn congestion even tho' i feel ok.

    hugs :)

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  19. Wish it was as easy to loosen today's jeans as it was to loosen the laces on the corset! I am enjoying your storyline and artwork.

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  20. Wonderful work and history. I love seeing your delicious creativity in the composition and setting of these letters. Besos.

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  21. The story and characters are so interesting and the rose is lovely.

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  22. Beautiful rose and you are such a great story teller!

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  23. Fabulous work here and writing 2 parts of the storyline every week WOW!
    Jean

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  24. I find your characters captivating and the rose is beautiful.

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  25. Fabulous work - and I am learning so much! Wonderful storyline.

    Janet xx

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  26. what a gorgeous card and I love the journalpage as well... wow you are big in story telling ;-)

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  27. How far left and the war in Cuba. In Spain when you lose something to ease the pain still says "more was lost in the war in Cuba."

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  28. Lovely red rose - and the collage brings it all to life!

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  29. Another fantastic step of this journey, great work.

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  30. Blown away, these are perfect, look forward to the next instalment :)

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  31. Lovely rose and postcard.. Oh and seeing Renoir.. Lucky girl

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  32. love the beautiful rose and the conversation between these two is so wonderful and smart. Can feel the Victorian voice.

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  33. Beautiful rose, ove the decoration on the book page too, the story is unfolding and excitement building xxx

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  34. Awesome card;awesome storyline!! Just fabby!! *smiles* Norma

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  35. sooo beautiful..and great story- love how you got in a little tit bit of advice again ! Esther xx

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  36. Your characters are superb ans the artworK is great once again. Love it gina. X

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