Thornton's Walk | piano improv

Mr. Thornton.  Ah, what an image of strength, wisdom, manliness, and,  - ahem - an amazing accent is evoked by the name of the hero of North and South, Elizabeth Gaskell's brilliant novel.

Gaskell is to thank for the character, Richard Armitage for the voice, and Martin Phipps for the heartbreakingly beautiful theme song.

Here's my tribute.

Little Dorrit Theme | piano improv

Today, a medley of themes from BBC's Little Dorrit - one of my favorite books, films, and heroines of all time.

“It was the shadow of Some one who had gone by long before: of Some one who had gone on far away quite out of reach, never, never to come back. It was bright to look at; and when the tiny woman showed it to the Princess, she was proud of it with all her heart, as a great, great, treasure. When the Princess had considered it a little while, she said to the tiny woman, And you keep watch over this, every day? And she cast down her eyes, and whispered, Yes. Then the Princess said, Remind me why. To which the other replied, that no one so good and so kind had ever passed that way, and that was why in the beginning. She said, too, that nobody missed it, that nobody was the worse for it, that Some one had gone on to those who were expecting him-- 

'Some one was a man then?' interposed Maggy. 

Little Dorrit timidly said yes, she believed so; and resumed:

'-- Had gone on to those who were expecting him, 

and that this remembrance was stolen or kept back from nobody. The Princess made answer, Ah! But when the cottager died it would be discovered there. The tiny woman told her No; when that time came, it would sink quietly into her own grave, and would never be found.” 

― Charles Dickens, Little Dorrit

Liz on Top of the World | piano improv

In token of the Literary Heroine Blog Party; some improv recordings of various period drama score favorites will be forthcoming throughout the week.

"I often tell young ladies, that no excellence in music is to be acquired, without constant practice. I have told Miss Bennet several times, that she will never play really well, unless she practises more; and though Mrs. Collins has no instrument, she is very welcome, as I have often told her, to come to Rosings every day, and play on the piano forte in Mrs. Jenkinson's room.  She would be in nobody's way, you know, in that part of the house.''

                                              --Lady Catherine DeBourg

Forgive my most inexpert performance - I have made only the most limited use of Lady Catherine's gracious permission of the housekeeper's piano forte, and know I have none but myself and my insufferable pride to blame.

This is Liz on Top of the World, a beautiful theme from the 2005 Pride and Prejudice soundtrack by Dario Marianelli.

Enjoy!

Sweet Dulcimer Sound

Here's a little clip I found that was filmed during the Autumn 2012 Collection shop photo shoot.

{watch in HD - it's so much more pretty!:)

I'm on my way to the Idaho State Forestry contest as a volunteer today, which evidently entails getting up at 5:30 and hiking several miles with a herd of children who know much more than I do about townships and sections, clinometers, and the Latin names of the native flora.

I shall have fun.

Outfit | Spring Fling

 

I may be Scottish on my father's side, but I'm every bit as Irish on my mother's.  

That must be in part why the Spring sunshine feels like quicksilver in my veins, sending my feet tipping into a fling and my heart pounding to the double step of a lilting jig.  What little I know, anyway.

But then... The High Kings always have that effect on me.

As does sunshine and running water in Spring.

.:.:.:.:.:.:.

My poor computer has been out of commission for several days, so I'm rather thankful I had this post ready to go beforehand! :)  Things will hopefully be back to normal in a few days once my wonderful brother gets everything fixed up.   

Stay tuned for the giveaway winner to be announced, and looking forward to many, many more adventures before March is over!

So blessed by the tremendous results from the Spring Clearance sale.  The shop is pretty near empty.  So, if you've been hesitating over that something you know you want, this week will be your Last Chance, as everything not sold by the time the new collection is ready will be removed to sell locally.

UPDATE!

Use coupon code HAPPINESS to receive an extra 10% off already marked down prices in the shop!

Plus - my fabric shipment has arrived, and the 2013 Spring skirt collection is just around the corner!  Excited?  You better believe it.

Be back soon.

Love,

--me

Sweater | Tulle

 Denim Skirt - coming soon to the shop! | Kellie Falconer Design

tee | Thrifted

Boots | Sorelia Earhart

headband | gift

♥

Linking with:
 Plane Pretty | Sunday Style &  
Lily Among Thorns

Putting On the Ritz

{listen as you read!!}

Take a pinch of nearly all of your favorite things, add a generous dash of Christmastime, and stir it all together.  That was Saturday night for me.  Served at the historic Bing Crosby theater.

I found out about the concert just days before it opened, but as soon as I saw it I knew I had to go or perish in the attempt.

The Spokane Jazz Orchestra was performing a Glenn Miller tribute concert, featuring Miller's arrangement of the Nutcracker suite.

The Nutcracker and I go way back - nearly all of my favorite Christmas childhood memories have either George Winston's December or the Nutcracker suite as the backdrop. The Russian Dance is my favorite movement - it never fails to make me want to do a crazy waltzing romp like I used to;)

And Glenn Miller - no explanation needed.  Glenn Miller is the ultimate!

I had no idea he had arranged the Nutcracker.  It sounded like a match made in heaven.  And my incredible brother said he would take me.

So I reserved the tickets, laid out the new green dress, and listened to Stompin' at the Savoy and A String of Pearls till my feet were dizzy.  

The excitement of getting ready, driving the hour and a half into downtown Spokane, seeing the freeway at night... might not be much to most.  I don't get out very often.

We arranged to rendezvous with Chip and Missy, sweet sisters and friends that I actually met through my blog about two years ago.  Chip is an wonderful accordionist, which is how we discovered each other;)  They brought a friend with them, and Aubrey and I also picked up our friend Christopher for the evening.  We had dinner at Subway, then the six of us strolled down the alien streets of the big city at night.  It was the perfect little mini adventure.

We stopped in an amazing bookstore to while the hour or so to go before the show started.  I was deeply engrossed in a marvelous book on the history of espionage most of the time... espionage is such a lovely word.  Implications aside, of course... and I totally want a wristwatch camera.  The glove-mounted handgun was cool, but a little impractical for my needs;)

Wandering around a giant bookstore at night decked in plaid, vintage jewels, and heels is almost as fun as descending on Subway in said attire.

Chip, Missy, and Yev started back to the theater early, and when my two escorts and I started back toward the Bing, we were having so much fun talking and looking and laughing that we ended up about three blocks behind the theater.  Under a bridge covered in grafitti. 

 Thankfully, I had a 2nd degree black belt on one hand and a GPS wielding bro on the other, and we made it back to the entrance of the Bing in the nick of time.  Whew.

We found our seats, half blinded by the brilliant light and rush and din of people inside.

Then the show started.

And it was gorgeous.  The Bing was stunning.  The music was sparkling, the guest vocals marvelous.

And I was really and truly sitting there seeing it all.

The grand finale, In The Mood, brought the house down.  I almost choked up it was so tremendously superb.  Glenn Miller is very near to my heart as, beside the sheer fact of his spectacular sizzling jazz, my great grandfather was a complete fan.  The first time he heard Glenn Miller was at a Paris concert after being the sole survivor of an air squadron shot down over France in '44.  I never met him, but I know he would have been loving it as much as I was if we still had him.

And the last time I saw my amazing great grandmother, one of her last days on earth, she was lying in a hospital bed in her living room, ravaged by stage 4 cancer.

But she was dancing to in the mood. 

A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H

I got a gal in Kalamazoo

Don't want to boast but I know she's the toast of Kalamazoo!

Zoo, zoo, zoo, zoo, zoo...

Sharing the Blessings vol. 12

Presenting the May edition of Sharing the Blessings. Join up below!

{via}

May is upon us!  I am really, really having a hard time realizing it so far... give me a few weeks. :)

Today, I passed quite a milestone in my life.  I gave my first piano lesson.

Sure, I've been helping my sisters for years, but I never felt ready to make to leap to teach the art of the piano to anyone else.  How could I, when I am so far from perfection?

So when a friend called me the other day asking for lessons, I couldn't believe it.  Was it time?  But I'm just not ready!  Evidently, God thought so... so I took the leap.

I love teaching!  I was quite terrified at first - in fact, I felt those familiar butterflies from the dozens of piano recitals I've lived through creeping up on me.  But once I caught my breath, everything seemed to focus and I was enjoying myself hugely.  I daresay I have a lot to refine in my method - but there's no way to do that except by jumping in!

The water's great.

I just want to thank God for His infinite wisdom, for challenging me to grow and trust.  And most of all, for giving me the faith to step out and grasp life, in all it's glory and opportunity, and make a difference.

I read this quote the other day, and have been thinking about it ever since.

{via}

And you can never know the awesome beauty of the open sea until you experience it for yourself.

Are you entering some unknown water?  Share with us!

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How it works:

Each link pool will be active for one month. Be sure to visit often to see new entries over the month!

What you do:

Just make a post, as simple as a picture or as elaborate as an article, about the blessings in your life. An inspiring story?  The challenge conquered - or the steaming mug of hot tea you enjoy each morning, glorying in the new day? A verse of scripture that has blessed you? The way your family never fails to make you smile? Everything in our lives can be a blessing, when you think about it - so share yours!

Add your link, then browse through the link pool, visit with other bloggers, and share your blessings!

Please add the button below with a link back to this URL:

http://kelliefalconer.blogspot.com/search/label/Sharing the Blessings

so that others can participate!

Feel free to add the button below (linking to the URL given above) to your blog as well - help spread the word!

(To view all weeks of Sharing the Blessings, click here)

Simply sharing the little blessings that make life beautiful. Won't you join me?

Inside these canvas walls...

... the fire glows and sparkles, the lamplight throws gentle shadows on the books and piles of 

embroidery around me, and I can hear the sizzle of snowflakes as they fall on the stovepipe, 

just on the other side of the wall.  

Outside, it's fifteen degrees and snowing madly.  We have over a foot, and the world is a heavily-clad mass of velvety whiteness.  I'd share a picture, but as I don't have one at the moment, this shall suffice, as it makes me supremely happy:

♥♥♥

♥♥♥

I've been working on some more embroidery orders, and just shipped off the last today.  Such a wonderful feeling!  Here's the color pallet this time:

I adore the little dog.  Dogs, rather.  Each time I drew him for the different days, he seemed to take on a character different from any of the others and I look on them all as individual hounds.  One is so very quizzical, while another is rather sleepy looking, and the baking day pup looks exactly like an adorably greedy little boy.  

The little lass is the same to me each day, however, and she's developed quite a character herself.  She can be quite delightful when you get to know her, and her quick little tongue would as soon teach one a lilting folk tune or make a saucy quip to the grocer she trips so merrily to see each market day.  And her taste in petticoats and bonnets is impeccable.

If I do say so myself.

My sisters all came over for a sleepover on Lilly's birthday, and set up a dollhouse in grand style over the whole floor.  And we ate nice things.  And snuggled by the fire.

I recently discovered this beautiful duet transcription of The Seaside from BBC's Emma.  I can't get enough of this song, truly.  It gives me the feeling that something beautiful and completely unexpected is waiting just around the bend - as if I really were on a cliff's edge by the seaside, spinning and laughing for sheer joy.

One night while I was doodling with music on the piano, I felt the urge to scribble something down on paper - and this is what came of it.  Just for fun.  The combined result of being currently steeped in the Emma soundtrack, indulging in several evenings spent delighting in Aurora's blog, and the anticipation of going to a local contra dance.  "Oh, how I long for a ball...!"  We don't really have anything in the way of balls around here, let alone dances without costumes.  I am quite wild with longing when I read about the masquerades, dances and flings on some of your blogs;)

However, I recently found out about a monthly local contra dance in the area, and my whole family went last Friday... what bliss!  At last, I learned how to contra.  We danced the night away, and I trust this will be the dawn of a new era in our circle as we establish the tradition of historical dancing together!

"Away they all went, twenty couple at once, hands half round and back again the other way; down the middle and up again; round and round in various stages of affectionate grouping; old top couple always turning up in the wrong place; new top couple starting off again, as soon as they got there; all top couples at last, and not a bottom one to help them."
--Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

Outfit: December

George Winston's piano album, December, is some of my most treasured music.  Each note is burned into my heart, inextricably entwined with a thousand memories to become the soundtrack of my childhood.  

Winston's Carol of the Bells was playing over and over in my mind as I went for a walk the other day, each note searing my consciousness as clear and crystal-cold as the air itself.  It was the perfect winter day, the almost bare fields lending an atmosphere of surreal magic by their freedom from the snow which should have shrouded them in a still blanket of white.  All the mountains surrounding had sparkling frost-tipped trees, looking like some sort of sugar sprinkled confection.  The air - gray, bitterly cold, and completely still - seemed to be laden with this music.  

Start the player above while you read to hear the soundtrack of this beautiful December walk.

Wool Jacket - a hand-me-down which I embroidered tiny yellow rosebuds on

Denim skirt - thrifted with added ruffle by me

Hunter boots - St. Bernard Sports

Green scarf - hand crocheted by Wool and Whatnot

Velvet headband - Eve's Leaves, a small local shop

Vintage driving gloves - my Grandmother's

   

 

 

Oh, you beautiful Hunter boots.  I adore you. =)  The wool headband in the last two pictures was created from a shrunken sweater - two strips sewn together and embroidered on with yarn.  I love these wool headbands because I as usually have my (massive:) hair up, most winter hats won't fit on my head.  This headband fits right underneath my hair, while still keeping my ears nice and toasty!  (Not to mention, they look oh so cute...)

Thinking about offering them in the shop.  What do you think?  Would/do you wear one?  I'd love some feedback!