The New York Botanic Garden was established in 1891 and was inspired by a visit by renowned botanists, Elizabeth and Nathaniel Lord Britton, after their visit to the Royal Botanic Gardens near London. I especially love the Victorian-style glasshouse and the lilac collection! It’s a true gem of a botanic garden in New York City!
One of my personal favorites is Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House, located in Concord, Massachusetts. If you’re a fan of Alcott’s writings—Little Women, among other classics!—you’ll love visiting Orchard House! The home has been preserved just as it had been when the Alcotts lived there during the 19th century. The museum even has a Little Women garden inspired by the beloved classic novel!
Looking to the West Coast, a perennial favorite is the Conservatory of Flowers at Golden Gate Park. This botanical garden in San Francisco boasts the oldest public wood-and-glass conservatory in North America, brimming with examples of Victorian gardening favorites. I’ll certainly be visiting this landmark on my next trip to visit family in California!
And at the Denver Botanic Gardens, visit the Victorian Secret Garden, which is a 19th-century-style formal garden with a beautiful array of annuals, perennials, shrubs, and trees. The garden room even has a cozy gazebo to sit and enjoy the surrounding botanical beauty!
Have you visited any of these gardens? Do you have a favorite botanical garden in your area! Let me know in the comments!
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]]>I often visit Little Vintage Sparrow when I need a dose of cheer and a reminder to find the romance and dreaminess in my own life. After enjoying Jordan's posts for quite some time, I was curious to learn more about what inspires her uniquely lovely lifestyle. She graciously shared her story in the following interview where she talks about her love of vintage, her fascinating work in wildlife conservation, overcoming a debilitating spinal condition, future travel dreams, and more.
(But before we move on to the interview ... for more vintage-inspired fun, plus beauty tips and Victoriana, click here to become a Willow & Birch Insider!)
And now here's Jordan ... Enjoy!
When I first came across your Instagram page, I was immediately enamored with all the lovely outfits you share in your posts. You have such a dreamy, timeless style! What are some of your favorite places to find unique pieces for your wardrobe?
Aww that’s so sweet of you to say! Thank you so much! I am glad we were able to connect on this app. ☺️ I love thrifting at my local secondhand shops and through Etsy or Depop. Shopping secondhand is a great way to find beautiful vintage pieces and keep clothing out of the landfills.
There are also several clothing retailers that I enjoy supporting that carry timeless, vintage-inspired and modest clothing that I vibe with. Adored Vintage, Breath of Youth Clothing, Boutique 1861 (Canadian! Like me), and Little Women Atelier are all wonderful businesses that inspire a romantic way of living.
Many of your posts also feature delectable treats you’ve baked. What are some of your favorite ingredients to bake with? Do you have a particular recipe you return to over and over again?
I really do have quite the sweet tooth, haha. I love incorporating tea into my baking. There is a London Fog tea cake with a vanilla buttercream that I always make for my birthday and just because it’s delicious. (Keep reading to find the full recipe if you would like to try it!) This recipe is also great with any other black tea if you aren’t an Earl Grey drinker. You can do cupcakes instead of a layered cake as well.
What prompted you to create your Instagram account?
I created this account the day my province in Canada announced we were locking down at the start of the pandemic. It was a time in my life when I felt I was lacking connection with others and was struggling to find like-minded souls who shared my interests. I also really wanted some pen pals to write to. Now I write to around twenty beautiful people around the world, all who are dear friends to me.
I have truly met so many lovely humans on this app, and I hope to meet them in person one day. I am forever grateful for the day I decided to start this account, or I wouldn’t have met some of my greatest friends.
You’ve mentioned in your posts that you earned your bachelor’s degree in wildlife biology and conservation. What initially drew you to those fields of study? What is your dream job?
Both of my parents have degrees involving the environment, and when I was growing up, they really encouraged my love of nature and anything to do with the outdoors. I was quite young when I started to show a specific interest in birds, specifically owls. I was bird obsessed! They got me my first pet bird when I was seven, and I have had pet birds ever since. I am spoiled because I always knew what I wanted to do for the rest of my life, and that was to work with birds and help them in any way that I could.
I was preparing to move to England to do my master’s in ornithology/biodiversity studies when the pandemic hit. So I never ended up moving, which was quite disappointing at the time. However, several months ago I ended up being given a dream job opportunity, working at a rehabilitation center for injured owls and birds of prey. It’s a pleasure and a privilege to be able to work with such majestic birds and hopefully help them get back to the wild.
For many years my dreams felt far out of reach, so it truly feels like a gift that I get to live my dream every day. Throughout most of my undergraduate degree I actually dealt with debilitating chronic pain from a spinal condition called spondylolisthesis. Basically, I had a defect on two of my vertebrae, which caused them to start slipping off one another.
Over five years, my vertebrae went from a 25 percent slip to an 80 percent slip. It was most likely going to paralyze me. Luckily for me, based on the progression of the slip, I finally became a candidate for surgery! My surgeon fused my vertebrae and did a bone graft from my hip to build me strong, new vertebrae. He gave me a second chance at life. And now I get to live my dream and I feel so incredibly grateful to be alive.
Who is your favorite character from classic literature? What do you admire most about them?
Oh my goodness, well that would have to be Anne Shirley, wouldn’t it? What I admire most about Anne is that she romanticizes her life in every way. She appreciates the simple joys like flowers blooming, the sparkle of the frost covering an autumnal field, and enjoying a sweet treat with her bosom friends. She is optimistic, fiery, and quick to apologize for her mistakes. She doesn’t let the boys outrun her and she knows how to bring a smile to even the grumpiest soul. She has a genuine heart and I hope to even be an ounce like her.
After being cooped up and unable to travel for the past few years, many of us are feeling a sense of wanderlust. Do you like to travel? What are some places you’d like to visit?
I love to travel and have definitely been feeling the itch to explore somewhere new! I would still love to visit England and other parts of the UK. Highclere Castle is high on my list. (Downton Abbey, anyone?) I am also really drawn to Iceland and Norway. But let’s be real, I would love to travel anywhere, hehe.
And, finally, what is your favorite Willow & Birch "Signature Scent," and why?
Oh, most definitely, Lavender Breeze. It’s the perfect scent for winding down at the end of the day, or if I want to bring some calm with me. I have a hard time slowing myself down some days, and this scent makes me feel more centered and grounded.
When used for aromatherapy, lavender can be useful in helping to calm, soothe, and promote rest and relaxation. I find this especially helpful before bedtime, during meditation, and whenever I need a moment to rest and reset during my day.
Lavender sachets are one of the easiest ways to enjoy the health benefits of lavender because you can use them just about anywhere! Here are some ideas:
At Willow & Birch Apothecary, we handcraft our scented lavender sachets using flowers from the Lavandula officinalis plant. Our lavender is grown in France where the flowers are harvested to be used in creating dried flowers, essential oil, and hydrosol (or floral water). (In addition to using dried lavender flowers for our sachets, we also add them to our Lavender Breeze soap and Lavender and Chamomile bath tea!)
To create our special sachet blend, I start by making a mixture of ground lavender buds because the process of grinding the flowers releases the aromatic components to create a longer-lasting fragrance. I then blend the ground buds with full flowers and sprinkle the mixture with lavender essential oil to further enhance the scent.
In keeping with our nod to the Victorian era, we’ve carefully chosen a selection of 19th century-inspired fabrics for our sachets. My mom is a skilled seamstress, and she graciously lends a hand in sewing the sachets, which I then fill with our scented lavender mixture.
Each sachet is carefully crafted by hand, and the process is always such a delight because I also get to enjoy the lovely lavender aroma while I work!
What is your favorite way to use lavender sachets? Let me know in the comments section below. I’d love to hear from you!
Psst…our lavender sachets also make a wonderful gift! In the language of flowers, lavender signifies love, devotion, and loyalty, making it a perfect choice for sending a message of affection to anyone you care for.
And for more lavender-infused botanical goodies, visit our Lovely Lavender collection!
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As far back as the Old Testament, wax seals were used to ensure the security and secrecy of important documents. Throughout the ages, they were used by governments and royalty, and each had their own characteristic designs to confirm the identity of the sender. An envelope with a wax seal would often display one’s personal coat of arms, an insignia, or a meaningful symbol.
In the earlier part of the Victorian period, sealing wax was used for both formal and informal correspondence. However, by the latter part of the 19th century, wax seals would have been mainly found on official documents as the advent of the gummed envelope offered new convenience for more casual correspondence. Today, one would more likely use a wax seal for envelopes intended for special purposes such as wedding invitations and birth announcements, or to add a unique flair to one’s letters. This is typically done using wax seal stickers, or by melting wax seal sticks (lit with a wick) and hand pressing the stamp.
At Willow & Birch Apothecary, our all natural bath and beauty products are each hand stamped with our wax seal stamp custom designed featuring our iconic willow leaf motif. Our products are handmade with love, and our wax seal is our “seal of quality” so you can rest assured that your scented treasures have been crafted with the finest ingredients and the utmost care.
If you’d like your own willow-leaf wax seal stickers, find them in our Vintage Charms Stationery Set which includes four beautifully illustrated greeting cards with envelopes and four hand-pressed wax seal stickers!
Today wrapping paper is available in just about every design imaginable, from popular animated characters to Christmas designs and even bespoke patterns that are elaborate enough to rival some of the prettiest wallpapers. As it turns out, wrapping paper has been used going back as far as the 1300s!
In ancient Chinese tradition, giving a wrapped gift was thought to offer protection and good luck to the recipient, and these early forms of gift wrap were actually done with fabric rather than paper. Later, in the 1600s, the Japanese also used fabric for wrapping gifts using a style known as furoshiki, which is still used to this day.
The type of decorative wrapping paper we’re familiar with today was invented by the Hall brothers—of Hallmark fame—in 1917 and was initially sold at their stationery store in Kansas City, Missouri. The brothers’ stroke of genius was thanks to a blend of accident and necessity. During the 1917 holiday shopping season, they ran out of tissue paper—which, at that time, had been used to wrap gifts. When the Hall brothers happened upon a stock of French paper intended for lining envelopes, they decided to take a chance and sell it in place of the sold-out tissue paper—and it sold out instantly!
During the Victorian period, it was not uncommon for people to make their own wrapping paper—and it’s a simple technique that you can replicate today for a fun and easy holiday craft!
The Victorians used a technique called “marbling,” which I had first learned of through a BBC series called “Victorian Farm.”
Here’s what you’ll need:
And here’s how to make your own traditional Christmas gift wrap:
(Victorian wrapping paper examples, as seen on BBC’s “Victorian Farm.”)
Edmonia “Wildfire” Lewis was one of the first black professional sculptors. The daughter of a Haitian father (who worked as a gentleman’s servant) and a Chippewa mother (who crafted and sold Native American souvenirs), she was orphaned at a young age and was raised by her mother’s sisters in upstate New York.
With financial help from her older half-brother, Edmonia was able to attend Oberlin College where her artistic talents began to blossom and she was introduced to the abolitionist movement. While at Oberlin, she was falsely accused of theft and poisoning two white students. These charges were ultimately dropped and she won an acquittal in court, but not before suffering serious injuries when she was kidnapped and attacked by a white mob after the reports had been released. Adding further struggle during this painful time, just before her final term at Oberlin College, Edmonia was dismissed without the opportunity to complete her degree.
After later moving to Boston, she began selling her artwork, including sculptures of noted abolitionists and advocates for Native Americans. It was during this time that she befriended abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison and artist Edward A. Brackett, who taught her sculpture. She continued working and honing her skills while traveling to London, Paris, Florence, and Rome.
“A colored sculptress, not yet twenty-five years old, whose studio at Rome is sought by the cultivated and wealthy, and whose works command almost fabulous prices, furnishes a remarkable instance of perseverance, not only against disadvantages of sex, but the still greater obstacles of race and color.” —Dr. Monroe A. Majors, Accomplished: African-American Women in Victorian America (1893)
"Forever Free" (1867)
"Hiawatha" (1868)
One of her most recognized sculptures, “The Death of Cleopatra,” was carved in 1876 and took her over four years to complete. Now in the collections at the Smithsonian American Art Museum (along with several of her other pieces, including “Hagar”), the sculpture depicts a dramatic image of Cleopatra in the moments after her suicide. And much like Edmonia’s own life story, this sculpture took its own unique journey. It was called “ghastly” and “repellant” in an 1878 issue of Great American Sculpture, yet the piece received rave reviews two years earlier at the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia. In an odd twist of events, the sculpture eventually ended up in a saloon, and then as a horse’s grave marker at a racetrack before finally being rescued in the 1980s.
"The Death of Cleopatra" (1876)
“Some praise me because I am a colored girl, and I don’t want that kind of praise. I had rather you would point out my defects, for that will teach me something.” — Edmonia Lewis
"Hagar" (1875)
Sadly, many of Lewis’s works have been lost, although some of her surviving pieces can be viewed at the Baltimore Museum of Art, the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Howard University Gallery of Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
Since creating my Signature Scents—English Fog, Lavender Breeze, Lemon Zen, and Orange Spice—I’ve often been asked how these particular blends came to be and how I dream up the fragrances I use in my shop.
For me, the magical allure of scent lies in the stories that are told…the worlds that are created with just the hint of a certain aroma, the ability to transport yourself to another place or recreate a cherished moment in time.
For me, scent is all about story…
Each blend begins with a specific inspiration—a sweet memory, a beloved piece of literature, an imagined faraway place… I sit with that spark for a while and I think about the elements that call to me most—sometimes it’s a plant or a flower, other times it’s a mood, or even a scene I’m picturing in my mind’s eye. From there I let my intuition take the stage as I get quiet and listen for what scents come to the surface of my thoughts; it’s a bit like word association, although I suppose this would be called “scent association”!
By this time I usually have an extensive list of essential oils I’d like to use. And before I start mixing and matching blends, I begin by researching any oils I may not have worked with yet. I familiarize myself with its properties such as its skin care benefits and aromatherapy purposes, as well as its physical properties like consistency, color, and extraction method. This research helps me weed out any oils that would not be suitable for their intended use (in my candles, soaps, perfumes, moisturizers, bath salts, and essential oil blends). It also helps me pinpoint if an oil really stands out as an ideal fit for my blend.
Now that I have my short list of essential oils, I start mixing and matching based on what scents I know will complement each other and what feels right to me. This step involves lots and lots of trial and error (which my husband fondly calls my “mad scientist” phase). Sometimes it takes just a few tries, and other times it can take weeks or even months before I finally get the blend just right to perfectly capture that initial spark of inspiration.
And when that moment happens, when I know I’ve finally created exactly what I was envisioning, I am absolutely delighted and I just can’t wait to share it with the world. It is such a magical feeling! This is why it brings me so much joy whenever someone tells me they love my scents, because they are a piece of my heart and soul, and it means the world to me to know that my work touches the lives of others.
If you’re interested in trying your hand at creating your own scent blends, here are a few tips I’d like to share:
When talking about Willow & Birch Apothecary, I’m sometimes asked, “What does ‘apothecary’ mean?” And being the history nerd that I am, I’m always eager to share a bit about Victorian-era apothecaries and why I chose to incorporate this tradition into my own modern day apothecary shop!
Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines an apothecary as “one who prepares and sells drugs or compounds for medicinal purposes.” However, as we will come to find, this definition has evolved a bit over the past several hundred years.
For centuries before the Victorian period, women would typically make their own medicines at home using simple herbal remedies. Wealthier households would even have a “still room” where home remedies could be distilled in greater quantities.
By the Victorian era, it was common to purchase one’s medicines from the local apothecary or pharmacist who stocked compounds and tonics for a variety of ailments.
In addition to medications, hand creams and face creams were considered medicinal because they protected the skin from damage caused by weather, heat (from cooking and working in front of a fire), and harsh soaps that left skin dry and cracked. For these, an apothecary would use time-tested ingredients such as rosewater, lavender, oatmeal, lemons, almonds, elderflower water, and even sugar.
“[…] a woman could use some cosmetic lotions that she herself thought more medicinal than aesthetic. Freckles were an unwanted discoloration of the skin in many people’s minds; the archetype of a beautiful woman was one with clear, pale skin, and freckles were seen as blemishes, no better than spots and pimples. Most apothecaries and pharmacists mixed their own formulas to sell at the beginning of the century, but, by the end of the period, these locally made products were joined by a host of national brands.”
—excerpted from How to Be a Victorian by Ruth Goodman
Today, the modern day apothecary store looks a bit different. Some apothecaries continue to produce herbal health remedies while others—like Willow & Birch Apothecary—carry on the tradition of creating beauty products to enhance one’s appearance and overall well-being.
At Willow & Birch, our modern apothecary products are handcrafted in much the same way a Victorian apothecary would have crafted their own creams, oils, and other remedies. By honoring these bygone traditions, we hope our botanical bath, beauty, and fragrances will infuse your everyday beauty routine with the charm and elegance of the Victorian period!
I am so honored that American Farmhouse Style has selected our Lemon Zen bath salts to feature in their “Made in America” issue!
This beautiful magazine is renowned for their impeccable designs and inspiring home tours, and I am thrilled to be a part of their latest issue!
Be sure to pick up a copy and flip to page 31 to find our feature!
And find all of our scented bath salts and gift sets in the shop!
...If you love this magazine as much as I do, visit their website to get a subscription!
You have mentioned that you are inspired by vintage French country style. What do you love most about this aesthetic and lifestyle?
I have always been drawn to the French style since my childhood. I would gravitate towards styles that represent femininity and elegance, such as wearing my favorite floral dress with lace hems, or admiring my mother’s china collection, or witnessing my grandmother’s embroideries, or spending time with my father at his bridal shop and admiring the romantic atmosphere, or being surrounded by roses and lavender in the plentiful gardens in California, or hearing the French proverbs my parents often used in our household (both being fluent in French). In fact, my mother would always call me her “little French girl.”
So, as I grew older, I found myself increasingly inclined toward such sentimental aspects that reminded me of those fond childhood memories. Furthermore, I enjoyed the presence of the elderly and was always drawn to their lovely tales of the past. I also have always loved “old, rustic, and vintage” articles, so antique shopping was a way to connect to that time. All this culminated into a conscious love for French country traditions. The French culture is about minimalism, preservation, cherishment and creativity, and it’s become my way of living.
What prompted you to format your blog posts as a diary to your children? And what do you enjoy most about writing and sharing them?
I have always thought about what sort of family heirloom I would leave them with, so I decided to write stories and memoirs for them, hoping they can cherish it one day. My children look forward to these stories, and we have started a tradition at home, handwriting each other’s letters and looking at photos. It’s something my children enjoy.
How do you decide what types of recipes to feature on your blog?
I love indulging in pastries, especially with my morning coffee. Where we live, we don’t have the luxury of bakeries that offer traditional French pastries made with quality ingredients. Instead of waiting around for such a bakery to come into existence, I decided to attempt to create my own quality pastries right out of my kitchen. My ideas of what to bake and ultimately feature in my blog stem from a combination of factors: my cravings, or specific memories I intend to highlight for my children, or what intrigues me in a cookbook that I would be browsing, or an idea of a specific styling for my photography.
What is your creative process for researching and adapting recipes?
It all starts with stacks of books on my coffee table and just skimming through the plethora of recipes. Once I have chosen a recipe, I read it over many times as well as research the recipe in other books or on the internet to get a better understanding on how to execute the recipe. I am a bit of a perfectionist, and I try my best to master a recipe on the first try.
As for the photographic element of my creativity, I always had a fascination with photos. Photos represent something of the past and capture special moments in time. I had my first camera at the age of eleven and gradually upgraded my camera with time. At some point, I delved more into French baking, learning from cookbooks and admiring all the beautiful imagery within them. I was inspired greatly by these cookbooks and proceeded to create such experiences for my family and friends through cooking, baking, and styling. Photographing these aspects was the way to capture and document these experiences.
Your edible creations are always stunningly beautiful! What is your background in baking and pastry design?
I started baking at an early age albeit with my mother. As I became a young teenager, my twin sister and I baked our first layered chocolate cake which consisted of mousse filling and was covered with chocolate ganache. However, I started to delve deeply into French baking ten years ago. I cater pastries for charity events and bake for wedding events for friends and family. I had numerous opportunities to pursue it professionally, however, I made a conscious decision to put that on hold for now as I enjoy being a stay-at-home mother baking for my family.
You also sometimes share snippets of your home life on Instagram. What does an average day look like for you? What are some simple joys you look forward to each day?
I like to start my day with a cup of coffee and a pastry with my husband, preferably outside in our garden, when the weather permits ,of course. Thereafter I make my rounds around the garden to check on my flowers and plants until it is time to wake up my kids to have them start their day. During the day, I call my parents to check up on them briefly then think about what I need to do for the day. A typical priority for me is to prepare dinner at a decent time. I do exercise most days to be physically and mentally in shape. I usually do not like creating a daily to-do list, so I tend to set goals and tasks on a monthly basis, such as reading a specific book or writing certain thoughts in my diary. I therefore try to align my days to these goals when needed. Some days, I host family gatherings in the forms of an afternoon tea or a meal. Other days I spend my time with the kids, whether it be going out, baking, or just watching a movie.
And, finally, what is your favorite Willow & Birch “Signature Scent”, and why?
The Lavender Breeze; I love anything lavender.
Thank you so much for chatting with me, Fatema!
Visit Fatema’s blog here and follow her on Instagram to enjoy more of her lovely pastry creations and glimpses into her charming French country-inspired lifestyle!
Planning a wedding is such an exciting time! As you’re dreaming and creating your perfect day, you probably have some special people you’d like to thank for being a part of your momentous occasion. And what better way to share your love than with a thoughtful gift set or party favor!
Keep reading for helpful tips and a roundup of natural wedding gifts featuring our apothecary beauty products, spa goodies, and scented candles! And visit the Bridal Collection for our gift sets with special group pricing!
When it comes to gifts and favors, there are so many choices…how is one to decide? Below are a few considerations to keep in mind when shopping for wedding favors and bridal gifts:
Below are a few wedding bridal party gifts that would be perfect to share when you send the bridal party announcements, at the bachelorette party, or on the morning of your wedding.
Spa Collection Bridal Spa Package
During your bridal shower, thank your guests for joining in the festivities with heartfelt party favors. Of course, you’ll also want to treat your guests to party favors on your wedding day!
A tea party theme is always a fun idea for any event. (Looking for tea party inspiration? Check out my other blog post!) Whether it’s an afternoon tea garden party, a vintage tea party, or a Victorian high tea, there are so many unique tea-themed gifts you can give to your guests as party favors…
Tea-Inspired Lemon Zen Scented Bath & Beauty
You may think you only need to hydrate your skin if you have characteristically “dry skin,” or if your skin is visibly cracked or flaking. But the truth is, we can all benefit from knowing how to get hydrated, glowing skin…no matter what our “skin type”!
I have been crafting natural skin care products for over a decade, and one of the most common misconceptions I come across is that we each fall into just one skin type—normal skin, sensitive skin, dry skin, oily skin, or combination skin. But our skin actually fluctuates between these classifications based on our environment, seasons, and internal factors.
This is why it is so important to regularly hydrate your skin every day, year in and year out! So, how do you hydrate your skin? I’m glad you asked! In today’s blog post, I’m sharing my favorite tips for skin hydration. And be sure to keep reading for a cute printable with my recipe for a gentle moisturizing face mask!
Hydration is important year-round, whether you are spending the day in the summer sun or out in the cold winter wind. The good news is that there are many easy ways to hydrate your body naturally.
To start, try incorporating natural skin care products into your everyday routine, such as a nourishing lip balm and face cream. (And for a special treat, make your own hydrating face mask using the recipe below!)
Another simple tip: When in the shower, use a lukewarm water temperature to avoid drying out your skin, then finish with a few seconds of cold water to close the pores. (This also applies when washing your face.) Gently pat dry with a towel and follow up with your favorite body moisturizer.
In addition to treating your skin to moisturizing botanicals, it’s also important to hydrate from within…
One of the simplest things you can do to keep your skin healthy and hydrated is to drink plenty of water. It is recommended that women should drink at least 64 ounces of water per day, although some suggest as much as 92 ounces per day. (I usually aim to drink half my body weight in ounces of water and that tends to work well for me.)
But you don’t have to only get your hydration from water! Also try these yummy teas for hydration with added skin-boosting nourishment:
Finish off your skincare pampering with this calming cucumber cream, perfect for all skin types!
Click below to save and print the recipe!
Each year, this special issue honors a small selection of women who are crafting their own uniquely beautiful lives through their businesses. I was so incredibly grateful to have been included in their 2020 round-up of inspiring ladies!
I had so much fun sharing the story behind my Victorian-inspired beauty products and fragrances. It turns out that our natural face moisturizers and natural perfumes sparked the most interest from readers. I also had the pleasure of receiving letters and phone calls from so many lovely ladies who I now consider my dear friends. I have been enjoying their beautiful magazines for as long as I can remember, and I will always cherish this very special memory!
Click here to read snippets of each honoree’s story.
And if you love this magazine as much as I do, visit their website to get a Victoria magazine subscription and be inspired all year round!
Oakland House, Then and Now.
As Jacqueline shared the story of Sarah Benoist—the lady of Oakland House—I couldn’t help but wonder what Mrs. Benoist’s beauty routine might have been like, and what she might have thought of our beauty goodies at Willow & Birch Apothecary.
So, I did a bit of research to share some fun tidbits about the Victorian lady’s morning routine. According to historian Ruth Goodman, author of How to Be a Victorian, the Victorian beauty routine consisted of several steps:
And now let’s hear from Jacqueline about what it’s like to live at Oakland House!
How did you come to live at Oakland House?
My passion for history brought me to find my place at Oakland. As a Renaissance re-enactor I was looking to have a 16th century corset made. I got in touch with the conservator at Oakland, who is also a seamstress. A few years later, after I graduated from college, I heard about the position and interviewed. Later that fall I got the news and moved in! Now in addition to the Renaissance, I also enjoy Victorian.
How long have you lived there?
I moved in September of 2018.
What is it like living in a historic Victorian mansion? What are some ways in which your daily activities are different than most other people’s?
Living here is a dream come true that I never would have imagined could happen. Sometimes it feels surreal as I step to the top of the tower to get a view of the moon, or when I sit on the veranda outside with my cup of tea. I think most people would probably find it strange how I am used to strolling about in a crinoline cage for work. Or how normal it feels for me to be casually dusting 18th century paintings and sweeping the tower of a mansion.
What is your favorite room in the house, and why?
My favorite room would probably have to be the Rose Room. I have always had a love for roses and the wallpaper is stunning. The hand embroidered furniture feels cozy and perfect for sitting in the evenings with a book. I also think this bedroom has the best views—the front of the mansion and overlooking the side yard. Not to mention, it has its own balcony!
What can you tell us about Sarah Elizabeth Wilson Benoist?
Sarah was from New Jersey. She was a very young woman, only 19 years old, when she married Louis Benoist, one of St. Louis’ wealthiest men. There is little we know about her, but she was a mother to 11 children and certainly had a great affection for her family. She allowed her youngest brother and his wife to stay at Oakland for some time and even give birth to their first child there. Sarah re-married Louis’ business partner after his death. She passed away at 42.
Are there any interesting pieces at Oakland House that she may have used during her daily beauty routine? Please explain.
As far as Sarah’s beauty routine, with her being a part of the upper class, she was most likely using the most fashionable Victorian trends that were in style.
What do you think would have been Sarah’s “Signature Scent”?
I think Sarah’s scent would have been Lavender Breeze, because the smell of Oakland’s herb garden is filled with the lovely aroma of lavender.
And, finally, what is your favorite Willow & Birch “Signature Scent”?
My favorite scent would probably be English Fog, as my soul longs for the countryside of England. Wuthering Heights has a special place in my heart, so this one spoke to me.
How lucky is Jacqueline? Can you imagine being fortunate enough to live in a grand old Victorian house like Oakland House? Visit their website and follow them on Instagram to learn more about the history of this special home. And follow Jacqueline on Instagram for more glimpses into her life at Oakland House!
First up is the Spa Collection gift set. It includes a soy candle, bath salts, and soap in your choice of our Signature Scents for a relaxing at-home spa day. These make perfect Mother's Day quarantine gifts when she needs a bit of pampering at home!
Another spa gift set is the Timeless Charms set, featuring our best-selling Rose Petals Day Cream and a moisturizing oil, soap, and perfume in your scent of choice. This is one of the newest additions in the apothecary shop and it has quickly become a popular favorite for gift-giving!
For Mother’s Day gifts for nurses, look no further than the Botanical Bath set. This lovely all natural bath gift set includes everything she needs for a soothing soak after a long day at work. Includes your choice of scented candle and perfume, paired with our collection of epsom bath teas in Rose & Calendula and Lavender & Chamomile.
And for quick and easy Mother's Day gifts, turn to our scented perfumes and soy candles. They make lovely additions when creating your own gift box, or to send a little gift to show you’re thinking of her.
Finally, pick up the Vintage Charms stationery set and send pretty Victorian-style greetings to all the special ladies in your life! This sweet set include four beautifully illustrated greeting cards with matching envelopes and hand-pressed wax seal stickers! (And use the cards to make your own scented stationery! Find step-by-step instructions on the blog here!)
Each page is filled with springtime inspirations from Parisian vintage markets, centuries-old French provincial architecture, the French country side, and of course, the lovely aroma and delicate beauty of French lavender!
Pick up a copy today and turn to page 27 to find our Lavender Breeze collection among other treasures inspired by the romance of the Riviera!
Find all of our lavender scented bath and beauty goodies in the shop here. And check out my blog post about the health benefits of using lavender in your natural skin care routine!
And if you love this magazine as much as I do, visit their website to get a Victoria magazine subscription and be inspired all year round!
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Lavender enjoyed a heyday during the Victorian period when it was used to scent everything from perfumes, soaps, and floral waters to cosmetics and hair products. In contrast to the potent synthetic fragrances that are common on today’s store shelves, Victorians preferred subtle natural scents, and lavender became a popular choice. Thankfully, this lovely fragrance remains a classic favorite today!
Today, commercially-grown lavender (Lavandula officinalis) typically comes from France where the flower buds are harvested to be dried or are used to create lavender essential oil and hydrosols (or floral waters) by an extraction process called “steam distillation.” With this method, the fresh flowers are suspended over boiling water so that the steam draws the oils out of the plant. The steam is then rapidly cooled back into water and the essential oil separates from the water. The water left over during this process can then be used for hydrosols because it still contains some of the essential oil. (Read on to hear more about how you can use lavender hydrosol in your natural skin care routine!)
This fragrant flower has many healing properties and has been an important ingredient throughout history for a variety of medicinal uses. Lavender also has many beauty benefits:
Thankfully, there are countless ways to enjoy the many unique properties of lavender. In fact, at Willow & Birch Apothecary, we love this plant so much that you can find lavender in many of our skin care and beauty products. It truly is a powerhouse for beauty benefits!
Lavender essential oil is incredibly versatile and is a great way to make the most of the flower’s many beauty benefits. That’s why we use it in our moisturizing oils, bath salts, soap, face creams, and more! If you choose to use lavender oil in your own DIY beauty crafts, it’s important that you always dilute the essential oil in a carrier oil or in a mixed recipe before applying it to your skin. (Essential oils are extremely concentrated and applying them undiluted can harm the liver and kidneys.)
Yes! Lavender makes a lovely tea with a lightly floral and herbaceous taste. If you grow lavender in your garden, you can use the mature fresh flowers to brew a delightful tea (I use about 1 teaspoon of flowers per cup of water.)
What is natural skin care?
All natural skin care products are made without synthetic ingredients such as artificial fragrances, colors, or other additives that can irritate the skin. Instead, they use natural botanicals like plant-based oils and butters, essential oils, and beeswax.
Using natural skin care products also helps keep skin healthy by promoting pH balance. The potential of hydrogen (or pH) refers to how alkaline or acidic your skin is. Normal, balanced skin typically has a pH of 5 or 6, and a natural beauty routine will help keep your pH where it needs to be (more on this a bit later).
From the inside out.
Your skin is the largest organ of your body and, in many ways, it is an external reflection of your overall health and wellbeing. So, in addition to selecting natural skin care products, it’s also important to follow a healthy lifestyle including drinking enough water, getting restful sleep, and protecting your skin from sun exposure. When combined with a natural beauty routine, these lifestyle tweaks can help us age more gracefully by slowing the loss of elastin and collagen, two key components to healthy skin.
Are natural skin care products better than others?
One of the most important reasons to use non toxic skin care is to avoid the harsh chemicals that can be lurking in many products. For example, the time you pick up a bar of soap or a body wash at the store, take a close look at the ingredients. You may be surprised to find that most mainstream soaps are full of artificial fragrances and other chemicals. These sneaky culprits can wreak havoc on your skin.
Turning back to our discussion about pH, most mainstream soaps are very alkaline and can strip your skin of its natural oils, which causes tight, dry, flaky skin. (And that’s not a good look!) On the other hand, all natural soaps and skin care without harmful chemicals are made with natural ingredients and are scented with pure essential oils. All of this means you can enjoy a finished product that is closer to your skin’s natural pH, and it won’t cause dryness or irritation. (Yay!)
At Willow & Birch Apothecary, our soaps are made with a nourishing blend of olive oil, coconut oil, sustainable palm oil, sweet almond oil, and shea butter for a soap bar that is wonderfully sudsy and leaves your skin feeling silky smooth. Plus, our soaps are scented with natural essential oils in our exclusive Victorian-inspired scent blends! We even make our soaps following techniques inspired by 19th-century soapmakers!
Organic skin care products
There has been a lot of talk about organic beauty products in recent years, and while the hype can be enticing, it’s important to know what’s really beneath the label. The term “organic” is strictly regulated in the food industry, but when it comes to beauty and skin care, those organic labels can be misleading because these products are not yet regulated by the USDA. When it comes to treating your skin to healthy, nourishing botanicals, the most important thing is to look for products that are made with 100% natural ingredients, like our all-natural bath and beauty goodies that are handcrafted in the Catskill Mountains of upstate New York. (And if you have any questions about our ingredients, just ask—I’m always happy to help!)
Vegan skincare
And what makes something “vegan”? Natural vegan skin care products are made without the use of any animal products. Nearly all of our products are vegan, with the exception of our lip balms and moisturizing face creams which are made with beeswax from our happy honeybee neighbors at McCoy’s Pure Raw Honey here in the Catskills. And, of course, our products are never tested on animals—our friends and family are always happy to help try out our new recipes!
The powers of plant based skin care
“Natural,” “organic,” “vegan”…the choice is up to you. First and foremost, you deserve to feel beautiful in your own skin! So, make it a priority to build your beauty routine around natural plant based products you can trust. At Willow & Birch Apothecary, we’re focused on eco friendly skincare, and we carefully source our ingredients for quality and sustainability. For example, our palm oil is certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, and we work with a hand-selected group of suppliers to ensure that our botanicals are the very best. Want to learn more about how our products are made? Read these stories about how we handcraft our botanical goodies, like our soaps, face creams, and scented candles!
Mary Anning was born in 1799 in Lyme Regis, as seaside town in South West England. From the time she was just five years old, Mary’s father—an amateur fossil collector—taught her how to hunt for fossils along the neighboring beach. This was certainly an uncommon pastime for young girls during the Georgian period, but Mary Anning's curiosity continued to grow over the years as she learned from her father. In 1810, Mary’s father died suddenly, leaving the family destitute and Mary’s mother, Molly, urged Mary to sell her discoveries to help the family stay afloat.
Shortly after her father’s death, Mary and her brother discovered the first Ichthyosaur, a marine reptile that lived during the Jurassic period, nearly 200 million years ago. It was a groundbreaking find that stirred up the scientific community. Mary was a mere twelve years old at the time.
Later, in 1823, Mary Anning unearthed the first fossil showing a complete Plesiosaurus. But even as Mary was becoming widely known for her remarkable finds, she was rarely credited for her discoveries. To make ends meet, she sold many of her fossils to male scientists who would often pass them off as their own discoveries. She was even refused membership to the Geological Society of London, which did not accept women until 1904.
Today, many Mary Anning discoveries are on display at the Natural History Museum in London. These include some of the fossils Mary Anning is famous for, including her Ichthyosaur and Plesiosaurus. Although it took Anning much of her adult life to gain notoriety in her field, today she is celebrated as an unsung hero…but perhaps she will remain “unsung” no longer?
The Mary Anning story is now being shared on the big screen with films like Ammonite starring Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan and the biopic Mary Anning & the Dinosaur Hunters, which traverses the evolution of this gifted paleontologist from young girlhood to groundbreaking scientist. While Ammonite portrays Mary Anning and Charlotte Murchison as forbidden lovers, many historians dispute that the two were anything more than friends. Disputed love affair aside, the film will hopefully inspire viewers to learn more about this remarkable woman.
Below is a shot from Ammonite which brought to mind some of the scenery that inspired my English Fog scent blend with notes of beautiful bergamot, clove, and ylang ylang.
Watch the first video below to make your own scented body scrub using our mineral bath salts and nourishing moisturizing oils! Enjoy! 💕
Mars always has something fun happening on her Instagram, and I'm so excited to share my chat with her! Read on to hear about her connection to creativity, her vintage inspirations, and her life in the English countryside!
I often find myself scrolling through your Instagram and imagining I’ve stepped back in time. Where do you find such incredible vintage pieces?
I typically source from all over antique shops, vintage markets, jumble sales, ex-theatre pieces, and I sometimes make my own.
How would you describe your style, and what inspires your unique look?
I would describe my style as eclectic. Easy to wear and functional, but incorporating unique pieces.
You’ve mentioned that you use art and creativity as an outlet for escape. What are some of your favorite art forms, and what do you find most appealing about them?
I love the Renaissance period for its visual and evocative sensuality, the way it allows freedom of indulgence and over-exuberance. I also love Contemporary art and its interpretation and messages of the world today.
Your photos feature such idyllic, dreamy scenes of your neighborhood in the English countryside. Can you share a bit about where you live and what you most enjoy about it?
I am originally born and bred in the countryside, so consider this where my soul lies. My home has connections to members of the Royal Family; it was once where they stayed for hunting. It was originally a gamekeeper’s cottage and an area for show jumping and country pursuits. One of the largest and most ancient woodland in southern England, it’s an area of scientific interest and protected woods with rare orchids and butterflies. I love it for its natural beauty and slower pace of life. I always feel connected to the land.
I love when you post photos with your vintage-style bicycle. What are some of your favorite spots to visit on your jaunts?
I love riding in the open countryside, visiting natural lakes and hidden ancient architecture.
What is your favorite era from the past, and why?
I love the golden Jazz era. I think that’s when we felt most freedom of fashion and self-expression.
If you could have a tea party with anyone from history, who would you invite?
Well, of course Eartha Kitt for quirk, Oscar Wilde for his wit, Mozart and Beethoven for the music, and Salvador Dalí for flamboyance and art. I could go on with the list!
And, finally, what is your favorite Willow & Birch “Signature Scent”?
It’s got to be English Fog. It reminds me of spices and the countryside, with the smell of woodland and romantic foggy mornings.
Thank you for sharing a glimpse into your lovely world, Mars! Follow her on Instagram and visit her website to keep up with her delightful vintage stylings and to follow her on her jaunts through the English countryside!
Rebecca is an incredibly talented and kind individual, and I’m delighted to have had the chance to sit with her and hear a bit about her experience and inspirations. I hope you enjoy the interview!
What inspired you to begin making your own clothes?
I grew up in a religious family, and wearing modest clothing was a part of my life. Sadly, I could not find any casual lovely dresses that I liked at the clothing stores. Another reason for starting to sew was that I really love historical dresses, and as a student, I could not afford to purchase even a costume for masquerade, let alone a historical dress of better quality. That is why I started to make dresses for myself, casual and historically inspired.
How did you first learn to design and create clothing?
From early childhood, I loved to draw fashion ladies, to develop my own designs of clothing. As a teenager, I started to collect porcelain dolls and began to sew them beautiful dresses, hats, and coats. It was a long trial-and-error process, but that is how I learned to hold a needle and thread in my hand. The same story was when I learned to sew my own dresses and coats: many failed attempts, crooked stitches, and tens of meters of spoiled fabric; tons of patience and perseverance until the first good results.
What is your favorite type of dress to make?
I love feminine shapes of the dress. Gathered long skirt, accentuated waist, voluminous sleeves, and graceful neckline. Casual dresses are my big love. I am sure that there is no need to wait for any special occasion. The present moment is the best reason for wearing a dress.
Where do you find inspirations for your clothing designs?
My standard of beauty is historical fashion. Noble and elegant gowns from ancient paintings, such as Renaissance era, 18th century, 19th century, and vintage fashion of the 1940's and 1950’s.
Are your creations available for purchase?
At the moment I am taking an additional course to improve my sewing skills. After that, I really plan to open an online boutique where my designs will be available for purchase.
Your Instagram includes a section of stories featuring your "BeRetro" collection. Can you tell me more about that? What types of pieces are in the collection and what inspires your designs for it?
The "BeRetro" collection includes only handmade wool berets with handmade paintings on them. Each painting is one of a kind, and the drawing never repeats. I create them in dry felting technique. I use floral and plant motifs in these wool paintings. Nature is so inspiring!
Many of your beautiful photos include flowers and botanical inspirations. What is your favorite flower, and why?
My very favorite flowers are Lily of the Valley, Snowdrops, English Rose, Peony, Forget-Me-Not, Lilac, and Cherry/Apple Blossom. I love tender flowers, especially garden and forest ones—their look, scent, color...they are just perfect.
If you could dream up a perfectly cozy and lovely day, what would it be?
There are so many options... One of them is an autumn day in the woods, walking among the colorful trees, gathering berries and mushrooms, and then coming back to our forest house tired but happy, and baking a berry pie, cooking potatoes with gathered mushrooms, reading a book or watching a cozy movie together with my husband. At the end of the day, to be lulled by the melody of the rain outside the window.
Finally, what is your favorite bygone era, and why?
Depending on if we are talking about paintings or literature, it is completely different. I like the fashion and art of the past centuries, their attitude to nobility, morality and valor, their slow living, etc. But I would not want to live in the past, I guess.
Can you guess Rebecca's Signature Scent?
Why, it's Lavender Breeze, of course! ...She says English Fog is a close second ;-)
Thank you so much for chatting with me, Rebecca! For more pictures and interesting posts, please follow Rebecca on Instagram and visit her website!
Read on as I share one of my fall beauty recipes featuring autumn favorites: apple, pumpkin, and sunflower!
In this DIY fall facial, we turn to the nourishing goodness of apples, pumpkins, and sunflowers. Each ingredient is packed with nutrients and will refresh your skin with a bit of gentle exfoliation.
Apples are not only a delicious autumn treat; they also offer lots of beauty benefits! The applesauce in this recipe contains malic acid, making it great for gentle, astringent exfoliation. It's also soothing and nourishing for acne-prone and sensitive skin.
Pumpkin seeds are also amazing for nourishing the skin, thanks to their high levels of vitamin E and zinc, plus omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids. Sunflower seeds are also packed with essential fatty acids and antioxidant vitamins, making them perfect for your autumn beauty recipes. The sunflower seed meal and pumpkin seed meal is perfectly suited for a gentle exfoliating scrub because of its high fat content and soft granules.
My DIY candle-making process is a perfect example of this mingling of past and present. I make all of my candles by hand, much like Victorians would have made their own candles at home. I infuse my candles with my special Victorian-inspired essential oil blends, creating magical scents that dance around my studio as I pour the wax, giving my love and attention to each and every candle along the way.
Like the Victorians, I make my candles using braided cotton wicks. Back then, they chose cotton wicks because they burned cleaner, creating less soot/smoke and a longer-lasting candle. The same is still true now, which is why I followed their example in using cotton wicks for my candles today!
During the 19th century (and even earlier), candles were often made from whale oil. Later in the Victorian period, paraffin eventually became a popular option because it was affordable and easily accessible, which was a priority since candlelight was their primary light source for much of the period!
When it comes to my own candle wax, I take a deliberate departure from the Victorians and opt for an environmentally-friendly (and whale-friendly!!) option. For over a decade, I’ve been using 100% soy wax for my candle-making and I love it! All of the soybeans used in my candle wax are grown in the US and supports American farmers. I also love using soy wax because it burns very cleanly with almost no soot or smoke.
And, after years (yes, years!) of testing different types of wicks and waxes, I’ve found that cotton wicks and soy wax offer the best “scent throw”, which means you can enjoy even more of your favorite Willow & Birch candle scents!
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To add an extra special touch of loveliness to your mailings, try your hand at crafting scented stationery! It's a fun and easy way to carry on a centuries-old tradition, and it's sure to bring a smile to anyone who receives them.
As a little girl, I had a set of stationery that was delicately scented with rose. I can still recall the sweet sense of anticipation as I imagined my pen pal’s delight at not only receiving my warm greetings, but of enjoying the letter's pretty fragrance, as well.
And now, many years later, I still send perfumed parcels every day as I mail out Willow & Birch orders! Many have written to tell me how much they enjoy receiving their orders, which they can often smell from their mailbox! (The ladies at my local post office always enjoy the fragrances, too!)
Of course, many Victorians infused their letters with fragrances, as well. During the 19th century, some ink manufacturers took cues from the perfume industry and began using aromatic hydrosols in their inks to create popular scents of the day such as lavender, orange, and rose. In fact, you can still find scented inks from J. Herbin, where they have been making sealing waxes and inks since the 1700s! Victorians also commonly scented their correspondences by placing perfumed sachets in their stationery boxes (psst...you’ll find a modern-day version of this technique below).
"Yes or No" by Charles West Cope, 1873
The delights of scented stationery got me thinking of ways we can share these fragranced treasures in our modern-day mailings, so I gathered a few fun and easy ways to create your own scented parcels.
For lovely natural fragrance, use the techniques below with your favorite stationery set and my essential oil blends in timeless, Victorian-inspired scents including English Fog, Lavender Breeze, Lemon Zen, and Orange Spice!
Use one (or both!) of these techniques to create beautifully scented cards to delight your loved ones!
I first came upon these matchbooks at a local gift shop called The Sheep’s Nest, owned by my sweet friend Kim Whritner. Her shop is located in the neighboring village of Hobart and was designed as a replica of a centuries-old English cottage!
Inspired by a visit to the Cotswold area of England, Kim and her husband, John, returned to the US inspired to create their own slice of the English countryside, right here in the Catskills of upstate New York.
“We found ourselves taking pictures of various aspects of the homes we came upon, making U-turns so we could go back to photograph an amazing gate or the color of a door. Between John's background in construction and my background in folk art, our creative juices were flowing. By the time we had landed on American soil again, we were ready to build our own cottage.”
…And, oh my goodness, did they ever! Every time I visit The Sheep’s Nest, I truly feel as though I’ve been transported to the lush hillsides and charming vistas of the English countryside. Set against the backdrop of rolling green dotted with puffy sheep, Kim’s cottage and surrounding English garden are always a treat to explore.
Inside the shop, Kim curates her own signature collection of unique gifts,home products, jewelry, stationery, candles, bath and body…and those lovely matchbooks! ;-)
And, in an expression of Kim’s creativity, The Sheep’s Nest also carries her original needle felting artwork, for which she uses wool from her very own sheep!
“We are currently at around 40 sheep with 14 new lambs just born this spring. My favorite part of raising the sheep would have to be lambing season. There is nothing more innocent and sweet! Shetland sheep come in many different colors and patterns, so when a new baby is born it is always a surprise!”
If you ever find yourself in the Catskills, I hope you will stop by The Sheep’s Nest and explore her lovely cottage and her sweet shop…And let me know when you're there! I’ll pop down the road to say hello! ;-)
You can find The Sheep’s Nest at 45 Main Street in Hobart and on Facebook, Instagram, and Etsy.
Today I'm sharing a bit of a "history mystery" from my corner of the world here in the Catskills. In my local town of Delhi, we have an exceptionally charming village square, complete with a Victorian-era courthouse building and a sweet little gazebo.
(Photo courtesy of dcnyhistory.org)
Now, many have said that our picturesque town square was once bestowed the honor of being painted by the famed artist Norman Rockwell. (So much so that I have, on occasion, heard it referred to as "Norman Rockwell Town Square".)
I presumed this to be true and have often proudly proclaimed our village square's fame to visitors. (I suppose this is precisely how rumors are perpetuated!)
I had intended to share the story of how Norman Rockwell came to paint our village square, but upon starting my research I came across the original Saturday Evening Post cover, which states that the painting was actually done by Stevan Dohanos, one of Rockwell's contemporaries. Imagine my surprise!
Our sweet village square graced the cover of The Saturday Evening Post on July 7, 1951. Here is an excerpt from the Post:
Stevan Dohanos did over 120 memorable Post covers, and readers loved this one from 1951. There is a lot going on at this Fourth of July concert in Delhi, New York. Grandparents listening, dogs and kids checking things out, sailors chatting, and tiny tots are having meltdowns. The editors noted, “When Dohanos set up his easel opposite Town Hall, passersby gathered to see why, and the first thing they knew, they were on canvas.”
So while it seems Rockwell did not in fact memorialize the square, it's still quite an honor to see Delhi on the cover of The Saturday Evening Post!
And I feel fortunate to say that the town square has become a part of my own personal history, as well. I've spent countless hours gathered in the square to share Willow & Birch Apothecary with my local friends at farmers markets, summer fairs, and harvest festivals. And the square has long been a favorite meeting spot for catching up with friends over a hot cup of coffee or a yummy ice cream cone.
My husband and I were even married in the gazebo!
And so the mystery remains...who was the first to tell the story of Norman Rockwell as the artist behind our square's claim to fame? And was it a mistaken oversight, or an intentional elaboration? I may just have to start asking around town and see what I can dig up! ;-)
Do you have a local "claim to fame" in your hometown? Or a local "history mystery"? Let me know in the comments! I'd love to hear!