Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Keeping Track of the Little Things


First Little Thing: I'm back from the Teen Book Festival in Rochester, NY...and it was truly an amazing event. Picture 2500 or so book-crazy teens...yeah! I gave three workshops with Alisa Libby (that's us at right) on historical fiction for teens...and we didn't get a single repeat question. Those were some seriously smart kids, and it was an honor to meet them. As well as fun!

Love the cake they served us at dinner!

Second Little Thing: Don't forget that on June 8 we'll be opening our discussion of Georgette Heyer's Cotillion. Have you found a copy and plunged into Kitty's and Freddy's London escapades yet? I'm very much looking forward to this Young Bluestockings meeting!

Third Little Thing: Regina and I have been tossing around the idea of having a future Young Bluestockings meeting center on a film instead of a book, particularly one of the recent releases set in the 19th century like Bright Star or The Young Victoria. Any thoughts? Is this something you might enjoy?


Fourth Little Thing: Having to keep track of little things is not a modern phenomenon. The young (and not so young) ladies of the 19th century, who didn't always have pockets in their dresses, had a delightfully practical and decorative way of keeping at hand all the little things one might need over the course of the day, like a notepad and pencil, or scissors, or needles, or stamps, or penknife, or pillbox, or smelling salts, or buttonhook, or thimble-case, or keys, or...well, you get my drift. It was called a chatelaine.

The section at top contained either a pin or a clip so that the chatelaine could be pinned to a dress or clipped onto a belt, and then whatever little tools were preferred could be suspended from the multiple chains. Chatelaines could be workmanlike--a pair of scissors and a needlecase hung from a ribbon--or works of jeweler's art
like these.

Fifth Little Thing: Well, it isn't at all little...in fact, it's pretty big...but you'll have to wait until Regina tells you about it later this week because (a) I'm a dreadful tease and (b) I'm very happy about it.

How do you keep track of the little things in your life?

8 comments:

ChaChaneen said...

Well look how pretty you are Marissa! And look at that yummy cake, very fun indeed!

I'm reading along with ya and would definitely be interested in a movie discussion ~ The Young Victoria sounds like fun!

Looking forward to the big reveal too!

Rachel said...

Sounds like you had lots of fun at the festival ;)

Hmmm....how about Bright Star? I have it, but haven't watched it yet. Sad, I know...I've been busy reading and stitching.

I love your pic of a chatelaine. Sadly, I have nothing so impressive to keep track of things! LOL I use a pencil pouch to hold my threads and embroidery scissors. (Welcome to the 21st century....not very elegant!)

Can't wait to hear the news!!!

Marissa Doyle said...

I love the chatelaines and wish I had one too...except I suspect they work better with skirts than with jeans. :)

Melanie said...

So cool you got to meet Alisa Libby. I recently read The King's Rose, and I loved it.

I put a hold on Cotillion a few days ago at my library, so I'm hoping I'll get it in time for the chat.

A movie discussion would be great! I recently saw Bright Star, and I'm planning on getting a copy of The Young Victoria, so either of those would work for me.

So excited for the big reveal. Teaser! :)

Dara said...

Oooh I would love to talk about The Young Victoria. I've seriously watched that movie once a week since I've gotten it :) I know there are some inaccuracies but I think they did a marvelous job with it.

And the music, it never fails to move me to tears every time.

I wouldn't mind discussing Bright Star too--I think I bawled harder in that movie than any movie I've seen recently.

QNPoohBear said...

Glad you had fun. That cake looks delicious.

Keeping track of all my little stuff is not one of my strong points. I have piles and boxes full of stuff!

I've seen Bright Star and Young Victoria and enjoyed them both. I'm currently watching Lark Rise to Candleford thanks to the post here about Flora Thompson. It's very well done. The Young Bluestockings might enjoy discussing it.

Michaela MacColl said...

Marissa --

do you have a date when chatelaines came into use? I had one in my novel and the copy editor challenged the dating!

I'm always up for talking about a movie!

Sarah said...

How about Pride and Prejudice with Keira Knightley? I'd love to talk about THAT movie...haha!