Thursday, February 3, 2011

Alice

“Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop.”  (The King… “Alice in Wonderland”)

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Hello, my friends!

A beautiful day here on the central coast of California…hoping all of my friends are doing well where the weather isn’t being quite so kind!

Alice seems to be everywhere these days, doesn’t she?  Since I was a little girl, I’ve loved this beautiful fantasy…both ridiculous and profound…and I’ve wondered…how many of us have actually read the novel?

I’d revisited the book earlier this last year with my college girl, and as we read the first couple of chapters aloud to each other, we were so struck with the wonderful way the words were put together—so wittily and cleverly done.  We found ourselves laughing out loud and having so much fun with it!

As most of us know, Alice’s adventures were inspired by a real girl, Alice Liddell… 

 

Charles Dodgson (aka Lewis Carroll), a friend of the family’s, made up the stories to entertain the young Alice and her two sisters.  Alice asked him to write them down for her, which he eventually did…resulting in the book as we know it.

Mr. Dodgson was also a photographer, and took all of the photos of young Alice that I’ve included here.

I thought it would be fun to share a couple of my favorite parts from the beginning of the book with you…

“So she was considering in her own mind (as well as she could, for the hot day made her feel very sleepy and stupid), whether the pleasure of making a daisy-chain would be worth the trouble of getting up and picking the daisies, when suddenly a White Rabbit with pink eyes ran close by her.

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“There was nothing so very remarkable in that; nor did Alice think it so very much out of the way to hear the Rabbit say to itself, `Oh dear! Oh dear! I shall be late!' (when she thought it over afterwards, it occurred to her that she ought to have wondered at this, but at the time it all seemed quite natural);

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“…but when the Rabbit actually took a watch out of its waistcoat-pocket, and looked at it, and then hurried on, Alice started to her feet, for it flashed across her mind that she had never before seen a rabbit with either a waistcoat-pocket, or a watch to take out of it, and burning with curiosity, she ran across the field after it, and fortunately was just in time to see it pop down a large rabbit-hole under the hedge.”

And this very well-known part, of course…

“It was all very well to say `Drink me,' but the wise little Alice was not going to do that in a hurry. `No, I'll look first,' she said, `and see whether it's marked "poison" or not'; for she had read several nice little histories about children who had got burnt, and eaten up by wild beasts and other unpleasant things, all because they would not remember the simple rules their friends had taught them:

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“…such as, that a red-hot poker will burn you if you hold it too long; and that if you cut your finger very deeply with a knife, it usually bleeds; and she had never forgotten that, if you drink much from a bottle marked `poison,' it is almost certain to disagree with you, sooner or later.”

“I wonder if I've been changed in the night? Let me think. Was I the same when I got up this morning? I almost think I can remember feeling a little different. But if I'm not the same, the next question is 'Who in the world am I?' Ah, that's the great puzzle!”

A new card made last yesterday…

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…using one of the wonderful vintage Alice images from Crafty Secrets’ “Wonderland Tea” Creative Scraps…

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I added a few of the beautiful stamps from Crafty Secrets’ “Tea with Alice” stamp set…

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…the frame and “TEA”…

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…as well as a small rose stamped over and over again to frame the image…

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A lovely, fat bow made of crinkled vintage seam binding, topped off with an old mother-of-pearl button and a few paper roses…

And a little bit of serendipity for me…while doing a last minute Costco run last night, I found this sitting on a stack of books…

“Alice I Have Been” by Melanie  Benjamin

…it seemed to be the only copy they had…so I figured I HAD to buy it…it was there just for me!  Can’t wait to start reading!

To close up today, I thought I’d leave you with a little advice from  “Alice in Wonderland”…

“There is no use trying,” said Alice; “one can’t believe impossible things.”

“I dare say you haven’t had much practice,” said the Queen.  “When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day.  Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.”

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Believe YOU can do the impossible today!  I’m going to go and work on that  before breakfast…..

See you soon with something new.

 

Julie

All Alice Liddell and vintage book images found online…all else are Crafty Secrets, as watermarked.

30 comments:

  1. Thank our for the trip down Alice lane, I still remember watching the animated version on Disneyland on Sundays, I can't remember if Walt Disney showed it in one part or more but the queen's loud "Off with her head" lingers in my memory as clear today as ever. Mother read us the book.
    I like you new look with the red gingham!

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  2. Very fun post!!! We are Alice fans, too :) Especially Mary Blair's illustrations :) I hope the designs, story and whimsy continue to be very popular for a while ;)

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  3. Hi Julie, what an absolutely darling post!... Love Alice in Wonderland, ever since I was a little girl... and yes, that book was certainly waiting there, just for YOU, so happy you got it! Your posts are also so delightful!... wishing you a beautiful day... xoxo Julie Marie PS Thanks for your comments on my post about blogging... I loved your input!

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  4. I've only ever seen the disney movie, never read the book. now I'm intrigued!

    beautiful card, as always

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  5. Well now I'm going to have to read it. I downloaded it on my Ipad, don't have a hard copy. I've always adored the story, love your copy and the fantastic card you created.
    Ann

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  6. Just dropping in to say Hi and see all your Alice posts here. I love your new blog look too. I'm so darn excited as I'm totally changing my blog layout too, not sure when exactly but it's coming.

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  7. alice was my fave too. when i was little i would imagine i was her.when i was little i had a dress that looked similar to Alice's. I called it my Alice dress and i wore it all the time. that is unitl i got made fun of for wearing it all the time to school. i like your alice card :)
    have a wonderful weekend friend.
    blessings,
    aimee

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  8. WoW! I didn't know all that about "Alice". I have an old copy of "Alice through the looking Glass" that was my Mom's (I think)! Love your "come to tea" card too!

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  9. Oh I just adore your post today...Alice has always been one of my favourites. oxxoxo Happy Friday my friend. xoxo

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  10. Hi Julie! I'm always so taken by your lovely posts! You have such a sweet "voice" when you write. This was very interesting. I've never read the book!...I know...unbelievable isn't it?! I'm going to add it to my list of future reads now...I LOVE your card. So many beautiful elements put together just perfectly!
    Enjoy your weekend! xo Paulette :D

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  11. Julie.
    This is an insanely good post! I loved the history, the book pages and covers and your wonderful artwork. You do such a good job and I always seem to learn something, either in my head or my heart, when I visit!
    Hugs,
    Suz

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  12. I've so enjoyed your lovely Alice post, Julie! In high school, I did my senior research paper on Lewis Carroll, which eventually led me to graduate school to study Children's Literature.

    Wishing you a wonderful day!

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  13. Hi Julie...so enjoyed this post today!! And the Alice book you got at Costco looks so interesting! I will have to check it out!!

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  14. I have to admit Julie, I've never read the book, but shall endeavor to do so. My first introduction was probably the Disney version when growing up. I thoroughly enjoy the most recent release with Johnny Depp, and keep reminding myself to purchase it. Your card is wonderful, as usual. Have a great weekend,

    Meri

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  15. Nice to see the new stamps and scraps are chiming with something you already love! Great card with them, full of your usual lovely details!

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  16. Cute post, I may have to revisit Alice too. Love all of your photos too.

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  17. This was FUN!! I absolutely LOVE the card!! It's just perfect, like everything you touch!

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  18. Hi Julie, we had nice weather today -- baseball this morning, lunch out, a bit of shopping and now relaxing at home. You always have such beautiful cards, images and stories to share. Sending all good wishes your way, Tammy

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  19. As always, reality
    is far more interesting
    than fiction, so it
    was so much fun to know
    that Alice was based on
    a real girl....Loved the
    pictures of her AND your
    lovely creations, Julie!
    There are good quotes from
    AIW, aren't there? Sending
    you frosty hugs from MN!
    xx Suzanne

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  20. Believing you can is the very first requirement. =) So nice of you to stop by and I'm so glad you did... led me to your place and a lovely place it is indeed! A nice place to visit again and again.

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  21. Your posts are always wonderful!! I love how you blend such wonderful stories along with your beautiful work!!

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  22. What a lovely post, enjoyed the photos and learned a little something about "Alice". Your project is beautiful

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  23. My mother read me Alice in Wonderland when I was a little girl. She read to me everynight. I was so lucky! Your creations are adorable. Mimi

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  24. Hi Julie,
    It's pure heaven over here!!! I LOVE your blog and all the Alice in Wonderland beauty!!! And can you believe you found that book?
    It sure makes me think that our guardian angels know what we're
    up to!!!
    XO

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  25. Great Alice post! Love all the images & what a great find!
    Mary

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  26. Julie I LOVE LOVE IT!! Alice in Wonderland was my favourite story when I was a girl, probably because I was called Alice by my parents. I had that very same Golden Book version as well. I just adore what you have done with the Alice in Wonderland stamps. You are a creative genius! Love you loads! xxoo

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  27. I first read this book in college for a Children's Literature class. The writing is so clever, isn't it?! Lovely post XOL

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  28. I am so thankful that you commented and entered my Valentine give-away, because now I have found you and your wonderful blog! Which I am now following! Delightful!!!

    ~ Violet

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  29. Hi Julie, this was such an adorable post... So glad you found the book... it was meant just for you! Your creations are beautiful as always!!!
    Blessings~~~ Daphne

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  30. Oh most gorgeous Julie! I so love this style....I have many different styles of blogs and art that I just admire. Your visit today was a sweet surprise, and LET LOVE RULE, n'est-ce pas? Enjoy all the things that make you happy, and do all the things that make other people feel like a million! Anita

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