Poetry Society and More

Poetry Society seams as something from past century, perhaps Victorian era's culture. But in reality, there are seven years of Poetry Society outreach activities in a small size technical school still going strong. Every year we discovering new talents and every years there are new participants that are brave enough to share their private thought and let us in to read their rhymes and to listen to their dreams and hopes. The secret is that everybody can be a member of the Poetry Society. Paper and pen - all you need to explore and discover new possibilities in self-expressions. In reality, a historic document, a current moment, a photo, an audio recording or a video clip provides literary food for creativity. And in the end, it is a pleasure to collect, preserve and acknowledge the "contesters"' work because the Poetry Society is not dead.

Donate Your Old Race T-Shirts

The Bradenton Runners Club of Florida donates race T-shirts to Hope Family Services, a local organization that provides shelter for victims of domestic violence. Many individuals enter the shelter with nothing more than the cloths they are wearing.

Chicagoland Head-Huggers is one of the not-for-profit organization founded by a breast cancer survivor that accepts donations of unused race T-shirts and crafts them into scarves for cancer patients. The soft, 100 percent cotton shirts make a perfect coverings for the bald heads of patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Leaves and Men

As is the generation of leaves, so too of men:
At one time the wind shakes the leaves to the ground,
but the flourishing woods
Gives birth, and the reason of spring comes into existence
So it is of the generations of men, which alternately
come forth and pass away.

(Homer, Iliad)

Red Berries or Fruits and Literature

Why red strawberries were used in the handkerchief's decorative ornamentation? It has been suggested that Elizabethan painters subscribed to the idea that, since strawberries are red berries or fruits, they epitomize pleasure-seeking and sexual desire.
No wonder that that the white silk handkerchief in Shakespeare's "Othello, The Moore of Venice," was spotted with red strawberries that were hand stitched with treads that has been dyed with blood from "maiden hearts' - the virgin's blood!
The handkerchief, a small fashion accessory item, is the most dominated symbol that circulates throughout the play. A small object cares out such an enormous weight in the story of small incidents as a symbol of evidence and proofs of love and betrayal.

Lily of the Valley

The Lily of the valley flowers are especially popular in France and are found as a wild woodland plant throughout Europe. They were not considered a garden plant until the 16th century. Since Renaissance period, May Lily has been considered to bring good luck.
Because of the beauty of the flower, it delicate sweet flagrance, and rich history of traditions, there are wide variety of style of Lily of the valley handkerchiefs. Often they will be trimmed with lace. There are many embroidered designs, both with with and colored embroidery.
Sometimes, the the lily spray will be incorporated with a pair of wedding rings. The printed Lily of the valley handkerchiefs are most striking and a red one would be the hardest to find. Blue, of course, is very popular due to ladies wanting of "something blue" for their wedding day.

Poem by Delmira Agustini (1886-1914)

"Debout sur mon orgueil je veux montrer au soil
L'envers de mon manteau endeuille de tes charmes,
Son moucoir infini, son mouchoir et noir,
Trait a trait, doucement, boira toutes mes larmes."

Debout Sur Mon Orgueil Je Veux Montrer Au Soir by Delmira Agustini (1886-1914)

Dear Fabric Lovers,

The square piece of fabric is a long-time companion of ladies and gentlemen. It always was a tool, merely, of mingling of hearts and minds that clearly communicated its image and action, or even a feeling in a poetic way that resonates on a deeper level. Playful and vivid, and yet practical object with lace or without them continues to fascinate as a golden standard of the fashion accessory, a firm representative of culture, tradition, and history itself. Simple, and yet profound. Specific in time and place, yet universal in its emotional contest of tears, and in its themes of respect for human nature to sweat, and, even, dramatized with stains of blood.

Please embrace the new book entitle "Diary of the Handkerchief" by Ida Tomshinsky,
ISBN 978-1-4691-8006-9 Order Today!
To order call 888-795-4274 ext. 7879, order online at www.xlibris.com

Enjoy the reading!

New book

The new book "Diary of the Handkerchief" by Ida Tomshinsky, ISBN 978-1-4691-8006-9, is ready and available in the local bookstores and online.
"The book is anything, but short or abstract. It is completed and fascinating and readable...
great story of art and history."
The author stood out as "a Fashion Librarian and a Researcher, a Fashion Historian and a Writer, and a Person who dearly cares about History of Fashion Accessories."
As any diary or journal it is motivational, inspirational, and educational. There are Note spaces for personal thoughts and drawings. Great addition to any Library Collection!

"Horses at Midnight without a Moon" by Jack Gilbert

Our heart wanders lost in the dark woods.
Our dream wrestles in the castle of doubt.
But ther's music in us. Hope is pushed down
but the angel flies up again taking us with her.
The summer morning begin inch by inch
while we sleep, and walk with us later
as long-legged beauty through
the dirty streets. It is no surprise
that danger and suffering surround us.
What astonishes is the singing.
We know the horses are there in the dark
meadow because we can smell them,
can hear them breathing.
Our spirit persists like a man struggling
through the frozen valley
who suddenly smells flowers
and realizes the snow is melting
out of sight on top of the mountain,
knows that spring has begun.
"Houses Midnight without a Moon" by Jack Gilbert,
Copyright 2012. From Collected Poems, published by Alfred A. Knopf

Da Vinci and Drafting and Design Program

When Da Vinci drafted a flying machine in Italy in the late 1400s people were applied. "Who needs this?" - people asked. Not until after 1903 in the United States, when Orville and Wilbur Wright conducted the first flight, did people see the possibilities. It was a mechanical drafter, Octave Chanute, who offered biplane glider designs to the Wright brothers. Especially important to Chanute's design was the curved top of the biplane's wings, which allowed the plane to achieve flying; a design that proved revolutionary.
In today's world of technology, drafters interpret the work of engineers every day to give form to several important tools, objects and components in manufacturing and construction.

"Diary of the Handkerchief" by Ida Tomshinsky

From the author on the new book entitled "Diary of the Handkerchief" within the History of Fashion Accessories Series -

"The square piece of fabric is a long-time companion f ladies and gentlemen. It always was a tool, merely, of mingling of hearts and minds that clearly communicated its image and action , or even a feeling in a poetic way that resonated on a deeper level. Playful and vivid, and yet practical object with lace or without them continues to fascinate as a golden standard of the fashion accessory, a firm representative of culture, tradition, and history itself. Simple, and yet profound. Specific in time and place, yet universal in its emotional content of tears, and in its themes of respect for human nature to sweat, and, even, dramatized with stains of blood."