Hello sweet friends! I am so happy to be joining the Winter Botanicals and Gardens Blog Hop hosted by my dear friend Amber of Follow The Yellow Brick Home. If you are coming from Botanic Bleu may I say “Welcome, I am so glad you are here!” Judith has such a beautiful garden that I have been lucky to view in person. Today I will be sharing a Victorian Inspired Botanical Themed Hutch.
Victorian Inspired Botanical Themed Hutch
When dear Amber contacted me about participating I told her that the timing could not be more perfect!
I have been invited by the University of North Texas (UNT) to give a lecture/presentation on February 4th to art students who are currently taking a course on the History and Theory of Craft. As this is a very wide and varied topic the University and I narrowed the timeline down to the Victoria Era focusing on the popular Botany Craze that swept through England. (The craze also occurred in the United States, but my focus is on England.)
Due to the current conditions in Texas, my presentation will be given to the students via a Zoom conference call. So I needed to create a Victorian Inspired Botanical backdrop.
Some of you may remember the research that I had done in 2017 on A Cabinet of Curiosities.
The research resulted in creating A Spring Themed Cabinet of Curiosities.
As well as a Late Summer edition.
While these posts were TREMENDOUSLY popular I did not revisit the series, until now.
Channeling My Inner Victorian
It was such fun creating a themed zoom backdrop.
I began by adding in some large faux botanicals in white pots.
Tools for the hobby were layered in.
They include:
- Rolls of twine for tying specimens.
- Books for research and journals.
- Small magnifying lenses (often called loupes)
- A wooden box (known as a vasculum) to temporarily store collected plants. This has been in Mr. Decor’s family for many years.
As the presentation was geared to art students I also decorated the hutch with some art selections. There are some major works by botanical artists as well as members of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. They include William Holman Hunt’s The Hireling Shepherd, circa 1851.
I was so happy that I did not have to buy anything new but just shopped my home.
A Sporting Chance
I know many of you may be wondering if I will be giving the presentation in costume. Smile. You know me well. I can’t pass by such a fun opportunity. After all, the Victorian’s dressed for every occasion.
You can look for my sassy suit reveal in an upcoming post.
Up next in the hop is The Tattered Pew. Kelly has such amazing style!
Laura
For more beautiful botanical and garden-themed ideas please visit the links below.
What a lovely backdrop you’ve created, Laura. The students will be so pleased.
How fun, You will do such a great job and what an amazing experience. I love your darling cabinet. It’s such a fun color in and of itself and you have filled it with wonderful treasures.
This is so interesting! In my stint as a teacher at a Waldof school, I learned a lot about wax modeling of flowers which was a very popular craft in the Victorian era. The flowers were often displayed in glass cloches to retard dust. Wedding headpieces, made of wax orange blossoms and similar white flowers were also very popular. I hope your classes go well and I look forward to seeing your new ensemble.
Laura your hutch is beautiful! I love all the pretty botanicals you added and that hutch color is so fun! Your students will love it! xoxo
I just love the beautiful botanicals that you added Laura. Your hutch is just gorgeous. Your students will absolutely love it.
Laura, this brought an immediate smile! Your decor is so Spring-like and makes me impatient for it to get here!
Can’t wait to see the suit you will wear in your Zoom presentation!
~ carol
What a lovely backdrop for your presentation, Laura! Blessings, Cecilia @My Thrift Store Addiction
Laura what an amazing opportunity to share your wisdom! I love the background you have created. The colors speak to me!
What fun, Laura! I wish you could record your lecture and share it on your youtube page! I’d love to see ut,
Your cabinet makes me smile. I love how carefully you curated the items within. I think the art adds a nice touch and much beauty while the other pieces are so interesting. Can’t wait to hear how it goes!
You always rise to the task with every assignment. Love your beautiful vignettes and your botanical prints. So pretty
Love your Victorian botanical inspired hutch and it looks like you had so much fun creating the look. I can’t wait to see your sassy suit reveal. The students will love it!
Oh how fun this is! I am a Victorian at heart so I love seeing all of these lovely romantic and botanical touches. The little tools are amazing and I love artwork you chose as well.
Perfect timing for this hop! Thanks so much for joining!
Laura I love your Victorian botanical hutch as well as all the lovely inspiration for it! I keep going through your post and finding new things to love.
I’m totally in love with your amazing hutch and (and the color) each time I see it I’m amazed at how you transform it and work it to reflect each season. Your zoom presentation will be so fun and I love your ideas. That photograph of the young woman is beyond wonderful! Hope things go well and be sure and let us know how it turns out and your Victorian dress you’ll be wearing. Have fun!
What an honor to be asked to do a presentation! The hutch will make a perfect background. And I can’t wait to see what you will be wearing!
I love how your hutch is styled Laura. And how nice to just shop your home! The weather man says we are finally getting a winter storm next week. I hope we get some snow here. We were left off the list last go around and I was bummed about it! Happy Monday
I love your hutch! I re-decorate my hutch often, you have given me some ideas! I’ve checked out several of your links, great job!
This link shows some of my different looks (when you scroll to the bottom) http://jeanneselep.blogspot.com/2010/10/furniture-treasure-2010.html