Baby Gifts - A Rag Quilt Blanket

Baby Gifts - A Rag Quilt Blanket

Rag Quilt Detail

Blanket Quilt Detail

Rag Quilt

Baby Blanket

Blanket Detail

The rag quilt blanket was a beautiful gift to celebrate the coming of a new baby.  I have had a fondness for beautiful and handcrafted textiles as far back as I can remember - perhaps the source of that love extends all the way back to the baby quilt featured in today's post.  These soft and colorful coverings are real decorative treasures created from textile scraps to commemorate with love the momentous event of a new child's birth.

Christening Favors - Celebrating the Blessing

Christening Favors - Celebrating the Blessing

Angel

Unicorn and Teddy Bear

Teddy Bear

Valentine Wedding Hearts

Teddy

Some say the Greek wedding is the important event; but competing for the title of over the top celebrations is the christening for a new baby.  I was privileged to be a guest at both of these ceremonies.  The pomp and circumstance and beauty of these events is reflected even in the quality of mementos given to departing guests.  These items often are included in the table setting before they are given to guests. Here in this post is a sampling reflecting the importance of these two life events - birth and marriage.

Wedding Favors - Bubbles in a Church

Wedding Favors - Bubbles in a Church

These bubbles in a small bottle shaped like a church are a favorite memento received at the end of a very special couple's wedding.  It seems that the lightness and beauty of bubbles in a summer breeze are a proper reflection of a couple's precious love.  Like doves and rice and flower petals, bubbles in a tiny bottle form a recognition of the hopes and dreams for the newly wedded partners.  The bubbles seem to say dream on and hold on to the good times. I wish much happiness both to the newlyweds and to the long time married with this post. May your love be forever.

The Wedding Present - Japanese Woodcut Print

The Wedding Present - Japanese Woodcut Print

Japanese Woodcut Print

This exotic gift arrived by mail to celebrate a wedding in my family.  It shows a scene of Japanese women wearing kimonos in colors of red and blue and depicted in graceful poses.  A fitting tribute to wedding nuptials it graces the walls of a home with beauty.

Childhood Toys - Wooden Rocking Horse

Childhood Toys - Wooden Rocking Horse

Rocking Horse

Rocking Horse on Side

This small wooden and handmade rocking horse serves as a reminder of the simple delights of a childhood toy.  It is treasured by the family member who bought it for the enjoyment of a first grandchild.  A loving memento of the past it is treasured.

Needlepoint Autobiography

Needlepoint Autobiography

Sometimes a needlepoint work has great personal significance.  Perhaps the needlepoint was worked without a pattern and developed instead from creativity and memories.  In this way, the piece featured in today's post was created with details of a personal history.  It s a bright and colorful autobiography.

Indian Textiles - Turquoise and Tangerine Brocade Rug

Indian Textiles - Turquoise and Tangerine Brocade Rug

This brocaded rug was purchased by me when traveling in India. The blue and orange colors and flower pattern were very appealing and still to this day refresh the eye when viewed and admired.  Take a look and see if you find the rug inspiring too.

Rug

Flower Detail

Border Detail

Large Flower Detail

Travel Log Photo 12 - China circa 1979 - Great Wall Window View

Travel Log Photo 12  -  China circa 1979   -   Great Wall Window View

Travel Log Photo 11 - China circa 1979 - Great Wall - Section Before Reconstruction

Travel Log Photo 11  -  China circa 1979  -  Great Wall - Section Before Reconstruction 

Travel Log Photo 10 - China circa 1979 - Leaning Pagoda Tower

Travel Log Photo 10  -  China circa 1979  -  Leaning Pagoda Tower

China Leaning Tower

Chinese Watercolor Brush Painting - Birds and Bamboo

Chinese Watercolor Brush Painting - Birds and Bamboo

Scroll Painting

Birds and Bamboo

The photographs show a painting of two birds in a setting of tall bamboo.  The bamboo is symbolic of strength and flexibility, and the birds appear as two friends chatting.  This classic themed Chinese brush painting was a gift from a friend returning to the states after a stay teaching in Taiwan.  It is displayed as a symbol of a longstanding bond between two good friends.

African Fertility Doll Statue - Travel Memento

African Fertility Doll Statue - Travel Memento

African Doll

Representations of fertility are fairly common artifacts. This African symbol was acquired by me during my travel in Africa.  It was purchased at the same time as the Mende mask, which highlighted African beauty and that I featured in an earlier post.  The history of fertility dolls and statutes stretches far back in the history of man.

See a famous ancient artifact that may also be a fertility symbol at this link to PBS http://www.pbs.org/howartmadetheworld/episodes/human/venus/ and at this art history link http://www.asu.edu/cfa/wwwcourses/art/SOACore/Willendorf_portfolio.htm.

Pottery with Single Chinese Character - Surname

Pottery with Single Chinese Character - Surname

This pottery piece decorated with a single Chinese character was gifted to me by a very long time friend.  It is special because it contains a character used to represent my last name in Chinese. The pottery style and coloring makes the pot resemble an artifact but to me it is a memento of friendship.

Surname

Pottery

Angled Pottery

Travel Log Photo 9 - Japan circa 1978 - Kyoto Street Parade (Participants At Rest)

Travel Log Photo 9 - Japan circa 1978 - Kyoto Street Parade (Participants At Rest)

Travel Log Photo 8 - Japan circa 1978 - Kyoto Street Parade (Geisha)

Travel Log Photo 8  -  Japan circa 1978  -  Kyoto Street Parade (Geisha)

Smithsonian Exhibition - Historical Souvenirs

Smithsonian Exhibition - Historical Souvenirs

Fruit rainbow

The Smithsonian has opened an exhibit cataloging and displaying objects -relics- with historical and personal significance.  The exhibit is open through 2014 and looks to please fans interested in mementos and artifacts.  For a description of what is featured in the exhibition see http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2013/08/08/garden/20130808-QNA.html?_r=0#1  and http://newsdesk.si.edu/releases/smithsonian-exhibition-display-relics-keepsakes-and-curios and http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/14/souvenir-nation-smithsonian_n_3721291.html.

Your Favorite Mementos - Invitation to Guest Post

Your Favorite Mementos  -  Invitation to Guest Post

Invitation

Dear readers, For several months I have blogged sharing with you selections from my mementos and collected artifacts.  Now I am inviting you during the upcoming months to join with me in sharing some of your own favorite mementos.  Please post in the comments or email to me at Mementosandartifacts@gmail.com your photographs of mementos appropriate to the upcoming fall and winter months.  If you submit your photograph with permission for me to post it,  I may highlight your memento in the blog.  I will select for guest posts those photographs submitted that fit with the blog theme of showcasing objects with cultural and personal significance.  Show your creativity or love of nature and family for September and October.  In November honor Veteran's day and Thanksgiving time. Finally, celebrate the spiritual in your mementos for  December.  I also will continue to post in these months focusing a bit more on the travel log with photographs from my travels.  Please only submit, or post in the comments, objects owned and photographed by you unless you have permission from an owner to share an object.  Please specify any limitations on reproduction or publishing of your photograph other than in this blog.  Thanks ahead of time for the opportunity to learn about your very special and treasured collections of mementos and artifacts. Yours, Cynthia G