Friday, April 12, 2013

Titanic Grandeur

It is Titanic Week here at my house. We start the week on the 10th because that is when the passengers actually boarded the ship. And this year the 10th happens to fall on a Wednesday just like it did in 1912. During this time we pretend we are on board the Titanic. I say we, but  really it's only me doing the pretending!


For the occasion I went around the house gathering things for vignettes and taking pictures of pretty things that reminded me of the Titanic.

I added one of my antique postcards to this vignette because I think the sailor boy is such a cutie and I needed to photograph him somewhere, so why not in front of the Titanic. *winks* The picture is a reproduction tin sign of the Titanic and the ship below and in front of the postcard is a toy of my son's, when a lever is pushed back and the boat is set in water, it slowly breaks into and sinks to the bottom in two pieces, just like the real ship did.


And here's another postcard of this beauty boarding a steamer. She even looks like she's from Ireland with that pretty red hair, don't you think?


Adorning the interior surfaces of the Titanic were probably beautiful gilt decorations similar to the ones below. It is a shot of the front of my antique china cabinet, I thought it looked Edwardian and fitting for this post.


I had to "gussie up" the dining room a bit to get us in the mood so I brought in a framed Titanic picture that used to hang in my son's bedroom and hung it up. I had painted the frame the same elegant colors as the Titanic - black, white and gold...


and I brought in my cherub urn from the parlor because it reminds me of the lamp that sits on the newel post of the Grand Staircase on the Titanic...


with its sweet little face.


I brought out this hat because I think it looks a bit Edwardian...


and I brought out these gloves for an "afternoon tea" vignette. The poor teacup used to have its saucer until I accidentally broke it! I bought it on our first visit to the Traveling Titanic Exhibit. It is a reproduction teacup from 2nd class. A good friend of mine gave me the brooch, it isn't antique but I think it looks like it is.


And now for the dining room table! On our second and third visits to the Traveling Titanic Exhibit I bought 4 reproduction 1st class dinner plates and 4 rimmed soup bowls for our table and tried to recreate the table setting from James Cameron's Titanic movie...


and after finding tealight lamps at a flea market over the summer, this is what my table setting looks like...


I didn't want to spend any money so I did not buy any fresh flowers like the one's shown on the table in the movie, I just used these faux roses I already had.


The plates are actually 1st class luncheon plates, the 1st class dinner plates were dark blue and white with some gold, very beautiful and elegant but I knew they wouldn't look so good with my red floral wallpaper.


Please know that although I am having fun decorating for the week and dining in "Titanic style" I have not forgotten the reality and the tragedy of the Titanic hitting that iceberg at 11:40 p.m. on April 14th, 1912.
Or the final minutes of  April 15 when at 2:20 a.m. ...


the Titanic disappeared into the dark Atlantic Ocean. It took only 2 hours and 40 minutes but for those poor souls on board that no doubt must have been the most terrifying 2 hours and 40 minutes of their lives.

Because of all the movies that have been made it is so easy for us to think of it as just that...a movie and we forget that this tragedy really did occur. There were 2,208 passengers aboard that ship, and out of those, 1,496 did not survive. They came from all walks of life. Whether they had only a penny to their name or a million dollars to their name, one thing was for certain, at that fateful hour they all had one thing in common, the will to survive. And unfortunately, many did not survive due to the lack of lifeboats and/or the lack of status. The majority of those who perished were the ship's crew and 3rd class passengers.

Let us take a moment and remember those 1,496 passengers who lost their lives on April 15, 1912.


Thank you for visiting and have a blessed week.

The Lord bless you and keep you.
May his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
and may the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.
Numbers 7:24-26

I am joining the following parties, I hope you will join us too.

SHOW AND TELL FRIDAY with Cindy
FEATHERED NEST FRIDAY with Courtney
SHARE YOUR CUP THURSDAY with Jann
HOME AND GARDEN THURSDAY with Kathy



27 comments:

  1. Vedere il tuo post è stato emozionante!Bellissimi oggetti e atmosfere!Però che tristezza pensare a quello che hanno passato quelle povere persone a bordo!Triste destino!Buon fine settimana!Rosetta

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  2. Wow, Gina B - - just WoW!"
    You did a remarkable job in this Titanic transformation. I am going to share your link with a good friend of mine - a Titanic historian, Lynn Anderson - who went to a "Last Night on the Titanic" gathering last night. I think she will also be impressed with what you did.
    Congratulations on doing such a fine job in bringing the past to life.
    By the way, here is a link to a Titanic posting that I wrote last year about when we visited the exhibit at the Henry Ford Museum on the 100th anniversary of the great ship striking the iceburg: http://passionforthepast.blogspot.com/2012/04/day-steeped-in-history.html)

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  3. I just can't imagine being on a ship like that and knowing I was going down in icy cold water. I enjoyed reading your post and visited an exhibit here at the Science Museum years back as they recreated the levels of the ship and served food that would have been enjoyed by different classes. I enjoyed the food eaten by the steerage more, it was cabbage and corned beef with cheese and some other goodies I didn't get to taste.
    In the end it didn't matter the amount of money or what they had, they were all the same. I enjoyed your post very much.

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  4. Gina, you have done such a wonderful job of recreating the time of the Titanic. It started out to be a celebration and I'm sure there was a great one before the tragic part of it happened. To remember it we have to realize the grandeur of that time along with the horror those passengers must have felt at the end. You've done a great job of both, and your props are all so lovely..Hope you are having a good weekend..Judy

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  5. What a lovely job you did putting together the feel of being on such a grand ship! Everything is just wonderful!

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  6. Hi Gina,
    What a lovely job you have done with your Titanic tablescape! I really love that you were able to acquire some china. I have never been to an exhibit of any kind but I do know that there is an exhibit in Halifax which is about a three hour drive from here. Hundreds were buried in Halifax and someday I hope to visit there. I think it's important to remember Titanic and her passengers give thanks for the blessings we enjoy today. Thank you for sharing this at my little Cottage and have a beautiful day.

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  7. Your posting about the Titanic is excellent. I always think of the sad aspects of the event as my Grandma and Aunts narrowly missed the passage on the Titanic due to the delay in sailing because of the workers being diverted due to the collision of another ship. They travelled on another ship in March instead.

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  8. What a beautiful post honoring the Titanic! Where to start...your antique cupboard picture is gorgeous...would love to see the whole cabinet, it must be amazing! Your dishes are beautiful and the similarities between the two table settings, especially with the lighting is just amazing! Everything is so beautiful!
    Thanks so much for sharing at Amaze Me Monday!!!
    Blessings,
    Cindy

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  9. Wonderful post Gina! Last year I did a Titanic remembrance; this year I watched the specials on Nat Geo once again. I too was awed at the Titanic exhibit (went twice in two different cities). I also recognize your model - I finished mine last year! Well done on recreating the dining table and all the other artifacts - love the cherub! I remember seeing it at the exhibit. Truly moving. Here is my post, in case you want to read it:

    http://www.victorianstudio.com/2012/04/commemorating-titanic.html

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  10. I love Titanic tea ideas; I did last year a post for tea in honor of the Titanic, all with English things..I should have remembered to make one now. Thank you so much for your kind visit, I so appreciate it! I would love to have a reproduction of the Titanic china, it's so special. Big hugs,
    FABBY

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  11. I think you captured the elegance and glamour of the Edwardian era perfectly. Such lovely things. I have to say, those are very realistic roses!

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  12. Oh, wow -- you certainly went all out! I saw some artifacts from the Titanic at an exhibit at the children's museum a few years back. I think they're burned into my memory. Along with that chunk of ice they had you put your hand again to demonstrate how cold the water was.

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  13. Good afternoon, Gina. What a wonderful tradition to celebrate the Titanic on it's anniversary week. I would love to join you on the reproduction voyage because you have made everything so elegant and true to the period. If you don't mind, I'll depart before the ship meets the iceberg.

    I did a post last year in honor of the 100th anniversary. If you have a minute, you may want to stop over and read the story at this link.

    http://dollinthelookingglass.blogspot.com/2012/04/commemorating-titanic.html

    Debra

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  14. Hi Gina,

    It was so great to hear from you. I thank you for all the kind words about my blog.
    I love your blog! you have captured perfectly a fav era of mine! Will love visiting here...
    Karen
    your new follower

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  15. You did a fantastic job with the table re-creation. The Titanic continues to inspire and intrigue people more than 100 years after it's sinking. It is a fascinating story. It's been years since I've seen the movie, and now I want to see it again, after reading your post!

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  16. Wow-what a wonderful tribute!
    Love how you do a titanic "week" and all the details make it really special-
    Cheers!

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  17. Gina,
    What a beautiful post!! Thanks so much for stopping by and i too love to spray paint thing gold!! LOL!
    I don't know if you ever saw this post but here is a link to a Titanic Tea that I attended two years ago... I thought you may like it...
    http://debbie-dabble.blogspot.com/2011/04/titantic-tea-at-stegmaier-mansion-and.html

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  18. Hi Gina,
    You have written a wonderful tribute to Titanic and set a lovely re-creation with your tablescape. I love your china! Thank you for sharing at my HOME and have a splendid weekend.

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  19. This is a fabulous post, Gina. I love your imagination! Beautiful things you put together, making it look real. Love the tablescape too.....Christine

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  20. Great post, Gina. You gave us a real feel for the era and what the glory days of the short lived Titanic must have been like. The table is lovely.
    Hugs,
    Patti

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  21. What a lovely post Gina. You've capture the elegance and grandeur of the Titanic era beautifully. Thank you for sharing.

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  22. So beautiful. I love a themed table, and all the details you've put into yours are simply perfect. You have given me a great idea for our daughter's wedding with the tea light lamps.
    I enjoyed visiting with you, Gina. Stopped by via SYC.

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  23. Oh, I almost forgot, thank you for the blessing...one of my favorite verses. Same to you.

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  24. I also remember the Titanic every year...but didn't have time with some committments, so you have filled that void. Thanks so much for the wonderful post!
    Ruth

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  25. The sinking of the Titanic truly was a horrific tragedy! You did an amazing job with all of your displays. What a tribute to those who lost their lives. Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

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  26. Hi! Just popping back to let you know this post is my pick of the week from last Thursdays SYC. It's always a pleasure to visit you.
    ( I did use a small teaser pic from your site. If you object let me know and I'll remove the feature. )

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