Thursday, June 28, 2012

Frozen Charlotte or a Dead Person Round my Neck?

A bit random today...

I was feeling really good about what I was wearing...'til I got to class -

Fishermans Frock prototype, with recent oppy brown cardy, new boots 
and for the first time the Frozen Charlotte pendant I'd received from my friend Rebecca.

Even though I have over the years found a couple of similar porcelain dolls in Op Shops
I'd never known they had an actual name -
Reb thought they were used in Christmas Puddings as gifts for children
back in the days when childrens novelty items were made of porcelain.


I got lots of comments on the Frock (the pattern is coming promise!)
however no one offered any feed back on the necklace....
which I found strange,
being that it's not often you see someone wearing a porcelain doll round their neck

and even though I know when comments regarding apparal &/or appearance aren't volunteered
it's because of negative reasons and it's best not to go poking around
this still didn't stop me from asking what everyone thought of my Frozen Charlotte

up until then I'd seen her as a quirky old doll
made even quirkier by me wearing her around my neck

that was until I got the comment I really didn't need to hear

"she looks like a dead person"

turns out there was an actual Charlotte who froze to death in the snow over a hundred years ago
the person that made the comment didn't know that 
I googled Frozen Charlotte as soon as I got home

I still see her as a quirky old doll only now she's even more special because her name has meaning, 

Charlotte has a story
and I love it when a name has a story
I love it when old things survive with their history intact because it gives them meaning & purpose.

Now though, as much as I love her, I'm nervous about wearing her
- would you be offended or uncomfortable in the company of someone wearing a porcelain doll round their neck
....has something similar ever happened to you?

 OP Shop Swap Up-Date
Tomorrow is posting day!

5 comments:

  1. i love it...dead or alive.....you are giving it some life.....

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  2. I love it too and I would wear something like that.
    I have a girl friend who plucks the eye balls out of dolls and turns them into the most amazing pieces of wearbale art.
    If you love something then you feel comfortable wearing it and to hell with waht others think
    Looking fwd to the new pattern

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  3. I would wear it, she is quirky and different. If you love to wear something it shouldn't matter what others may think, you wear it because you like it. xx

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  4. She's quite sweet Jody. I'd wear it too, but probably no bigger than yours is. I'd probably want to 'dress' her up with some lovely glass dangley beads or similar from the jump ring or cord, knowing me! :)
    I actually bought some frozen Charlotte heads to use in mixed media or altered art pieces. Not sure how yet though! x

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  5. Hey Jody! I love her and in fact I have made quite a few pieces with frozen charlottes..... I call them Lotta dolls in reference to my name www.lotta.com.au

    Would love for you to check it out - think you'd appreciate the REcycling aspect x

    Charlotte

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Come in & take the weight off.....jug's on.....sorry about the mess ..... I like your hair - where'd ya get your shoes!