Victorian Handkerchief Lady created by Pamela Vogan Lynch.
Victorian Handkerchief Lady created by Pamela Vogan Lynch.
Victorian Handkerchief Lady created by Pamela Vogan Lynch.

(Oneida, NY – Jan. 2016) To celebrate Valentine’s Day, the Madison County Historical Society will hold a Heritage Handicraft Valentine Workshop for adults and children aged 10 years and up from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday Feb. 13.  Participants will be creating their very own Victorian Handkerchief Lady.

Handkerchiefs were not only popular fashion accessories for women during the mid-late nineteenth century, but they were also used to express one’s sentiments towards another. For example, brushing a handkerchief across one’s cheek meant “I love you,” while twisting it in one’s right hand meant “I love another.”

Combining the language of handkerchiefs and Victorian women‘s enjoyment of creating all sorts of decorative projects, participants will create a Victorian Handkerchief Valentine. Modern materials and reproductions of Victorian scrap images will be used at the workshop.

Victorian scrap images were colorful, detailed, raised images that depicted a range of subjects from children, animals, flowers, angels, and ladies. These scraps were also commonly used in a very popular Victorian hobby called scrapbooking.

Join instructor Pamela Vogan Lynch as she leads this Valentine workshop. Lynch is a professional artist and retired Director of Art for the Oneida City School District with 35 years of experience in art education. All materials will be provided. For those who have a special handkerchief that they would like to use, it’s encouraged to bring it with you.

In true Victorian fashion, tea and cookies will be served.

The cost for the workshop is $14 for MCHS members and $16 for nonmembers. Registration is required by Feb. 10.

For more information, contact MCHS at 315-363-4136, 315-361-9735, or history@mchs1900.org.

By martha

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