{No fewer than 7 American Presidents are Direct Descendants of the Leiden, Netherlands PILGRIMS}

We are once again close to the U.S.A. Thanksgiving celebration, on the 4th Thursday of November. Since there is such a strong historical link between The Kingdom of The Netherlands and the U.S.A. I would like to dedicate this post to some History about the PILGRIMS. No fewer than 7 American Presidents are Direct Descendants of those Leiden PILGRIMS that sailed from The Dutch Republic to the New World. 

Brooklyn Museum - Embarkation of the Pilgrims - Robert Walter Weir

This is how those Pilgrims went on board for arriving in the New World after having stayed in Leiden for about 11 years.

For Life in Leiden you can click the hyperlink to read about some very interesting facts.

For a Leiden Pilgrim Tour you can click on the hyperlink to actually see a video of the university city of Leiden where they lived all those years. ErfgoedLeiden.nl removed that video...

Indeed, no fewer than 7 American Presidents are direct descendants of the Leiden Pilgrims.

The Pilgrim Archives tell the story of the Pilgrims themselves and the 17th century Leiden that was their home, the city where Rembrandt lived and worked.

ErfgoedLeiden.nl - link no longer shows the above info...

From Leiden Pilgrim to American president - link from where you can take a look at the familytrees of these presidents.
Presidents Bush Sr. and Jr. do share the same ancestor with Barack Hussein Obama: Thomas Blossom.
Have a look as it is quite interesting!
Wishing all U.S.A. citizens a very Happy Thanksgiving!
Too bad the above info has been taken down...

Related links:

{Happy Thanksgiving - From Pilgrim to President} | previous post by me

{My Brocade Skirt Suit Creation from 1950s Zelinka Matlick}

We often did check out the Lakewood Antiques Market in Atlanta, Georgia. A HUGE place with seven Spanish colonial livestock exhibition halls and over 15,000 antique dealers. My sister Diny went there with us as well. You really could shop until you drop! Below this post you find links about its history as it has moved in 2006 to a new location: Lakewood 400 Antiques Market

BUT there I found on April 10 of 1993
 a 1950s Zelinka Matlick dress with matching coat in a beautiful cotton/rayon brocade. I fell in love with the fabric and was running my mind of what I could do with it. It had beautiful buttons too and thus for the price of $ 20.00 I did adopt it!

With a seam ripper I took the entire dress and long coat apart and then the puzzle started.

The pattern works like wallpaper that you have to match...

Did complete it the first week of July in 1993 so I could wear it for my youngest brother's wedding in The Netherlands ons July 30.

Here we are again at the Hyatt House Miami Airport...

Wearing with my sewing creation: Wolford pantyhose

Escada evening bag that I got on sale at the boutique of Oahu, Hawaii in 1998

When looking at the price I could not afford it but the Japanese sales person send me an email when it came on sale. Great courtesy and I was happy! The Escada golden shoes I found in February 1998 at the Potomac Mills Outlet near Washington D.C. 

The 7 buttons from the coat were just enough for this design...

Majorica pearl earrings and bracelet.

The coat had a grease stain on one side and when I had taken all pieces apart, I took my chances and threw them all together in the washer. 

The stain came out completely and now I knew that I could launder this quality fabric myself!

Getting the pattern to match everywhere was quite a challenge but I got it done!

JUST enough fabric, even for some back pockets on the skirt!

I did darken this photo so you can see the cream and white brocade pattern better. 

From the heavy acetate lining that was in the top part of the coat, I made this blouse...

The jacket and skirt is not lined as this brocade really is sturdy enough on its own.

I did lots of top stitching on this skirt and jacket as well...

Wearing my Majolica pearl bracelet from Neiman Marcus.

Ring is a Princess ring in 18 kt gold with several precious stone insets; gift from my boss in Indonesia.

Of course I proudly did sew this Zelinka Matlick label back in.

Via a link from Vintage Fashion Guild Label Resource I could trace that this label is from the 1950s.

David Zelinka & Max Matlick were partners and makers of coats and women's suits.

Those buttons are a piece of jewelry!

Some had lost a white dot and husband Pieter managed to create a new one with a white enamel repair tube.

Here you also can see the intricate weave of brocade and its cotton and rayon threads in white and cream.

Topstitching is done with rayon thread in order to obtain the same luster.

Matching the fabric's pattern, including those pocket parts!

Neither the center back seam does interrupt the pattern.

Photo is taken with flash inside the Hyatt House Miami Airport on top of the down duvet on the bed.

Also the last photo below is taken with flash inside, making it more yellowish...

So what do you say? 

Tis brocade fabric is about as old as the person wearing it in its new creation...

Related links:
Lakewood Antiques Market - The Last Days: A Photo Diary | it closed in 2006 but moved
Lakewood 400 Antiques Market | new location and open every 3rd weekend
David Zelinka, 83, Ex-Maker of Coats And Women's Suits | New York Times Obituary of David Zelinka, partner with Max Matlick

{Praying Mantis}

Most of you might know the Praying Mantis already. Just caught one on camera the other day...

Long legged insect...

At the entrance door to our Rose Suite...

Not easy to make them pose for the camera!

Told him that a white back ground would make him look better...

See how he looks at the camera?

Related link:
Profumo di lavanda.... | Italian blogger friend Anna showing a Praying Mantis below...
True Facts About the Mantis | Youtube video showing their carnivore behavior...