this piece is the newest addition  in my epitaph collection. the raven, collectors of treasures (i’m a edgar allen poe and truman capote  fan *) is holding his find-a memorial pin of a small boy. these pins were quite popular in victoriana- a memento to remember a loved one. sadly  the death of a child was quite common.

the english children’s prayer of “now i lay me down to sleep” was  published in The New England Primer in the 18th century.  i used a wonderful early linen towel, circa mid 1800, which i embroidered ,appliqued and beaded. the wonderful black and turkeyred wallpaper print  is also circa mid 1800.i used a black wool from a victorian mourning cape for the raven, and cut out the rose appliques from a late 19th century tablecloth.

* edgar allen poe’s “the raven” is of course well know and loved. i am a big truman capote fan-the glass harp, breakfast at tiffany’s,the thanksgiving visitor -all on my nightstand. in his “the dogs bark” a collection of short stories,” lola” is a heartbreaking favorite of mine. lola is a raven -i’m not going to give anything else away-you’ll have to read it.