Cleopatra's Lipstick

Can you guess what tree is growing in my own backyard that produces a fruit that Cleopatra once allegedly used for lipstick?  

I've written about them before (Pom Pom Blossoms) when the buds were just forming, but now, my little pomegranates babies have all grown up and are about to begin a new journey turning my families lips pink before they travel into their bellies. 

Whether Cleopatra used the pomegranate seed juice for lipstick or not, we know that she must have drank the juice as the many of the trees were planted at Karnak Temple in Egypt 3,500 years ago!(according to Thutmose III, ruler of Egypt). She may have even had decorative items made in their likeness like the gorgeous silver vessel found in Tutankhamun's tomb (see below) and drank the fabled Egyptian pomegranate wine.... Sounds good to me!

I've been fascinated with Egypt since I was a child and was lucky enough to travel there with my family about 20 years ago and wander through the Great Pyramids, Karnak, Valley of the Kings and Abu Simbel.  Now that I'm reading "Cleopatra: A Life" by Stacy Schiff, a fascinating Pulitzer Prize winning biography, it's exciting to actually visualize some of the places Cleopatra traveled to as these famous monuments were still ancient wonder of the world in her time! 

 I just noticed the fabulous necklace in the carving of her above. Hmmmm.  I think I may have some jewelry design ideas here!

On the subject of lipstick and Cleopatra again, I must let you know that I also read that her lipstick was "made from carmine beetles, which when worked with pestle gave a strong red color pigment. This was mixed with ant’s eggs, which provided the base."  I prefer the pomegranate theory but whatever was used way back then was thought to be powerfully enchanting because in 1770, "England’s parliament passed a law against lipstick, stating that women who seduced men into marriage by means of make up could be tried as witches!"

silver pomegranate vessel found in Tutankhaman's tomb


PS.  If any of you witches out there are jones-ing to try pomegranate lipstick like Cleo, you can actually buy an eco-friendly one with pomegranate extract:  
Korres Raspberry Anti-oxidant Liquid Lipstick

She Sailed Away On A Bright & Sunny Day

It was a dream.... a dream where I wish I could have had a video recorder.

Imagine a calm wide deep blue river, sand dunes in the distance, a wide sailing vessel gently gliding in the water under the high noon sun, giant sails billowing in the warm breeze, several lovely linen clad women are on the deck under an awning .....lounging on giant white pillows around a large table. They are joyfully making something but I can't quite see what. Gazing down from the sky, I come in closer.... and closer. They are making the most beautiful gold jewelry I have ever seen! I am SO envious, I want to be THEM!

I woke up and wanted to go back to sleep.... back to dreamworld! Where was it? Egypt? When? Past, present, future? Who? My alter ego? This was two years ago. That is when I decided it was time to finally take the metal clay class I had been thinking about for ten years. I am enjoying working in silver and someday when the price of gold decides to come down to earth, I will be there!

When I decided to blog about this dream, I did a big web search... Did this boat exist? I looked up "Cleopatra's barge" for fun......

Too many oars! Or, was it some sort of sacred barge?

Gorgeous but no funerals please! An Egyptian felucca?

Hmmm, not quite big enough. Came across this little gem by Okooko.....

Cosy and cute...but way too small!

Then, browsing Mr. and Mrs. Smith's Travel Blog, I came across an article on Anouska Hempel, a fabulous interior designer. The article shows her Beluga I, a Turkish Gulet.... I found the missing link! Searching for the right one, I found Blue Fun Yachting. They have my dreamboat... it's called the Zephyria II.... big white pillows, wide deck, table, awning and all! Check it out (click on the name and browse the photos...and click on the photo for full view).

How am I going to materialize this???!!!! I better start saving....