Fall, leaves, fall

I am fascinated with the strange and often unhappy life of Emily Jane Brontë. Emily died a spinster when she was just thirty. She left behind a book of poetry and one novel, a literary classic that immortalizes the life of two tortured souls – Heathcliff and Catherine.  The grand passion of Wuthering Heights shares the story of the lovers – forever sundered and struggling to unite. It also immortalizes Emily Brontë, as having written one of the greatest love stories of all time.

I was a teen when I first read Wuthering Heights and a dream of mine was to someday visit the wild and desolate moors of England. Getting there from London was a nightmare, as there was a fire on the train track and Cassandra and I sat in a closed train for hours, without air conditioning. But, it was all worth it because the village of Haworth did not disappoint. The steep cobblestone street and quaint shops led to a gray, sad-looking parsonage that was the home of Emily until she died in 1848.  

I walked the moors and amid the wild beauty of the landscape, searched for the ghosts of Heathcliff and Catherine.  Whether I saw them or not doesn’t matter, for what I will always remember is that I made the journey and walked in the footsteps of my friend Emily.

As a token of my friendship, I made this Secret Envelope Box.  I like to think that Emily  would have filled it with treasures – perhaps assorted fall leaves and a scrap of paper with a few lines of poetry.

Tied with a scrap of lace, this vintage stack of envelopes looks ordinary.

Untie the lace, lift the top and you'll find a secret compartment.

I found the tutorial to create the Secret Envelope Box on YouTube and it was great fun to make. However, there is a real secret that the videos have left out. Send me an email and I'll be happy to share.