Hello everyone. My name is Nicole. I'm 26 and live in Bellingham, WA USA. Let's see, where to begin...

I collect 'femirobilia': old etiquette, beauty, homemaking, and lifestyle books. My favorites include Vouge's Book of Etiquette,1948; The Cosmo Girl's Guide to the New Etiquette from 1968; Entertaining With Elegance, by Genevieve Antoine Dariaux, 1965; and That Girl In Your Mirror by Vonda Kay Van Dyke, Miss America 1965. Mrs. Dunwoody's Excellent Insturctions for Homekeeping would be one of my five in the 'stranded on a desert island' situation.

I also love reading about women in history, particularly the movers/shakers/naughty women. My absolute favorite is Madame de Pompadour (note the avatar). She is one of my personal heroines and a role-model for living graciously. Other favorites include Veronica Franco, Diane de Poitiers, Martha Washington, Elizabeth Armistead, and Agnes Sorel. I'm about to start reading a biography of Lola Montez.

I keep a framed picture of the goddess Hestia in my living room to remind myself to honor the spirit and sacredness of home.

Well that's the bare bones. Wonderful to meet you all!

Hello there NicciVicci. I am a fellow 'new girl'! I am a newly wed and new homeowner in a lovely 1901 house in Hertfordshire, England. I am a lover of all things vintage but only until now have I realised that it can be more than a passing interest / hobby. My home is going to look and be kept beautiful and now, with Brocante Home, I know where to start!
The books you mentioned sound intriguing and I will definately be 'Googling' them this evening!
I do home that this forum will become as much as home to me as I have read in some of the posts - inspirational stuff...
Here's to 2009..!

Hello Nicole, i lived on whidbey island for a few years - its so awsome up there i still want to move back 16ys later.
lp