Dark Academia, Light Academia, Cottagecore, Goblincore, Fairycore, Grandmacore. If I haven’t already mentioned it on this blog, I often daydream about being an old woman. I dream with all the naivety of a person who doesn’t struggle against chronic back pain of a day when I stand stirring a pot of soup and ignoring the whistle of a kettle of tea. The lights in my windows always lit, the door always open to strangers, the protection of God keeping me safe against all reasonable odds until death…
But Grandmacore is about sweaters. It’s about old-timey goods, wool, and brightly colored yarn, knitting, crocheting, baking, and nosiness (I assume). Now it’s true that you can search most of those things online and either buy them or teach yourself what you need to know within a few days. But we’re missing out on one of the greatest resources of our lifetime; the elderly. Think about it! No one else has our elderly.
In America and across Europe, programs are springing up within colleges and communities which seek to connect the young people of society with the old. Community service requirements during high school are often fulfilled through work with senior’s centers. There are numerous studies which suggest that relationships between generations have mutual benefits. Nevertheless, it can be difficult to connect with new people, especially those who seem to have nothing in common with us.
But behind our newfangled obsession with aesthetics lies the secret to success. Think about it. Who knows more about black tea and finding quality tweeds than the elderly gentleman reading in the library corner? Do you like yarn crafts but don’t know where to start? Find a yarn shop in your area, and they’re sure to have a knitting group filled with women 60+. Do you have an interest in strange rocks, plants, and foraging? Cheryl’s granddaughter still has her collection, you can drop by. Conversations and projects abound. As mentioned, senior homes, hospitals, social groups aimed at (but not exclusive to) older people, church groups, and more, offer wonderful opportunities to ask questions that very soon, we may just have to learn for ourselves.
No one should be alone. In the coming years, I hope the next generations can create meaningful, interesting, wacky relationships with those who came before us, based on everything from faith and farming to treasure hunting and secret code. And sweaters. I’m coming for you, Grandmacore.
Tell me in the comments what kind of aesthetic you like, and the hobbies you’re interested in.
I woke up this morning to a sunlit living room so bright it could have been summer. For a moment I was filled with such joy at the prospect that I forgot where I was, and instead imagined I was in a pine forest in Oregon, standing in a live-in shop of curiosities. Yesterday it was cold and gray and I went on a walk to talk with God. As I walked through my neighborhood on streets I hadn’t seen in a while, He showed me stories.
I walked past a turtle statue half buried beneath leaves, a statue of a flying pig and a brightly painted garden gnome. There was an engraved tablet which bore a family name, but which looked like a headstone, the dirt raked around it like a burial plot. For a moment, all around me, there were bumper stickers, lawn decorations, and porch lights in different shades of amber, and every single one of them was a story. For a moment, I was connected to a foreign place, and I realized that everything around me said something, and that all of these people were saying something. There are stories all around me, and I realized that they were available for my use also; after all, now you know about the frog, the flying pig, the gnome and the grave. I know that they will enter the stories that I write and the things that I paint.
When it comes to creation, the internet is oversaturated with information. Millions of videos, images, sound clips, and web pages, spread across dozens of social media platforms and hundreds of websites. With all of this ‘content’ being produced, the rallying cry of the community is that of originality. Every other hour, a scandal emerges surrounding art style, art theft, imitation, consent, and the effects of AI. Tropes are dissected and spat on in every genre of fiction and people cry for the dismantlement of any recognizable character types and arcs.
In the midst of these ideas, a new question has emerged. Is it more important to be original or authentic?
According to Merriam-Webster, the first definition of original is, “of, relating to, or constituting an origin or beginning.” But I happen to like the first part of their second definition better:
“not secondary, derivative, or imitative…” And still the third is, “independent and creative in thought or action.”
One definition of authentic according to the same dictionary is, “made or done the same way as an original.” The next relevant definition is “true to one’s own personality, spirit, or character.”
I think we’ve made a mistake in separating originality and authenticity. In ‘Steal Like an Artist,’ Austin Kleon tells creatives…to steal. Again, most of us consume media on an hourly basis. We know what we like; we have our favorite shows, artists, and accounts. Some of us have curated thousands of ideas on Pinterest. These things that we love are true to our own personality, spirit, and character. This fulfills the requirements of authenticity. But if we steal traits from the things we love, doesn’t that make us unoriginal? If we created forgeries, maybe, but in taking and combining ideas we love, we are independent, and creative in thought or action. There will never be anyone like you. Even if you actually did make forgeries, they would never be the same as the originals. Everything that makes you different would change the painting. (That said, please do not make forgeries.)
All this time, we assumed that originality begot authenticity, but I believe that we have it backwards; authenticity begets originality.
How can we expect to create something wholly new in an ancient world? There is nothing new under the sun. Original work happens when you are exactly who you are. So be authentic.
My best friend’s brother dreams in black and white. When she first told me that, I thought she was lying. She’s in nursing school right now and studied it, and informed me that not only are there people who dream in monochrome, but also those who dream only in sound, and those who dream only in written word. Apparently, some people dream so infrequently, or their dreams get so lost in their subconscious, that they say it’s like they don’t dream at all.
What I’m going to talk about is a different kind of dream; a waking dream. Our goals, hopes, and aspirations. I have friends who are afraid to have those kinds of dreams. I think it’s because some people are more realistic than I am, and they know how difficult dreams actually are to achieve. I think they figure that there isn’t any reason to hurt yourself more when you find out your wings don’t work. It’s safer not to try. It’s easier not to dream.
Well they’ve completely missed the point.
Have you ever woken up from a dream and it was either so hilarious, so scary, or so bizarre that you went to work and told everyone about it? Maybe your mom, best friend, maybe your therapist.The rest of the day was colored by this dream, your coworkers were either exacerbated or thrilled, and for that one moment, your whole life seems just a little bit brighter. It happens more. It’s almost not noticeable at first, but now periodically, those coworkers will walk up to you and tell you about their weird dream. What do you think it means? Have you had any more dreams lately? You have a reputation as the slightly odd person who tells everyone what they woke up thinking about. And they can deny it, but it makes you all better people.
That’s why we dream.
Some dreams come true, and some of them don’t. That’s life. But we don’t dream to make dreams come true. We dream because they color our world. This is going to be a recurring idea the ‘Small Dream Saturday’ posts, and so here’s my first one:
When I get older, I’d like to build a treehouse. I’ve always wanted one. It will be roomy and easy to climb into. I’ll have a collapsible roof, and handmade faux stained-glass windows. Something I love about my life is that I’m alright to pour glue and food coloring on a plastic picture frame and call it stained glass. When the sun shines through it, its colors will still glow. If I can’t have the treehouse, God willing, I’ll get to paint the glass. (I’ve been looking at prices for old screen doors on secondhand sites, I’m so excited.)
When I was about eleven, I went outside to play in the snow. At some point I took my gloves off, and probably my jacket, although I kept my hat on. It was during the rush of the holidays; people in and out, our pets running around and barking, et cetera. So, when I found the front door locked, I knocked. And then I rang the doorbell. When that didn’t work, I did what any child would do: I pretended I was a wolf and went to take a nap in the snow. I didn’t think much of my hands turning purple until it was too late. Oh, childhood. I am now a proud owner of Raynaud’s syndrome!
Every winter my appendages turn gray and refuse to heat through. I can’t get warm without the aid of hot water or a heating pad. Socks, mittens, and blankets do nothing; I can take them off and the gloves will still be cold. Honestly, although my favorite weather is chill, damp, and gray, the cold bothers me like little else. It just so happens that every winter, I make myself a new hot drink. These are my favorites so far:
Mabel’s Maple Hot Chocolate
This recipe is hot and comforting. It has a smooth velvety texture and a rich flavor. My absolute favorite recipe for hot chocolate that I have come up with. To make, add 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder and 1 tablespoon of maple syrup to a mug. Optionally, add a dash of vanilla flavoring. Heat 8 ounces of milk and combine. Serve with whipped cream. (Tell me in the comments whether you prefer whipped cream or marshmallows.)
Honey Black Hot cocoa.
If you find the last recipe too rich, this may be the one for you. I make it with black tea, cinnamon, cocoa powder, and honey. You can either steep the tea in hot milk, or you may use water. In a mug, combine cocoa powder, honey, and ground cinnamon. Alternatively, you may add a cinnamon stick. Once combined, pour over your tea mixture and stir until smooth. It’s earthy and sweet with dark chocolate undertones. You can make it thinner or creamier depending on your preferences. Serve with whipped cream.
Berlin Haze
A play on the London fog, we begin by making a chai tea. To this you add a packet of instant apple cider, and either caramel or cinnamon coffee syrup to your liking, and again, I recommend whipped cream. Be wary of adding milk or milk foam to this drink however, because it will curdle. If you want a real treat, steep your tea in real apple cider. This is without a doubt my favorite tea drink.
Black Tea with Cranberry
Brew a cup of black tea, and add a splash of cranberry juice and a tablespoon of cinnamon syrup. The cranberry juice brightens up the heavy flavor of the tea and plays well with the cinnamon.
Vanilla Milk
This is the simplest drink to prepare. In a mug, heat 8 ounces of milk and add either 1 tablespoon of vanilla syrup, or a tablespoon of sugar and a teaspoon of vanilla flavoring or extract. It’s so comforting and easy. After a long day, this is my favorite to sip on with no lights lit and no phone at hand, but maybe a fire lit.
That’s them!
These are my favorites. They warm up my hands and my stomach, and I always wish I had more people to make them for. Now, hopefully you’ll make some of these throughout the winter. Knowing how to make good food and drink is a joy, and it’s my goal to learn that.
Tell me what you think of the recipes! Tell me some of your favorites too, I’d like to try them.
When I was a little girl, my mother bought most of our clothes at the thrift shop. She had a gift for finding pants that would fit us exactly, and to this day she claims it was a gift to her from God. We wore striped corduroy, purple patterned jeans with patches, I had this one Scottish looking pair of trousers in red and green plaid. Not only that, but we would get up early on summer mornings and go out to look at our neighborhood’s garage sales. Military bases (at least in my mind) are kind of famous for them. We’d get up, nose about the neighbor’s things, buy something small, and maybe buy a lemonade. My parents and all of my sisters did this, as frequently as we got the opportunity.
Frankly? I loved it.
Now that I’m grown and into Cottagecore, one of the things that I think appeals to people in the movement is the return to simplicity, and creation by one’s own hands. Hobbies include drying your own tea leaves, starting window box herb gardens, and patching sweaters and socks. But another aspect that is inherent to the Cottagecore movement is scrappiness. You make your own breads and flatbreads, saving money at the supermarket. You learn how to make veggie stews, sauces, and curries to save on meat. You patch those old clothes, partially for your own enjoyment, but also because as always, there might not be money in the budget for new ones. Sometimes though, it’s unavoidable; You have to shop. This post details ways to find bargains in person, rather than online. (I might do a separate post on that later.)
As a side note, Cottagecore is in no way the only aesthetic movement with these values, nor the only one to benefit from sales like these. Punk, for example, has an emphasis on sustainable industry and diy, and many art movements can benefit from the oddities found at these kinds of events. There are hundreds of others. Don’t be put off by my use of one movement, I promise you these kinds of sales are versatile and can help anyone.
At the time I’m writing this, it is winter in the United States. Not many people have these kinds of sales during this time of year, however! This is the perfect time to start researching events in your area because as soon as springtime begins, so do the yearly sales.
Everyone knows that garage sales have deals on everything from chainsaws to poodle skirts, but did you know that many areas have designated days when entire towns set up garage and yard sales? Look up Facebook pages, city engagement pages, or ask your local librarians or city hall clerks about upcoming event days. Not only this, but look in the towns surrounding you, and you might find some really interesting things. It’s entirely possible to find good quality shirts, jackets, pants, and boots for under five dollars. It’s also possible to find leather goods, old photos, patches, high quality books, film rolls, and other things that no one ever thinks to look for. Treasures abound when we open our eyes.
Estate Sales
Estate sales generally take place after a death has occurred and a collection of items needs to be removed from a home. These should be treated with respect and the acknowledgment that someone has died, but they are also a wonderful opportunity to honor the legacy of their owner. You can find anything from dinner sets to artworks, books to linens. Clothing, bedding, and furniture at a reasonable price. Research estate sales near you.
Rummage Sales
Rummage sales are unique (they’re not uncommon, just unique). Often churches will hold these kinds of sales, as will thrift shops trying to purge their inventory for the next year or season. Whereas it’s not uncommon to find quality items for a few dollars at garage sales, rummage sales often have a huge amount of inventory with pieces for as little as a quarter. It is possible to buy an entirely new wardrobe of decent quality items for under ten dollars. As mentioned, churches often have sales like these, as do thrift stores. Call around and monitor community and business social media pages to find sales near you.
Flea Markets and Farmers Markets
Flea markets and farmers markets are not even remotely the same thing, but the reason I’ve listed them together is because they both offer access to a range of more specific items, with more variation in price. Flea markets are often a good place to find interesting items, such as lamps, maps, paintings, globes, Persian rugs, antique chess sets, film rolls, silverware, and things far more strange than that.
Farmers Markets often have baked goods, canned goods, fresh produce, honeys, syrups, teas, and sometimes cheese and other dairy products. Some may sell crafts, such as jewelry and small artworks, as well as certain clothing items and leather pieces. Because of the quality of the items, the prices on these will vary. Some will be at bargain prices while others might be fairly expensive. Still, it’s a lovely way to spend a weekend morning before breakfast. (And you’ll have to, like many of these sales, they often begin as early as 6 AM.)
Conclusion
These kinds of sales are a way to curate your life, whatever you want it to look like. They give you new knowledge about quality and style. They provide the opportunity to learn the art of bargaining; when to go all in, and when to gracefully accept a price or walk away. And just like those thrift store visits with my mother, or the family weekends spent together at garage sales, they’re an opportunity to connect with your loved ones—albeit in an odd way—as well. Happy thrifting!
I wish that I could say everything I want to in this first entry, but I know that if I try, I’ll quit before I’ve even started, and I have to start somewhere. So, I’ll simply say,
Hello Strangers, I want you to know that you’re my favorite. For the purposes of this blog, my name is Mabel, and that may change. Before you go further, I want to manage expectations.
I love Cottagecore. I’m a good cook and baker, and I love to sing, dance, paint, and write. I believe that one day I will own some land in an isolated place, with a small house and a garden, as well as (hopefully,) a husband and our adopted children. I’ll be an author. I’ll have a dog.
Here’s the thing.
I also have an interest in street magic, fire breathing, knife throwing, mixed martial arts, metal smithing, mixology, the United States prison system, cryptid mythology, and inventions. I have talents in none of those things. I’m not even a good researcher. I kill potted plants. I genuinely considered going to clown college, and I am a dedicated Christian, and that last one is the most important thing about me; it shows up in mysterious ways.
I say all of this to tell you that I can’t tell you what to expect. I live my life like a range of cartoon characters, each with progressively stranger backgrounds.
I wish I could give you a theme for this site, but the only thing I can promise to provide is the authentic desire to love people, to build a community, and to learn every single hobby I mentioned, as well as some of yours. I hope a sense of family comes from this place, and I hope that it becomes a light in the window.
To All My Strangers 