Bonnie Holden's Paper Dolls
Rebecca
The Story Of A Young Victorian Lady
Rebecca is a very special young Victorian lady who grew up in Charleston, S.C. before, and during the
post Civil War period. Rebecca's early years were in a period when Charleston was the wealthiest city in
the country and hardship was an unknown factor. The Civil War changed all that, but with the resilience of
youth, and a lesson well learned from her parents, that life does go on and things do inevitably get better.
Rebecca is a well adjusted young lady enjoying the many adventures of youth.
Rebecca's father, Vernon, is the local station master at the Charleston Railroad Station. Charleston was
the first city in the country to establish a passenger railroad. The railroad is a large part of Charleston's
recovery. Her mother, Sarah, always enjoyed designing and making dresses for herself and her girls,
and now is a seamstress. Having learned this art from her mother, Rebecca also enjoys designing and
sewing the costumes for her own special occasions. Rebecca has one sister, Mary, who is married and has
two children. Mary and her family live in Atlanta. You will meet them later.
Rebecca is in a period of her life where she enjoys parties, balls, and social occasions. There is no one
special young man in Rebecca's life, but young men at all these functions are vying for her attention. There
is, however, one young man that seems to have taken her fancy. He is the son of the local dry goods
merchant and works in the family business. Rebecca and her mother visit the dry goods store frequently
and he is always eager to help them with their purchases. It seems the attraction is mutual.
There will be a continuing series of six books chronicling Rebecca's life from 1874 to 1882. Each dress will
have an appropriate background to stand Rebecca in front of and a picture suitable for framing. There
will also be a history of the dress of the time and a description of each individual dress.
The first book will be about the parties, balls, and social occasions she is invited to attend and will be named "Rebecca's Parties and Balls". A very essential part of a young lady's social calendar is the necessity to be properly and discreetly chaperoned. You will be her chaperone and will attend these delightful social functions with
Rebecca. You will enjoy the background scenery for each social occasion as the story unfolds. Rebecca is
such a lovely girl and her charming smile and personality draw the attention of many gentlemen suitors.
Here, you will briefly meet Jonathon, the young man from the dry goods store.
The second book will be about "The Courtship of Rebecca and Jonathon", the young man who captured
her heart! You will accompany them on outings, picnics, carriage rides, visits to the ocean, the theater ,and
all those places that enable a couple to develop a strong bond of togetherness. The highlight of this book will
be their engagement and the party that celebrates this important occasion.
The third book will be called "Her Wedding Day".
This book will have the entire wedding party, the families, the wedding, and all the excitement of that day.
You will help Rebecca in her bedroom as she dresses for this special moment, and then depart for the
church to view this beautiful service, after which you will leave to attend the lovely reception where there
will even be a stand-out table for the Wedding Cake. You will already have seen the wonderful trousseau
that Rebecca has designed for her honeymoon. They have not yet disclosed the location for their
honeymoon. However, as you will no longer be required to chaperone the couple and because of the friendship bond that has developed between you, Rebecca, and Jonathon, upon their return, you will be told about
each and every detail of their wonderful start in their new life as a married couple, as they relive each event
with you. This will be a wonderful and exciting experience for you as there will be many scenes of the
preparations, the church, and the honeymoon.
Another custom of the time was a "shiveree" sometimes called a "drumming". When a couple returned from
their honeymoon, their friends, relatives, and the community in general would welcome them to the community
as a married couple with a "shiveree." . In the middle of the night, they would gather in front of the couple's
home with pots, pans, and other noise- producing instruments, meant to waken the couple . As they
appeared at the door, they would be gently kidnapped and joyfully escorted to an awaiting carriage in their
night clothes and paraded into town. Other carriages would join in the noisy celebration making sure the
town's residents would also awaken and see the couple. Rebecca and Jonathon will also be given a
"shiveree", and you will be there.
The fourth book will be entitled "Home is Where the Heart is" . This will portray all the entertaining and
daily activities and visitations in their new home. You will be enchanted as you see their lovely Victorian
home. You will also enjoy seeing the fold-out rooms and furniture of the home as the story progresses.
There will be many items to place upon tables, pictures to be hung, and pillows for the sofa. Having now been established as a close friend of the couple, you will enjoy their hospitality as you are invited for teas and dinners, and many of their entertainment functions.
.The fifth book will be "Rebecca's Family". Several years have transpired and busy lives have somewhat
hindered close ties, but Rebecca and Jonathon have now moved a little closer and you have been invited to
visit their new home, a concession to their growing family. Rebecca and Jonathon want to introduce to you
their three adorable children and even their pets. As an adopted "Aunt" you will be included in many of
their day trips, visits to the zoo, and even a train excursion as you witness the joy of their Happy Family Life.
The sixth and last book of the series will be "Rebecca's Christmas". Here you and Rebecca will bake
gingerbread men, string popcorn and cranberry garlands, and decorate the tree with traditional Victorian
Christmas ornaments. The tree will be a three dimensional tree with which you and Rebecca will set
up in Rebecca's front parlor. The ornaments will be ready to be cut and hung on the tree. There will be
packages to be placed under the tree and decorations to be hung throughout the house. After the
decorating is complete, you will enjoy the Christmas Season, shopping with Rebecca for the children,
accompanying her on visitations, and helping with the entertaining of the Holiday Season. You will also
go caroling and attend Christmas morning church services with her wonderful family. Included in this
book will be a Victorian Christmas tree ornament of Rebecca in her Christmas finery to hang upon your
own tree to remember the wonderful times you have shared with Rebecca.
I hope that you will feel that you have come to know a very special girl by the name of Rebecca and
will think of her as a friend. I want these books to portray an exemplary, high moral, family value
lifestyle, one which all of us wish America still had today.
Book Two is now available
Rebecca's Courtship
Preview comming soon
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For further information please call
1-800-296-4893 or 843-881-2499
bonnieholden@victoriancollection.com or bonnieh@bellsouth.net
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All Images and stories copy-right Bonnie Holden 1978 - 2003
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All rights reserved by the artist Bonnie Holden
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