The best find of my snowy flea market trawl was a Victorian-style metal box.

When I was younger, I used to dismiss Victorian imagery as cloyingly sweet. Age has changed me. I find that now I respond a lot more to oh-so-pretty colours and pictures, and have grown tired of edgy and bold—in the same way as, when I read a book, I prefer an enjoyable read to a sophisticated literary one, or when I watch a film I want an engrossing romance or adventure rather than a heartwrenching tragedy. Perhaps it has to do with the fact that I have less time and I want to fill it with easy loveliness. I don’t know.

The fact remains, though, that I’m making increasing use of Victorian and Victorian-style ephemera in my collages, and really like the overall effect. The box is a departure from my usual paper crafting, and I haven’t quite decided how to use it yet, but I simply couldn’t resist the adorable lid. Until it finds a more artistic destination, it is going to become the storage of choice for lace and ribbons (after giving it a thorough cleaning, as it is hugely dirty!). It would be a rather apt use, really, since lace is something else I would have shunned in the past and am converting to now.

Is there anyone else out there who has seen her taste change subtly—or dramatically—over time? I’d be curious to find out. Indeed, I am toying with the idea of having a survey—what imagery inspires you now? If you fancy taking part, drop me a note (carlapassino AT gmail.com) or post a comment.