Delightful Discoveries - A 20 lb purple what? 10.18.10

That's what I was thinking when I first ran across the name of today's featured colored. Surely they had left the last word off of the description, but a 20 pound purple... purple what? A 20 pound purple eggplant? Surely that must be a world record! But nope, no listings for 20 pound purple eggplants. Couldn't be plums or grapes, or even a miniature 20 pound purple people eater. Where the heck did this color get its name from?

I'm going to guess that my friends "across the pond" in the UK are probably laughing at my ignorance right about now! For it seems that 20 pound purple got its name from the color of an English banknote worth - yes, that's right - 20 pounds. From what I've read, that particular type of money is no longer produced in the UK, though it was a very commonplace tender in Ireland for a long time. Luckily, mystery solved and I shall sleep peacefully tonight!

There are some lovely things available on Etsy in this shade of plum purple (or berry, or amethyst, or any of the other shades I saw - although not a single 20 pound purple item came up in my searches!) If you're looking for other great items in this shade, I'd search for plum! Here are my "20 pound purple" choices for today!




(l-r, top to bottom)

Retro Plum KissLock Clutch by jcarterhandmade
Cardigan Stocking Sugar Plum by mrowe
Bracelet, Plum Flower Wrist Corsage by GracefullyGirly
Hand Dyed Wool Yarn Ireland Donegal Tweed 3 1/2 oz. Plum from keepsakewool
Purple Clay Rose and Pearl Drop Earrings by vsc83
Hand Knitted Fingerless Gloves Arm Warmers in Plum from handknittedthings
PLUM CRAZY - 8 OZ PREMIUM SOY CANDLE TIN from scentsinsoy
Purple Bracelet with Rose Quartz and Silver Plated Beads - Limited Edition by alatvian
Only for a Moment - 8x8 Dahlia Photograph Print - Floral Picture by ShadedMemories
Raspberry Earring Caddie by Uturn
Plum and mustard rose bunch headband from wendyandpeter
Purpleness, 8x10 Fine Art Photograph by Tricia McKellar (eyeful)

Sigh... I love purple... all shades of it... but I really think they could have come up with a "prettier" name for this shade - although I must admit that 20 pound purple is definitely different!

That's it for today. God willing and the creek don't rise, I'll be back tomorrow with some more great items from Etsy. For now, I hope your week is off to a fine start - with the promise of wonderful things to come!