Oh it has been too long since I last wrote already! I am really enjoying all your lovely comments and interest in my wee part of the world and I LOVE, LOVE the fact that I am meeting so many creative, lovely and talented wonders in this apparently small internet world - through the blogs I read and the names I recognise so many of us are connected by our interests, obsessions and loves.
So the last few days have been a kind of a wonderful blur. Sunday we went to see 'Blood Diamond' and oh my gosh - it is one of the most devastating, amazing films I have seen for such a long time. It is well known to my friends and family that I am not really a huge fan of 'girly', 'fluffy' films - I would always choose Gladiator over Bridget Jones, anything epic, challenging, 'boy's film's' really. In truth I love most kind of movies, but this was really incredible.
I sobbed all the way through it (and was still crying when I got home - gosh I am always crying!) but for me it is really important to see films that affect me in this way - when I am complaining about the trivial, when I feel morose and forget what a wonderful life I have, when I forget how to be happy, this brings me down to earth with a bump. For me if a film can affect me in this way, it can completely change my outlook on my life and the world. It is hard as I spent the first half of the film feeling like I hate the world we live in, that these things go on, but ultimately it also makes me appreciate so much the good that is there.
Sorry if I am harping on, and I hope I don't sound like I am preaching but there it is. Oh and in my opinion both lead actors completely deserve the oscars they have been nominated for.
Okay onto lighter fair and tonight I went to see Miss Potter! Wonderful and lovely and a treat - the look of it is beautiful, the scenery spectacular, and I drooled over the costumes. I love the way she just emmersed herself in her her creative world - that is something to aspire to I think!
I came to a horrible realisation today that I am losing my femininity! Seriously, up until recently I was the 'skirt girl' - not only skirts, but petticoats, boots, bloomers, earrings, all day every day till I got home and then straight into my 'pie-jiminies'. I owned one pair of jeans, a pair of converse old style trainers and they only came out for working on film sets. Today I realised that I wear jeans (and I can't believe I am admitting this...) more days that I care to mention. And it has crept up on me without me even realising. Now I know in the grand scheme of things it shouldn't really be an issue, but HOW DID THIS HAPPEN!!!
Well basically I have become too comfortable and I want my dress sense to go back to the way it was! the thing is, I either work from home (when I may never leave the house) or I work in my studio (which is above a furniture workshop and hence the dustiest filthiest studio in the world). I become a dust mite within seconds of entering that place - so I have been dressing down, down, down. Now don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with jeans, but I look like a dumpling in them and I just realised how much I miss my former victorian-esque, World War II evacuee, Railway Children kind of style (okay maybe it wasn't quite as good as that - but that is how I imagined I looked). So from tomorrow, out come the petticoats, the patterned tights, the beads and I will be back to my usual self, I shall even get out the red lipstick. Okay so I am only going to the dusty old studio, but I will look like I am going to the theatre!
I finally managed to finish my effort for the Etsy Creative Challenge from about 3 weeks ago. It is a belt which I designed and created and was influenced by the wonderful singer/songwriter Kate Bush, who I am so in love with. Here is my description of the idea behind it - based on the song 'A coral room' -
This belt is for me more a piece of art as it represents so many different things (see details below). The belt is made from varying different silk fabrics which were bleached to give a faded effect, and then dyed with a coral fabric dye. The effect is a purposefully aged, worn, vintage look.
The lyrics of the song (written below) inspired me to make this belt. The song brings images to my mind of lovers waiting for their men who are at war, not knowing if they will return. As the song reminds me of images of fighter pilots of the first and second World Wars I wanted to give an aged and worn look to the fabrics – as if it had been lying in a trunk for generations only to be found moth-eaten and faded, but inherently beautiful. A vintage piece with memories worn into the fabric.
The belt is for sale in my etsy shop.
(PS I am having real trouble figuring out the best and most effective way of photographing garments on a mannequin. My photographs for small items is gradually improving since making a sort of light box, but if you have any hints and tips for photographing clothes and accessories on a mannequin, they will be gratefully received!)
Have a wonderful day.
A CORAL ROOM
There's a city, draped in net
Fisherman net
And in the half light, in the half light
It looks like every lover
Is covered in webs
Moving and glistening and rocking
It's babies in rhythm
As the spider of time is climbing
Over the ruins
There were hundreds of peole living here
Sails at the windows
And the planes came crashing down
And many a pilot drowned
And the speed boats flying above
Put your hand over the edge of the boat
What do you feel?
My mother and her little brown jug
It held her milk
And now it holds her memories
I can hear her singing
"Little brown jug don't I love thee"
"Little brown jug don't I love thee"
Ho ho ho, hee hee hee
I hear her laughing
She is standing in the kitchen
As we come in the back door
See it fall
See it fall
Oh little spider climbing out of a broken jug
And the pieces will lay there a while
In a house draped in net
In a room filled with coral
Sails at the window
Forests of masts
Put your hand over the side of the boat
Put your hand over the side of the boat
What do you feel?
by Kate Bush
I for one, can not wait to see this style of dress that is all your own. It sounds stunning. I know what you mean, of who have you become in dress attire. I myself am facing the same challenge. I find myself slightly unusual. In painting clothing and none of my cute stuff. My problem is that I am living at my loftishspace/studio and I do do not want to bring all my clothing here from my main home. In turn, I think me eating habits might have led to my lovely attire being, sadly, a bit snug. My girls seem bigger than normal. something i do not enjoy. Also, I know what you mean about movies. I detest and adore how they throw me up in the air and kick me around a little, in the emotional sense. You are so wonderful! I love your blog. Vanessa
Posted by: Vanessa | 31 January 2007 at 01:30 AM
first...love you!!!
I love your blog, yes...I too was the skirts and dress girl, all the time, even when working at a tiny place where no one would see me.
when I moved to where I am now....it appeared as though I was always dressed way up, and it became easier and easier to dress down, I wear jeans all the time now.
It is not good for me, lol.
though still in summer I do not wear shorts or capris, I am always in skirts and sandals.
though I am determined even while painting away all day, that I must still care about how I look...even if my loveliest of clothes are a bit tight on me too....
I must stop eating so many sweet cakes!
Posted by: stilettoheights | 31 January 2007 at 09:37 PM
See, I am not the skirts and dresses sort of girl though I have a longing to be one. There just never seem to be any that are me. I envy you for being that kind of girl.
I think your picture of your belt, which I love, is perfect. It is a great pic! I think you have a great sense of photography.
Posted by: aimee | 31 January 2007 at 10:44 PM
Vanessa I think it only looks that good in my head! though I do love my petticoats, the funniest thing is when elderly ladies stop me in queues to tell my slip is hanging down, I don't have the heart to tell them that is how I wear them!
Jenn, you are so right, it is easy to become comfortable, especially when I have a man who tells me I look good no matter what (I love him for that but it doesn't help when I need a reason to dress up!!)
Aimee, thanks for your comments about the photos, I just find it hard to get the 'atmosphere' I want, Lorimarsha is great at her garment photos and I would love to get that 'essence'
Posted by: Gillian | 01 February 2007 at 12:57 AM