Which is your favourite painting?
Friday, 11 December 2015
Art Inspiration: Peaceful Spring and Summer Days
On Pinterest I've found the sweetest paintings of Victorian and Edwardian girls in the countryside, which is living my dream to be honest. When I have my own house, I can just imagine myself swanning about the garden in Edwardian and Lolita dresses, drinking tea and reading books on my days off. I'd love to live in the French or English countryside of course! These scenes are like my dreams come true.
Albert Lynch
Edmund Blair Leighton
Emile Vernon
John White Alexander
Richard S. Johnson
Spring, John Lavery - my favourite dress of all!
Which is your favourite painting?
Which is your favourite painting?
Monday, 7 December 2015
My Art: Sororicide
This post is well overdue seeing as I finished this piece in May! It is actually my final GCSE Art piece and got me an A*, for which I am very pleased.
Featured are Johan and poor Celeste, my two dolls that I played around with in order to get a setting I liked. They are Isul Johan and Pullip Nella, the set that Mitsukazu Mihara illustrated and designed. Instead of drawing them as people, I rather liked the idea of drawing the dolls themselves, massive eyes and all - and now we have a scene of a doll poisoning another doll! After all, the theme was "Fantastic and Strange", so you can't blame me for going all out, haha.
The story behind this drawing is that Johan, the younger brother, poisons his sister out of jealousy of her looks and beautiful dresses that their parents buy for her, earning her more attention. In my head he was a very lonely boy (or doll) and relied on the attention from his parents for everything, and when he realised that Celeste was fairer than him, he snapped and murdered her. It was inspired by a shoot in the Gothic Lolita Bible and my drawings of it, as I have done them in the same styles.
Featured are Johan and poor Celeste, my two dolls that I played around with in order to get a setting I liked. They are Isul Johan and Pullip Nella, the set that Mitsukazu Mihara illustrated and designed. Instead of drawing them as people, I rather liked the idea of drawing the dolls themselves, massive eyes and all - and now we have a scene of a doll poisoning another doll! After all, the theme was "Fantastic and Strange", so you can't blame me for going all out, haha.
The story behind this drawing is that Johan, the younger brother, poisons his sister out of jealousy of her looks and beautiful dresses that their parents buy for her, earning her more attention. In my head he was a very lonely boy (or doll) and relied on the attention from his parents for everything, and when he realised that Celeste was fairer than him, he snapped and murdered her. It was inspired by a shoot in the Gothic Lolita Bible and my drawings of it, as I have done them in the same styles.
Friday, 27 November 2015
Rosemary's Baby
As part of my research for college - we're doing a fashion project based on the psychedelic years 1966-70 - we were given a list of films to watch and review. Thankfully Rosemary's Baby was on this list, as I've been meaning to watch it for a long time now.
Pregnant Rosemary is expecting her first child, and along with the usual worries of bearing a child, she comes to suspect her neighbours and husband of being a witches' coven; at first she is paranoid that they want to use the blood and flesh of her first child in a ritual, but it is soon revealed that the child belongs to Satan. Naturally she is horrified at the ordeal, though towards the end her horror begins to wane as she rocks the child.
Despite being rated an 18, I didn't really find this film scary or obscene in any way; I suppose in the mid-sixties a theme of Satan worship would have been rather controversial and frightening for people (I assume), but today it seems rather dated, with far more disturbing films available. Perhaps the scariest part was when the camera briefly zooms in on a woman that committed suicide, showing blood. Despite this, I enjoyed it, as the character Rosemary Woodhouse had me constantly on the edge of my seat.
My favourite parts were how the music added suspense - I particularly liked the opening song/main theme music as it reminds me of the creepier Ennio Morricone songs with Edda Dell'Orso (my kind of music from the 60s and 70s) - and the slow build up to her hysteria.
However, I would have liked to have seen what Rosemary's Baby looked like, being half-Satan and all. The inverted cross hanging above the baby's crib was a nice touch for adding further creepiness, as well as the crowd yelling "hail Satan" and "God is dead" amidst Rosemary's cries of "oh God".
I also liked the constant imagery of medicinal/ritualistic herbs throughout, like the foul-smelling herbs in hers and the woman that committed suicide's necklace, which was claimed to bring good luck, the herb gardens that keep getting mentioned and promised by the husband, the medicinal drinks that her Satan-hailing neighbour makes her take, as well as Rosemary's own name. These herbal references hint at witchcraft from the beginning, perhaps foreshadowing what the family-to-be would get into by moving to the old deceased woman's apartment.
Pregnant Rosemary is expecting her first child, and along with the usual worries of bearing a child, she comes to suspect her neighbours and husband of being a witches' coven; at first she is paranoid that they want to use the blood and flesh of her first child in a ritual, but it is soon revealed that the child belongs to Satan. Naturally she is horrified at the ordeal, though towards the end her horror begins to wane as she rocks the child.
Despite being rated an 18, I didn't really find this film scary or obscene in any way; I suppose in the mid-sixties a theme of Satan worship would have been rather controversial and frightening for people (I assume), but today it seems rather dated, with far more disturbing films available. Perhaps the scariest part was when the camera briefly zooms in on a woman that committed suicide, showing blood. Despite this, I enjoyed it, as the character Rosemary Woodhouse had me constantly on the edge of my seat.
My favourite parts were how the music added suspense - I particularly liked the opening song/main theme music as it reminds me of the creepier Ennio Morricone songs with Edda Dell'Orso (my kind of music from the 60s and 70s) - and the slow build up to her hysteria.
However, I would have liked to have seen what Rosemary's Baby looked like, being half-Satan and all. The inverted cross hanging above the baby's crib was a nice touch for adding further creepiness, as well as the crowd yelling "hail Satan" and "God is dead" amidst Rosemary's cries of "oh God".
I also liked the constant imagery of medicinal/ritualistic herbs throughout, like the foul-smelling herbs in hers and the woman that committed suicide's necklace, which was claimed to bring good luck, the herb gardens that keep getting mentioned and promised by the husband, the medicinal drinks that her Satan-hailing neighbour makes her take, as well as Rosemary's own name. These herbal references hint at witchcraft from the beginning, perhaps foreshadowing what the family-to-be would get into by moving to the old deceased woman's apartment.
Tuesday, 24 November 2015
Good News and a Poem
This Sunday I have finished writing 40 chapters of When the Summer Ends, marking the end of my book! I’ve had so much fun writing this book lately, though at the same time I’m very happy it’s done. Now all I need to do is edit 35 chapters and then I can publish… Wish me luck!
For now, please enjoy this poem I’ve written:
When the Summer Ends
When the summer ends, and the leaves fall from the trees like embers,
I miss that sultry, blazing sun and the secrets we whispered mouth-to-ear on cloudless days.
Those summer evenings seemed an endless eternity, and yet autumn came all too soon.
The autumnal days brought us closer together as we made memories,
sharing school and heart.
Then winter came and autumn crumpled and died,
bringing with it a bitter curse sent to tear us apart.
And spring never came…
Not for many seasons to come.
Crossposted at Ellie Morris Books
Saturday, 21 November 2015
Christmas Market Meet at Manchester with CLAM
It feels like a while since I've posted here for some reason, but I've been very busy with college projects. Today I went to my first ever Lolita meetup with CLAM (Chester, Liverpool and Manchester)! Some people were surprised that I was in the fashion for five+ years and only recently went to a meet-up, and so am I!
I was really nervous about going to a meetup, which was silly as everyone there was so lovely and welcoming. I had a wonderful time, met some amazing Lolitas with gorgeous coordinates, and would love to go again sometime.
First we walked from the trainstation to the Christmas Market, where most of us got hot chocolate, and then we ate in Wagamama's, another first for me. I had the beef curry, which was so nice, but a red hot chilly hiding in there just about set my mouth on fire!
Here's what the girls were wearing, and also a bonus photo of my own coordinate. If anybody doesn't want their picture on my blog, please feel free to message me and I'll take it down.
It was so nice meeting you all!
I was really nervous about going to a meetup, which was silly as everyone there was so lovely and welcoming. I had a wonderful time, met some amazing Lolitas with gorgeous coordinates, and would love to go again sometime.
First we walked from the trainstation to the Christmas Market, where most of us got hot chocolate, and then we ate in Wagamama's, another first for me. I had the beef curry, which was so nice, but a red hot chilly hiding in there just about set my mouth on fire!
Here's what the girls were wearing, and also a bonus photo of my own coordinate. If anybody doesn't want their picture on my blog, please feel free to message me and I'll take it down.
My cheesy smile, taken with Mo and Abbey at Wagamama's. Photo taken by May.
Group shot from Nadina from Nadina O. You can see me, the shortest one wearing Innocent World in the centre of the photo, haha.
It was so nice meeting you all!
Sunday, 8 November 2015
Inspiration: Black Historical Gowns
On Pinterest I've seen a lot of black gowns recently, and with winter ahead of us I think these historical garments would look fabulous for the party season - especially those 1920s dresses!
Here are some examples that I found particularly beautiful.
Here are three examples of a 1920s robe de style, which someday I am hoping to make in black taffeta or silk.
Edwardian women in black.
1930s gown with an inset of cream lace.
I haven't seen a date for this dress, but I think it is from the 1950s? Isn't it gorgeous!
Another two Edwardian ladies wearing black, curvaceous gowns.
Princess Dagmar of Denmark in 1866. I love the sleeves and hair!
And finally, another example from the late Victorian and early Edwardian period. The stripes are divine, and that hat is drool-worthy; I think it has white bird or angel wings on it!
Here are some examples that I found particularly beautiful.
Here are three examples of a 1920s robe de style, which someday I am hoping to make in black taffeta or silk.
Edwardian women in black.
1930s gown with an inset of cream lace.
I haven't seen a date for this dress, but I think it is from the 1950s? Isn't it gorgeous!
Another two Edwardian ladies wearing black, curvaceous gowns.
Princess Dagmar of Denmark in 1866. I love the sleeves and hair!
And finally, another example from the late Victorian and early Edwardian period. The stripes are divine, and that hat is drool-worthy; I think it has white bird or angel wings on it!
Wednesday, 4 November 2015
Elizabethan-Costume's Stay Diary: Part 2 - Finished
I recently just tried on my stays and am happy to say that they function rather well! Even though they don't look pretty, I'm rather pleased with the flattened silhouette they give me, which looks very period.
I have to say that I'm not too fond of how they look, though. The fabrics I used (faux suede and a velvety pile fabric) could be more 18th Century, such as linen and silky taffeta, and the overall look appears very rushed and untidy - i.e. there are still lines where the tension was wrong, giving the thread a bobby effect, on show, and I haven't tried too hard to get rid of my basting stitches, as they're hidden in the rather sloppy bias binding...
But still, I managed my second period garment! The fichu is my first item, as I like to start with the undergarments of an outfit first.
For the boning I gave up on spiral steel as the little caps that go with them got stuck in my stay channels, as I didn't have the correct equipment to do it properly; getting those little, um, things out broke all my nails. Very annoying, but it had to be done. So instead I used plastic cable ties, which work like miracles in corsetry - I was so pleasantly surprised with the results!
Then I very messily added bias binding from the corner shop (I'm very lucky to have a sewing shop just one field away from my home, and the ladies that run the shop can't get rid of me!), which went wrong as the cable ties got in the way and wrecked havoc with my sewing machine.
The grommets were stitched by hand with embroidery thread, I'm pleased to say. I love stitching by hand as I can put music or Jeeves and Wooster on and just sit on my bed, sewing away. However, I'm not sure which stitch I used, as buttonhole looked too advanced for me, so I just made something up as I went along, which turned out okay in the end - I think it was satin stitch.
I have to say that I'm not too fond of how they look, though. The fabrics I used (faux suede and a velvety pile fabric) could be more 18th Century, such as linen and silky taffeta, and the overall look appears very rushed and untidy - i.e. there are still lines where the tension was wrong, giving the thread a bobby effect, on show, and I haven't tried too hard to get rid of my basting stitches, as they're hidden in the rather sloppy bias binding...
But still, I managed my second period garment! The fichu is my first item, as I like to start with the undergarments of an outfit first.
For the boning I gave up on spiral steel as the little caps that go with them got stuck in my stay channels, as I didn't have the correct equipment to do it properly; getting those little, um, things out broke all my nails. Very annoying, but it had to be done. So instead I used plastic cable ties, which work like miracles in corsetry - I was so pleasantly surprised with the results!
Then I very messily added bias binding from the corner shop (I'm very lucky to have a sewing shop just one field away from my home, and the ladies that run the shop can't get rid of me!), which went wrong as the cable ties got in the way and wrecked havoc with my sewing machine.
The grommets were stitched by hand with embroidery thread, I'm pleased to say. I love stitching by hand as I can put music or Jeeves and Wooster on and just sit on my bed, sewing away. However, I'm not sure which stitch I used, as buttonhole looked too advanced for me, so I just made something up as I went along, which turned out okay in the end - I think it was satin stitch.
Next time, I'd like to have a go with the spiral boning that I purchased, and adapt my pattern that I drafted from Elizabethan-Costumes, making it longer with a busk, metal grommets, and prettier fabrics. I'd also take more care to make it neat and well-presented - but for now I'll just call them peasant stays.
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