Violet millinery flowers pinned in hair – vintage shop in Seattle
Teal earrings – urban outfitters
1940s? floral dress with flower baskets and purple ric rac – buffalo exchange
purple plastic flats – Melissa, from my trip to Brazil
What a lovely little frock I’ve found! At first, I was drawn to it because it looks like a pinafore apron, especially because of the ruffly shoulders. It has little purple and teal flowers ribbon trailing out of baskets. And ric rac! I’m such a sucker for ric rack. Unfortunately, we were hit by a giant thunderstorm this evening, and as I was running to my bus stop with my bike in a downpour, I slipped and fell with my bike on top of me. I suffered a scraped shoulder and arm, and my dress was crushed with dirt and blood. I also had my millinery violets in my front pocket, and they bled a huge purple stain down the front of the dress. As soon as I got home, I soaked the stain in my own personal savior, Biz Laundry Stain Fighter and the stain has nearly disappeared! I first found out about Biz when I worked at the Antique Expo in Portland, during a conversation with a woman whose hobby was to restore Edwardian linens. She swore by it, and now that I’ve been using it for two years – I do too! My tattoo is now two years old, and I’m still smitten by the design. My friend Grace drew the bunny and the hand is based off of Victorian mourning jewelry. Annie Mess is my artist for this piece and my Valentine leg pieces, and if you’re in the Austin area I highly recommend her. She likes to brought cupcakes to tattoo appointments
When I watch movies, I always take pictures of the kissing scenes! Here is Greta Garbo starring as the sultry and mysterious Mata Hari (1931). This story is loosely based on the persona of the real Mata Hari, a German exotic dancer who was convicted and executed as a spy during World War I.
Garbo wears elaborate headpieces throughout the film, but only does one sexy dance. This woman is magnetic – this poor general buys her a fancy ring (pictured) AND blows out the flame he has burning for the Virgin. He’s blinded in an airplane mission, and does not know that Mata Hari goes to jail to await execution. The nuns look on. He is blind in this scene. The ending was very sweet. I cried a lot!!
I took my drivers test today and now I have joined the ranks of driving society! I will still be riding my bike nearly everywhere, but I wanted to have an option to rent Car2Go if I needed to. I’m honestly very frightened at driving a Smart Car because they are so small and there are lots of highways and confusing feeder roads in Austin.
Oh, gosh, what have I been up to? All of this heat makes the days melt together.
Taking the dog on long walks in the August heat to get zucchini tacos at El Chilito.
Listening to John Waters read his new book “Role Models” on my iPod everywhere: on the bus, on long walks, and passing endless hours at the DMV. In this, Waters recounts nearly everything, from his friendship with Leslie Van Houten and her life in jail to the brand and color of the pencil that he uses to draw on his signature pencil thin moustache. In honor of John Waters, I created a sundae this week called “Pink Flamingo,” which includes two tiny toy flamingos, pink sprinkles, and a Fingerstache temporary tattoo. So far only girls under 8 years of age have ordered it, which I think is kind of funny.
This is important: You must know about the Harlem James Gang! Snappy dressers, magic acts, catchy songs, and THE most handsome men I’ve ever seen! I hope they plan to come to Texas sometime in the future… but for now I’ll be jealous of all y’all who get to Huff with them.
Speaking of other male performers that I’m smitten by, I hope everyone was cheering for Prince Poppycock’s performance on America’s Got Talent yesterday.
In other reincarnation/timetravel news, I recently found out (via Darla Teagarden’s facebook feed) that my MOST favorite song from when I was a kid was not originally by Trout Fishing in America, as I had previously thought, but written in the 1930s and sung by a British radio and variety entertainers, Sovell and Wheldon. Warning! It’s a tongue-twister song that will be stuck in your head for days. Proceed with glee:
“Proper Cup Of Coffee” sung by Scovell & Wheldon 1934
Favorite filmstill I snapped this week: Marlene Dietrich, 1935 with teacup and upside-down heart kiss curls.
Prince Poppycock’s Striptease at Dances of Vice – be sure to watch until the end! Yow!
This is not my uploaded video, but I love LOVE in these old movies when lovers sing operatic solos loudly into their lovers’ faces.
I’ve captured some quiet, overlooked snippets of the 1930 French film “Prix de Beaute.” The majority of these were panning shots or captures from a series of montages:
Louise Brooks mournfully listening to her phonograph (pictured in the foreground). A random audience shot of this girl and her adorable spit curls The woman on the left reminds me of my grandmother. Also, doesn’t this man look like carved marble? What a jaw! I love close-ups of the 1930s pointed manicure. Makeup montage before the Beauty Queen promenade. What a perfect cupid’s bow. A woman having her knees powdered. When I was first nursing my flapper obsession in 2001, I was in disbelief that women would actually roll their stockings down to rouge and powder their knees. Here is cinematic proof! Mystery woman at the carnival. Women in a crowd listening to a loud speaker announce the Beauty Prize.
When I watch movies, I always take pictures of the kissing scenes! This is a continuation of last week’s Kissing Film Stills, featuring Prix de Beaute (1930), starring Louise Brooks. This week’s installment shows the less violent, not-as-possessive kisses as the previous post.
This was a difficult movie to watch, as the boyfriend was unfairly possessive.
But Louise could always be persuaded into an embrace.
The blogsphere can be misleading. A quick scroll down a fabulous fashionista’s page, and it’s all talk, talk about fabulous new perfumes and quirky adventures performend in the name of fashion. No mention of day jobs or drudgery. I’ve been blogging since 2002, and for me, it has always served as escape. It’s a place I can catalogue my adventures, vent about passions, and connect with like minded ladies and gentlemen. I’ve met some of my best connections through blogging! Who else would I have to stay with in PDX, NYC and Paris if not for networking? So, to keep things interesting for y’all, I seldom talk about my jobs, unless they were directly related to the blog in some form.
Right now, my fabulous job that I’ve had since I moved to Austin at the toy store is coming to a close. Gone are the days when I blast Prince songs and hype up on coffee and sugar fumes to greet the patrons of the day. My days of soft serve slinging will be put on hold in favor of Texas history and recounting the adventures of Lewis and Clark to twelve year olds. Tomorrow I begin my last week of full time, before I leave to teach middle school in a TBD place in Austin. I’m scared to switch gears, but I’m up to the challenge. The hardest part will be living with no income for the next four months. I’ve grown accustomed to eating meager meals and biking everywhere to save money. Yikes! I think I can do it.
With heat in the neighborhood of 103F, & a charming 1940s flat that does not cool well, my summer has been spent embroidering in the dark to a flickring computer screen. Summer brings mysterious bruises. I have them in colonies, it seems. Sometimes they make a face: two eyes, crooked smile. I think I get them from clanging my bike around. I only dress up to attend night functions, so my daily outfit shots look as if I’ve stuck a camera under a bed to take a flash photo. This week, Action for Animals held a silent protest against the Ringling Bros. Circus which just rolled into town. I have been going to all of the information sessions and support groups, and attended opening night with 160 members of Vegans Rock Austin, VegAustin, and more. The majority of the evening I stood next to a woman who had to be in her late 60s and I was struck by her passion for the cause. I hope I get to see her again! I handed out little comic books about the lives of elephants when they are not in captivity.
This week also I learned where I will be student teaching. Back to school means endless professionalism meetings where they instruct us on how to act, how to dress, and what not to put on our facebook or other social networking pages. Specifically, they tell us not to “friend” our students, have photos that depict alcohol use or to have status updates that rag on co-workers (duh). However, I’m torn on if I should have activist/political photos of myself online. They never touched on that subject. So, future students, (if you find this) here I am, standing up for what I believe in. I hope you choose to enjoy Cirque du Soleil or other animal-free circuses.
During the daylight, it’s really too hot to wear anything other than 1940s lingerie and real flowers pinned as a headband. If I wear makeup, it has to be blended enough to where I can slide it back in place after it melts on my bike rides. My summer imagery has been punctuated by the arrival of this print from Austin tattoo artist Stacy Martin’s Etsy Store. This design is based on my friend Niku’s tattoo, although it could be based on scenes from my decor! Niku and I got phonograph lady tattoos around the same time and didn’t even know it! (We are psychic collectors: we also collect human teeth and typewriter imagery). I know I promised that my last tattoo would be my last, but seeing Miss Martin’s work is changing my mind!
Fresh purple daisies pinned in my hair – Whole Foods Market
1930s raspberry sorbet dress – bought at Andrea’s insistence – good choice!
Black pointed shoes
For my 28th birthday, we attended a showing of The Thin Man at the Alamo and then went out for fancy cocktails at East Side Show room. Meghan from Sugar Tooth Bakery made me Red Velvet Cupcakes and they were divine!
This is Tony, my birthday twin. I am 3 hours older than he is! We always try and run into each other on our birthdays.
What a lovely little frock I’ve found! At first, I was drawn to it because it looks like a pinafore apron, especially because of the ruffly shoulders. It has little purple and teal flowers ribbon trailing out of baskets. And ric rac! I’m such a sucker for ric rack. Unfortunately, we were hit by a giant thunderstorm this evening, and as I was running to my bus stop with my bike in a downpour, I slipped and fell with my bike on top of me. I suffered a scraped shoulder and arm, and my dress was crushed with dirt and blood. I also had my millinery violets in my front pocket, and they bled a huge purple stain down the front of the dress. As soon as I got home, I soaked the stain in my own personal savior, Biz Laundry Stain Fighter and the stain has nearly disappeared! I first found out about Biz when I worked at the Antique Expo in Portland, during a conversation with a woman whose hobby was to restore Edwardian linens. She swore by it, and now that I’ve been using it for two years – I do too!
My tattoo is now two years old, and I’m still smitten by the design. My friend Grace drew the bunny and the hand is based off of Victorian mourning jewelry. Annie Mess is my artist for this piece and my Valentine leg pieces, and if you’re in the Austin area I highly recommend her. She likes to brought cupcakes to tattoo appointments 
