The price of blogging: freezing into an ice cube.

Anyway, before I continue singing her praises for the next five minutes, the coat! I used a McCall’s pattern and originally wanted a trench coat yes. Alas! It did not end up quite like that (see lack of pockets, epaulettes and yoke on the back) but on the whole, it is passable. I’ve been slowly trying to use more natural fibres because I find them less claustrophobic to wear, so I picked a cotton drill for the outer and a very lovely silk for the lining. Okay, so it’s not waterproof and the cotton has a bad tendency of creasing (next time, I may get a blended fabric instead) but give me an umbrella for the rain and an iron for decreasing and the job’s a good’un.

Of course, the weather has suddenly become very cold here, so I suspect I won’t be wearing it again until the Spring. Although, I can’t say I mind much, because the problem with taking so long to finish something, is that you get very fed up of seeing it. Plus you get a bit so/so with the idea and want to move onto the next one – or at least I do!

P.S. The title references this Monty Python sketch for those who didn’t guess. I’m thinking I might have to try it one day, just to see how people react!

P.P.S. A family emergency has come up, so if I’m a bit AWOL for the next few days, you know why. I’m trying not to let it affect my blogging, but things which are life-altering bad, have a tendency to do so. Hope you understand x

More specifically, Dame Edith Sitwell. Well, well, you ask and I deliver – the continuation of the vintage icon posts. I thought I’d pick someone a little less known, though by no means forgotten. Someone who isn’t of the actress/model/musician breed I’ve featured previously, but was in fact a poet and, better still, known as an English eccentric!

A Brief Bio

Edith Sitwell was born in 1887 in Scarborough, England. As I’ve already mentioned, she was a poet – and a controversial one – known (according to wikipedia… I really should read other sources too…) for being a “supporter of innovative trends in English poetry“. I’ve not read any of her poems (or prose) but I think I shall be visiting the library soon enough! Actually, I was drawn to Edith not because of her unusual style (coming to that), but because of some quotes I’d read. I mean, someone who says these, have got to be interesting…

“Good taste is the worst vice ever invented.”

“I am patient with stupidity but not with those who are proud of it.”

“I have often wished I had time to cultivate modesty… but I am too busy thinking about myself.”

“I am dying, but otherwise I am quite well.”

That was rather a lot, but I had a hard time choosing one! There are many more quotes listed here, so definitely have a gander at some point.

Photos

Onto the fashion aspect of this post. Edith has a “angular” features – which I assume is a polite way of hinting at her profile – and stood tall, at 6 foot. So, she is not what one would consider a “conventional beauty” (urrgh, I hate these definitions of ‘beauty’, as if beauty only comes in one form), but, that is exactly what makes her so wonderful – she was ‘unconventional’ and from the sound of it, didn’t give a damn. Adorning herself in a striking mix of brocade/velvet dresses, gold turbans and many many rings; I imagine her critics must have had endless joy lampooning her, and she lampooning back!

All images found via Google. You can click on these to enlarge them if you so desire.

Whilst Edith’s style might be considered tame by today’s standards, putting into context of the early 20th century, then perhaps, we can begin to see why her style piqued interested when she was alive. Like many a fashion eccentric, she was muse to artists, wore and collected items she loved and probably enjoyed flouting the so-called ‘rules’ of dressing. Her jewellery collection can apparently be seen in the V&A, so, as I am visiting London (specifically there!) tomorrow, I’m definitely going to have to investigate.

* * *

Of all the icons I’ve done so far, I think Dame Edith Sitwell is fast becoming one of my favourites. I think it’s that (despite the fact I have and will never meet her), she seems like quite a character! She dressed for herself, spoke for herself and made no apologies about it – in spite of being deemed “eccentric” (which, in my humble opinion, is never a bad thing) by her contemporaries. Well, to put it in Dame Edith’s own words, “Why not be oneself? That is the whole secret of a successful appearance. If one is a greyhound, why try to look like a Pekingese?” Why indeed!

Anyway, a couple of you asked me to keep posting my assorted college related work. I really should post it with my sketchbooks/design sheets. But the truth is I’ve not bothered scanning those in. Plus, this above photo is a super quick photobooth snap to give you an idea, rather than the final photos which will HOPEFULLY (provided I can find a friend who’ll model for me… sadly, there are not many willing) be done soon.

This is what I made for my 3D project. The title was ‘Positive & Negative Space’ and I started by looking at shadows, but ended up using perspex and metal triangles to create this neck/shoulder piece. The perspex being clear to represent the negative space and the metal being the positive contrast. I’ll share better photos at a later date on flickr or possibly on here.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go and chant “rain rain go away” for a wee while in the hope that it decides to vamoose for half an hour so I can photo that blooming coat!

Content:

• Firstly, the Sewing Basics series will not be continuing. Originally, I had 8 potential posts on the list, but since it’s been well over 6 months since the last (which was no. 4 in the series), I have decided not to write the rest. Plus, I suspect it is a distant memory to most of you by now.
• However, before I hear wails from people who are interested in learning to sew (I know there are a few of you), I’ll introduce you to the new, ongoing feature I’m starting – the nameless DIY tutorials. I say nameless because currently I do not plan to name it as I did sewing basics. My theory is that actually doing little projects will be more rewarding than simply reading about the theory as you did in sewing basics. Anyway, so I’ll hopefully do a mixture of sewing, knitting, crochet, jewellery – basically anything which equals wearable or usable in a fashion sense. The projects could be based on things I want to make or challenges set by you!
  
• I’m still toying with whether or not I want to continue the vintage icon series. Part of me does because it’s interesting to find out about people of the past, but part of me doesn’t because icons can become a little… overrated… if you know what I mean. Since I’m sitting on the fence, I put it to you to decide – would you like the vintage icon series to continue?
• Somewhere on the blog, there is a feature of daily outfits. It’s not obvious because I don’t partake in outfit documentation/wardrobe remix quite as regularly as other people. In fact, it’s pretty blooming infrequent! Partly because I don’t dress amazingly everyday, partly because I don’t always feel photogenic and partly because I don’t have a large wardrobe so it’d get pretty dull, pretty quickly! Anyway, since I am now having to wear my own clothes everyday, it’s theoretically more likely that I’ll have good dressing days more regularly – so I’m working on trying to make it a little more frequent. Never fear, I sincerely doubt that outfits will become the main focus of the blog, but I just mean to say that hopefully it’ll be something more like fortnightly than once in 3 months.
• Outside the ongoing features, the blog will continue to exist in a merry bubble of handmade, fashion, art and style. The usual array of inspiration, musings and coverage of designers, books, magazines, art, photography, illustration, personal creations/projects etc. I’m working on trying to post more regularly (time management needed), but I’m afraid this change will be a gradual process! I do wish to ask if there is anything in particular you would like to see more of on the blog?

Other bits:

• Now stepping into blog background territory – some of you may have already noticed, but I have opened advertising in the sidebar. This does not stem from wanting to turn pro or make a fortune or anything like that, it’s simply that I am in need to covering costs, specifically of the domain name and hosting. Anyway, I suspect I do not possess quite the traffic of other sites (but I like my readers, so I don’t rightly mind) BUT, if you are interested in advertising, there are now spaces!
• I already announced the new layout, but yes, that has changed. I suspect I shall change the header logo when I eventually get bored with it – which I will do, especially because I’m not 100% with it at the moment. But I just wanted something a little cleaner and plainer, with just a dash of colour.

That’s all I can think of currently. I’m contemplating a few other bits, but nothing certain right now. Anyway, my apologies if this post has bored you senseless. It’s just helpful for me to write out plans and hopefully, get a bit of feedback from you. Now… to get started…

Of course, I never do get round to making anything similar and there are numerous products out there which I just could not make – such as the fabulous jewellery by Paraphernalia! So, in summer I decided that it wasn’t the best way to be all the time and figured some purchases are in order, albeit in a more considered manner. I have made a hit-list of sorts, for items in particular I want. Therefore, when my parents were nice enough to give me a little money a couple of weeks ago… well, well, you’re astute enough to guess where the gifted money went – Ms Vanda’s creations of course!

Strictly speaking, I have coveted the Sleuth necklace for longer than is probably healthy thanks to my mild obsession with detectives. Namely Sherlock Holmes (Jeremy Brett is the ultimate on-screen Holmes for me and before you ask, no I really don’t like the look of the new film) and Hercule Poirot (David Suchet on-screen, naturellement). Well, the package arrived this morning and I’ve already manage to irritate my brother with hiding-in-the shadows-spying impressions!

I also decided on a whim to get the ribcage necklace because I’ve recently developed a strange (and probably morbid) fascination with the skeleton (thankyou family of doctors and drawing classes) and Vanda was kind enough to bestow the secret badge upon me. Really, it’s a good job I had a limit because I could quite easily pick out a few more items I love… teapot necklace for my love of tea, binoculars necklace to continue the detective theme, fisherman’s wife brooch, scissors brooch… I’ll stop now…

Anyway, I have nothing more but praise for Paraphernalia and whilst the designs might not appeal to all of you, I’d definitely recommend if you’re in the market for something a bit different and want to support those fabbity fab independent designers bloggers wax lyrical about so frequently. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m orrrff to irritate that brother of mine a little more by continuing to prance about in a Sherlock Holmes on the prowl fashion!