The Great Gatsby....

 

 

 I've been quite excited about showing you my Daisy Buchanan, roaring 20's, flapper inspired  corsages - but wanted to wait until I'd seen The Great Gatsby before showcasing...

 

  I have to say I disagree with some of the negative responses to this rather brave and bold movie. I was hoping to see it last night with some friends but it was sold out! The film has been out over a week and we're talking about the Showcase Cinema De Lux here - seats galore!? All this only added to my absolute desperation to see the film. This morning I dropped my little boy in school,  took my lonesome self to the flicks, and came out of the cinema surprisingly satisfied.

  Like this film or not the response was always going to be huge. Its certainly a brave choice taking on a novel deemed one of the greatest works in American literature. I read it for the first time last Summer, loved it, but its not my favourite...Perhaps that's why I could accept and enjoy Baz Luhrmann's glitzy - almost comic strip - heart-breaking interpretation.

  I think the lead performances were all spot on. Leonardo DiCaprio will forever be a hard act to follow in my mind as the mysterious Jay Gatsby and Carey Mulligans 'beautiful fool' Daisy was played with just the right amount of carelessness.  I particularly loved Isla fisher as Myrtle Wilson and Joel Edgerton played the arrogant and vile Tom Bachanan to perfection.

  I say don't be put off by the mediocre reviews. Go see it for yourself. It's a good film.

 

  Anyway - after all that - here are my recent doll face corsages inspired by all things Gatsby! 

 

 

Yellow chiffon and rhinestones, white feathers and pale blue merino wool hair

Feathers and sequins, sequins and feathers

 

 

 

  I will be listing three out of four of these fabulous flappers in my shop very soon (I still have their pins to add)  I made the peach haired one for my friends birthday so she won't be up for grabs.

  Hope everyone has had a happy Thursday! x

 

 

 

More Little Portraits.....

I Only Have Eyes For You Acrylic on canvas textured paper

... I seriously think there's nothing better than to step into your well worn dance shoes (with ribbons of course), shimmy into a cute puffy sleeved blouse (preferably with tiny red polka dots) and pull on your buttoned braced tap pants!....

 

  I have enthusiastically added to my Busby Berkeley chorines collection over the weekend. Infact I've worked quite obsessively. Thinking up their outfits, hairstyles and names has pretty much consumed my every available working hour.



 Mary Lou Acrylic on canvas textured paper

    Some of the ladies who are inspiring this 'oh so enjoyable to work on' collection..

From top left: Joan Blondell, Ruby Keeler, Bebe Daniels and Ginger Rogers



Toby Wing and Una Merkel

You’re Gettin to Be a Habit with Me  Acrylic on canvas textured paper

  This new collection of work will be available as a postcard set in my shop soon. I think there are eight chorines altogether. I love how they are all coming together and I'm seriously enjoying doing lots of drawing and painting.

 

  My problem is there are just too many things I want to paint and make....As I said in a previous post I've got lots of things on the go at present, some almost finished, some half way through and some just seeds of thought that may or may not flourish into a full blown idea. Whatever I'm creating or indeed obsessing over you sure will be the first to know.

 

  I hope your week is off to a flying start. x

 

 

Little Portraits.......

  In my efforts to do more illustrating and painting I have turned to my beloved Busby Berkeley for inspiration. I wanted to do something a bit different and experiment with creating little portraits in a different medium. Most of the portraits I've done in the past have been small and in water colour or gouache, so using acrylics has been quite an experiment for me. I've created several portraits this week but these are the two I'm really happy with.

 

 As you know, I'm fascinated by the chorus girls in Busby Berkeley's magic and glamorous choreography...What was their story? Who were they? Were their lives happy? I'm always interested in the minor performers - the person in the background of an old faded photograph, or the platinum blonde with a one liner in a 30's musical.  Lets give these ladies some recognition!

 

  Not sure where I'm going with this weeks little side line but at the moment there's no stopping me. Maybe a postcard set? I'd love to know your thoughts.

 

 

'Thoughts of a Secret Love Affair' Acrylic on canvas textured paper







'Mildred' Acrylic on canvas textured paper

 

Not sure if I prefer the with or without the heavy rouge so showcasing both. This image is also a little darker.

 

 

 I love this noir bobbed chorine - a la Louise Brooks. She pops up as a dancer in lots of early 30's Warner Brothers films and was a huge inspiration for the above painting. A little research tells me her name was Mildred Dixon (1910 - 1985)

 

 

 

All hail Mildred Dixon!

42nd street 1933 The middle three are Ginger Rogers, Ruby Keeler and Una Merkel but I can just see Mildred Dixon (ankle socks and black ribboned tap shoes) second row on the left.



I so love these outfits.

 
  Hope everyone has a fantastic weekend and I hope to bring you more sparkling posts next week. x
 

Things I'm Working On.....

  Today I'd like to bring you a post on just a few of the things I'm working on. Some might say I have too many projects on the go but I like to wake up in the morning and have a choice as to what ever takes my fancy. I also find I have to get started on new ideas pretty much straight away otherwise I just don't sleep!

 

  We had a short spell of amazing sunshine in the UK a few weeks ago so my obsession with vintage beach wear reached catastrophic heights! and I began making sunny summer beach dolls and corsages......

 

 

I'm so in love with this swim suit. Made from 50's fabric



Coolie Hats!



LOVE! From the colour fashion sequence in 'The Women' 1939

 

 

 

Flowered swim hat



Raffia sun hat made in the same way as you might make a pom pom

 

 

  And in the anticipation of the forthcoming movie The Great Gatsby I'm creating a few one off Daisy Buchanan doll face corsages.....

 

 

Flapper fabulousness! chiffon and rhinestones

 

  I'm really pleased with the how these little faces are turning out, but since I want to add feathers as well  they may be a little too extravagant for wear (maybe a wedding) They'd look equally as lovely on you mirror or in a box frame - with some fancy art deco paper.

 

 

The beautiful and talented Carey Mulligan as Daisy Buchanan

 

 

 

  Belinda and her Bear mask........

 

 

 

 

 

 

Portrait of Belinda

Lots of lovely sparkly rhinestones on Belinda's costume and ruffle.

  I hope everyone's having a good week. Rest assured I will bring you full posts of my latest creations in due cause.

   Now I hate to contradict myself but recently I decided not to reserve items as I was getting confused who reserved what and having emails from people saying there's noting to buy its all reserved! Now I get lots of emails from upset peeps saying they missed out again! I'm soooo sorry - you have to be quick folks...There are a few hard core pipettes out there that purchase a fair few of my creations. Great to have fans but those who can't purchase within minutes of listing or are on the other side of the world and it's the middle of the night tend to miss out.  I will therefore consider reserving again.

  I'm still working on my circus illustrations for those who have been asking and yes I will be eventually listing them as prints and postcard sets in my shop.

  I also have the finishing touches to add to Persephone and Gretchen before listing in my shop....

 

 

 

Jean Harlow, Etsy Shop Update.....

  My two cotton haired Jean Harlow dolls have had their finishing touches and are now ready for my Etsy shop - I will be listing tomorrow along with two other Pip dolls.

  They look super pretty against my new pink wall.  

  I'm so sad to see them go.... Somehow I don't think this will be the last time I pull out the fluffy white merino wool, make silky lounge pants or go starry eyed for super arched eyebrows - watch this space!

 

  Remember to always read descriptions before purchase.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With another of my favourites - Claudette Colbert

 

 

 

 

 

 

Belinda and the Bear Part 2

 There is something quite magical about a cunning disguise, especially if it involves innocent and cheeky animal masks. Last weekend I started designing and making a few oversized masks for some lucky little doll characters to skip about in.

 

  First of all I have made this delightful bear mask - which I'm really happy with. I've also started to sew up a fluffy haired showgirl to model it. (Bringing to life Belinda in the 'Belinda and the Bear' illustration)

 

 

Bear Mask - paper mache, acrylic paint and varnish. Belinda's hair is a slightly more peach shade as I couldn't quite get the right shade of clotted cream for her hair and I didn't want to use white.

 

I will be making Belinda's costume with a ruffled, embellished collar - lets just say she borrowed it from her trusty partner the Bear!

 

 

   When I sketch a little character on paper I often fall head over heels in love - therefore have to sketch them again and again, making a little series of drawings and paintings. The clotted cream haired circus girl from 'Belinda and the Bear' (which is my favourite in the latest collection of circus illustrations) is now being well and truly Pipped! 

 

  Belinda and her Bear are the very best of friends......

 

 

 

 

 

These four snap shots look like Belinda and the Bear have popped into a photo booth!

 

 

 

I started to sketch this little drawing while watching tv one eve. I was then prompted to do a couple more detailed sketches.. Its kind of too sweet not to show you.

 

    I hope that everyone has had a good week? My working hours have been slightly disrupted as we have painters in revamping some of our decor. Come tomorrow we shall have a raspberry pink wall in our bedroom! So excited! Talking of decorating - sorry slightly digressing here - over the last few years I have been asked about the wallpaper which makes the backdrop to lots of my photos. Well its called  'Woods' and its by Cole and Son - I'm in love with wallpapers and am secretly planning a new 30's inspired print on one of our lounge walls.

 

  Anyway....Persephone and Gretchen are almost complete and are now happily creating an act around their drum and tambourine. Will take some photos over the weekend - hopefully in the sunshine.

  My two extra Jean Harlow dolls will also be up for grabs next week in my shop.

  Enjoy your Bank Holiday whatever you are up to! x


 

  

  * My illustrations are a work of fiction, obviously never in a million years would I think a bear (or any animal for that matter) belongs in a circus.