My dolls finding their new homes - the French Theatre family.

Since I will be moving away very soon my dolls from previous obsessions has decided to try their luck at moving out in the world as well. By the world I in this case mean my disappointingly small home town, but hey! if I was 3 inches tall I'd probably think that was enough world for everyone.

First to go was the star of my French Theatre from 2008, Lux Landry ( yes, that is what I named her). She hopes to make it to the big stage and do serious drama. Nothing but fame and fortune is what she's set her mind to! Taking farewell of the little musichall (that quite frankly smelled a bit too much like booze, lice and syphilis for her taste!) and the other dolls who have become like a close family, she packed her bags and jumped.

The rest of the French Theatre-family is still waiting to get their chance.

There is Jasmine, the warm hearted can-can dancer..she was in a bit of a hurry, as most of the time, and forgot her dress! but at least she has shoes on her feet and a smile on her face. The rest will fall into place eventually..she thinks. 

With her she has the theatres handyman and everyone's big brother (metaphorically of course). He had no real interest in leaving at first..the musichall life suited him just fine (apart from the night there was a show going on.) But there comes a time for change for everyone and when Jasmine asked him to join her he felt that time had come! 

But surely such inexperienced and reckless dolls need some one who knows what they're doing? so Charlotte decided to jump along! Actually she tired of the place long ago, but family is family after all.. Truth is there isn't anything she'd not like to see in her life so whatever comes she's exited to see the world outside!

..let's just hope they don't en up MURDERED like can-can girl nr.2! The road (or in this case fleemarket) is a dangerous place for a young defenceless doll..she expected to get her heart broken when she decided to go on her own..but never did she expect decapitation. It's a good thing she's a doll..a hot night with the glue gun will soon heal that up.

 

Left on the rooftop with a guitar and the last bottle of absinthe is the 3rd and last can-can girl (not yet changed from the last show) and her lover, the play-writer. As the sun sets on an era they soak up the last parts of a truly magical time. Their little son is a sleep in his bunkbed for the last night. Tomorrow morning starts a new life. Together they will concur the world.

And as the French Theatre closes down, the audience will be on the hunt for the next new thing, the next star on the stage, the new entertainment. Strolling along they too hope to be picked up for new adventures! 

Just one last look couldn't hurt though, could it..?

¤

In need of a good cheer-up?

http://www.marriedtothesea.com/

Bel ami..like Dorian Gray but less gay..?

"Now listen carefully: Marriage, to me, is not a chain but an association. I must be free, entirely unfettered, in all my actions -my coming and my going; I can tolerate neither control, jealousy, nor criticism as to my conduct. I pledge my word, however, never to compromise the name of the man I marry, nor to render him ridiculous in the eyes of the world. But that man must promise to look upon me as an equal, an ally, and not as an inferior, or as an obedient, submissive wife. My ideas, I know, are not like those of other people, but I shall never change them."

                                                                                                   -  Bel Ami, 1885

There is no way I will know if I like my new book until I've actually read it, but when I read this quote I knew I had to have it!  I do love it when I come across words that could have been my own.. 

As I've probably mentioned before, there was only one fictional book I have actually liked and that did not bore me to tears and that was "the Picture of Dorian Gray". It's still my favourite book and I have it by my bed always. The other one more recently found is "the Crimson Petal and the White". 

 So it seems like I (just like all of you) only like things I can relate to..and in that case this bods well! 

There's just nothing like feeling like there used to be people out there thinking like me..

Ps.

the dream..

First of all I can't help but wonder if it's a good or a bad thing that my most read post is named "housewife on speed"..in my defends, it was a long time ago during my studies into how the woman's role developed..but it sure sound like something totally different!

 Secondly, I thought I'd do some blog-whoring! Since my date of emigration creeps closer every day and things are looking less bright than hoped for, I'm now asking my dear blogreaders for help. Is there anyone out there living in England..maybe Rochester? or Birmingham? who would know of anyone looking for a super talented and hard working seamstress/costume designer who is moving to the UK very soon? I can do just about anything (except actual whoring) but I do love to work in theatre so that would be a preference. 

..One can always ask!

"3 tickets on the Titanic, please!"

..the Dream.

As probably many of you know (all, if  "you" are female ages 25-30, because Titanic was seriously the awesomest film ever made, omg!)  it is now 100 years ago since the Titanic. On the day actually, this was the first night, the 10th to 11th of April. This has a particular significance to me, not only because the Titanic film has had a defining effect on my perception of love from a way too early age, but also because this year (most likely even this month) will be the year of my own emigration from this frozen wasteland of my emotionally crippled childhood dreams.

This is how I wish It will be.

Without going into too much detail, THIS is my dream, the dream, the "I have a dream" kind of dream! Ever since I was little I've had a restless longing for something indescribable..something like home. Since then I've travelled around and always felt less home when getting back. Now it finally seems like I might get out..finally. It's been a long...long time.

And this is how my mother sees me.

So this April I will be emigrating to the United Kingdom with my husband and son! And I must say, nothing has ever been so insanely complicated! It seems a little like when you first move on your own..you can't get a job without an apartment..and you can't get an apartment without a job. How does people figure that I wonder? Surely they can't all have loving parents? 

Hopefully our strong wills and low expectations will take us far..and then our talent the rest..? and if I could only live in England I'd happily be an underpaid foreigner..one thing is for sure: there's no way I'd ever encounter more language problems there than right outside my front door..and everyday I'd feel free as a bird who is, ironically, looking for a nest. And it would be worth it.

 "To strong wills and low expectations!" chin chin

In a moment of weakness..

Now after recovering from the massive mental-slap-in-the-face-so-hard-it-made-me-throw-up I got from this series half a year ago it is now definitely my favourite series. It's relevant because it's my biggest inspiration for what will be my last non-profit sewing project for possibly a very long time.. After that I can be my own version of Sugar. Sadly..the clothes are just the shell of a very disturbingly close resemblance.

 

I'm not going to offer any explanation to my choice of  video clip. My experience is usually that of "either you get it..or you wont". The clothing inspiration is still awesome though.

It's been established, it's definitly Victorian again!

the original..a bit poofier.

Because my Victorian studies never seem to end, here's now my latest contribution! And to be clear now, it's not Edwardian as I first thought, it's still very much Victorian. It's 1890's, somewhere before the turn of the century, so since I'm going for a bit of middleclass Scandinavia here I'm estabishing that it's 1900. The A-line skirt, the poofy sleeves and the gathered bodice with standing collar, all typical of the late 1890's is what I've learned during my research for this outfit! The crowning glory would be the bead-embroidered belt that ties it together..totally proud of my first bead-embroidery there.  

a bit of 1900 in my home

The difficult parts of the outfit was as always the sleeves, but also the fitted lining and how to put together the outer fabric with it. Because, just like the originals (or the ones that I've seen), the bodice isn't as "airy" on the inside as it is on the outside..things only look lose fitting. But it turned out really well in the end! The most fun was definitely my favourite piece, that wasn't in the original plan: the flounced petticoat! It just completed the look, and it's just the prettiest ever!

I actually knew very little about this times fashion before I started on this. What I knew was the general silhouette, but I did have it confused with about 5-10 years later (hence the Edwardian-thing), but I liked how this is the next face after the bustle-era which I know very well, and it was like seeing how time has passed thorough clothing.

 The interesting thing though for me is the very different silhouette this is compared to the one I usually wear. All the weight has sort of shifted from back and low to high and front in the 20 years or so that's in between, and even though I could never pull off a late 1890's look it's been really fun doing it for some one who can! 

So here it is, all finished, my mother-in-law's Turn of the Century Outfit!