Fun with lighthouses

I forgot to mention that we decided to day-trip down to Savannah for Memorial Day. It was a bit of a last-minute affair, as we suffered from some serious indecision over how to spend that glorious day off (something which my husband rarely gets). But, at around 11am, we grabbed out things, new cameras in tow, and jumped in the car for the 4 hour trip. We drove straight through, arriving in Tybee Island 10 minutes before they were to sell the last tickets of the day for the lighthouse. I've been to the lighthouse before, but we thought it might be fun to climb it again. I love to look at lighthouses - they're very pretty, and I like the history that usually goes along with them. But I don't do particularly well with the height thing. My knees start turning to jello as soon as I hit the third story or so and am stricken with regret that I'm committed, tickets are paid for, and that I am suspended in air on an iron spiral staircase. I kept telling myself that if the little toddler who was running up the stairs in front of me could do it, so could I.

Fortunately, when we came down from the light house, I met these two little resident light house cats as I was walking around trying to un-jello my legs.

Miss Kitty

Michael

(Isn't that a funny name for a cat? It's like naming your cat Roger, or Richard, or Bob. I don't know why I find it funny, but I do.)

After we saw the lighthouse, we jumped back in the car and headed into Savannah for a mosey around and dinner at the adorable Sixpence Pub. Unfortunately, the light wasn't very good by the time we got into town and so I didn't get to experiment much with my camera. Instead, we bought taffy at River Street Sweets (a must every time we go) and walked around, enjoying the quiet. Most of the tourists who had come down for the holiday weekend had left, so the streets were empty and the air was sweet. We also drove around a bit scoping the wider area, since we've talked about possibly moving there one day. It's always nice to get a feel for different neighbourhoods within a city with that in mind.

Dinner at the Sixpence was a lovely finish to a whirlwind day, and we were very tired so we decided to head home. I was sad to leave, but I always am. I love the historic district of Savannah. It's so full of history and architecture. Like stepping back into the late 18th century. But at the same time, I am always somehow happy to come home to my little 1920s nestling. Not quite so grand, but sweet in its own way.

Old Photo of a Tybee Island Lighthouse Keeper and His Wife

Costume Project Thoughts

As I am nearing the end of my first 18th century costuming project, I am drawing inspiration from all over. Normally, my period costumes are quite accurate, but since this is my very first non-theatrical woman's 18th century dress (ridiculous, I know, considering my artistic fascination with the 18th century) and my fabric at hand was not the most period, I am not being a stickler for accuracy. That will come with a proper investment in proper materials. But nonetheless, this experience has been inspiring and has encouraged me to continue exploring the period.

So, in light of this, I just had to post a link to this extraordinary woman's project that I came across. She has undertaken the very large task of hand-sewing, whilst dressed in period clothing, a rococo woman's wardrobe.

Rockin' the Rococo

The accuracy is just incredible, and the final product is amazing and awe-inspiring.

How humbling.

Pirates and Canons, oh my!

Last month while in New Orleans, I rather dramatically dropped my camera on the Riverwalk. It wouldn't turn on after I dropped it, but after a bit of tapping and shaking, it came back to life. At least for a couple of weeks. About three weeks ago, I was photographing some new items for my vintage shop when my camera suddenly shut off and has not turned back on since. So, after much thought, consideration, and writhing with the idea of spending a large sum of money, I finally broke down and bought myself a fancy new camera. It was undoubtedly a necessity, given I have two little Etsy businesses. But deep down I really am a bit of a cheapskate and I hate spending money. Quite a step up from the dinky little Fuji Finepix that has so faithfully served me for the past four years. The Fuji was my very first digital camera. And while it wasn't a shiny big SLR, it took some really beautiful pictures. I bought it the summer that I moved to London for an internship. It has been all over the world with me. It has photographed a cheetah a mere foot away from me, as it mounted the Kenyan safari vehicle I was in. It has photographed rainy sidewalks in Paris, and it has been to the very top lantern of the Karlskirche cathedral in Vienna. It has been with me to more university balls, tea parties, and Edinburgh outings than I can even remember.



So, thank you, little Fuji. You were a good camera.

On Thursday, I bought the very grown up Canon SX10. (and my husband also purchased his very first digital, a Canon A1000 in blue - we're all camera'd up!) I'm still learning my way around all the different settings, but so far, so good. Not quite an SLR, but just a step below. The Macro setting is amazing!



The other big thing that is going on is preparations for the renfaire. We're a rather geekish couple and go to the renfaire every year, and we naturally get into the costuming side of things. This year is pirate themed, and we are being very un-renaissance-y rebels (our renfaire is by no means an SCA-sanctioned event, it is really just a big fun costume party where anything goes) by going in 18th century pirate costume. Captain Kidd and the Mrs, to be precise. Why? Because Captain Kidd was a very flashy dresser. At least according to illustrations of him. There is one particularly spendid illustration of him wearing a red justacorp coat (a knee-length coat with gores) and red stockings.



So, Patrick's outfit will be along those lines. I ordered Patrick some very fancy cotton red stockings and leather garters from the 18th century re-enactment suppliers, Jas Townsend & Son. He is making his own red justacorp, so there is red twill everywhere at the moment. I have a huge stash of mismatched gold vintage buttons which he will use on the coat, and he's going to make black breeches to go with it. We still need to solve thetricorn problem. I have a lovely big black tricorn, except that it is sized for me so it doesn't fit him, unfortunately. We've found one other tricorn, but Patrick doesn't like that it is covered in faux -suede, so we're trying see what else we can come up with. A plain wide brimmed black felt hat base would be ideal, but they are expensive and orders usually require a wait.

(Yes, my husband sews. Isn't it wonderful?)


As for me, the whole thing is really just a feeble excuse so that I can make that striped 18th century Polonaise that I have been wanting for so long. I bought about 10 yards of black and cream striped cotton twill about three years ago when I found it on clearance for $2 a yard. It's been in my fabric stash for a while, waiting for the right project to come along, but I think I always knew it was destined for something of the 18th century variety. I still feel like the stripe pattern is a bit too modern, but it looks good and the complexity of the stripe pattern has challenged my sewing skills. I'm planning on making a red sash to wear around the waist, which hopefully will 'piratize' the look a bit. I'll also be making a tiny black tricorn with a big red ostrich plume to go with the ensemble. The whole effect will be Helena Bonham-Carter-meets-Pirate, I think.



I will try to post up pictures when the costumes are finished. In fact, I should be working on them right now. So, with that, I will sign off for now!

The Circus...

It has indeed been a very hectic past few weeks. Busy with the challenges of being newly married, working on new paintings, starting lots of new projects and trying to finish the ones I started a while back. I never feel like I am doing any thing quite interesting enough to be worthy of sharing, but I wanted to show you one of my new ladies.

Fleur

Acrylic on Canvas

8x10

When I painted her, I was thinking of this play that Patrick had been telling me about. I cannot remember what it was called, but it was written in the late 19th or early 20th century and translated into English from either French or German, I believe. The one thing that really stuck with me about his description of this play was not the jealously, rage, and murder, but the beautiful and quiet bareback rider. All the men were in love with her, but none could have her. She was mysterious and aloof. A bit like Fleur. She wears a dark veil in spite of her glittering, bustled, white costume and pink plumes and roses. She is a performer. There to enjoy the distant admiration of the glorious public, but untouchable and distant.

Artistically, I've been really caught up in the world of the Victorian circus. It is a strange thing, the circus. I suppose it is inevitable that the current trend for all thing circus related on Etsy is more deeply rooted for me. My grandparents live in a 'circus town'. Circuses winter there, so when you drive down the street, you see trapeze equipment and animal training rings in people's back yards. There is an elephant sanctuary there for retired circus elephants. (Which I must say, as an animal lover and vegetarian, I have always disliked the animal aspect of the circus)

Nevertheless, the circus world is a fascination to me. It has a strange, glittering, shabby mystique. In this little town, it is not uncommon to find zebras in your neighbour's backyard, or meet a quiet, elderly woman at the town council meeting who was once a glamourous bareback rider. Peruse the local museum and find ancient, decrepted trunks full of circus memorbilia and Victorian popcorn machines. Wander through the local cemetery and you will find grave markers for trapeze artists who died tragically young next to markers for elephants that once danced.

A strange place indeed.