Kitten Von Mew performing at Stratford Arts Festival, Stratford upon Avon
Don’t forget to come and support me at this great local event! I will be doing a singing set and then a burlesque routine later in the evening!
Who You Gonna Call?…Dambusters!
On Saturday I was lucky enough to sing at St Peter’s Church in Wellesbourne, which was playing host to a special event! Philip West (an amazing aviation artist) and the local historical society Walton History Group arrange a special celebration for the 70th anniversary of the Dambusters Raid. This bombing raid, known as Operation Chastise was completed by the 617 squadron and Squadron Leader George L. ‘Johnny’ Johnson was there! Johnny as he is affectionately called was the bomber aimer in one of the specially modified Avro Lancaster Mk III’s and told us all about his time in the war, from training to be a pilot (which he was dreadful at and had no intention of being) to becoming a husband and bomber aimer for one of the most significant raids in WWII history.
We also had the pleasure of meeting the daughter of Barnes Wallis; the creater of the bouncing bomb too! She shared stories of how her father tested out bouncing bomb ideas in the garden using her marbles.
I volunteered to sing some 1940′s songs in exchange for one of Philip’s fabulous prints and an autograph from the artist and George Johnson! My cheeky request was accepted and I was so happy to be part of this wonderful event. Everyone was wonderful and we got to meet some amazing people such as Iris Erwin who’s husband Sgt E C Erwin was one of the Path Finders in the war and was captured and sent to a P.O.W. camp. He escaped a few times, but was soon found again and put back. He survived the war, but unfortunately no longer alive, so his wonderful wife now holds on to his amazing paraphernalia. From a rice paper P.O.W. map of Germany and the border hidden in the back of a bible to his RAF jacket, she has kept everything immaculately. She even has a wedding card in the shape of a black cat’s head of which he took with his to war and it never left his pocket, even in the prisoner of war camps. I was so taken with this wonderful lady that I am planning to ask her for an interview as a feature in Military World Magazine soon. She completely stole our hearts, especially as whilst I was singing a bit of Gracie Fields, she came and shuffling and bobbing along with her little walking stick. She reminded me a little of a wind up tin toy doll and we wanted to take her home with us!
I do not wish to say much more as I plan to do a write up on this event in the magazine, so do not want to be repeating myself! Rest assured there will be more photos added and I will post a copy of the article once it has been published!
Vintage Knitting for Knit Wits
1940′s Pixie Hat by Kitten von Mew
So I have started to knit. I tried doing this as a child and did ok on a standard knit and changing colours for stripes, but got bored as every one does and went back to playing pirates. Pirates don’t knit.
So now I have started again and with baby steps have become confident at basic knitting and purling, knitting together and casting on an off. I can see those talented people finishing off their Fairisle masterpieces with 5 needles, rolling their eyes at me as they cast off their sweater using their toes and start crocheting a matching beret just using their eyelashes… but this is a huge challenge for me. Anything that needs a precise pattern is a complete nightmare for this Kitten. I enjoy my crafts and yes have made some dresses, but alot of that is following a basic pattern and then botch jobbing it to suit me. You cannot do this with knitting! If you drop a stitch it screams as you with its big gaping mouth, whilst its brothers and sister mock me until I have to pull them all off and start over. I have also tried cable knit and have resorted to the fact that I am ‘Knitslexic’ with some things. I know how it should look and find it perfectly logical to follow the pattern…until my blasted hands get in the way and my brain starts singing ‘I Wish I Was in Dixie.’ I suddenly look down to find that my twisted rope pattern resembles mores of a half eaten bread pudding.
I did however manage to make a 1940′s adult sized pixie hat! Although the pattern was for beginners, I found it a little complicated to follow, so have created a basic pattern that any beginner can follow and knit themselves a wonderful little hat for the chilly seasons and windy WWII event fields! It will go great with your Heyday Coat or Gab Jacket and why not knit a matching pouch bag using the same basic pattern?
1940′s knitted pixie Hat
What you will need:
- 7 1/2 Needles
- Thick to Chunky Wool
- Large needle
Cast on 44 stitches and knit 4 purl 4 to the end of the line. Do this for the next 9 lines to create a rib effect
After this, garter stitch (that is just regular knitting to me and other beginners) until the whole thing is about 8″ long. You can obviously do this longer if your head is larger. I measured from behind my front curls (I like some of my hair to halo my face and soften the lines, but you can always knit one that comes right to the front of the head if you wish) to where I wanted the point at the back.
Cast off and fold it in half. The ribbing pattern will be the front of your hat.
Take your needle and spend the rest of the weekend cursing as you try and thread your wool into it’s eye. Once you have succeeded, grab a cup of tea as a reward and blanket stitch the back of your hat together, making sure it is inside-out as you do so.
Next you need to make the chin strap. If you have more patience, you can do 2 long knitted ribbons to tie in a bow. I had no patience left, hence I did a short strap and button. Simply cast on 6 stitches and knit 2, purl 2, knit 2 for every line until it is 7 inches long.
Change to standard garter stitch for the last inch. I just dropped a stitch to make the button hole on the second row of garter stitches. Im sure advanced knitters would have a heart attack at this, but it works for me. Cast off when your work measures 8 inches or more for larger heads.
After you have finished the strap, turn your hat the right way and sew it onto one of the pointed corners at the front of your hat. Sew a button one the opposite side for the strap to attach to.
Turn the hat around and tug the back point a little so it is more accentuated.
You can either leave it plain or adorn it with little pom poms as I have done! 3 on each side grouped together at the ears and 2 dangling from the point.
If you want to make a matching pouch bag simply copy the instructions for the basis of the hat, but sew up each side, leaving the ribbed top open. Thread your needle with wool and then sew in and out all around the ribbing to create a drawstring top. Adorn with pom poms and lie down in front of reruns of The House of Elliot, exhausted and surprised at your own talents.
New Perfomance Dates Added
Please check my performance dates tab here for new events added for 2013 AND 2014!
Make sure you pop them in your diary!
Stratford Upon Avon Arts Festival Performance
I have just come across a lovely article about my performances on the Stratford Upon Avon Arts Festival website! A really nice write up (Albeit an old photo) so I thought I would share it with you all. I will be performing at the festival on 1st June at No.1 Shakespeare St. Just click here
London Trip – Churchill’s War Rooms and the Troxy
Kitten von Mew outside the Imperial War Museum, London
In February we decided upon a weekend trip to London, originally to go to The Imperial War Museum and a cinema event at the Troxy. I had been waiting for a free day to visit the museum and we were so excited about it! After a rather bad night at a Premier Inn (Angry Welsh drunks shouting down the corridor and the receptionist pumping up the volume of the foyer music to ease her boredom), we got dressed and gleefully made our way to the IWM. I can honestly say that I shed a tear as we were met at the door by a security person who told us the museum was closed until late summer and that most of the WWII exhibits were being relocated to Duxford. My insides were throwing toys out of my pram as I tried to outwardly keep composure, but the poor lady saw how mortified I was.
Imperial War Museum in London, taken by Kitten von Mew
We decided to check out Churchill’s War Rooms instead as we were dressed up, so made the trek to St James’ Park over the river. The ticket price was £17 each, which seemed a tad steep, but did include an audio tour in the form of a handset. The cabinet war rooms are a maze of tunnels and rooms below the Treasury building and feature original fixings, furniture, maps and phones. You definitely need the audio guide as you walk around as it is the only thing to explain what you are currently looking at. This is nice in a way as walls are not covered with descriptions, but not great for deaf visitors (although I am sure they must have a special free guide book for that purpose).
Churchill’s War Rooms – Phone and WWII Map. Taken by Kitten von Mew
I especially liked looking at the old war maps with their pins, string and roughly penned sunken ships and notes. The coloured scramble phones were also amazing (look out for the green handled ones that were used for top secret, highly important information!). It was also great looking into Winston’s bedroom and his wife’s room further down the corridor. They had even gone to the trouble of putting out one of his cigars on the bedside table ashtray!
Winston Churchill’s bedroom in the Cabinet War Rooms. Taken by Kitten von Mew
Lighting is extremely low in the War Rooms and as the doorways to rooms are covered with clear perspex, this makes it difficult to take good photos, so excuse my efforts!
Close up of the pins and string for the maps in the Cabinet War Rooms. Taken by Kitten von Mew
The next day we dressed up in our finest to go to the Future Cinema event at The Troxy. This time it was Casablanca and the theming of the place was perfect.
Mr Mew outside the ‘Rick’s Cafe’ entrance to the Future Cinema event. Taken by Kitten von Mew
Richard and Kitten Von Mew outside the Troxy back entrance.
Interior of the Troxy. Capturing some of the action of Future Cinema’s Casablanca! Taken by Kitten von Mew.
Play it Sam! Kitten and ‘Sam’ at The Troxy.
Kitten von Mew, taken by Richard Von Mew
What a great way to watch a fabulous film and round off the weekend!
Mothers Day Personalised Posters
Vintage style personalised poster by Kitten von Mew for Findmeagift.com
I was asked by Findmeagift.com to help design some special Mother’s Day posters that could be personalised! Because of my love for vintage and the fashion being someone homed in on sewing, polka dots and vintage styling I created 2 pictures that would be perfect for traditional homes.
The first is a photograph of some of my antique sewing paraphernalia and the label on the far right cotton reel and the bare wooden cotton reel can be personalised with a name and message! The thimble at the front looks as if it is engraved with ‘Happy Mother’s Day’ and this will be changed after 8th March so that any special event can be chosen (e.g. Wedding, Birthday, Anniversary, Valentine’s etc). As you can see, I payed homage to my darling Shona of Heyday Online in this one!
Close up of name personalisation ‘Shona Van Beers’
Close up of the message on the bare cotton reel by Kitten von Mew for Findmeagift.com
The second poster I designed is not customisable, although the frame that it comes in can be engraved with a message of your choice. I could just picture it in a 40′s living room in an old frame or a vintage kitchen!
Vintage ‘Mother’ Poster designed by Kitten von Mew for Find Me a Gift
Close up detail of ‘embroidered’ effect text and crisp print
So get over to Find Me a Gift and buy a personalised Mother’s Day gift that she can admire for years to come (if I do say so myself…).
