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Author Archives: Kitten von Mew

Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is Episode 12


For those who didn’t get to watch it, I got a ‘good airing’ with Katherine Higgins yesterday! Although they didn’t use the singing clips (wow…NOT a good hint huh?!) or me pulling out my money from the bra, there was a short clip of my fan dance before we got down to the deal.

On a plus note, the 3 pairs of stocking I bought ended up being 4 pairs! The pink packaging holds 2 pairs with a little motif on the ankle, so a definite bonus. Very pleased that my money is off to a good charity and the experience was well worth it.

Below are a few screen shots of the programme and you have 6 days to watch it here.

Kitten von Mew on Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is Episode 12

Performing for Katherine Higgins!

Negotiating a price for the vintage stockings

Katherine Higgins wearing my Pincushion Corsage!

Blowing kisses with our fans!

Enchanted Burlesque – Believe


Kitten von Mew, Enchanted Burlesque 2012

On 31st March I performed at Enchanted Burlesque at The Old Rep Theatre in Birmingham. The theatre itself is lovely and the staff are incredibly helpful. I was able to pick my lighting colours and sound check with ease!

Mr. Mew and a stage hand helped me erect my giant birdcage and then I had a chance to meet up with Angel, James, Courtney Blush and Romany before getting ready.

I had a super time and performed my Songbird act and Carmen Mewanda. The stage got a little slippy because of glitter, but these things happen when there is so much glamour in one building!

I had a real giggle with Romany and her magic acts were hilarious. I also really enjoyed Satine Di Monte’s act, which featured her dance partner and silk fan veils. Absolutely stunning! I missed Bam Bam Blue’s unicorn act, which was mortifying as I longed to see it, but hopefully the Enchanted Burlesque videos will be available on You Tube, so I can watch it then!

Mr Mew and I being silly in the dressing room

The Artist


An artist sits opposite me and studies my face as one does a vase. She looks at my eyes, but not into them, copying the highlights, shadows and reflections.

I look back at her with a frozen smile and study her in return. I watch her pursed lips as she concentrates, the earrings that gently sway as she looks between me and the board and the eyes that look, but do not see me.

I sit and gaze as she stands and watches me, with my heart filled with silent pride, patience and devotion. She takes a long breath as she puts down her board and re-enters the room. My Mama.

WWII House Dress


So here was the pattern I bought from Etsy. It was unfortunately missing the pocket part of the pattern, but I managed to recreate them anyway…

WWII House Dress Pattern

And here is the top half of what I came up with…

Dress made from 1940's dress pattern

New Victory Fabric by Kitten von Mew!


WWII Victory Fabric designed by Kitten von Mew

At the weekend, amidst a bout of poorliness, I decided to make and COMPLETE my first garment. I am usually very enthusiastic about such challenges and love choosing fabrics and trimmings and carefully cutting out each piece of the pattern…and after about an hour Im through with the sewing machine having eppy-fits and realise that shopping is more fun than making sometimes.

I had purchased a WWII house dress pattern from Etsy which looked rather a lot easier than anything I had attempted before (No buttons or zips! Huzzah!). I quickly ordered this and chose a pretty fabric – bright sky blue with white polka dots and pink, yellow and red flowers.

The only pain about the pattern was that there were no size lines to scale it down, so being an amateur, I made up the piece at the size intended and then put it on and pinned it to my shape. Being so basic this worked well and the only trouble I had with it was the darting and pin tucks, but after a sweet tea, a few naughty words and a good film I managed to get through this trauma.

With my first dress complete (please do not look too closely at it once posted, although proud, there are parts of the sewing where it looks like I was trying to use the machine whilst on a rollercoaster), I am now ready to do another and to celebrate have designed the fabric above!

I am hoping to have this made in time for the War and Peace Show as a comfy sun dress to walk around in.

I have ordered 2 yards and if I need more I will use a contrasting plain cotton I think. It is not currently available for the public to buy as I need to receive the sample before it goes on sale, but if you wanted to order it through me then let me know.

Gizmon iPhone 4 Covers


Kitten von Mew with the Gizmon iPhone Case

I HAVE to tell you about these amazing iPhone covers! I have seen some cases that are disguised as old cameras by having a photographic image on the back or silicone rubber moulded into a vague shape, but THIS is the Ferrari of all phone cases.

I contacted Gizmon to say how fantastic their iPhone covers were for vintage peeps like myself, who still need to carry their phones around at events. How amazing would it be to walk around with this, instead of hiding your phone in your bag or pocket? So they sent me one to feature on my blog and show at events. Roll on summer!

There are 3 colours to choose from – Black, brown (shown) or a grey-white. The coloured part is a silicone rubber and the rest is plastic but looks incredibly realistic. With the phone cover you get a carry sock, 2 little rings that fit either side so you can put it on a camera strap, a slightly flatter ‘lens’ for the front, which is less bulky and an attachment for the bottom so that you can put it on a tripod!

Fitting the iPhone 4 or iPhone 4S, it comes apart in 4 pieces and easily assembles. You can use all the functions of the phone when the case is on, including making and taking calls, texting, charging and there is a hole for headphones too.

The 4 parts of the Gizmon phone cover

So, onto taking pictures! You will see the original iPhone camera lens – bottom left. The big lens on the cover in non-functioning, but incredibly convincing! The Gizmon iCA Case uses your volume buttons (top left in photo) to focus and take pictures, so it looks like you are using the shutter button of a real camera!

Currently Gizmon sell these cases in Japan, China and the USA. They are $65, but really worth it if you want to disguise your phone with a realistic cover. I know I will use this all the time at events and sometimes it can be so fiddly taking photos and pressing the right button!

A list of online stores, including Amazon, that are selling the Gizmon iCA phone case can be found HERE.

The great news is that the company now plan to release matching camera straps, tripods and full leather cases too! They already manufacture a macro lens and fish eye lens that screw onto the bottom left of the iPhone cover for great photographic effects.

Enchanted Burlesque


Enchanted Burlesque Poster March 2012

 

On 31st March I will be performing at Enchanted Burlesqueat The Old Rep Theatre in Birmingham! It will be great to see Lola Pops again and I am looking forward to Mr. Mew getting to see me perform in a theatre setting as he is so used to seeing me in a field set up.

I will be performing Carmen Mewanda and Songbird, so come along and enjoy all the acts!

Time: March 31, 2012 from 7pm to 11pm
Location: The Old Rep
Street: Station Street
City: Birmingham
Website or Map: http://www.oldreptheatre.org
Phone: 0121 245 4455

 

Kitten von Mew as Carmen Mewanda - Taken by Lee Parker, War and Peace 2011

Kitten von Mew performing 'Songbird' at Vintage at Goodwood 2010 by Papa Mew

Measuring for a Bra


Kitten von Mew by Ade Pitman - RAF Fancy 2011

Sometimes it does shock me, the lack of women who get measured for a bra.

My eyes were first opened when I used to host a Body Confidence Course for women. Part of this would be looking at how our clothing, body language and posture can have a huge effect on how we feel about ourselves and make us look larger than we really are.

The beauty of a well fitting bra is that it can help to ‘proportionalise’ (Cambridge, please add that to the dictionary) our bodies. So many of us wear bras that are too small that give a weird ‘mono-boob’. We have 2 breasticles ladies, divide and conquer!

I have recently been upgraded by Mother Nature herself to a respectable 36D, which is ample enough for anyone. Whether you are blessed with flapper girl bee stings or wibbly wobbly vampire biscuits, make the most of what you have.

I have never been afraid of getting measured for brassieres and it is because of my well fitting bras that my nipples aren’t currently tucked into my socks. If prudish about going into a lingerie section and asking for a measure (they now do it with you wearing your current bra, which I find a little strange), then there are plenty of places online that can help. Just remember that different makes of bra can fit slightly differently. Don’t trust any website that says “stick breast infront of webcam thankyou please and weez tell you real nice size…” A good guide you can use to measure yourself at home is this…

Measure under your bust in inches. If it is an odd number (31″, 33″, 35″…) add 5″ to the number and 4″ if it is an even measurement (32″, 34″, 36″…). Write it down.

Measure across you bust at the largest point (if your nips are still at that level, this is usually central).  If your bust is the same size as your under bust measurement, you are typically a size A cup. 1 inch more is a B cup, 2 inches more is a C cup etc.

So…If you are 33″ under your bust, you add 5″, which makes a total of 38″. If you measure across your bust and it is 40″, you would be a 38C.

We change bra sizes throughout our lives, whether due to the ‘Crimson Tide’, pregnancy, weight gain and weight loss or other factors, so try and measure yourself at least every couple of years.

Right, so what are you waiting for? Breast foot forward and all that…

THE FACE OF ‘FRIENDS OF THE 40S’!


Friends of the Forties - Kitten von Mew Banner

Well if the banner isn’t a hint enough for you then I will try another tactic…”JEEPERS CREEPERS, YOU MEAN I’M THE FACE OF AN INCREDIBLE WEBSITE DEDICATED TO 40’S EVENTS AND LIFESTYLE?!” Yes indeedy.

From entertainers to venues, attractions and traders, Friends of the 40’s is the source of all your vintage needs…and I’m the lucky girl who’s mug will be glamorously slapped all over their scrumptious pages! Mwuah ha ha ha!!!  Thank you for all your kindness and support team! Also a huge ‘WOOHOO!’ to Candee who’s images they are using!

Thank you Shona from Heyday Online!


Kitten von Mew in Fleur Dress from Heyday Online

A little teaser of the dress I will be wearing to my Mad Hen’s Tea Party in April, when I will be dressing as Alice. The Fleur Dress lends itself beautifully and is sooooooo comfy. I will post more pictures as and when I have them taken, but for now I must get back to swishing around the office in a patriotic haze…excuse me…