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Author Archives: Kitten von Mew

Upcoming Year


It has been quite a while since I last wrote on my blog…well, a while for me considering the verbal waterfall that usually sploshed it’s way over these pages.

This year has somewhat crept up on me. I knew it was coming; it happened to warn me of its existence thanks to a 2012 page at the back of my diary, so I should have known really.

I am excited, daunted, refreshed and cynical all at the same time. I cannot wait for our wedding and honeymoon, the planning of which has helped me through some very tough times, but then you get the financial worries that rear their ugly heads, even with budget weddings such as ours. In fact, the wedding isn’t the issue, it is the honeymoon! After such a financial struggle all year and cutting corners on wedding expenses with ‘make do and mend’ creative thinking, we wanted to be able to let our hair down on a honeymoon that we felt we deserved. All great on paper, but when the phone number you thought was on the bottom of the invoice is in fact the price of your holiday,  it starts to dawn on you that even the best laid plans and saving as much as we can each month may just lead to a long weekend in Bognor Regis.

I have also managed to fill up every weekend in May with performance bookings and considering we are getting married on the 2nd June, I should have possibly left more time for decorating the venue and organising!

Other excitements for the year…Well there is The Berliner of course, which along with the Halloween version will be a great highlight of this year. Who can imagine singing 1940’s songs on a military steam train to Berlin, followed by a performance for the mayor and press and a visit to WWII bunkers?

Of course my dear, faithful War and Peace Show is in July and I have an idea of a new little act I may do there this year. I can’t wait to catch up with friends and see what new dioramas the groups have come up with this year.

My local Wartime in the Vale weekender will be my 1st event as a married woman AND my Birthday on the Saturday! I am hoping to catch up with local wedding guests as well as enjoy performing at this lovely event!

A rookie at Twinwood, my first taster of this famous event was only last August bank holiday, where I performed in 2 of the small clubs in the evening. After a fantastic response I am back in 2012 for another stint in Glenn Miller’s haunt…

The glamour of Goodwood Revival calls once more in September as I get to squeeze the near life out of my 2 fabulous girls Sue and Milly and wave at famous racing drivers like I know them. This year I will NOT overuse my voice and end up with Laryngitis again!

Tis the Season to be a Wally…


I seem to have odd spouts of accidents at the moment. Yesterday I knocked my brain into the sink when I walloped my head on the corner of the kitchen cupboard door and an hour later smashed the glass salt seller too. I decided to vacate to the sofa lest I turn the light on and burn the house down.

After reassuring myself that hemming my knuckles with the sewing machine would be a highly unlikely situation I altered the rest of my beloved Heyday trousers to fit, mended 2 vintage dresses and watched Hart’s War with Mr. Mew; balancing an ice pack on my head.

It is most peculiar when you bosh your bonce. In horror movies, blood spurts out of the wound like an Italian courtyard fountain. This creates a visual spectacle equal to the pain. Although the pain was excruciating, there was no blood, no graze, no bump… nothing to show anyone why I was shouting ‘Ow’ other than holding my head and pointing at the cupboard door like a 3 year old. In fact I was so stunned I couldn’t even say owt.

I am sure as a child we were made of sponge balls.  I would have knock after knock; suffer bruised knees, picked scabs and fashion a plethora of first aid plasters, but after a quick hug from Ma and a loving squeeze I would bounce back ready for the next accident.  As an adult, I hit my head and I’m not able to do anything for half the flipping day. Where have my sponge balls gone?!?!

Merry Christmas and a Happy Mew Year!


I wanted to wish all our friends, relations and followers a very happy Christmas. Thank you to everyone for your love, friendship and support. Life is more colourful than ever with you all in our lives and I feel so lucky!

Southern Retro meets Kitten von Mew!


Kitten von Mew, Southern Retro Shoot

WooOOOOoooooo! Check out my very own Southern Retro page!

Matt Keller came round to the cottage for tea, cakes and photos for his wonderful website!

Heyday Online 1940’s Trousers


Kitten von Mew wearing Heyday Trousers

It is no secret that I am a complete stalker of Shona at Heyday Online. Lucky enough to be one of her models, I adore her clothing, especially the Mary Dresses and Trousers.

Unluckily for me, I have put on some weight this year due to bad health, meaning most of my yummy clothes are no longer fitting (excuse me whilst I try and find my tiny violin to play a tune of self pity…), but LUCKILY for me and my love of Heyday, this won’t stop me from wearing my gorgeous trousers!

Yesterday I sat on the sofa and carefully unpicked the back of some of my trousers, right to the join at the crotch. I popped them on, pinned the back to my desired size and hey presto! a new lease of life! Shona’s trousers have a good bit of fabric left in the waistband, tapering down, which means you can get a size or so more out of your beloved trousers! Just sew them back up and no one will ever know the torment your waist once went through (unless you post it on a blog like me!).

If you have worn through the bottom of your trousers due to lindy hop, trudging around WW2 events or general wear and tear, why not make them into high waisted shorts for summer? You can even use some of the excess fabric to crate a little pocket for the front or back! I will be doing this with some of mine early next year, so will let you know how I get on!

More Vintage Fair Videos!


These videos were taken by Mr. Mew at The Vic in Swindon on Sunday!

Vintage Fair in Swindon


Yesterday Mr. Mew and I went to our 1st ever vintage fair to SELL rather than buy. The fair was at a pub called The Vic in Swindon and we packed up my clothes, shoes, bric-a-brac, pincushions and Mr. Mew’s light boxes and headed for the open road. Itw as a nice venue actually, and we were well situated by a plug point so that we could plug in the light boxes.

They certainly got a lot of attention! Unfortunately people seemed to be drawn to stalls with large 80’s jumpers and 70’s handbags as opposed to 1940’s and 50’s wear. We ended up only selling a few things, but had such a good time that we didn’t care!

At 1.30pm I went onto the stage for my singing set. The stage was also covered by one of the clothing stalls, but amidst the faux fur coats and a basket of hats, I belted out a selection of festive crooners and 40’s hits in my blue Heyday dress!

At the back of the room, the landlord/ one of the pub workers was filming the scene and posted a video on You Tube. 20minutes after my set they had laready put on some more festive tunes and on came a female voice. I said “oooh! I know that song, that’s the one I do!”…not realising I was actually listening to myself!

 

We wish you a Merry Christmas in a Mess Hut near here…


On Saturday I performed at the Ashdown Camp in Evesham for a reenactors group Christmas party. Cosy and warm from the log burning stove in the corrugated iron mess hut, it was an intimate affair but a wonderful one. The ladies of the group had all turned out in their best, some even in beautiful long gowns, and the men in the German uniforms. There was a small bar and buffet and I sang a 40 minute set at 9pm which included 40’s songs, Christmas tunes and a sneaky 50’s number!

I wore my long black and white gown with a train, red gloves and a 1930’s red santa cape, which was originally worn by a girl in the circus (bought in LA).

Everyone was so kind and Mr Mew and I chatted with them all evening until we had to go home.

Above is just a short little video taken that night. it was so dark, our little camera struggled, but it just serves as a nice reminder of a lovely evening!

Next weekend I am singing at the vintage fair at The Vic in Swindon as well as manning my own stall!

Twinwood Festival Video!


This is the official Twinwood video! See a little exerpt of me 5 minutes in.

Check out the Twinwood site to grab your tickets for next year! I will be performing again in the 2 little clubs in the evening!

Have a Very Beret Christmas


Red Beret adoned by Kitten von Mew

Whilst recovering from my keyhole surgery, I decided to make something for myself for a change! I am a huge fan of berets, so took one out of my cupboard and set to work on decorating it. I have to say it was highly enjoyable and I was very pleased with the outcome! With pearl beads from a broken necklace and felt swallows, hearts and flowers, it has cheered up my headwear no end and looks great with my red coat! I will make some to sell if the prove popular!

Kitten's Beret - Back