Yet again, I had the pleasure of having a fantastically spooky photoshoot with the incomparable Neil Nez Kendall! I just LOVE his Halloween sets and as soon as I heard that he had a Bride of Frankenstein wig for hire this time, I leapt at the chance. Bethany Jane Davies yet again did an outstanding job on my makeup and I always know I can count on her for vintage vamp fabulousness!
I have always had a huge love and fascination of the Bride of Frankenstein. She is such an iconic figure, yet only appeared in the movie for 3 minutes! Elsa Lanchester played the part so beautifully and had more than her lines to concentrate on… Her bandages were so tight that she could not move her fingers and arms properly, so someone had to feed and water her when required. Elsa was also required to walk on stilts, making her 7 feet tall! Of course, there was also her fantastic hair (inspired by Nefertiti’s headdress), which had a wire cage construction in order to gain the height needed! Lanchester always said that her own hair was used for the movie, yet if this really was the case, the original Bride of Frankenstein wig displayed in exhibitions may have possibly been worn by her body double. I personally doubt that she had her hair done every day of shooting.
Apparently Lanchester’s body double found the costume so claustrophobic, she became incredibly distressed with her role, where as Elsa took it all in her stride!
So I hope you enjoy what Neil and I have created. He is fantastic at classic Hollywood lighting techniques as you can see. I decided on 2 looks and created some stitches using my trusty hot glue gun! I love how the corseted images came out as everything was literally thrown together. The textures work so well against each other and it shows of me glue gun stitches (sewn onto tights) beautifully! The second look was more classic with a long cotton nightdress to give a more romantic, vintage look. Im absolutely thrilled with the end results.
Avoncroft is an open air museum in Bromsgrove that hosts several events throughout the year AND has a little light railway to boot!
One of the most popular events is their 1940’s weekend and time there were a few changes. We were treated to vintage stalls (huzzah!) and a fashion show, that I was proud to be part of.
1940’s Post Woman Uniform
I was incredibly nervous on the Saturday as it was the first time singing since Severn Valley Railway and only my second singing event since my operation! I have to be so careful with my voice now and can only do short sets or I could permanently destroy my singing voice. Luckily Guy Roles (Avoncroft entertainment organiser and UK 1940s Radio Station presenter) completely understood. He did all he could to make sure I did everything right! Last time I sang I lost my singing voice for 4 months, so I’m following my surgeon’s strict advice from now on.
I managed to look around a few of the displays on Sunday, but vintage heels and boggy grass don’t mix! The buildings make a fantastic backdrop for the troops though and some groups even stay in the barns overnight! Remember how chilly it gets in October?
American troops in the Tudor barn
So keep your eye out for events at this lovely museum. They have a fabulous windmill, a 1940’s prefab (my favourite), a cafe selling gorgeous handmade cakes (the lime and passion fruit was amazing!) and so much more to wander round and see.
I’m was looking for a vintage inspired swimsuit online that would suit my curvy figure. Being a size 14 means that you can either look like an hourglass siren or a beached whale depending on the cut.
I saw a gorgeous tie front swimming costume called Red Swoon at Monaco Beach. With retro ruching it looked just right, but you never can tell whether the photos are deceptive! Well, the costume arrived and I can categorically say that this one did not disappoint! I am a 38DD and found the busy area very comfortable and supportive. The body hugs you in all the right places, whilst the ruching softens your shape and hides lumps and bumps. This is ideal vintage swimwear for a 1940’s or 1950’s look and will definitely get appreciative looks!
As you can see, the way you pose can create a very retro shape. Pushing your pelvis out will actually FLATTEN your tummy in photos, whilst keeping shoulders down, but stretching your body up will give you a flattering chest and taller stature.
PHOTOGRAPHERS!!! Shoot from the belly button! This is a more flattering angle as it lengthens the legs.
I was also lucky enough to receive an early Birthday gift from Monaco Beach, in the shape of a scrumptious black mesh and leopard print swimsuit! This 60’s style costume looks like a 2 piece, but with black mesh on the mid section! Such a great look and BOTH ARE CURRENTLY IN THEIR SALE!!! I am wearing a size large of both. These will comfortably fit a 12-14 figure.
Coat by Heyday Vintage. Hat, muff and collar by The Heritage Milliner.
As some of you are aware, I had a growth between my voicebox and thyroid. It was growing and pushing into my airways, giving me some obvious issues that needed an operation. After trying 2 specialists in my local area, I travelled down to Worcestershire for a final try. Yet another saying that they would be able to save my singing voice (scar tissue on the voicebox after the procedure can change pitch, vibrato or even leave you unable to sing in tune).
He could see how devastated I was, as I explained how much my singing meant to me. He knew of a surgeon at Guys Hospital in London that had been successful in a similar operation and referred me to Mr. Simo. So after heading to London Bridge on several occasions for tests, scans, measurements, bloods etc, I was told that the lump had a few irregular cells and was getting bigger. It needed to come out this year as, you know, breathing is pretty important. So I had July or December to choose from and wanted to fulfil my summer bookingS, PLUS get my head around the situation. After the op, I would need to rest my singing voice for anything from 6 to 12 months before training it back up and hoping for the best. It made me very tearful for obvious reasons.
So a snowy Monday came around and Mr Mew took me down to London. My appointment was booked for 7am, so we strolled around Camden in the late afternoon and got lost in the labyrinth of shops. I had to go and visit Cyberdog to satisfy the the 20 year old me (cheaper fabrics, but a few cool things) and Collectif, which was my first time in one of their physical shops!
After an obvious sleepless night, we walked to the hospital at 6.15am and my adventure started. I was first in to the operating theatre, so out on the 2 hospital gowns, support socks and bed socks. I just needed some black rock boots and it could’ve been a Vivienne Westwood ensemble. There were more forms, questions etc and then I was taken through to have my general anaesthetic. I just remember the needle and oxygen and I was out like a light.
Actually no. I remember seeing a line of squirrels on the windowsill before going under. I then had several nurses telling me I had SUNG to these non-existent squirrels as I went under. I have not found out what I was singing, but it would’ve been 40’s I think.
I was in Post-op for about 9 hours, awaiting a ward bed to come free. This was one of the most gruelling bits. I managed to eat a tuna sandwich and orange at about 11.30am, but then wasn’t offered anything. I was fine with that as knew I’d get a hot meal on the ward. But time went on and on and the nurse was still having no luck. At midday they said they were deep cleaning and then I found out they gave my bed away, so more waiting. It was frustrating, but the skeleton staff were all doing their best.
The wait was worth it though, as I was given a private room on a brand new ward that was opening for young adults. The only downside? It was so late that kitchen was closed and all they could offer me was an egg sandwich. When you are already feeling nauseous, it’s not a good option, but I needed to eat. So I managed half and a sweet tea. I got a little sleep between having to take medication and blood pressure around 11pm and 4am.
I had a drain fitted, which looked like a vampire’s medallion, but think I pulled it off thanks to the metal staples in my neck, balancing it all out. I was due to go home that day, so celebrated by doing festive makeup and awaiting the nurse at 2pm!
Mr. Simo checked up on me and said that he was able to skirt round the vocal chords and only had to remove half my thyroid, so no lasting damage had been done. My speaking voice is fine, but I am rather breathless and will still have to rest my singing voice for a couple of weeks, whilst the swelling goes down. I burst into tears with happiness!!!!
I had brought a mini notepad with me as I didn’t know if I would have any speaking voice after the op, so used it to doodle in instead.
Unfortunately the mini bottle of doom was too full and they needed to keep me in for another night, just incase of an abscess.
So Thursday rolls around and thankfully my vampire shot flask was not as full, so I was able to leave in the late afternoon and we arrived home just before 10pm, as London traffic is so bad at the moment.
A massive thank you to the staff who looked after me, made me laugh, cleaned the room, made me numerous cups of tea and jugs of water and kept my anxieties at bay. I know a lot would have wanted to be striking, but they put patients first, which was tough for them.
Also a huge thank you to my wonderful friends, family and followers, who have been so supportive through a very unsure and stressful time. Hopefully my voice will be back up and warbling by March time if I treat it well.
Things have gone a bit pear shaped recently. This week for instance; I had been desperately getting a steampunk outfit ready for next weekend. As they were planning a 1000 Leagues Under the Sea Dance, I thought I would create mermaid-y hair and tried a temporary purple with green hair wax. The same evening I got a message stating that the event had been cancelled and I was devastated. So much so that I didn’t wash out the colour. The next day I was playing badminton with some chums, so had a shower and…it wouldn’t wash out. Well, the green came off my hair, but stayed on my scalp and the purple had actually turned dark blue, that had now gone blue and grey.
Betsy getting her ID card stamped
I got some extra strength colour stripper for my hair and some of my favourite orangey-red hair dye, ready to go back to my normal vivacious tangerine! Sooooooo, the hair stripper didn’t work particularly well and neither did the hair colourant.
Kitten Von Mew entertaining one of the stallholders!
Skip forward to today and there I was, going to Bletchley Park, with grey-blue, browny-orange hair that I tried desperately to camouflage in victory rolls and a hat. This was bad enough, but I also had a wardrobe malfunction before leaving. I had wanted to wear my original 1940’s green suit and the metal zipper broke when I was doing the skirt up. So I quickly put on a dress that was too big (but didn’t need ironing) and some 40’s style platform shoes…nope, the platform soles decided that now was a great time to disintegrate. I swapped to my Miss L Fire’s and we hot-stepped it out of the door.
Alan Turing’s Office
Cut to the car journey, where I was FaceTiming the folks and I caught a glimpse of myself in the sun visor mirror.
“Why the hell didn’t anyone tell me I had purple eyebrows?!”
Children’s ‘Mickey Mouse’ Gas mask. they were blue and red with a nose flap that made a silly noise when you breathed out.Hurricane flypast
I was in such a panic to get ready and makeup on that I hadn’t been paying attention to the brush I used to apply the brown tint to my brows. It has obviously been used for pink or red lipstick beforehand and I hadn’t realised.
Cut back to the car journey and scrubbing with a wet wipe only seemed to create a brighter purple and a lilac haze on the skin around my brows.
So I went to the Bletchley Park 1940’s Weekend with bluey-grey, orangey-brown hair and purple eyebrows in an oversized dress and still had a wonderful time. Sometimes you just need to suck up the stress, see the funny side and enjoy each splendid, silly, memorable moment.
In July I had a lovely, relaxed photoshoot at home with Donna Lawson. The weather was great, so we managed to do some outdoor shots too! I meant to post these weeks ago, but what with Fantasy Forest (I’ll post some photos next!) and Covid (yes, I know, 3 times now) I have only just got the mental energy to sit down and do this blog post!
Based in Evesham, Donna specialises in street photography, but decided to branch out more into family, wedding and boudoir shoots. You can also get casting portraits, live gig photos and corporate images too!
I really hope you enjoy the ones I selected. I can thoroughly recommend Donna, especially for more candid photos that capture moments you didn’t even notice. It was a real pleasure working with this lovely lady!
Dress by Heyday Online, shoes by Johnson’s Originals
If you are interested in booking her for a shoot, you can get a whopping 20% off by mentioning this special code: KVM20 up until the end of December! This is purely for my followers, so we are really lucky to be given such a huge discount! You can contact Donna Lawson at enquiries@donnalawson.co.uk
Original 1930’s embroidered dress, 1940’s hat and shoesDress by Vivien of Holloway , Bangles by SplendetteLongline bra by Bettie Page Lingerie, french knickers by What Katie DidFiore Vanity Seamed Stockings and original 1950’s boudoir slippers
I had a wonderful morning, entertaining everyone at Kidderminster Station, The Severn Valley Railway today! I felt like I should be singing a slightly puntastic rendition of Prince’s ‘Purple Rain’ (🎼purple train, purple traaaaaaaain…).
Kitten Von Mew singing at Kidderminster Station, SVR
The Taw Valley was in desperate need of a repaint, so SVR decided to temporarily paint her purple for the Platinum Jubilee and Commonwealth Games. Along with this colourful transformation, the loco has been renamed Elizabeth II.
No.70 Elizabeth II
Although the unique engine was unfortunately quite a way from the platform edge, I was lucky enough to be able to have a few snaps taken on the track itself! I’m sure many puffer nutters and chuff chuff buffs will be shaking their heads in dismay at the non-traditional shade of the Elizabeth II locomotive, but I thought it was a jolly tribute and a splash of well needed colour after the last couple of years of Covid AND the recent cancellations of many wartime railway events due to the Ukrainian war.
As well as the No.70 Elizabeth the stunning Lady of Legend is also working at the Platinum Jubilee event! Parts of a Hall class loco were used to create the magnificent Saint class at Didcot and the works were completed in 2019. She is an absolute beauty as you can see!
Lady of Legend
Be sure to join me again tomorrow at 10am and 11am for more rock n roll on the concourse!
Don’t look at me like that! I know I haven’t posted anything for a while and I’m so sorry.
Last weekend we travelled up to Yorkshire to a BRAND NEW steampunk event in the Victorian seaside town of Saltburn by the Sea.
What a hidden gem this place is! The buildings are beautiful and wait until you see the beach! It looks nothing from the cliff top, but once you have descended the many steps (the tram is not working unfortunately), you are met with a fabulous view of the pier and Victorian seaside buildings in red and cream.
There are wonderfully colourful beach huts to bring cheer to even the gloomiest day, mini golf and THE BEST FISH AND CHIPS I’VE EVER HAD!
At the top of the hill is a pretty walkway with flowerbeds called Marine Parade Gardens, which features a ‘grotto’ called Jack’s Castle.
Jack’s Castle, Marine Parade Gardens
There is also a metal statue of Henry Pease, who founded the resort. From the railway station to the pier, this entrepreneur has an amazing vision and not only succeeded in creating it, but wanted to make sure that lower-paid workers of the nearby mines could afford to holiday there. You can find out all about Henry Pease and his family here.
Henry Pease
So back to the main event! The entertainment, stalls and other steampunk delights took place at Saltburn House. The hotel was originally built in the late 1800’s by the Pease family as a convalescent home for their workers. It was later used to house a local school that had burned down and then used as a working men’s club for affordable 2 week breaks for its members. it now remains a working men’s club and and was a great base for the Steampunk weekend. With the main town, station, gardens and beach just a walk away, it was the perfect location.
Kitten Von Mew having a giggle with Sandie Burland and Bumblebee!Kitten Von Mew singing at Saltburn by the Sea Steampunk Weekend
We met some wonderful people at the event and the locals that came to watch the entertainment we’re friendly, enthusiastic and welcoming! There were a fantastic selection of stall at the event, but annoyingly I didn’t take pictures of them!!!
I do have some other photos I need to go through on my camera, which also include other entertainers, so I will post them up ASAP.
An early Christmas present from Mr Mew!Betsy’s stained glass rocket pack she wore on Saturday evening gained her a Cogling’s medal!Mr Mew wore his much loved top hat, but finally had the excuse to turn it on!
Thank you so much to everyone who watched me perform and were so understanding about my poorly throat. We didn’t want to leave! I have been booked again for next year’s show, so I hope to see even more of you there. Much love xxx
Set in the grounds of the beautifully regal Ragley Hall, the Midlands Air Festival was something I had been looking forward to for weeks! Never one to let tradition slip, I ruined the afternoon by succumbing to a wretched migraine, forcing is to leave the show early. We did manage to see the test firing of some of the hot air balloons, Stampe display team in their gorgeous bi-planes, radio controlled stunt planes, Vietnam era helicopters and the Red Arrows.
The Red Arrows shot by Kitten Von Mew
Later on in the evening, I staggered out of bed to watch some of the hot air balloons land in the fields not too far from us. The following evening brought the beautiful WW2 Catalina fly overhead, but no balloons as a thunder storm had reared its head and was too dangerous to take off in.
A bottle of lager and something you would possibly see after having too many…
So here are a handful of pictures and videos from the event! Enjoy!
Amazingly detailed model aircraft of WW2 fighter planes.Radio Controlled Aircraft shot by Kitten Von Mew.Red 10 pilot Adam Collins.Red Arrows heartRed Arrows Heart Video taken by KvM
1940's Pin-Up Entertainer Kitten von Mew 