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Big Beautiful Barbara Brown


big beautiful barabara brown playsuit

Big Beautiful Barbara Brown Patriotic Playsuit, modelled by Kitten von Mew, Taken by Mr Mew

There are very few repro vintage shops that I really like. The main let down is fabric patterns (and materials on some occasion) more reminiscent of a 1980’s Neighbours wedding ceremony and the lack of authenticity of style.

Everyone knows what a fiend I am for Heyday Online, but I also wanted to draw your attention to Big Beautiful Barbara Brown, who also makes 1940’s and 50’s style women’s clothing.
I was lucky enough to receive a satin playsuit and a GORGEOUS floral dress that has a circle skirt and tie at the chest.

repro vintage dress kitten von mew

Big Beautiful Barbara Brown Dress modelled by Kitten von Mew. Taken by Mr Mew

There are a great choice of fabrics and colours and on some things you can choose your own from swatches on the website, making your item rather bespoke! You can select the top half of the play suit and then the bottom half, just for £50! Craaaaaazy!

She has dresses, evening gowns, tops, shorts, playsuits and more. Go take a look…

Wartime in the Vale Video


I wanted to share this video with you, taken by Olivia Orchid of Shadowflower Photography at Wartime in the Vale 2012. It is the first time Ive seen a proper video of Mr Mew and I dancing and it was so nice to see!

Military World Magazine Launching at Beltring!


military world magazine

As our beloved WWII Reenactors Magazine has bitten the dust (*sob*), it is about time someone filled that empty void for us!  Well, Dave King has saved the day with Military World Magazine!

I have kindly been asked to write some more articles, so look out for my tuppence worth in each issue. The first one is due out at the War and Peace Show, so make sure you get your copy and support a British publication!

The magazine will feature reenacting groups, history, suppliers and more!

Another Berliner Weekend Video!


I wanted to share this wonderful video with you all that Martin sent me from my recent trip to Berlin. It certainly captures the emotion and spirit of everyone on the tour.

Enjoy and thank you Martin for this…

STOP PRESS!!! Kitten’s New Burlesque Act


kitten von mew as lili marleenThis is an exclusive look at my new costume and act ‘Lili Mewleen’, which will be released from it’s burlesque shackles at the War and Peace Show 2012!

A nod to one of my favourite female icons Marlene Dietrich, this act features a 7 ft lampost made by Mr. Mew and a STUNNING Vollers corset that has a ‘quick release function’. I got to try on this stunner of a corset when I did the interview for The One Show and met the gorgeous Corina and her fabulous group of ladies in the factory. Knowing how much work goes into these British made corsets has given me even more faith in the UK industry!

I made the fascinator, garter and bustle. The dress was once a rather black lacy and frilly affair (once owned by a drag queen) of which I stripped down to the basics and started again with electric blue!

This fun act will also be staged at Twinwood Festival this year in a brand new entertainment hall, which will also house my swoon-fest Max Raabe!

Kitten von Mew’s 2013 Pinup Calendar!


Kitten von Mew as Rosie The Rivetter

As some of you may know, I have been working on a 2013 pinup calendar, which will be released late May! Due to the last calendar being so popular (thank you so much for your support!) and selling out before Christmas, I wanted to find out whether anyone would like to pre-order their copy. You will receive yours hot off the press!

The format will be much like the 2011 version – A3, metal spiral bound and you can frame the pictures afterwards!

I have been working with the amazing Candee of Candee Photography to create this extra special, limited edition calendar and we are so excited about it! My friend Neil Howard (Puffer Nutter Extraordinaire) has done an absolutely stirling job with helping us organise shooting locations we would have completely overlooked or not been allowed into under normal circumstances too!

Some images (like the one above) from our shoots have been released, but we aren’t releasing any more until the calendar is ready!

So if you would like to pre-order your 2013 Kitten von Mew calendar, get in touch at kvm@email.com with the email heading ‘CALENDAR’ with the quantity and an address and I will keep your details until they are released! If you would like a signed copy, remember to let me have a name or message you want putting on the front!

CANCELLED EVENT: Malmesbury Blitz Ball this Saturday!


raf-kitten-von-mew-ade-pitman

Malmesbury Town Council are creating a wonderful 1940’s dance at the town hall to help raise funds for one of my favourite charities – Help For Heroes this Saturday (5th May)!

I will be joined by the D Day Darlings, the Royal Air Force Red White a Blues (by fabulous permission of the Air Force Defence Council) and the JB Jazz and Blues Band!

All this live entertainment (and yes I will be doing my RAF Fan Dance!) AND food rations only costs £35 a ticket with some of the cost going to charity.

Put on your glad rags and dance the night away, catch up with reenactor friends before our hectic events calendar starts and enjoy some amazing music and this wonderful location!

For more information…

Phone: Louise Arkley on 01666 822143
Email: louise.arkley@malmesbury.gov.uk

Face Book Event Page

Meet and Greet and Lemurs (oh my!)


marie antoinette costume-kitten von mew

On Saturday last I was asked to do a meet and greet in my Mewy Antoinette and Songbird outfits for a fabulously Burlesque-Rococo Birthday party in a rather swish part of London. This camp and classy bash was held in a gorgeously elegant house with the best paintings I have ever seen and the most beautiful Rococo tapestry chairs. Argh. Gorgeous….

Annnnnyway. I got into my Mewy Antoinette corset and thanks to the weight gain, my ‘hubba hubba boom booms’ have inflated themselves enough to create a classic heaving bosom worthy of any 1970’s romance novel. Unfortunately Mr. Mew was banished to the dressing room and I only had the company of the hired clown and his Lemur, so was unable to recreate such passionate book covers.

It didn’t take long for me to become completely obsessed with Curtis, the 20 year old Lemur, people watching on Mr. Anon Clown’s shoulder.  His rabbit-like fur, beautifully large eyes and passion for dried cranberries…all I needed was the ‘GSOH’ and a date between us may have gone surprisingly well if I were not about to be wed.

I asked Mr. Clown whether I may have a photo of Curtis on my shoulder and before he could say “He doesn’t really like sitting on strangers”, the Lemur coolly walked onto his new perch and placed a territorial paw upon my chest (much like Brian Blessed planting his flag on the peak of Everest). And there Curtis stayed for an hour as we welcomed guests into the party wearing anything from a dinner suit to just the suit jacket. Some people noticed my furry parrot and others completely missed him and jumped when they realised they were stood next to a ‘wild animal.’ A lot of people thought poor Curtis was a monkey, which I liked to the fact some people think Canadians are American.

At 9.45 I changed into my Songbird costume, complete with pasties, to work the room, packed with gorgeous bodies of varied sexual preferences, these gorgeously groomed men and women were a sheer delight to prance around with and speak too; even the Birthday boy’s mother let her guard down and asked me to twirl my tassels!

kitten von mew corset lemur

Handmade Boudoir Dolls – Mae Day


I have always longed for a vintage boudoir doll. Some people find them deeply disturbing and something of horror films, but I find most rather charming and even the smoking bed dolls make me smile. It is something about dolls made for grown women that makes the fact I still have my teddy bear seem acceptable…

Anyway, because of the price of the nicest examples of boudoir doll, I decided to try making my own. I adapted a pattern I found online for the limbs and torso, creating the alien-like body from felt.

I had great fun doing the face and used a doll face mould and cotton wool pads dipped in watered down PVA glue! Once dried I painted with acrylics. The texture of the cotton wool pads has given the face a wonderfully old look. I didn’t want this doll to look brand spanking new, I much preferred a more ‘look what I just found in this old attic trunk!’ look.

making boudoir dolls

Creating the limbs and sticking on the face of the Mae Day. I later shortened the neck a little! Photo by Kitten von Mew

boudoir-doll-faces

2 Boudoir Doll faces I created and painted. The 2nd one will be used for a wedding themed doll! Photo By Kitten von Mew

I originally wanted her to be lounging in lingerie and a Chinese silk robe, but unfortunately we mislaid the bag of silk remnants! I managed to create some French knickers out of two tone silk with old lace trim and a bra top to match. Because these dolls have iconically long limbs, she looked a little disturbing with no hair and more like something from Close Encounters as opposed to Brief Encounter.

After checking my scrap fabrics, I came across an old dress of my sisters with a great crochet overlay and tassels, which lent itself beautifully as a flapper dress! I used an uphostery tassel and beaded trip as decoration and made a long necklace out of some 1930’s and 50’s beads I had lying around. The choker is the clasp from a pearl necklace that exploded a few years back.

boudoir-doll-side

Taken by Kitten von Mew

flapper-boudoir-doll-kitten von mew

Taken by Kitten von Mew

The stockings are made from one of my own seamed nylons that laddered and look aged and tattered as if she has been dancing all weekend!

The hair made all the difference and is beautifully soft alpaca!

vintage-boudoir-doll-kitten von mew

Taken by Kitten von Mew

As a finishing touch I made her leather shoes from a sample swatch and a couple of antique pearl beads.

boudoir-doll-shoes

My Boudoir Doll Shoes made out of leather swatches. Taken by Kitten von Mew

Her hair is slightly more ‘poofy’ than I originally wanted, but as my first try, I am very proud of her!

She reminds me of Virginia from the 1971 Upstairs Downstairs. What was it with 1970’s period dramas where they would sneak in the bouffant hair do wherever they could get away with it?!

Upstairs Downstairs

Upstairs Downstairs 1971

Mad Hatters Hen Party Photos!


Kitten von Mew as Alice in Wonderland with her felt fascinatorKitten von Mew by Candee Photography

 

On Saturday I had my amazing hen party! We arranged it at Candee’s house and she, Becky and I transformed the living room into an enchanted woodland for the occasion.

Livingroom decor for the Mad Hatters Tea Party!

Mad Hatters Tea Party Decor photographed by Candee Photography

Candee’s partner Jacob did an amazing job making cupcakes and coconut macaroons. You would have thought he had a cottage industry going with the amount he managed to make. I felt like swimming through them like Scrooge McDuck and his room of gold coins…

jacob sabotig icing cakes

Jacob icing cupcakes taken by Kitten von Mew

Becky made 4 incredible floor cushions in the shape of leafy hillocks. I nicknamed them ‘My humps, my humps, my leafy fleecy lumps!’ and each had a little ladybird button on it and wonderful detailing. I was amazingly impressed with her craft skills. She also made a huge bag of red tissue roses to adorn the front hedges!

John from The Cake Gallery made the most incredible looking and tasting cake you have ever seen. He made a little version of me, lounging in a sexy Alice costume on a Chaise Lounge! I have never had a professional cake made for me before and this is the best one I have ever clapped eyes or teeth onto! You have to see this guy’s creations, they are brilliant!

kitten von mew hen party cake

Kitten von Mew Cake by John at The Cake Gallery! Taken by Candee Photography

 

Candee did a brilliant job with ordering bits of decor, organising everyone and making the beautiful invites. Each one had a letter from the Mad Hatter and March Hare and was tied with a ribbon and little brass key! I wore the ribbon and key around my wrist at the party!

I made some chocolate and strawberry swirl Angel Delights and banoffee pies served in china cups and saucers, some talking flowers and a tiny door with the help of Mr. Mew! I hand painted wood grain on the front, a keyhole and bunny shape and then aged it. We were so pleased with the finished article and it was suspended on the front door as people entered.

alice in wonderland talking flowers by kitten von mew

Talking Flowers by Kitten von Mew photo taken by KvM

fairy door kitten von mew

Fairy Door made by Richard and Kitten. Photo by Kitten von Mew

kitten von mew alice in wonderland door

Kitten von Mew and the ALice in Wonderland Door made by Mr. Moo and herself. Photo by Candee Photography

 

Becky decided to come as the Cheshire Cat…leaving her smile everywhere…Candee had the most amazing Mad Hatter costume and makeup I have ever seen in my life, Jacob was King of Hearts and I was Alice!

kitten von mew and cheshire cat

Kitten and the Cheshire Cat! Photo by Candee Photography

candee photography as mad hatter

Candee as the Mad Hatter! Taken by Jacob

I made myself a fascinator in the shape of a cup and saucer with a real spoon sticking out the top and Mama and wide brimmed rose hat with a Rocking Horse Fly stuck to it! She looked like an Edwardian lady and would have fitted right in at Ascot…

kitten von mew rose hat

Kitten von Mew and her Mama modelling the Rose Hat! Taken by Candee Photography

rose hat by kitten von mew

Back of the Rose Hat. Taken by Candee Photography

Shona van Beers of Heyday Online made the perfect Queen of Hearts and screamed the place down at regular intervals with “WHERE ARE MY TWO FAT BOYS?!” and “OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!!!” She made me laugh so much, it was hilarious!

shona van beers queen of hearts and kitten von mew

Shona as Queen of Hearts! Taken by Candee Photography

 

My 2 friends ‘the Helen’s’ came as Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee with matching bowler hats, braces and black trousers and shirts, Flick came as a Steampunk White Rabbit, Joanna had a fantastic costume with playing cards sewn onto it and my darling Kate was her usual gorgeous self, all the way from Manchester.

tweedle dum and tweedle dee with kitten von mew

Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee enjoying Tweedle Tea...and me! Taken by Candee Photography


alice in wonderland pinup girl

Joanna and Flick puckering up. Taken by Candee Photography

 

kate donovan and kitten von mew

'The Bunny' Kate and Kitten reunited! Taken by Candee Photography

funny cat at the table

Jacob and Candee's cat wondering why there is all this food and non of it is on his plate...

So a HUGE thank you to everyone who made this day so fantastic. I had a brilliant time and you were all amazing!