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…
Kitten von Mew - Deer Makeup
On Saturday we went to Candee’s Birthday tea party, which was an enchanted woodland theme! I had been planning costumes ever since she invited us and either thought Unicorn or Enchanted Fawn. I went with the latter and Mr. Mew as Mr. Tumnus!
I had bought some gorgeous handmade leather antlers just for the occasion and transformed a cheap angel fancy dress costume into something a little more mythical. I added an autumnal decoration and hair flowers to my headress too!
Richard borrowed a pair of my horns that were made by a lady who created some of the masks for the film Labyrinth and I made him a pair of fur trousers!
The best part of both costumes were…hoof boots! I had had a look online for hoof shoes, but at around £250 a pair I decided to make my own. After a mortifying shopping trip to New Look for some £10 chavvy platform boots (I shudder as I remembering trying them on and gazing at the far lovelier vintage styles that were mocking me from the shelves), I build up the toe in a hoof-like affair with plastic from a rasberry punnet and papermache. After drying, painted the toes with acrylic paint and finished with glittery PVA to protect it.
Meanwhile, I had ordered 2 fabulously furry cushion covers online, which made perfect leg covers for both my boots and Richards! After sticking the tube of fluffy cushion cover fabric around the edges of the shoes, there wasn’t much to do but look ABSOLUTELY AWESOME IN THEM!
My DIY Hoof Boot Stages!
Candee had done a great job with the decor and everyone had given a helping hand with food, so the place looked like the inside of Fanny Craddock’s brain. It was amazing and I was most impressed with Jacob’s hedgehog chocolate cake and the amazing tiered woodland cake below…
Woodland Themed Birthday Cake!
For gifts, we had decided to get creative and whilst Mr. Mew made an amazing light box (Im sure he will post it on his Facebook Page!), I made an Alice in Wonderland pendant out of a Victorian pocket watch case, pewter and copper figures and a little imagination…
Pocket Watch Necklace by Kitten von Mew
I will be doing these on a commission basis too, but Candee got the first one 🙂
Kitten von Mew at Volupte
On Sunday evening, Mr Mew and I headed to London for the filming of Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is! This fantastic BBC programme follows antique experts in trying to find bargains at flea markets, carboots and antique shops, then selling them on for a profit.
I first met Katherine Higgins (one of the antique experts of the show) at a publicity shoot for Vintage at Goodwood and we hit it off straight away with a love of vintage clothing, hats and Art Deco!
Kitten von Mew and Katherine Higgins, Vintage at Goodwood Publicity Shoot
Katherine and I kept in touch at odd intervals and vowed to do something else together. The opportunity finally came with the Antiques Roadshow last year, where I showcased my Art Deco 3 piece suite! Katherine wasn’t going to do the show (filmed at Charlecote Park), but suddenly there she was on the day! We had a great time chatting between takes and it felt like we were old friends.
I won’t give the episode away too much, but we filmed in the Volupte Club in London, which is a gorgeous Burlesque supper club. I dressed in my Songbird outfit of canary yellow and pink and brought out my ostrich feather fans, which were then placed on a nearby table. After fanning them out and discussing the shot, we realised that smoke was slowly filling the room like an early 90’s rock video and the ruddy things were on fire! Luckily (although a dreadful smell), the cindered area was picked and fluffed out and barely noticeable after a while. With all the hairspray that must have landed on them in the past 7 years, I thought they would have gone up like a roman candle, so I was very lucky.
We all had a great laugh whilst filming and I had given Katherine one of my pincushion corsages as a gift when she arrived. The complete darling wore it for the entire filming and it really suited her!
Katherine Higgins Wearing Kitten von Mew's Corsage Pincushion
The programme will be aired this autumn at 5.15pm on the BBC!
Today I thought I would bring you a selection of 10 of my images from 2011 and reasons why I have chosen them!
This was taken at Christmas (obviously) by Matt Keller and was one of the very few shoots I did in winter time last year. I like this image because it reminds me of a lovely Christmas and rounding off a tough year with positivity and hope for the future; the engagement ring for obvious reasons, a glimpse of one of my handmade decorations symbolising my new found love for crafts in my spare time, the red white and blue are a nod to the patriotic WWII themes dotted around the house and the necklace was my Grandmothers, but it actually reminds me of the colours of my Grandad’s tobacco pipe.
This was a little moment captured by Les Auld at War and Peace of Mr. Moo and I dancing together. We are never stoney faced when we dance. Whether we are laughing and smiling or our eyes closed, it means a lot to both of us. It was a lovely surprise to stumble across this image online and it has become one of my favourites.
Taken by Oli Scarff, this was a very impromptu moment after I had just done a press shoot for the Southbank Centre in aid of the Festival of Britain. I had just got changed into something more comfy and Richard and I had headed down from the roof to the first floor outdoor area. I took off my shoes to cool my feet but Richard grabbed my hand and pulled us both into the freezing Appearing Rooms fountain. We danced around in the water, getting absolutely soaked; it was so cold! A few of the press photographers came down the roof steps and one snapped some great images of us dancing. I later contacted Ghetty Images and got 3 of them framed. They are now on our livingroom wall and make me smile.
This image, although fantastic in it’s own right, reminds me of how precious true friends are. It is through the hard times that you find out which people in your life are really there for you in heart as well as in presence and Lisa of Candee Photography is one of those. My closest friend; we always have a giggle on shoots and although disagreements are few and far between, we find ways to overcome difficulties or awkward situations with ease.
We first met on a Sakura Designs shoot, where I had come to London to model hats and she was the photographer. Quiet, rather shy, but a smile to knock the clouds of the highest mountain, we worked well together and I was sorry to have to leave early. Since then we have done countless shoots, including the one above which is for my 2013 calendar. I don’t know what I would do without her and Jacob.
Yes another image taken by Les Auld at War and Peace! This was the debut of my Carmen Mewanda act and a daunting period for me after weight gain through illness. Of course as soon as I got on stage, I loved every moment. It’s funny thinking how upset and unconfident I feel an hour before and how I adore it all once Im up there. I chose this image because of what is actually going on that you cannot see. Although a child friendly version of the act, I managed to vacate the marquee of a party of 30 school children and 2 female teacher…leaving one male one behind and a lot of laughter from my friends Lee and Adam. I couldn’t help but laughing at the teachers nervously shoving the children out the door, even though I was wearing more than a swimsuit on a beach.
I flipping love this snap. Taken by Richard and War and Peace, I was strutting around in my new vintage hat, wearing Heyday Online trousers and blouse and everyday went to see my friend Shona at her stall. She is such a lovely girl and I model for her when I can.
Another candid image taken at Goodwood Revival. I have chosen this image as it was the last day and I was so very tired, losing my speaking voice and suddenly went into a rather silly mood. I think all us entertainers were getting little exhausted and I ended up sitting on my ‘karaoke crate’ to rest my aching feet and sing in one of the VIP areas. As I sang White Cliffs of Dover, one of the comical cleaning ladies was passing and I thrust the microphone at her. She instinctively started singing and it was a really lovely moment.
Ive chosen this picture (taken by Candee Photography) as it was a really proud moment for both of us. How often do you walk into WHSmith and see yourself on the cover of a glossy? I also chose it because of our hilarious ‘studio setup’ but Im sorry, we cannot reveal our secrets…
Not chosen for the quality of image, but more the people in it. My dear friends Don and Stephanie, who I bonded with through a sad passing of one of my fans. Also because you cannot tell that I am suffering from Laryngitis, Sinusitis, a temperature of 104 and jetlag.
Kitten von Mew by Lee Parker
Need I say more?…
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!
Halloween decorations at home with my pumpkin pie!
I am a huge fan of Halloween, always have been. A great excuse to dress up and carve pumpkins, Mr. Mew and I decorated our little cottage with Halloween decoration ranging from paper lanterns to a little bubbling couldron!
On Friday we went to my friend HP Saucy’s Halloween party. We only knew a few people there, but the place looked great! Amazing what you can do with a role of black bin bags! Most had gone as witches and the like, one guy had not even bothered (so I took him into HP’s bedroom, eyebrow pencilled an eye on his palm and transformed him into David Blane…) and Mr. Mew and I went as the Phantom of the Opera and a 1930’s Pierrot clown!
My Pierrot clown Halloween costume
Mr. Mew at HP's party dressed as Erik
Kitten von Mew and Helen Wright at HP's Halloween party
You may have spotted a severed finger in my hand above…This is in fact a Witches Finger that I made a large batch of for the party! Simply look up a shortbread biscuit mix (use plain flour and no baking powder or raising agent), create finger sized sausages after letting it cool in the fridge for an hour and press down lightly on 2 points to form a knuckle. Press an almond flake in the top as a nail and pop into a hot over for 20 minutes. Once cooled, carefully remove the almond and re-attach it with red icing. I also dipped the ends to make them more gorey and scored 3 lines on the knuckles!
Wiches Fingers made by Kitten!
HP being strangled by her partner Dai
On Halloween itself we invited our best friends Candee and Jocob over to watch a horror film (The Cottage). The front room looked an absolute picture and I had layed out marshmallows in the shape of pumpkins in a little black couldron on the table, a hand shapes jelly and a new pumpkin pie with witches fingers bursting out of the top! How good does that look! (see image below).
I made up the recipe as I had lost the original and it ended up being far nicer. It is a mixture of meringue and pumpkin, hence the name ‘Kitten’s Merkin Pie’ which is fitting for a burlesque dancer 😉
3 x egg whites whisked until peaked
3/4 cup of brown or light brown sugar
Savoury pastry case to save time
1/2 tsp of mixed spice
1 tsp of cinammon
1/2 tsp of nutmeg
1/2 tsp ginger
1 x Large squeeze of lemon (add a little ornage rind if you like too! Yummy!)
flesh from 1 medium pumpkin
A pot of single cream for pouring
Cover the pumpkin flesh with water and boil for an hour. Sieve it and squeeze out as much liquid as possible. Leave to cool whilst you go and carve your pumpkin!
Mix all the dry ingredients together and then fold in the meringue and pumpkin flesh being careful not to loose the air bubbles. Squeeze in the lemon, pop into the pastry case and bake for 20minutes (or until a knife comes out clean from the centre). Serve warm with single cream. I also stuck in 5 Witches Finger biscuits for shock factor!
Kitten von Mew with Sugar Skull makeup, pumpkin pie and jelly!
Like the makeup? I was going to do it for HP’s party, but decided on the pierrot which was a good job as my friend Helen did it! This was my first attempt at sugar skull makeup (think Day of the Dead, which incidentally was yesterday!). I used the white makeup I buoght for the clown costume, my liquid eye liner and eyeshadow palette to colour it in. I also painted Mr. Mew too!
Mr. Mew and Kitten's Halloween makeup!
Candee and Jacob arrived at the door and we whipped open the curtain to shock them. They looked fantastic and we all laughed at each other through the glass before letting them in!
Candee and Jacob, Halloween 2011
How amazing do they look?! Funnily enough, this is the talented lady that took the large photo of Mr. Mew and I behind her!
They brought with them a murder of fake crows and about 4 or 5 carved pumpkins that we dotted around the room with our own. I was thrilled to learn that this was their first tast of pumpkin pie that they seem to enjoy (or graciously chewed!) and were impressed by the finger biscuits too!
We had such a great time and next year we will all be together again for Halloween in Budapest and Transylvania on a steam train journey!
On 23rd September Mr. Mew and I jetted off to Chicago to a WWII event in Rockford Illinois. This was a huge excuse to meet up (for the very first time) with 2 friends from Facebook who’s friendship became so great that I felt like we were long lost relatives.
Unfortunately for everyone else I had over done the drama of my diva bride role at Goodwood Revival the weekend before so ended up with Laryngitis and lost my voice. I was mortified as I was supposed to be singing and performing in Illinois and felt like I was letting a lot of people down. Don and Stephanie did their best to put my mind at rest and were so incredibly generous and sweet to Richard and I.
Kitten von Mew, Richard, Don and Stephanie Pitchers
I couldn’t have been the best company with sniffles, coughing fits and temperature, but everyone made us feel so welcome and the event itself was spectacular. Based at an open air museum in Rockford, there was a large wooded area where camps had been set up and a few trenches dug throughout. There also a huge expanse of ground with around 7 old wooden slatted buildings ranging from homes to a hospital and church. There was also a large straw barn, water tower and stable block and a street with a blacksmith, cafe, bank and shops. This street was also where a battle reenactment took place!
Battle Reenactment down the main street taken by KvM
Attending the wounded taken by KvM
Certain groups were stationed in the houses including the WACs in the old hospital. In the central grass clearing there were more army tents set up and towards the barn/ stables were a few vintage military stalls.
Kitten and Richard at the Rockford WWII Weekender
Inside the Rockford Hospital - WACs Post taken by KvM
It amazed me that some things you can get over here are quite expensive (OTT 1940’s swing ties £20 and up) but over there you were looking at the equivelant of £5. Apparently civilian fashions in South America in WWII were muted colours of grey, navy and black; not like the glamorous pieces in Hollywood films I innocently thought were factual. People seem to be more into the military side of things and civilian are only lightly touched upon. Even then, they tend not to go for the garish ties that I love (hurrah for Mr. Mew who snapped up 2!).
Reenactors enjoying the sun at Rockford WWII Weekender taken by KvM
One of the best parts of the weekend (other than the wonderful hotel room that aided my poorliness) was a right on top of a Sherman tank through the woods! Richard sat astride the great gun barrel and I batted away branches with 4 others right on the very top of the tank. It was a wonderful feeling and you got a great view of people’s camps.
Richard on the Sherman Tank! Taken by KvM
On the first day I was only well enough to stay for 2 1/2 hours before retreating back to the hotel and to bed. We had been up for 24 hours with 3 hours sleep after that, so needed rest! The next day we went to the event early and even got to visit the Rockford Museum – Home of Sock Moneys and the Rockford Peaches Baseball Team!
Kitten von Mew and Richard at Rockford Museum
We got to meet the apposing team (well, 2 of) when enjoying a rest in the woods. They get the uniforms specially made for each girl, don’t they look authentic?! We missed the game itself which was a shame, but greta to meet the girls.
1940's Womens Baseball Team and Kitten von Mew! Taken by Richard
I loved seeing their cavalry horses, which is something we don’t see in British WWII events. Of course the Polish and Germans used horses at the beginning of the war (including other countries). It was a wonderful site, although strange seeing Americans dressed as German soldiers. On speaking to an Iraqi veteran about this, I was informed that the Germans had actually taught the American armies battle techniques, how to march and fight in the 1700’s and that some of their ancestors had been German.
WWII German Cavalry. Taken by KvM
WWII German Car and Soldier. Taken by KvM
On the Sunday, just before leaving, Richard and I decided to go for a stroll in the woods. It was gorgeous and we spotted some Chipmunks! There were also a couple of baby squirrels that had obviuosly fallen out of their nest as they were too young. They kept following our shadow until 1 climbed up on Richard. Weirdly enough this isn’t the 1st time this has happened to me! Stephanie and Don didn’t believe us when we came back with the excuse that we had been attacked by baby squirrels…Until they saw the evidence…!
Baby Squirrel on Richard's Back! Taken by KvM
Richard and I would like to say a HUUUUUGE thank you to everyone for making us feel so welcome, despite being unable to perform or speak much. I promise that I will make it up to you all and will be back…fit and healthy!!!
Kitten having a rest in the Drivers Club at Goodwood Revival 2011
Blotting my lipstick on Murray Walkers Cheek!
Getting ready for my 1940’s wedding skit with Bill the Bodyguard (left) and my faux bridesmaid (right)
We'll Meet Again starring the cleaning lady!
I also have 2 videos that you can find here and another here!
Here are a few more photos from the show, apologies for the delay!
Snow Covered Tank at War and Peace 2011 and Kitten von Mew
Spot the Kitten! Hilarious German stall at War and Peace 2011
Kitten and Richard at War and Peace 2011
Richard with army camp backdrop at War and Peace 2011
1940's Pin-Up Entertainer Kitten von Mew 