Kitten Von Mew performing at Stratford Arts Festival, Stratford upon Avon
Don’t forget to come and support me at this great local event! I will be doing a singing set and then a burlesque routine later in the evening!
Tag Archives: vintage pinups
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.
Creating the limbs and sticking on the face of the Mae Day. I later shortened the neck a little! Photo by Kitten von Mew
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.
Taken by 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!
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.
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 1971
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.
Enchanted Burlesque – Believe
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!
STOP PRESS! ‘Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is’ BBC 1 April 10th 2012
I have had a phone call today from ‘The Beeb’ who have told me that the episode I am on that was planned for October time has now been brought forward!
You can watch it as 5.15pm on 10th April, BBC 1! Look out for the pincushion corsage I gave to Katherine too 🙂
Enchanted Burlesque
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
GET 12% OFF IN KITTEN’S ETSY STORE!
I have created a special code to give you 12% off of my clothes and pincushions in my Etsy Store! It will only work for 1 month, so be quick! The code is MEW12
Enjoy!
Kitten x
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…
Poetry and Mewsings
For years I have dipped my toes into the world of poetry and prose. I used to enjoy sitting in a coffee shop, watching the world go by, whilst sketching and writing. From song parodies and funny poems, to more serious ‘diaries of the heart’, I let my emotions spill out on the page. I may share some of these with you from time to time, but will not explain them. Like typing out pages from my diary, they are personal to myself or individuals and some have never seen the light of day. It has always been my wish to publish some short children’s stories and have my Ma illustrate them (she is the most wonderful artist), but as of yet I haven’t had the time, means or bribing techniques to do it. Maybe I will publish one when I have my own children and use my felt craft characters to illustrate it.
So here are some rare examples of my ‘Mewsings’. Enjoy!
From the rediculous….
Pea Boy was a very nice chap
Though did wear too much tweed,
Until one day he met his match
A suit of pink and green.
This suit wasn’t worn by just anyone,
No!
This suit was worn by HIM,
Pea Boys main arch rival,
Better known as Bean Pod Tim.
They fought it out for hours,
They fought it out for days,
Until one day Tim cowered
For in glorious array,
Stood Pea Boy tall and proud,
Arms straddled by his side,
Standing there stark naked,
But a pink and green bow tie.
To the passionate recluse…
Let flesh quiver and steal my breath,
As night doth fall and blanket our sighs.
Steadfast your hand against mine breast,
And rise and fall as if ebbing tide.
1940's Pin-Up Entertainer Kitten von Mew 