When the World Was Flat

Anybody else remember the Flatsy dolls, circa 1970?

They came up in the comments on a recent post at Bag and a Beret - both Shelley and I mentioned being called Flatsy in our pubescence, a name that was trumpeted on TV commercials at the time thanks to the Flatsy doll and its taunting jingle: Flatsies, flatsies, they're flat and that's that - that's that!

Only a man would give them a name that's sure to torment early adolescent girls. Asshole.

I'm making more of my own flatsies - paper dolls - but I choose to call them Two-Dimensional Divas, avoiding even the shorter '2D' in case that makes anyone think of a bra size, albeit a freakish one.

Here's a Two-Dimensional Diva inspired by one of my fave television characters. Do you recognise her?

It's Elaine Benes from Seinfeld! Her wardrobe is so distinctive and I wanted to have it for myself.

Um, it's not really my size, but at least I can play with it.

This is what I started with - the 'Elaine' template I drew and the possibilities for her signature floral dress.

She really deserves an entire Elaine wardrobe, but I started with the one dress, ankle socks and loafers, blazer with big shoulders, and blue backpack. And of course, her big hair, which I made from lace.

Remember this episode of Seinfeld where Elaine sees a mannequin that looks like her? (This one has Italian subtitles - che strano.)

I hope Elaine wouldn't get upset about my paper doll.

Val

Flashing hot harridans

In response to one of the best posts from Melanie (hell, they're all good posts from Melanie), I really wanted to join/spread/viralize a new meme she kind of started - Hot Harridans Reading. I love reading, and as I'm typing this I'm feeling a hot flash coming on, so excuse me while I take off my cardigan.

Whew, better.

Here's a picture of me (just turned the fan on, too) reading. So, hot harridan reading, with polka-dot leggings.

The photo is staged because I haven't actually started reading this book - have you read it? Is it good? It's the next book for my book group.

These are the women in my book group. 

I haven't asked if I could put them on my blog, so I'm disguising their faces. They're all funny and vibrant and smart, and I really enjoy our get-togethers.

In actuality, I'm just finishing a book on my Kindle, which isn't as photogenic as a real book. I'm reading The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins, which is really good - I wanted to sit up late last night to finish it and find out what the hell happened to Megan, but I needed to get some sleep. Next on my list, after The Tennis Player, I'd like to read the book Melanie is reading in her photo (and she is way more hot than me, except when I'm having a flash) - All Is Vanity by Christina Schwarz.

And if I may be so bold, let me recommend some of my favorite books I've read in the last year - if you want chick-lit type Australian comedy, there's The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion. For a supernatural/psychological British ghost story, try The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters. If you want an American legal thriller, there's Defending Jacob by William Landay (evidently they're making a movie of this). And for a funny, feel-good story I highly recommend The Revised Fundamentals of Care-giving by Jonathan Evison.

What are you reading?

Val

Linky Lamour

Wouldn't that be a great name for a moll - Linky Lamour?

I'm not really back from my break, but since the new issue of VOGOFF is out (YES!!!!!) I had to make a brief appearance. Melanie and Miz Bagg have outdone themselves! You can find the new issue at the link above or by clicking on the cover image at the right of my blog. Go! Check! It! Out!

And I want to add another link here - my handsome nephew-in-law has started his own fashion blog - The Style Eclectic - and my niece is doing the photography. So, Go. Check. It. Out!

And I've added a new diorama to my Marketplace - a fairy house! You'll have to scroll all the way to the bottom, but here are some teasers. Also, I will accept international buyers if you have a credit card or PayPal account (you can use your credit card with PayPal even without an account). And if you're willing to pay whatever the postage is. In some cases they require your first-born.

 

Later, Linky!

Val

Mercury Moving

Last month Mercury was in retrograde - did you notice? I think my skeptical husband now agrees that all kinds of  cosmic whoop-ass can occur when that happens. Even my muses fled the vicinity, no doubt taking refuge on Venus so they could spin backwards until Mercury straightened itself out. Thank the goddesses we seem to be back on some kind of course now, and the muses are back and adding stuff to my To Do list.

Of course, Muse Melanie has always been here, rallying humankind and rousing us to creative catharses for the next issue of VOGOFF. My own little muses finally whispered in my ear and started telling me sweet little stories. Then they described a dreamscape in great detail until I finally knew what to do. So, since I had the camera out to do some photos for VOGOFF, I also took these pictures.

tank top - JCP; jeans - thrifted; shoes - Chelsea Crew; cuff - Etsy (can't remember the shop name)

The capelet is made from a scarf that I never wore, cut in half and sewn together leaving a hole for my pumpkin head (like I did here). I can wear it at least three different ways.

no brand on the scarf; the end I cut is now left frayed

And see my cool shoes, which I almost never wear!

 

Since I'm not working, I've mostly been wearing shorts and tee shirts, but I played dress-up today. I'll wear this next time I have a chance to go out, although the mercury is a little high for wearing jeans.

What do you think of my hair? I'm letting the bangs grow and combing them back, but I'm not sure if I like it or not. I have a very crease-y forehead.

Linking up with Creative Mondays and Visible Monday - stop by! And linking up with Shoe Shine,too.

Oh, and I added a new tab at the top of my blog - Buy Me!

Val

Forwards and Backwards, maybe Sideways

Thank you for all your comments the last few weeks – well, all the time actually! I've enjoyed sharing some of my past exploits and reading about yours. I'll share more adventures in the future, but I can't tell you everything – I have to save something for my memoirs.

I've been feeling really inspired and creative lately – the muse is making fondue! I feel myself stretching my mind and thinking outside the box, and I owe a lot of credit to my fellow bloggers. I've mentioned Melanie, who gave me the idea of the paper dolls, and there's also Maricel, who has mentioned artists and authors who have stirred some of my creative juices. (I might even read a vampire novel.) And all you sewists and upcyclers have led me to my current phase of trying to customize my wardrobe. I've also been inspired in this regard by Suzi Click, who I found on Advanced Style, so now I have a big pile of unworn clothes in pretty fabrics that I hope to make into unique, wearable pieces. And Sue Kreitzman is also an amazing inspiration for her clothing and assemblages and use of color.

But at this moment I especially have to thank Anne of Spy Girl for her 52 Pick-me-up challenges. The prompt this week is to wear something back to front, and this has led me to wear an old dress in a new way.

I know, right? I love it!

And it was so easy! I bet a lot of you have done this with t-shirts, but have you tried it with anything else?

The dress is from Target, previously seen here and here (the same boots are in the second one, too, but you have to get past my rant to see the outfit). It's polyester so it's easy to wear and pack and wash. I wore it with leggings on the plane to Texas last summer (first link above). The tights are also from Target, and the boots and belt are thrifted.

The back/front puckers a little bit, but I could probably fiddle with the belt to make it look better.

Cowlicks all over my head

 Or just wear a jacket.

This suede jacket (previously seen here, also thrifted) reminds me so much of a similar jacket I had in my early 20s. Same cut, same pigskin suede, slightly different color. When I first bought this one I kept having déjà vu! Do you ever get that?

Come on over to Spy Girl for a pick-me-up!

Val

Red, Blue, Pompidou!

In my last post I told you about my first trip to Europe, fifty years ago. Well, twenty-five years ago I went to Europe for the second time. I spent three months studying in Rome, then traveled to Greece with a friend, spent some time with an Italian man in Firenze (that's all I'm sayin'), and eventually went to Paris on my own before flying home.

In Paris I took a really cool picture of the Centre Pompidou and made a necklace with it.

This set my color scheme for a recent outfit.

top - JCP; skirt - Docker's, thrifted; tights - Target; shoes - Dexter

I took more photos in this outfit, but I'm bored with my own backyard and too self-conscious to go out in public to take pictures. Sooooo, I decided to revisit Paris in 1989.

It was the centennial of the Eiffel Tower, so they had lights on it spelling out "100 ans." It was also the bicentennial of the French Revolution.

 The Louvre - so much to see, it would take more than one day and you'd still be overwhelmed.

Luxembourg Gardens - I stayed near here in the Latin Quarter. My little room and lumpy bed were under the eaves, up six flights of stairs, with the toilet and showers down the hall. I loved it!

And then we're back where we started, at the Pompidou Centre.

All these photos were printed on paper - I cut out paper dolls of me and glued them to the printed photos, then photographed them. Thanks again to Melanie for this idea!

It's time to get together for Visible Monday, so don't forget to head on over to Patti's on Sunday evening or Monday. Or Tuesday. And there's a Shoe Shine at Bella's, so here's the money shot for that.

 

A bientot, mes cheries!

Val

The beach in the palm of my hand

I took these photos a few weeks ago, and I need to use them up before they start to smell bad.

I got the striped shirt at JCP on sale for $9.97! It's a cotton and silk blend, and it's got a pattern that will make you go blind when you're ironing it.

Why can't manufacturers figure out how to place the buttons so they don't gap at the widest point? I always have to pin it there. Obviously not for this photo, though.

The yellow jeans are thrifted - Shylo is the brand. And I'm not wearing shoes because I figured I'd head to my beach hut.

paper doll Me inspired by the amazing and multi-dimensional Melanie

This is what I've been working on lately - a little beach hut for me to dream about while I'm sitting at my desk. Actually, I'll be looking at it while I'm sitting at my desk - I'm going to keep it in my office.

My little hut is a cozy place for reading, drawing, walking on the beach.

There's my spare pair of glasses (a staple that I saw at work, curled into exactly the right shape), my lamp (beads), my pencils (toothpicks), and my parasol (cocktails, anyone?).

And it's not just my beach hut - there are three of us on this little beach.

background photo near Burton Bradstock, UK - if you think it looks like the beach in Broadchurch, you're right

My neighbor always loves to have picnics, but has questionable taste in wine.

little tiny snail shells on top shelf were found in a flower pot

And the guy on the end loves fishing. You can see him on the beach in all weather.

little Swiss army knife made from small pieces of wire and plastic - I painted a tiny white cross on it, and that's it!

I made some of these before, and they've been dispersed to Iowa, Maryland, and British Columbia. But I'm keeping these - my own little Echo Beach!

Linking up with Visible Monday, then on Wednesday, 52 Pick-me-up - Geometrics, and Creative Monday at Clairejustine. Bring your towel!

Val