Kitty Von Purr

The Secret Sisters

2011-04-17T10:24:00.000-07:00

If you don't know about these gals,Lydia and Laura Rogers, from Alabama, you should ! They have the most fabulous voices.
Imagine you are in a dance hall in the 1920's midwest USA, close your eyes & listen, i swear they will transport you back in time !
The Secret Sisters recorded in a crazy two-week recording time frame. The producers used vintage analogue recording equipment and vintage microphones, determined to properly capture The Secret Sisters’ magical harmonizing and stunning vocal power.
“In The Secret Sisters, you can hear the history of rural American music from the 1920s and a reverence for every musical genre since,” stated their grammy winning producer T Bone Burnett.
Listen to them here and here

Their website is here.

Japan ~ a different point of view

2011-03-22T16:06:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share an email i recieved from a friend.
It is amazing. At a time when one could simply moan and whine this woman is so positive. I find her words inspiring.

Hello My Lovely Friends,
First I want to thank you so very much for your concern for me. I am very touched. I also wish to apologize for a generic message to you all. But it seems the best way at the moment to get my message to you.

Things here in Sendai have been rather surreal. But I am very blessed to have wonderful friends who are helping me a lot. Since my shack is even more worthy of that name, I am now staying at a friend's home. We share supplies like water, food and a kerosene heater. We sleep lined up in one room, eat by candlelight, share stories. It is warm, friendly, and beautiful.
During the day we help each other clean up the mess in our homes. People sit in their cars, looking at news on their navigation screens, or line up to get drinking water when a source is open. If someone has water running in their home, they put out sign so people can come to fill up their jugs and buckets.
Utterly amazingly where I am there has been no looting, no pushing in lines. People leave their front door open, as it is safer when an earthquake strikes. People keep saying, "Oh, this is how it used to be in the old days when everyone helped one another."
Quakes keep coming. Last night they struck about every 15 minutes. Sirens are constant and helicopters pass overhead often.
We got water for a few hours in our homes last night, and now it is for half a day. Electricity came on this afternoon. Gas has not yet come on. But all of this is by area. Some people have these things, others do not. No one has washed for several days. We feel grubby, but there are so much more important concerns than that for us now. I love this peeling away of non-essentials. Living fully on the level of instinct, of intuition, of caring, of what is needed for survival, not just of me, but of the entire group.
There are strange parallel universes happening. Houses a mess in some places, yet then a house with futons or laundry out drying in the sun. People lining up for water and food, and yet a few people out walking their dogs. All happening at the same time.
Other unexpected touches of beauty are first, the silence at night. No cars. No one out on the streets. And the heavens at night are scattered with stars. I usually can see about two, but now the whole sky is filled. The mountains are Sendai are solid and with the crisp air we can see them silhouetted against the sky magnificently.
And the Japanese themselves are so wonderful. I come back to my shack to check on it each day, now to send this e-mail since the electricity is on, and I find food and water left in my entranceway. I have no idea from whom, but it is there. Old men in green hats go from door to door checking to see if everyone is OK. People talk to complete strangers asking if they need help. I see no signs of fear. Resignation, yes, but fear or panic, no.
They tell us we can expect aftershocks, and even other major quakes, for another month or more. And we are getting constant tremors, rolls, shaking, rumbling. I am blessed in that I live in a part of Sendai that is a bit elevated, a bit more solid than other parts. So, so far this area is better off than others. Last night my friend's husband came in from the country, bringing food and water. Blessed again.
Somehow at this time I realize from direct experience that there is indeed an enormous Cosmic evolutionary step that is occurring all over the world right at this moment. And somehow as I experience the events happening now in Japan, I can feel my heart opening very wide. My brother asked me if I felt so small because of all that is happening. I don't. Rather, I feel as part of something happening that much larger than myself.
This wave of birthing (worldwide) is hard, and yet magnificent.

Spring Looks 2011

2011-02-09T17:01:00.000-08:00

Spring 2011 Dior ~ i can't wait to see how these make up & hair styles and John Galliano's designs filter down to the street.
I am loving his tight pencil skirts,peplums and volumous dresses and when combined with amazing makeup & hair do's it equals va va voom !

For spring 2011 Galliano was inspired the 40's and 50's and by Rene Gruau a fabulous and well renowned fashion illustrator who is best known for his marketing images for Miss Dior perfume, the House of Dior and magazines including Balmain, Schiaparelli, Balenciaga,Vogue, and Harper's Bazaar.
Gruau's love affair with fashion spanned over 50 years.

Make up artist artist Pat McGrath conceptualised a technicolor Bettie Page themed look with matte, bright coloured lids painted in bright aqua blue, canary yellow, calypso orange,stop sign red and grass green shades and then topping it off with a flaming red show stopping lip, winged black eyeliner and a lashing of black mascara.
Hairstylist Orlando Pita created a Bettie bangs,1940's waves and updo's to compliment the collection along with some fabulous headpieces.
Personally i am just excited by colour and cannot wait to try to recreate some of these looks !

Febuary Inspiration

2011-02-07T15:58:00.000-08:00

This month i am revisiting the movie Taxi Driver. I just love Jodie Foster's wardrobe in this film.
I was excited then when i saw Marc Jacobs Spring release for this year. Someone had definately been inspired by Taxi Drive too ! Its all 70's meets 30's.

How cool is the makeup ? I am loving the shiny green eyes contrasted by the matte lip.
"We were inspired by Angelica Huston in the '70s," lead makeup artist François Nars explained. To create the bold matte lip, he applied his own Pure Matte lipstick in Volga, along with African Queen lip liner and eyeliner pencil in Mambo. The glossy dark green eye was created with Night Porter and Nouveau Monde eyeshadows; Celebrate soft touch shadow pencil; and Larger Than Life mascara. On cheeks, models wore Nars' cult-fave blush Orgasm. Notably absent: eyebrows, which were bleached before the show.

"the inventor of the pin-up"

2011-02-04T18:21:00.000-08:00

Jean-Gabriel Domergue (French / 1889-1962 )
Domergue specialised in portraits of Parisian women. His work defined a particular kind of swan-necked doe-eyed female beauty.
According to winkipedia ~ Domergue was born on March 4, 1889 in Bordeaux and studied at the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts. From the 1920s onward he concentrated on portraits, and claimed to be "ma première pin-up" ~ "the inventor of the pin-up"

He also designed clothes for the couturier Paul Poiret.
From 1955 until 1962 he was the curator of the Musée Jacquemart-André, organising exhibitions of the works of Van Gogh, Toulouse-Lautrec, Goya and others.

You can buy digital collage sheets here on Etsy.

Illamasqua Inspired Heart Manicure

2011-01-26T16:56:00.000-08:00

I am in love with the manicure featured in the new Throb collection.

I have been wanting to try and do a manicure inspired by the Alex Box one so here it is !

I took a bottle of Wet & Wild 449C white nail polish and added 2 drops of yellow and 2 drops of dark beige polish into it to achieve a good cream colour.
Below is a pic of all 3 polishes we used for this manicure. We thought we had a matte black polish but didn't, but since this was our first attempt at it we used what we had.
I painted the cream polish ( that explains why it looks messy ~you have to remember i was the child that coloured outside the animals in her colouring-in book )and then did the hearts.

Next step , paint with the new cream polish

Then paint on the outline of the heart shape with So Easy Strike Right in black.

Then fill in with black nail polish and viola all done !

Can't wait to do this again but with matte black polish and a steady hand.

Next time will use a matte black polish & i will try and stay inside the lines ! weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Step Right Up Folks !

2011-01-19T11:19:00.000-08:00

January brings a long love of all things vintage big top related. Carnival stripes, circus girls, elephant handlers, snake charmers, fairy floss, clown hats and side show alley( and yes i still heart you Pee Wee !)

The amazing Miss Batcakes makes the coolest circus hats !

I am lusting after her circus collar !

This past week i have also re watched the fabulous HBO series Carnivale. Every time i watch it i see new things, draw new inspiration, fall in love with a different character, and think "why did i not notice THAT, last time i watched this series ?

The set & costume design inspire me endlessly and now i want to live in a 1920's circus trailer with Management, blood red velvet drapes, beautiful dark wood,chandeliers, dust bowl print fabrics, old glass, 1000 leather bound books and a bottle of absinthe.
Who wants to run away with me & join the circus ? And speaking of the circus, due for release in April 2011 is Water For Elephants. Staring Reece Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson it is a film adaptation of Sara Gruen’s bestselling novel about a love triangle set in a 1930's circus.

Have not decided whether i will redbox this film or not. It usually happens if i fall in love with a book then the film usually disappoints me.
I will see it purely for the visuals, the set and costume design and that way i won't get caught up in how close the film follows the book.
Movies like these i like to watch at home so i can stop,sketch an outfit or idea and then restart it, but, i also love seeing it on a big screen too.
You can Watch the trailer here.
Let the show begin !!!

New Range from Illamasqua !

2011-01-14T11:40:00.000-08:00

I am so excited about their new range,Throb. It is being released in the U.K in time for Valentines day, i just hope they release it here in the USA.
I am a huge fan of their products, i love their lipsticks, their eye shadows and nail polishes.
The lipstick, Sangers, looks like it could be the purrfect blood red lipstick that
I have been searching for. The kind of red that a 1930's siren would have worn.
The lip gloss Succubus which is a fabulous shiny red and would layer well over the Sangers. I for one do not wear lipgloss but have heard nothing but glowing reports of Illamasqua's glosses. I would imagine layering this gloss over the Sangers lipstick would really amp up the colour.
There are 3 nail polishes,
Throb- a great true classic red shade
Load- a cream shade nail that will work well with the reverse moon 40's manicure
Scorn- a midnight black matte shade, how cool is the heart manicure shown here using Load & Scorn ? This is a manicure i will definitely be doing !

While i was searching for a release date for the USA i found this info on the Throb promo image,courtesy of ever fabulous karla sugar
How clever is Alex Box, the artist who designed this look ?
Cream Foundation 100
Rich Liquid Foundation 115
Powder Foundation 105
Powder Blush in Disobey
Powder Blush in Intrigue
Pure Pigment in Furore
Powder Eye Shadow in Heroine (on cheeks and eyes)
Powder Eye Shadow in Sex
Cream Pigment in Emerge (new for spring/summer!)
Cake Eyeliner in Mislead
Sealing Gel (for eyebrows)
Precision Ink in Abyss
False Eye Lashes 021
Lipstick in Sangers
Intense Lipgloss in Succubus
If anyone has the scoop on a release date for the USA please let me know !
***NEWS JUST IN *** it will be released here, as soon as i have a date will post.

Snap

2010-10-28T07:50:00.000-07:00

When i saw this invitation,a pair of rose-tinted sunflower sunglasses, to the Moschino Cheap and Chic fashion show(2009), i was instantly reminded of the 1940s Life photo and wondered if this is where the inspiration came from or was it just a coincidence ???
!

Weekend Fancies

2010-10-16T15:03:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I had more surgery and while laying in bed today recovering i spent a few hours on Internet just looking. I love browsing the Urban Outfitter website & also Anthropologie,Sephora and Forever 21. Here is what took my fancy today.
Paul & Joe make THE CUTEST cosmetics hands down ( see last post "Kitty" lipstick).
I adore this limited edition face powder compact,it has a bit of a 1940's feel to it, priced at $15 for the actual compact then you have to buy the powder as well it's $30. Both can be found at Urban Outfitters. Not cheap but for a new item that does have that vintage feel to it i think it is worth the price.The powder comes in 4 shades cool,fair,medium & warm.

Just in time for Halloween there is this new OPI polish is called "Kitty Loves Black"
A black nail polish that dimly sparkles with tiny flecks of midnight blue glitter.
OPI make great hard wearing nail polish and its $9 from Sephora.

Then i came across this website from the UK, i pretty much love everything on this here. Colourful vintage graphics always get my attention !
http://cloth-ears.co.uk/ What a nice way to take your lunch to school or work. These would also be great for storing things in as well.

And last but not least, if it is red and it has polka dots even better.This cake stand is fabulous. Simply purrrfect for cakes & sandwiches !

Green Socks , Small Birds & Kitty Lipstick

2010-10-11T15:22:00.000-07:00

While looking online for my dream pair of oxfords i came across this pic of beautiful hand knitted grass green socks.I wish i could knit. Green is a such a happy colour for me. If you find any like these ~ please let me know !
Oh by the way, I love the smell of fresh cut grass and did you know GAP makes a delicious grass perfume ?

This eyeshadow is from Jelly Pong Pong available through Urban Outfitters.
I love the birdcage packaging and the little bird that sits on the lid.

It reminds me of this sparkly bird trinket box made by the very talented and creative Lucy Belle from www.blogger.com/oliveandzipper

And speaking of cuteness my dear friend Dottie sent me this funny kitty lipstick
Funny how something like a kitty lipstick in the mail can make a gal smile. I am so blessed to have amazing friends around me.

Oxfords & Brogues

2010-10-10T10:09:00.000-07:00

With fall upon us, i have been thinking about what i need for my fall/winter wardrobe.
I am loving the menswear influences that are around at the moment, specifically oxfords and brogues. So in my quest to find a pair that i love and that are at the right price i have narrowed it down to the following.
Let me know what you think !
Starting at the most expensive ~ From Tabitha Simmons $1225.00

Then are these by Mui Mui from Barneys and are priced at$735.00

These Studio Pollini ribbon tie oxfords are lovely but come with a hefty $349.95 price tag !

Marc Jacobs $330

These beauties are from J.Crew, but, well, for what they are i think they are a tad on the expensive side and how could anyone decide which colour to buy ???
Now if they were 100 dollars cheaper.....
Maybe they will go on sale.

I really like these ones from Miz Mooz $89.95

These are cute & are from Piperlime and are $59

From www.gojane.com these for $21.30

And coming in the cheapest at $19.99 these are from Target.

The WORST pink ribbon stuff out there !

2010-10-07T05:25:00.000-07:00

October is breast cancer awareness month and everywhere i look i see pink ribbon products ~ these are my favourites in terms of having nothing to do with breast cancer !!!

Anne Marie of Paris handbags

2010-10-04T17:25:00.000-07:00

Please excuse my absense of late, have had a bad case of bloggers constipation !!!

I think it is a direct result of all the chemo and drugs but I am back.........

I have had this search in Ebay for many many years and have had only 2 matches in the whole time, both for the champagne bottle purse. Which leads me to the question ~ who was Anne Marie and why are her purses so hard to find ? Why is so difficult to find out about her. I think i will take a trip to Paris to research her.
From what i have learned, "Anne marie of Paris" was a high end shop in a Parisian hotel. Hotel Meurice was situated at 228 Rue de Rivoli.
The German commanders used the hotel as headquarters during World War Two and Ann Marie's shop was part of the rebirth of Paris after the War.
My good friend Miss Bamboo and I are trying to find out more about this label, so if you know anything, anything at all i would love to know. I was told there is also a birdcage purse, but i wonder how many other different designs there were.

The Kitty Von Purr Dress !!!

2010-05-21T19:11:00.000-07:00

It has been a while since i have blogged as have been busy fighting this breast cancer !
My lovely friend Bernie Dexter made me this dress to help with the bills.

*This dress is a special addition for Kitty Von Purr Cancer Fund* It is a bit more expensive because i am trying to raise funds for my dear friend with breast cancer. ***100% of the money collected for this dress will go DIRECT to Kitty Von Purrs cancer fund*** Kitty Von Purr is a dear friend of mine. i have knows for over 10 years. 3 months ago she was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. It has devastated everyone who knows her. She is the coolest girl i have ever known. In all the years i have known her i have never seen a bad bone in her body. If you know her you absolutely lover her & if you don't you would!!! ;) I came up with the pink & black dress just for Kitty. This dress is made of 90% cotton, 10% spandex jersey fabric. Special thank you to Dottie & Pussy for their contribution to the making of this dress. Kitty Von Purr knows the sweetest people!

The dress is available here

http://www.berniedexter.com/50s-jd-kitty-von-purr-dress-pink-amp-bla50.html

Cuckoo Crazy

2010-03-10T12:41:00.000-08:00

My friend Miss Inky told me about this website that has the cutest
clothing and accessories
http://www.madewithlovebyhannah.com
i just adore the little red riding hood one skirt,
http://www.madewithlovebyhannah.com/fairytaleforest.html
and while looking at all her fabulous things i came across this funny cuckoo clock sweater guard, it's on my MUST HAVE list !

So off i went to explore other cute cuckoo things!

If you are in Nashville March 18th

2010-03-08T12:06:00.000-08:00

The new look !

2010-03-04T18:05:00.001-08:00

These are the looks i am going to go for !!!
If anyone has any idea how that turban, in the balck & white photo, is tied i would greatly appreciate it,
and thanks to Inky for the pic @;-)

Chemo Cool

2010-03-03T14:47:00.000-08:00

Chemo cool ?
I have been trawling the Internet looking for ideas for head coverings & hats & ideas for when i lose my hair from chemo. There is nothing out there.
I just cannot believe there is no one else out there who wears vintage ( or alternative clothing) and has had or has breast cancer.

Why is it so difficult to find anything vaguely cool or interesting ? I know i am not the only gal out there who loves vintage fashion and has breast cancer, and who refuses to look "normal" and wear a stinkin' cute floral hat that either screams "I HAVE CANCER " or makes me look like I belong some weird religious sect that dictates all women cover their head.
I will keep looking and updating this blog as i find things.
So far i have bought 2 black turbans from Forever 21 and that's it. My intention is to sew a huge faux jewel to the centre of each turban and wear big hoop earrings ala' gypsy fortune teller from some travelling circus circa 1934.
I may just have to buy one of these totes though to tote all my reading material to chemo which starts on March 9 2010.

My Boobies

2010-02-05T11:49:00.000-08:00

Hello my lovelies,
Just a quick update to let you know what is going on in my world......
I fly home from Nashville to Australia for a family funeral, which was a huge shock for me.
Then, while at home helping my Mum with her grief i was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer. January 13 2010, it was the most surreal experience ever, the best way to describe it is,
like when Charlie Brown & friends are at school and the teacher is talking "WAH WAH WAH" and they don't hear a thing, that it what it was like, i only heard 6 words of an hour long conversation.
"cancer" "chemotherapy" "double mastectomy" "survival rate".
My only question was "Am i going to die" ?
My biggest quandary has been do i get treated in my home country or where i live with my American husband ? It is still an ongoing decision but at the moment i am going to have my chemo here in Nashville where my husband, my tower of strength, is. I could not imagine being away from him for 12 months. The other thing is i don't want my family to see me go through this, especially my Lula & Hud. I guess i am still trying to shield them from this.
I thought i was informed about breast cancer but boy i was wrong, i have always done breast checks feeling for lumps, had my mammogram every 2 years ( in fact had one 12 months prior to this one )I had felt a small painless lump under my arm so made an appointment for a mammogram while i was home in Oz , this was followed by an ultrasound, then was told the news. It had not shown up on the mammogram, it was only that i had this little lump in my arm pit ( am prone to these anyways so i wasn't overly concerned)and when i went in to have the mammogram the woman asked if i had noticed any changes, well i had the this tiny little dimple and one nipple was ever so slightly introverted.
My only symptoms. But enough that they decided to take a closer look.
A catscan, an MRI, a bone scan, bloodwork, xrays, and a bopsy and FNA.
I have a 5cm tumour and 4 lymph nodes are affected as well.
So all you lovely ladies please know your boobs, if you think there is any change go get checked, and do not be afraid to demand an ultrasound or further tests, it might just save your life !!!
I will keep blogging, it is good for the soul or so they say, will keep you up to date with what is going on , looks like chemo will begin in a week.
Hugs & Hisses to you all
Kitty Von Purr

Go enter this competition !

2010-02-01T09:00:00.000-08:00

The wonderful Miss Inky has a fab competiton up & running over at her blog.

She has a lovely assortment of beautiful vintage goodies up for grabs.

All you have to is tell her your most romantic moment and link her competition to your blog and you are in for a chance at winning !!!!

Be sure to go visit and enter .

http://inkyknits.blogspot.com

I'm leaving on a jet plane........

2009-12-28T15:03:00.000-08:00

I got some very sad news from home and now i am awaiting my e ticket so i can get on a plane on Wednesday to fly back home. It is 24 hours door to door, and no, i am not one of the people who enjoys flying. Shorts trips ? Not a problem. Long flights nooooooooooooooo !!!!

I am flying Virgin Atlantic instead of qantas (and never have before) and from everything i have heard they are supposed to be a fabulous airline. I have 2 books, my pillow ( the one they give you on the international flights is the size of a sanitary napkin )a big blanket that folds up to this size of a matchbox, Nintendo d.s and candy. I have also packed my eye mask, ear plugs and snoozin pills. I am packed and ready to go. Just wish i was returning under happier circumstances. I wear my most comfortable clothes on such a flight: jeans, long sleeved t, and old rayon coat, i travel in comfort not in style......
So it begs the question how do you travel ???

See you all when i get back to the USA

xoxox

Have yourself a merry little Christmas !

2009-12-23T17:39:00.000-08:00

Here's wishing you all a wonderful Christmas !

I hope you get what is on your Christmas list and then some !

My Christmas day will begin with a well deserved sleep in ( yep retail @ Christmas is a bitch), then open presents, followed by a big lunch & a huge pavlova ( mmmmmmm) then relax.......

Ho Ho Ho xxx

R.I.P Miss Curly

2009-12-20T09:49:00.000-08:00

Our beautiful Miss Curly, sister of Moe & Larry has passed away unexpectedly.
Her happy smiling beautiful face will be sadly missed.
She will be missed by everyone who loved her, especially by my daughter Lula who had an incredible bond with her.
My heart breaks.

Mademoiselle Marie Blanco Hendrickx

2009-12-20T08:47:00.002-08:00

Ooh la la !
Yesterday i received this amazing print from Marie Blaco Hendrickx in France just in time for Christmas. Now i must decide how it should be framed.
I had fallen in love this a while back, then out of the blue i get a message saying the print is mine. I am incredibly thankful.

Merci beaucoup Marie !
You may see her work at

www.mijnschatje.fr

2009-12-20T08:47:00.001-08:00

Du Wop Private Red Lipstick

2009-12-09T19:53:00.001-08:00

Today my Du Wop Private red lipstick arrived !
This is the blurb from Sephora.....
What it is:
A unique, color-changing lipstick that morphs to each woman's personal, private red.
What it does:
Private Red's formula adapts to each person's unique chemistry and will adjust accordingly, providing the perfect red shade that complements each person's coloring. The silky lipstick goes on smooth and the rich pigment leaves behind a slight stain so lips stay red.
What else you need to know:
Private Red is more than just the perfect red lipstick, it moisturizes lips with Castor seed oil.
I REALLY like it, it went on a dark red then changed to a fabulous day red. The other nice thing is that it is not drying and stays on really well. I am very pleased with this one. So let's see, the current count of red lipsticks, is um well,
too embarrassed to say.

Sew and sew

2009-12-08T17:13:00.000-08:00

After discussing my love of 1940's pants with Miss Inky i have decided to put the thimble back on again.
The first garment i made, as a teenager in school, was a lovely pale blue Hawaiian print dress, it took me the whole semester to complete this project.From the cutting out stage, and then sewing it all together, only to find that i had cut it out upside down and all my beautiful hula maids were standing on their heads.
Suffice to say i didn't get to model my handiwork on the stage at the Year 7 assembly.
Fast forward many many years and i decide to ask my Gal Friday to teach me and my friend Pussy Le Claw how to make Capri's. Surely it cannot be too difficult ? I have, after all, previously mastered a dress. What was i thinking ??? I don't think we ever finished those Capri pants but we sure had a fun time and this was way before "stitch & bitch" nights even had a name !
So here i am again attempting to sew another pair of pants.
I realise the first thing i must do before i even begin is i must squish my impatience and learn perseverance. I see a cute pattern on Ebay and want the finished garment NOW. I don't care to wait. But now i am not only re-learning to sew, i am learning PATIENCE !
So this being said here is the pattern. I am armed with an email "sewing 101" from Miss Inky and she will act as my mentor.
This is the pattern i will be using at Miss Inky's suggestion. I am yet to buy the fabric, but am thinking denim.
Soooo, if you want to sew a pair of pants and join me on this quest please jump on in
I will keep you updated and post pics as i go.
Wish me luck and

May The Paws Be With Me

Dance With a Stranger

2009-12-01T16:14:00.000-08:00

This movie would have one of my favourite films of all time. It stared Miranda Richardson and Rupert Everett.
It is based on the true story of Ruth Ellis the last woman to be executed in England in 1955 at Holloway Prison.
She was 28 years old.
Her story is a tragic one and am sure if she commited this crime today the outcome would be a very different one.

The following was written by Lynda Osborne ~ The Life and Execution of Ruth Ellis in Criminals/Outlaws.
At the age of 17, she became pregnant, having embarked on a love affair with a French-Canadian soldier, but like so many girls of that time, Ruth discovered her lover was married with a family in Canada.

On 15 September 1945, Ruth gave birth to a baby boy, Andre Clare, (Andy). In order to support her son, she found a job as a model for a camera club. This included posing nude for the club members, which was quite scandalous for the time. From here Ruth found a job as a nightclub manageress.

While working at the nightclub Ruth fell pregnant but terminated the pregnancy before the end of the first trimester. And it was also here that she met her husband-to-be, a dentist by the name of George Ellis.

From an early stage the relationship was tempestuous. Like Ruth's father, George was a heavy drinker. He eventually admitted himself into Warlington Park Hospital, Surrey to be treated for alcoholism. From here he found work as a dentist in Southampton, and in spite of the volatile nature of their relationship, the couple were married on 8 November, 1950. But the marriage continued to deteriorate. Ruth left her husband on a number of occasions but always returned and it wasn't long before the police were called to deal with their domestic disputes.

The following May, George lost his job, but found work in Cornwall. This time Ruth didn't follow immediately, but discovering she was pregnant, she decided to give the relationship another go.

Once again George was drinking heavily and decided to re-admit himself into hospital. Even though he was undergoing treatment, Ruth began to suspect her husband was conducting improper relationships with staff and patients and as a result of her suspicions violent rows ensued. After one such row George's psychiatrist, Dr. Rees intervened and prescribed the distraught Ruth a course of sedatives. She was to remain under his care until she was charged with murder; her medication just one of the mitigating factors not brought up at her trail.

On 2 October, 1951 Ruth gave birth to a daughter in Dulwich hospital, London but the arrival of the baby did little to save the marriage as soon after George filed for divorce.

By now Ruth was very much a part of the London nightclub scene but she was a doting mother and, with two children to support, she found a job managing a drinking establishment called the 'Little Club'. Here she met David Blakely, a man who was to have disastrous consequences on her life.

In spite of her affair with Blakely, Ruth was also seeing another man, Desmond Cussen. Together they would spy on Blakely whom she suspected of being unfaithful.

Ruth fell pregnant for the fourth time but miscarried, allegedly following a blow to the stomach during a row with David Blakely.

Ruth was convinced of her lover's unfaithfulness. She was driven to Hampstead to confront him by Desmond Cussen just 10 days after the loss of her unborn child. Together they waited outside the Magdala public house, South Hill Park, for Blakely to leave.

Seeing Blakely leave the pub, Ruth called out to him, but he ignored her, a mistake which was to cost him his life. With a .38 revolver Ruth fired, hitting her lover with her second shot, and as he fell to the ground, she stood over him and fired the remaining bullets into his prostrate body. She was arrested by Alan Thompson, an off-duty policeman, the smoking gun still in her hand.

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So in love

2009-11-30T17:10:00.000-08:00

Although she was busy "partaking" in armed hold ups between 1931 and 1934, Bonnie,from her beret down to her cute shoes, always managed to look ever so stylish !
It is still heavily debated whether she actually was a part of the robberies, whether or not she ever fired a gun, or whether she was just so in love that she went simply out of devotion to her boyfriend.I prefer to believe she was young and in love.
Bonnie Parker was 19 when she first met Clyde Barrow in January 1930 at a friend's house. Cylde had dropped by to visit a friend where Bonnie was staying while she was out of work. Bonnie was in the kitchen making hot cocoa when Clyde walked in, they took one look at each other and both were instantly smitten. They became inseparable.She remained a loyal and devoted girlfriend as they carried out their crime spree and awaited the violent deaths they knew would follow.
Bonnie Parker gained a reputation as a cigar-smoking gun toting gangsters moll. This grew out of a gag snapshot found by police and then released to the press. She was in fact just a gal next door type who loved her boyfriend and loved chain smoking Camel cigarettes.
On May 23 1934 she and Cylde were gunned down by police on a desolate stretch of road near their Bienville Parish, Louisiana hideout.
Bonnie was only 23 years old.

Memento Mori

2009-11-25T14:25:00.001-08:00

I have only ever seen one memento mori photo in real life (found at a yard sale) and i was enthralled.
These photos were taken by a photographer who specialised in these types of images, and often advertised under the banner of "Post mortem Photographer"

Photography became more affordable during the middle 1800's & although more families could afford the high fee's they were still, however, a huge financial sacrifice for most.
The majority of folk back then did not have access to a camera let alone a photographer so when a loved one died they would hire the services of this special photographer, often calling for them when a loved one was close to death, so as to have a permanent reminder of their dear departed loved ones.
During the second half of the 1800's the infant mortality rate was very high, and many babies and small children would die before a photo could be taken of them, also many young women died during childbirth and disease was known to take whole families.
Sometimes these photo's would have the subjects eye's open,
depict mother and child, (one or the other or both departed)siblings, sometimes only the face would be captured, they could be laying down looking like they were asleep or sitting up in a rocking chair.
If you are reading this Lula or Hud i suggest you start saving now for my very own
momento mori photo,and no, i don't think you can take me to Walmart to have it taken either.
One website i like http://www.thanatos.net/

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LUCY BELLE !

2009-11-14T14:06:00.000-08:00

Today is my daughters birthday,
I cannot believe how fast she has grown up, and yes it really does only feel like yesterday......
She was a beautiful baby, a funny little monkey and is now a gorgeous, smart, talented and very creative young woman, who is off to Paris & beyond next week.
**Take a peek at her blog
http://oliveandzipper.blogspot.com/
Happy Birthday Lula Belle & Bon Voyage
xoxoxox

The Makeup Player

2009-11-12T19:40:00.000-08:00

I think i need this !
It is part cosmetic train case, part media player and speaker system !
You can plug in your iPhone or iPod Touch to watch Stila how-to videos to get glamoured up. You can also play your favourite tunes through this too. And it comes with a bunch of fabulous Stila product, including the revolutionary NEW One Step Makeup Foundation!

The Makeup Player includes:
the Makeup Player
One Step Foundation
Eye Shadow Trio
Lip Glaze
Convertible Color
#7 Eye Shadow Brush
beautytube DVD & instruction card

Makeup, Education and Empowerment all-in-one.
And the best bit, its only $ 69.90 thru the stila website
http://www.stilabeautytube.com/about.asp

Hey there Little Red Riding Hood....

2009-11-06T20:54:00.000-08:00

I love her !

Random Things

2009-11-06T17:21:00.000-08:00

Just a few things that have caught my eye this week !

Turbans

2009-11-04T16:35:00.001-08:00

*above pic from swingfashionista.com

When i think of turbans i think of men sitting cross legged wearing a bejewelled turban and charming snakes out of a woven cane basket,
that said, i also think of Carmen Miranda. Which leaves me thinking is to hard to pull off
the the whole turban look ? Will it look like i have washed my hair and have it up in knot on my head or will i look like i am simply having a bad hair day and have my bad hair covered or will i look glamourous like a 1940's movie star....so many questions i know !
Will this turban at Forever 21 make me look like one of the above glamour queens ?
I guess for $5.80 it is worth a shot
and if it doesnt work out guess what i can be for Halloween next year ??

Bad Gals

2009-11-03T14:03:00.001-08:00

I love looking at pictures and images of real women of the 30's. 40's and 50's. I really enjoy
looking at their clothes, shoes, hair, purses,everything. These are photo's from old LA newspapers. The woman above gave false testimony at the trial of ex-madam Brenda Allen in 1949 Los Angeles.

These two are mother & daughter and are the neigbours of the "Horror House " case.
How cool are the daughters bangs ?

This gal was freed after explaining why she was wearing Marine uniform trousers after drinking party in Los Angeles 1948. I love her pants .How cool does this gal look ? This was taken in L.A in 1948 after a dope raid at a party

that this LA model was attending. LOVE her shoes. If i could look like her everyday i would be happy.

if by chance you know where i can buy her shoes pleeeeeeeeease let me know !!!

BOO !

2009-11-01T15:58:00.000-08:00

Trick or treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat !

We had a fab Halloween.

I love all the little kids who come trick or treating

They love our house as it's always decorated and we have a fog machine and Halloween music and the spooky ghost "floating" across the yard

It's my favourite holiday of the year !!!

PS Happy Wedding Anniversary Mr & Mrs Inky in California xxxx

Toadstools

2009-10-29T13:43:00.001-07:00

Everywhere i look i see toadstools.

Is it just me ?

I was in Target and came across the Smurfs Toadstool House in the toy section. I wanted to buy it, just because it was a toadstool, luckily common sense prevailed. So when i got home i started thinking how cute a toadstool beret would be. Or a toadstool brooch or toadstool socks, a quick look on Etsy yielded results from a store called The Tiny Toadstool !

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5069929

This beret is the bee's knee's !!!

Now i want a Toadstool House for me to live in, but i would have to move to Turkey

http://www.mushroomhomes.com/mainpage.asp?path=editor&ID=902&Lang=eng

Or i could always build my own.......

Jeanette Walls

2009-10-29T11:14:00.000-07:00

So today, i am really excited about a 40% off coupon that came in my inbox this morning from Boarders and that it coincides with the release of Jeanette Walls new book "Half Broke Horses".

She wrote "The Glass Castle" and this is one of my all time favourite books . So am interested to see if this new book will be as good as it.If you haven't read The Glass Castle you should ! I also heard somewhere it was being made into a film.......

I probably won't go see it as i am always so disappointed by film adaptations of books that i love.

The PURRFECT Red Lipstick

2009-10-29T11:01:00.001-07:00

I have been on a long quest ,spanning 2 decades, searching for the perfect red lipstick,and I think i may have found it. I cannot narrow it down to which shade i like better.
I bought 2 shades of the Illamasqua lippies. Box & Maneater, they are both AMAZING !!!
I will never buy another MAC lipstick again, the only down side to these is that Sephora in Nashville doesn't stock this brand, so i pretty much had to google swatches and go off what other people said, I was not disappointed.
They are not too drying, are pigment loaded and stay on for ever. I just wish i could see the whole range in person, maybe an Illamasqua road trip should be planned ???
I have decided that Maneater is my new "day" red and Box my "night" red and sadly Sephora doesn't stock any of the Illamasqua lip pencils. Seems they are only available in Europe. I really want to try the Illamasqua foundation too, just another reason for the road trip !