the snail and the cyclops

Monday, August 9, 2010

Wrapped up In Books - Bird Children

More from the Elizabeth Gordon series! Bird Children was published in 1912 and it's the 2nd of her little anthropomorphic trilogy. It's past my bed time though, so I'll leave you with some of my favorites ! (and if you want to view them larger, take a peek at my flickr!)

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(Please let me know if these photos work and if they do work - are they cropped in your browser? I'm playing around with different photo sizes and I know everyone sees things a little differently depending on what browser you're using!)

Friday, August 6, 2010

Summer Homes

When I was in Massachusetts I got major hungry eyes for lake side, clothes line living. Like, bad. I have a few nice photos from my maternal grandparents when they were first married that I have to scan in that involve a black scottie pup named Bootise and some equally humble and charming clothes lines ... but, I just want to share with you some photos that I can't stop going back to. As if the fine little day blog wasn't lovely enough, she now has the most perfect summer home.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

aug 5

Nothing too exciting to report today. Packing etsy orders and wearing an unconventional dress for the weather. I've spent most of this week in my RRL jeans and old crew neck sweatshirts with perpetualy frozen feet. The weather has been so cold I've thought it was September since August 2nd and I've forgotten what it's like to be hot. Dude, what the heck SF? So, today I'm pretending it's warmer then it is. Wearing this white 40s dress I bought on Sunday. Tiny little tan dots and beautiful shirring along the waist and neck. It has some rips that were daintily mended and more rips that I need to mend in the sleeve. It was $5. I truly love old busted up dresses. I've been listening to this song way too much and eating too many cookies from Trader Joe's. I recommend the Lacey's. Right now is the time of the day when the heat comes on and our pale pink radiator makes clanking noises. As if some little man was in there chiseling away at a sculpture. Westley hates it and barks until it stops. Every day. Tomorrow a very kind girl named Sonja is coming over to help me with shop photos and then Saturday another very kind girl who I'm happy to have as a pal is coming to help sew. I'm planning an escape from the city for Sunday. Shop update on Monday? Who knows...

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Aug 4

Well, finally the shop update is done! I'm sorry it ended up being split into two days... I told you it was the shop update that never ends!
But - you can go here to see new things.
This photo is of a silly little outfit I threw on after I was done taking photos in some of the dresses. The pants are these totally bizarro corduroys I bought in Portland a while back. They're so wide they remind me of circus pants.. I think I want to make them into shorts but I can't decide. The top I picked up on Sunday at the flea market. It has this gorgeous theater curtain stitching on the sleeves. You can't see it so well so I need to make a proper outfit with it later on!
... And now I'm off to sew! See you soon internet!

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

aug 3

I've been working on the same etsy update for the past week... I think I'm eternally slow and behind in everything. I'll hopefully have 8 heartbreakingly beautiful things up tonight though. I know that's a tall glass to fill, but I promise this stuff's gooood. I want to keep it all but instead I've just taken 3x the amount of photos I actually need.

Above you have a practically perfect lace 1920s drop waist dress. And below a late 1940s Henry Rosenfeld. I'm slightly obsessed with everything about it. I couldn't stop taking photos in it... It's moved along through the years so elegantly.

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Tomorrow I'm making myself sew until my fingers stop working. I have 15 or so printed cotton dresses that need so much stitching and if I keep working at this pace then I'm going to have them up by Christmas. Speaking of - is there anyone who might be interested in potentially working for store credit tomorrow? Nimble and skillful hand sewing fingers or a portable sewing machine is a must! (I'm unfortunately without the later and I know that I should get a sewing machine, I know - I know... but I'd just rather buy dresses and frilly things instead...) If you're potentially interested email me!

What Genus are you?

Today's long lost installment of the What Genus Are You? series is a funny little book called Flower children; the little cousins of the field and garden. The book was published in 1910 and the series goes on to include a book about anthropomorphic birds, ad well as fruits and vegetables (both of which I will certainly share with you!) There is some truly amazing monochromatic leg wear going on throughout the book ... You should definitely click on the link above to look through the rest of the pages. The little outfits are all just sweet as can be, but I'm not so taken with some of the more cherub-like illustration styles.... I guess you can't have it all.