Highly productive outing to the Antiques Garage today - a beaded sky blue Indian cap, gorgeous filigree jewelry box with a cut crystal lid and some lovely 1900s New Year’s postcards. Also, I finally saw Rise of the Guardians and oh my god. I started weeping five minutes into the movie and then didn’t stop. And I understand that everyone’s into Jack Frost and/or Pitch, and that’s fine because… well, I’m just going to say that Santa’s lap never looked so appealing.
Some of the faces in our tree.
When we woke, the sky was leaden and the streets were soaked with the rain that poured overnight. Even as we left the house apprehensively, loaded with picnic baskets and, laughably, parasols and fans, the rain drizzled. But by the time we got to the Jazz Age Lawn Party, the sky began to clear and the afternoon dawned gorgeously fresh, cool and only slightly cloudy. In fact, the rain led to a very civilized development - picnic tables that kept us comfortable and well off the damp grass. I think this may have actually been the best lawn party yet. And lostsplendor brought the most incredible scones and Devon cream!
A few photos from today’s Jazz Age Lawn Party outing. My head and feet are killing me right now, but all that charleston, St. Germain and lipstick kisses were worth every damn minute. And I got to meet one of you Tumblr peeps! Thank you again for saying hi!
Yesterday’s accomplishments included buying my husband a gold-trimmed black velvet bolero decorated with bells, a pair of white gloves and a new boyfriend to add to my ever-growing collection of vintage photographs. I also drew some more porn. I’ll post it later.
Title: Tango Magnolia
Artist: Aleksandr Vertinsky
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The mailman crammed orange bloasom oolong, naughty vintage French postcards and an antique tea-strainer into my mailbox today. I’m going to be honest, my friends spoil me rotten.
A holiday pin-up from Zelda. I really can’t wait for the new issue to come out.
Belated birthday presents. I love my friends. They get it.
A slightly more seasonally appropriate illustration. My late friend Diane Naegel, the goddess of all things Halloween and 1920s.
So this happened last night. And that’s how you celebrate a birthday. Now I am off to roll around in the lovely presents (stroopwafles and handmade bow ties and Otto Dix books, oh my!) and draw some more requests!
Yesterday’s antique finds. We went up the Hudson to spend a gorgeous day with the in-laws in Cold Spring to celebrate our birthdays (L.’s past and my upcoming). I finally found a set of studs for my 1922 starched-front evening shirt with the detachable collar, and Lawrence found a ridiculously amusing book of phrases for public speakers, a beautiful Victorian (or possibly Edwardian, we can’t find the publishing date) book for mourners, and that unbelievable ad. It claims to be for cigarettes, but I am pretty sure it’s an invitation to a bisexual swinger club.
Shoe porn from Zelda, issue 2. Illustration for an article on 1920s men’s dress boots.
Fig. 1 and 3 - The Balmoral boot.
Fig. 2. - The Madison button boot.
I am still sick. And my birthday is coming up. So who wants to go out and get me about 346542432 pairs of these in every color?
Ann Rutherford - a rejected illustration for the 4th issue of Zelda (Rutherford was going to be the cover girl, but could not be reached in time for an interview, so Ginger Rogers ended up on the cover. I had the pleasure of whipping up her portrait for the article as well.).
There was dancing, live jazz and a standing ovation in place of a moment of silence today at Di’s funeral. It was beautiful, if very hard.
Apparently drawings that I do while sleep-deprived and caffeinated to the point of shakes come out better than stuff I draw at any other point. The man with the monocle worries me in an arousing way. I think it’s the undercut.
