Whew!
August 31st, 2011
What a week. And it’s only Tuesday…
I feel just like this painting (Flaming June, by Lord Frederic Leighton) looks — warm and sleepy and ready to curl up on a divan somewhere.
As you may have gathered from recent posts, I’ve lately been helping to arrange a monumental series of photo shoots for artist Hal Hirshorn (which will be shown in an upcoming exhibit that I am curating). The final shoot was today, in the New York City Marble Cemetery. Here’s a sneak peak, as posted on an East Village blog, with snapshots taken by some folks who just happened to be wandering past while Hal was shooting.
Then tonight, after standing around all day in the hot sun, wearing 19th-century mourning clothes, I ran over to the Hudson Park Library to supervise a lecture about the restoration going on at the Merchant’s House Museum, given by one of the City’s architectural conservators.
Last evening, we had a meeting of the New York Nineteenth Century Society. Everyone was encouraged to bring something to show and tell, so I dragged my cello to Madame X (our de facto clubhouse) and led everyone in singing “I Dreamt I Dwelt in Marble Halls.” It was a grand moment, despite my very limited musicianship. Other impressive offerings included Cherry Bounce, a Bartitsu demonstration, an embroidered Regency gown, a Victorian inspired jacket, a Puccini aria, to name a few.
I made this a while ago, and am sharing it now to give you an idea of what you missed. Picture 15 slightly tipsy people singing along in the back garden of a “vampire bordello” themed SoHo bar…
Let’s see, what else? I’ve nearly finished my crocheted edging. And I’ve starting hand-sewing the tucked petticoat to which it will soon be attached. I recently finished The Mayor of Casterbridge, and am now working on The Last Chronicle of Barset. Not sure what I’ll pick up next, but a good friend assures me that Jude the Obscure is among Hardy’s best, and by far the most depressing. Which is really saying something, if you ask me!
Well I think that’s about it, at least for things that would be likely to interest you. Hopefully I’ll settle back into a normal routine soon, and start sharing some less frenetic posts.
I’d Like to See This…
August 30th, 2011
Sometimes, when I’m looking through old books online (what did we do before Google Books??), I run across a tidbit that is completely unrelated to my search, but too wonderful to be passed up. Here’s one of my all-time favorites, just discovered while browsing for embroidered “inserting” patterns.
The only remedy known, which is sure of completely ridding infested vegetation of all the Aphides upon it, is the smoke of tobacco. But unfortunately this can only be resorted to in the case of rose bushes and other low shrubs or small trees. For enclosing a shrub to be operated upon, gardeners abroad use a large box, a hogshead, or a kind of small tent humorously described some time since by Prof. Ijndley, under the name of a “Parapetticoat,”—made by sewing the upper end of a worn-out but entire petticoat to the outer edge of an opened parasol that has been thrown aside, any holes in its cover being first mended, and a staff six feet long securely tied to its handle. The petticoat being then raised up in folds to the parasol, the staff is inserted into the ground under the centre of the infested shrub, and the petticoat is drawn down to surround and inclose all of the foliage of the shrub. The interior is then filled densely with tobacco smoke for the space of five or ten minutes, or long enough to insure the fumes penetrating every curl, plait and crevice of the foliage. The apparatus is hereupon removed and the foliage immediately washed with lukewarm water from a large syringe, else it too would be liable to be destroyed. This utterly exterminates the Aphis from the shrub, every insect being suffocated and dropping from the plant, so that “unnumbered corses strew the fatal plain.”
— Salem, N.Y., 1855
I would truly love to see this in action. Please.
An Aphid
Like a Drowned Rat
August 25th, 2011
Or maybe a drowned cat.
This picture shows exactly how we felt this afternoon, after we got caught in a sudden rain shower. I’m sure lots of people in New York got caught in the same deluge. But how many of them were dressed in frock coats and top hats, or hoop skirts and bonnets? And how many were carrying a coffin down Broadway?
We’d just finished part two of a massive photo shoot with artist Hal Hirshorn — this time at New York’s beautiful and prestigious Grace Church, consecrated in 1846. So we had all sorts of paraphernalia, equipment, costumes, props, etc. The pall-bearers (4 of the gamest gents I’ve ever met) had already started back with the coffin when the heavens opened. I, carrying the only key to their destination, was a few blocks behind. so I picked up my hoop and raced after them, through puddles that must have been at least 4 or 5 inches deep.
Despite a huge skirt, cage crinoline, corset, and umbrella, I managed to catch up before they got where they were going. As soon as I unlocked the door for the coffin to go in, I realized that the street was closed to traffic — which meant the cab carrying all the photographic equipment would not be able to get close enough to the door, and they had but a single umbrella. I ripped off my sopping dress, and dashed back onto the street in my chemise and corset, to wait on the street corner with another umbrella.
So when all was said and done, I felt — and looked — just like a drowned rat. In a corset.
Sundries
July 25th, 2011
Gee, it’s hard to get back into the swing of this blog thing again! I’ve become rather lazy of late. My letters lay unanswered (apologies to all my dear correspondents), my blog is neglected, and I can’t seem to do anything but read, embroider, and *blush* watch TV reruns online. Maybe it’s the heat. Or some rare disease. Or too much to eat. At least I can say with assurance that it isn’t what comes next.
But in the spirit of gearing up for some real posts again, here are a few glimpses at what I’ve been up to lately:
Helping some good friends to organize New York’s very first Bartitsu Seminar. It was taught by historian and martial artist Professor Mark Donnell, seen below teaching a similar workshop at the Steampunk World Fair (who knew).
The Wall Street Journal (the only paper I read growing up, since it was the only one my father took) reviewed the Civil War Photography exhibit that I curated with Dr. Stanley Burns of The Burns Archive.
And I’ve read a number of wonderful books, including “The Mill on the Floss,” “Dr. Thorne,” and “Of Human Bondage,” to name a few.
Oh, and last but not least, I completed the broderie anglaise for my petticoat frill, and have worked about one third of the scalloped edge! Pictures will be forthcoming, just as soon as I feel up to hauling out my camera…
Peep
July 21st, 2011
I know I haven’t made one in a while, but here, finally, is a peep from yours truly.
I’ve been busy. It’s been hot. My husband had insomnia. My back hurt. I had other stuff to do. I was too interested in my books. I had to finish my embroidery.
I have many more excuses. But I think I’ll save them for the next time I heartlessly abandon my poor little (by this time, likely readerless) blog.
Instead, please accept my abject apology. And stay tuned for a real post very soon.
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