Advice from Coco



Idea #3:  Art Journal page



  Gabrielle (Coco) Chanel was a gifted designer, but this quote makes me think her 

 take on the roll of women might be a bit limited especially in today's world.

As a French designer, during the 1920s Coco influenced women to wear their hairshort. After WWI

she made simple dresses from wool jersey which were worn with cardigans.  She began to wear slacks with pullover sweaters starting a new fashion trend. 

Coco loved jewels!  Soon she encouraged everyone to wear costume jewelry, and she reproduced

copies of her own fabulous jewelry ornamented by rubies, diamonds, emeralds, and pearls. 

It's said that in 1930, Coco was offered $1,000,000 to design Gloria Swanson's clothes for the

movie Tonight or Never along with her personal fashions.  By the time the movie was released, Chanel's

simple clothes looked out-dated. 

  

The art journal page above began with one of Coco Chanel's famous quotes.  When looking

through my magazine stash, I came across the perfect picture to go with the quote.  Since I paint the watercolor backgrounds for many pages at one time, the background was ready. I just needed to add a chair, the dog stand, the quote, and a border.

 Smarty and I'll be back soon.  

                Carol

    

What Was I Thinking?

      Hi!  Thanks for dropping by.  If this isn't your first visit, you may have already figured out that I'm no computer or camera whiz.  In fact, I'm quite challenged in both areas which makes me wonder "what was I thinking" when I committed myself to this blog.  The learning curve is straight up for me, but that's probably exactly what I need as I try to rebuild my life after the death of my husband of more than 40 years.  It's been 19 months since he left me, and I need something to make me come alive again, to nudge me back into creating more often than during the once a week quilting  group I attend.  I already feel better.  

     Now, I'm not saying everyone needs a blog when they're lost and trying to find themselves again.  What I am saying is that having something engaging to do is making my mind re-enter the world in a more hopeful way.  These days I'm thinking of what might be of interest to others who love some of the same things as I do.  What can I offer in the way of stories of women, books and movies,  project ideas, and free things to down load for your own use.  There's so much that I'll need to do some sifting and sorting...and some shopping!

     What's helped you when you faced a crisis?

     Here are some old photos that show women of the 1890s for you to download for your own projects or collection. 

      

       

Smarty and I'll be back soon.

Woman Arrested for Indecent Exposure

                                                    

Idea #1:  Cut paper collage card

      Try to imagine actually swimming in the outfit shown here.   Made of the favorite swimsuit fabric of the day - wool in nearly any color of your choice - you could order one from Sears or make it yourself.  Of course, most women at that time didn't really "swim"; they waded.  There was a real danger of  drowning

while trying to swim in such a heavy, wet costume.  It's been said

that some ladies even wore their corsets under their suits!

      In 1907 or 08 (books vary on the date) a pretty young lady by the name of Annette Kellerman was  arrested at

Boston's Revere Beach because she "showed too much leg." The charge of indecent exposure seems ridiculous to us, but she was hauled off to court.



   

 



Ideas #2:  Art journal page

     When asked by the judge why she was dressed in a man's style of swimsuit, Annette explained that she wanted to swim 3 miles out to a lighthouse and couldn't do it in the costume worn by women.  The judge must have agreed with her because he allowed her to wear the suit, BUT only if she covered herself up with a robe until she was in the water.

      

       Born in Australia, Annette learned to swim and ballet dance as a child to strengthen her legs weakened from a bout with polio or some other muscle disease. That wasn't the last people heard about her.   In America, in addition to working for swimsuit reform, Annette Kellerman  became a famous silent movie star.

        Esther Williams starred in the movie about her, and  The Original Million Dollar Mermaid by Emily Gibson tells Annette's  

 story.

 Smarty and I'll be back soon.

Why 1000 Creative Ideas and More?

Mrs. Delany was widowed at 68 and started her life's biggest accomplishment four years later.  Her goal was to create 1000 paper flower "mosaiks".  She didn't quite make it.  Her eyesight failed after 10 years, so she only finished 985 of her fabulous pictures.  Just as amazing as the number she made is the fact that Mrs. Delany was born in 1700 when supplies were quite hard to get.  Her flower pictures have been preserved for over 200 years and can still be seen in a museum in Britain.

Mrs. Delaney just proves that we're never too old to begin.  Although I wasn't quite as old as she was when her husband died, I too am a widow trying to find my own way.  My goal is to make 1000 creative pieces about women of the past, their lifestyles, their fashions, their stories and then  share them so you may be motivated to learn more about our remarkable sex.  After all, at least 50% of the world's population is female!

There is one special male in my life who wants to be part of this blog.  At nearly 3 years old, Smarty Phineous Welsh Corgi has become a good companion to me.  Not great, but improving.  At first, the division of power looked like this: Smarty 80% Me 20% I'm now thinking it's more like this: Smarty 60% Me 40% Of course, that might be optimistic of me. Smarty's pretty much his own "man."

Smarty & I will be back soon.