Palais de Steff

A Potty Princess... Still!

2012-02-18T01:19:00.000+11:00

Hello Dhaaarlings...

I'm still all potty and have a few more tea pots from my small collection to show you...

Royal Doulton Chamber Pot

Some tea pots from my blue period...

The oriental looking thing with the wire handles was procured for the grand price of $2.00 at an opportunity shop... A real steal! Although the original was probably only $1.50 at a cheap import shop! It has a "Made in Japan" signed in blue glaze on the bottom.
On further inspection... it appeared to have been well used, not a chip on it anywhere, and with tannin stains coating the inside.

So... at that price I had to give it a new home... It makes a nice pot of tea and I'm continuing to develop the tannin patina!

The hand thrown clay pot is by a Tasmanian Artisan... Who's name I have long forgotten... but it along with several other pottery items cost me a fortune to get home on the plane due to an excess baggage fee!

All my new treasures were packed into a separate bag which I had intended to take on to the plane as my hand luggage. Sadly... the bag was "Three Inches Over sized" and weighed "almost a tonne" according to "Trolly Dolly Nazi" with a smug little smile on his "I know I'm just so cute face"... that booked me in at the airline counter!

"Bitch!" I thought... I bet you don't complain about an extra 3 inches when you're down on your knees darling!" but I digress...

This little teapot was given to me one Christmas by a dear work colleague whom over the years I have sadly lost contact with...

It again fits the "house boy" category of "Quite useless but pretty to look at!"

My Blurry blue Enamel is my trusty stand-by and the one that I use when going on a camping trip in the great outdoors... Not that I do that much of it these days...
Well not outdoors any way... Camping is more of an indoor sport around
"The Palais"

I'm buggered if I know where I picked this one up!
I know it was in a pottery studio somewhere... and it didn't cost me a lot as it was a prototype the potter was developing. He was working with blue and green oxides and a new clear glaze and as it is a prototype the flower designs are different shapes and sizes on either side of the pot

The first time I filled it with boiling water the glaze took on an all over crackled effect!

Probably not meant to happen but at least it still holds its water and makes a nice cup of tea....

The rustic grey blue hand thrown would have to be my favourite.

I only use it on special occasions.

I love the overall shape of the tea pot and the way that the handles look as if they are in movement, swirling our from the front and back of the pot.

You can see how they have been pulled and stretched into position by the artist. The abstract lines of the etched design give the pot a delightful three dimensional textural feel when it is held and I really like the flat lid which fits well and adds a little quirkiness. It is very organic and as a tea pot... it pours... beautifully...

Now.... I think I'll just pop the kettle on...

Let's use the Blue/ Grey clay shall we?

How do you have your tea?

Bottoms up Darlings...

Health an Safety Announcement...

2012-02-16T00:02:00.001+11:00

A message on behalf of the management...

Thank you...

Say It With Flowers....

2012-02-14T03:17:00.000+11:00

Oh!.... You shouldn't have...

Just pop them into one of the vases I've readied would you Darling...

The place seems to be overflowing with flowers...

And I'm running out of Houseboys

I just love Jasmine... Don't you?

And someone even sent some roses...

I've asked the royal Photographer to take a few snaps for posteriority....

But you seem to have caught me in the middle of practising my Ikebana

It is such a relaxing form of floral f art...

I think this one is coming along nicely....

Happy Valentines Darlings...

And it is the year of the arse after all...

Celebrating......... The Year Of The Arse......

2012-02-13T01:03:00.001+11:00

Hello Dhaaarlings....

More beach bums for you to salivate... I mean celebrate!

Bottoms Up!....

Models in Their Scanties.....

2012-02-11T10:06:00.000+11:00

Hello Dhaaarlings...

[via]

Behind the Scenes of the latest Hamish&Co Photo-shoot, featuring Australian Company
Sly Underwear.

I think I need to make a few purchases...

Save Yourself The Embarrassment... I did Dhaaarlings...

2012-02-10T08:54:00.000+11:00

I was baffled!...

[via]

Who knew that leaving your table napkins laying about could create such an embarrassment?

I just had to rush down to the shop and ask for a pre wrapped box of table napkins ...

Although for some reason the explanation from the very helpful clerk seemed more embarrassing than buying a box of condoms!

Whilst he was packaging my purchase...

[via]

I spied this!...

Just the thing!... I thought

It is always nice to let a potential suitor know what it is that you are seeking...

A little drop of glue on the back with the trusty hot glue gun to attach a safety pin and... Hey Presto!... You have your own subtle advertising badge.

Pin one to your sporran at the next highland gathering you attend and see if you can't catch a caber or two...

Here's looking up your kilt.... Darlings...

Beach Bums...

2012-02-09T12:18:00.000+11:00

Hello Dhaaarlings...

I just love Summer...

... Don't you Darlings?

Is It That Time Of The Month...

2012-02-07T21:52:00.000+11:00

Hello Dhaaarlings...

{via}

What better way is there Darlings than utilising Glamorous Houte Couture to promote feminine hygiene products... I ask you?

I just want the frock...

Come on Baby Light My Fire....

2012-02-07T00:46:00.000+11:00

Hello Dhaaarlings...

I found this whilst roaming the u-tuba's...
It's Marvellous Mae with a cover of "The Doors"...
"Light My Fire"

Watch it to the end and listen for some Classic Mae...

Who Knew???...

Princess Goes Potty.... Again...

2012-02-05T20:01:00.000+11:00

Hello Dhaaarlings...

French Silver Chamber Pot with a very wide flange...

After yesterday's peek into Princesses Tea Pot mania I thought I'd introduce you to another

"Interesting Specimen"

from my collection... by the way the answer to yesterday's question

"What is missing from the chamber pot?"

the answer was...

"P"

Being the usually observant lot that you are I was amused that no one spotted the mistake in the first picture in yesterdays post... there wasn't a prize...

but if you did spot it... you didn't say so... not to worry... let it go Princess....

Now where was I?....

Oh... that's right!

Today... I would like to introduce to you my "Chinese Crab Pot"

Another somewhat dubious purchase from a stall holder during my travels in China.

Being the Cancerian that I am... I was immediately attracted to the little crab that is the handle for the lid of the tea pot.

Originally it was black in colour with a set of six matching tea cups...

And once again... on arriving home I decided to wash it prior to use...

Big Mistake!

As I scrubbed away... to my horror....the black which I had thought to be a matt ceramic glaze finish... began to wash away in the warm sudsy water...

On investigating both the pot and the cups further it... seemed that the Bisque wear had been coated with something resembling boot polish!

It simply washed off!

Despite the fact that the pot this time actually held water (no leaks) and poured quite delightfully... I have never been game enough to use it for fear of what I might ingest!

The cups have long since been broken or thrown out during the course of several moves....

...and the Crab on the lid has lost a leg due to a rather unfortunate altercation with a flying fork!...

I had some rather exuberant friends over one evening for a dinner party...

Of course... the champagne flowed and as it did... the more it was consumed and the more exuberant my guests became. One friend in particular is forever waiving his arms about during dinner conversation as he becomes more excited by the tale he is telling at the time.... and this time... while building toward the punch-line for his big finale... let go of his fork!

... said fork went hurtling through the air (looking like it was almost in slow motion) and clattering into the shelving behind him which held my display of Tea Pots and other assorted ceramics. After all the tinkling and clattering the fork finally came to rest... you guessed it... on the Crab Pot...

Fortunately... The Crab was the only casualty from this most memorable event.... hence the resultant leg loss! (Of the Crab... Not the Friend! He still apologises profusely when we catch up and I make a point of laying a setting at the table minus a fork!)

So my darlings... the "Crab Pot" has joined the ranks of other useless things (Like the Houseboys) laying about "The Palais" looking pretty and gathering dust. But like the Houseboys I just can't seem to part with it!

Useless Tea Pots!

Do you see a theme brewing here?

Princess Goes Potty...

2012-02-04T16:54:00.000+11:00

Q:What doth the piss pot miss?

No!... Not that sort of Potty Darlings...

This sort of Potty... Tea Potty

Whilst Mistress MJ laments the passing of a by gone British era....

That being... The demise of a "Proper" Cup of Tea... along with Red phone boxes, Red pillar mail boxes and Red Double Decker Buses...

and having put out the call to rally around and "Save our Cuppa along with our teapot"

Princess has a confession to make...

For many years now Princess has been a collector of the humble teapot.

I don't have too many of them... nothing in the "expensive" collector categorie... but the ones that I do have are quite special to me hold their own stories and memories.

The one pictured above... I found in a Hong Kong market... It is very heavy to lift...I think being made form metal panels soldered together... It is octagonal in shape and has seven inlaid panels of exotic ladies in traditional gowns behind small windows of glass... each wearing a different costume and hairstyle.

I was quite taken with its design... And couldn't wait with excitement at the thought of taking it home and giving it a test run.

But alas... it was not to happen

After carefully unwrapping it from its packaging and while washing and rinsing it thoroughly in anticipation of making a fresh brew... to my horror it started to leak! Just like a sieve!

Despite my sense of disappointment and the fact that I couldn't just pop back to Hong Kong to make a complaint or exchange...

It remains one of my favourite decorative accoutrements... and just like my houseboys.... totally useless but pretty to look at!

I will endeavour to display for you over coming posts some of the other

"Teapot Treasures" from my collection.

In the meantime I think I'll just pop the kettle on and make a fresh pot in

"Old Faithful" and dress him up in "Sam the Ram" (my favourite tea cosy) whilst contemplating my next potty post...

Bottoms up Darlings

Celebrating.... A quiet spell...

2012-02-03T00:23:00.000+11:00

Hello Dhaaarlings...

Things are rather quiet here at the Palais as you might well have guessed from my slack efforts at posting recently...

I don't have an awful lot to tell you... or many new creations to show you though no doubt that will change as the year goes on...

The Empresses Health scare has settled to awaiting a referral to see a specialist which won't happen until the end of the month... so as of the end of the week the Empress will be flying off to Western Australia to visit my Sister and her family in Perth.

In the mean time I'm managing to potter about in the vegetable garden, and managing to complete some sewing projects started mid last year but put on hold once I started making stage costumes.

A friend of the Empresses who is in her 80's has had a stash of pure French, Italian and Indian silk fabric that she has collected via gifts from her own family over the years. She is no longer able to sew for herself and has asked me to turn the fabric into some skirts and blouses for her.

So... This is my current project. No pictures as yet but they wont be far away.

I've also been asked by one of my Nieces to make her a sun dress.

As she has herself a little part time job, she insisted on paying for the fabric and we both had a lot of fun browsing through pattern catalogues for ideas.

We have drafted the pattern block in her size and can now go about designing and making the pattern pieces.

It's her birthday at the end of the month so hopefully if all goes to plan she will have a new party dress to celebrate in!

So my darlings while I take a little break from the Phaff and relax with a little cuppa...

Here's something nice to look at...

Celebrate "The Year Of The Arse"

Now... Here's three arse to celebrate Darlings

Princess and the Dating Game....

2012-01-31T10:35:00.000+11:00

Hello Dhaaarlings...

WTF from Matt Zarley on Vimeo.

Since recently signing up to the "Infomaniac"

"Fag, Hag and Odd Slag Dating Service"

My life has changed in Oh so many ways!....

All I can say is...

Thanks Mistress MJ....

A Lazy Little Sunday...

2012-01-29T23:39:00.000+11:00

restless from SAM SCOTT SCHIAVO on Vimeo.

I just can't seem to get out of bed today...

Pop A Coin In The Slot...

2012-01-28T14:07:00.000+11:00

I've never hit a Jackpot like this!

Friday Night... It's "Pata Pata" Time!...Get Your Groove on Gurl....

2012-01-27T22:48:00.000+11:00

Hello Dhaaarlings...

Princess just feels like Dancing...

You're more than welcome to join me...

Caring For Your Fabric.... Chintz....

2012-01-27T07:50:00.001+11:00

Hello Dhaaarlings....

Princess knows that her readers are a delightfully dreadful hoard of

"Fashion Forefronters"...

Who want's to be a "Fashion Follower" anyway darlings.... I ask you?

So at no expense to management Princess is willing to impart some helpful hints on caring for your favourite fabrics so that you might always look your best...

Starting off with the fabric that every trend setting "Fashion Forefronter" will be wearing this season...

Caring for your Chintz...

Now there is absolutely no excuse for you to go about town looking

Shabby.... with a soiled and glazed look about you Darlings...

Unless of course.... That... Is the look you are going for....

Princess always tries to be helpful...

Cause for Celebration!

2012-01-26T01:04:00.000+11:00

Hello Dhaaarlings...

Oh how common!!!

It should read...

Happy Australia Day....... Darlings...

Now Darlings! I feel like a celebration....

Everyone in the pool!!!

Seems the houseboys have started without us!

Bottoms Up Darlings!

Summer Viewing Doldrums....

2012-01-25T00:30:00.000+11:00

Hello Dhaaarlings...

Don't you just hate it when there's nothing descent to watch on the Telly...

Apart from the new "Vouging Aerial"

Fabric Testing is a Tiring Thing...

2012-01-22T00:15:00.000+11:00

Hello Dhaaarlings...

I'm still busy testing fabric... And I never seem to tire of it!

What do you think of this Colour?

Princess Remembers....

2012-01-19T14:40:00.000+11:00

Hello Dhaaarlings...

Did I ever mention the time that I blew a speaker in my car?

No?

He said he was a "Motivational Speaker".....

He certainly motivated me.... Darlings!

Let the Fun Begin....

2012-01-18T09:11:00.000+11:00

Hello Dhaaarlings...

I'm just road testing some fabric...

Crows and Poppies and "Ozians" and Jitterbugs and FFFFlying Monkeys!...

2012-01-15T13:21:00.001+11:00

Hello Dhaaarlings...

Princess is starting off down the yellow brick road and who knows where it might end???

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your well wishes and support and suggested management strategies from yesterdays post.

My heart swelled with joy and laughter when I came home and read your comments.

I thank you sincerely it just made what turned out to be a lovely and somewhat exciting day.... complete!

Despite my trepidation...Yesterdays luncheon went swimmingly...

No tears nor tantrums... With lots of good coffee and fresh foccacia's all around!

To my surprise...The head costumier remained in her box for the most part of the afternoon with just the occasional hackle raising comment... which Princess graciously let glide by without acknowledgement or... which was picked up and challenged by the producer... which sort of left me with just the hint of a smile on my face...

The costumes for the major roles as... I suspected... have been clenched with both fists by the head costumier. (The majority of which are commercial costumes(*) purchased online prior to my involvement with "Alice" when the team had not seen what Princess could create!) and again, as I fully anticipated the ones that are being made by the head costumier... are not up for further negotiation or offers of input or suggestions from anyone else thank you very much!

But I knew this from the beginning as I was told prior to "Alice" finishing that

"I" (Not Princess) will be doing Glinda, Dorothy, Lion, Scarecrow*,Tin Man*, Wicked Witch* and The Wizard (utilizing the Mad Hatters costume from Alice!)

Princess will... for the most part... be coordinating the styling for Munchkinland So... Conveniently... (I had anticipated this)

All the flower costumes that I made for "Alice" will be recycled with some extra embellishments to create the Munchkins. Which saves Princess a whole lot of work... The lolly pop guild will be wearing the lederhosen that I made for the "Sound of Mucus" and the Lullaby League will be dressed in ready made begged borrowed or stolen Tutu's and... as those cast will be trainee dancers able to work on point... and should have or be able to acquire their own anyway!

For this production... I have been allocated the responsibility to create

3 Crow suits...

Something like this perhaps?

25 poppy costumes...

Which need a little more of a work up!

A plethora of hats/ headpieces/ scarves and accessories for the inhabitants of the Emerald City

Ah... Just let me get my hands on these pretties...

20 Jitterbugs....

If any of you can send me a conclusive picture of what a f@#%ing jitterbug is... Princess would be most greatful...

I'm thinking recycled Butterfly costume pattern and dragonfly wings...

Stay tuned for further developments...

and

6 Flying Monkeys.... Easy! Darlings...

I know that it might seem like a lot of work.... but...

It was announced that there is money in the budget to pay me for my work this time around...

Not an enormously huge amount... but at least it is a start... and will help toward increased ~~alcohol~~ petrol consumption costs!

AND!... Wait for it!....

The other huge announcement that was made

(and met with stunned silence from the head costumier)

was...

Princess has been nominated to commence further training and study this year to become a "Qualified Assessor" For Certificate 4 in Textile and Costume Design.

This $3,ooo course will be subsidised by the youth theatre organization and government training body... Not costing me a cent!

On qualification an offer has been made that I take on the role of head of costume design and creative development with the youth theatre group.

Which will be a paid position!

The exact role will be determined over the course of the next 12 months but will involve teaching design and costume construction.

I was quite flabbergasted!.... let me tell you Darlings...

The announcement was a total surprise!

I had no inkling that the offer was even on the table... so needless to say...

I have grabbed the opportunity with Both Fists!

I'd best be getting out the sketch pads... and finding my old school uniform...

But first...

I think a little celebration is in order...

Don't you Darlings?

Looks like Princess is in for a busy year...

Bottoms up!

Off to see the Wizard?....

2012-01-14T10:59:00.003+11:00

Hello Dhaaarlings...

Princess has been given a Right Royal Summons...

To to meet for a luncheon... (by invitation only it seems)... with the ~~Coven~~... er..Production Team, for the Wizard of Oz...

Apparently the "Team"... (notice there is no "I") are currently on a 3 day retreat and have deemed that Princess may attend for one day only...

For the previous production as you know I was involved from the beginning as part of the "Team"

I suspect that the "Head Costumier" still has a bent little nose resultant from Princesses Performance in Alice in Wonderland... And appears to have gone into

"I'm going to control everything and put this Bitch in her place" mode

But then again I might be wrong... On the other hand I've dealt with worse

But I don't enjoy working with Bullies!

So it is with some trepidation that I am attending the event today...

I shall dip my toes in the water this time around.... before... committing to what may well ending up constituting a personal emotional catastrophe...

I cannot be entertained with nasal reconstruction... And do not wish to be brought down by someone else's creative insecurity...

I have fought long and hard to get back on my feet!

Tears may well be shed but they certainly won't be mine Darlings...

I'll let you know how lunch went....

From the Garden....

2012-01-13T12:10:00.001+11:00

Hello Dhaaarlings...

Meet my "Ladies in Lavender"...

"Agapanthus"

Even little honey bees love them!

You too can look beautiful Dhaaarlings....

2012-01-12T10:49:00.000+11:00

Fotoshop by Adobé from Jesse Rosten on Vimeo.

From the Garden....

2012-01-11T01:01:00.000+11:00

Hello Dhaaarlings...

Allow me to present for your visual delight

A Thing Of Beauty...

My Marvellous Vermillion "Mandevilla"

Replete with it's own cobwebs...

Regardless... It is in my opinion...

Simply Stunning...

It's quite amazing what a bit of chook poo will do for a stunted little thing in a tired old hanging basket!

A Passing at The Palais...

2012-01-09T11:13:00.000+11:00

Hello Dhaaarlings...

We had some welcomed rain today...

I awoke so the pitter patter of rain on my roof early this morning after a week or so of hot dry weather. I don't mind the sunshine or the constant heat... but it is the strong Northerly winds that dry everything to a crisp that really bother me. The poor old roses started to look like pot pouri after a day or two...

You may well have noticed that apart from all the excitement of a recent

Arse Reading...

By the lovely and talented Mistress MJ of "Infomaniac" fame...

Things have been fairly quiet around The Palais.

But the rain has not matched our tears....

This is due to the fact that both the Empress and I have been in mourning at the passing of our beloved little "Abby" The Empresses companion of the past 13 years...

Our little "Time Share" darling. On a nightly basis Abby would decide as to who's place she would be sleeping over at. Either Mine or the Empresses. Each option was not without its varying advantages. Treats and cuddles with the Empress, relatively early nights spent on her blanket at the foot of the empresses bed with cuddles snuck at all hours throughout the night. The morning would bring an early start and a trip out to the back door to remain outside for much of the day...
The alternative would be late nights and the eventual commandeering of the centre of princesses bed, arguments about territory, eventual cuddles and then sleep leading to long lunchtime sleep-ins despite the fact that Princess would be up and about from early in the day.

A little maltese/shizu cross who never believed for a moment that she was actually a dog, having been hand reared by the Empress from soon after her birth.

During the weeks prior to the Empresses health scare...

Abby had developed a nasty cough that would cause her lungs to go into spasm. We put it down to the changeability in the weather and her having developed a bit of a cold. Not unusual and it didn't seem to interfere with her general demeanour nor her usual routines... And it certainly did not effect her appetite.

However... as time progressed the cough became worse and her breathing started to become quite laboured. Over Christmas she went off her food and became quite lethargic. Her breathing became more distressed.

A trip to the local Vet resulted in initial thoughts of chest infection a plan to have her hospitalised over night, X-rays, a course of antibiotics
and a discussion of a plan for her future management.

We received a phone-call from surgery later in the day saying that the results of the X-ray were not good and showed a large cancerous mass putting pressure on her lungs... Treatment options were very limited as the mass was inoperable.

After many hugs and tears and cuddles with the little darling... the Empress and I made the kindest decision to end our "little princesses" distress and suffering.

We both held her and patted her and said our goodbyes... tears streaming down our faces as the Vet very gently administered the injection.
It was a peaceful and painless departure...

It was strange coming home to the absence of the little happy dance

She will be sadly missed around the Palais...
While helping her hang out some washing yesterday the Empress suddenly burst into tears saying.... I keep waiting for Abby to come bouncing around the corner to see what we are up to... just like she always did...

Rest peacefully "Fluffy Bum"

A Little Greenery From the Fernery....

2012-01-03T23:09:00.000+11:00

Hello Dhaaarlings...

Orchids...

Fern Frond...

Ribbon Plant...

Wandering Dew...

Staghorn Fern...

Vietnamese Mint...

Crumbling Torso....

My fernery is one of the coolest parts of my garden at present to be in when the temperature reaches the very high thirties... Especially when the misting system gets turned on and creates a lovely cooling breeze...

I love dragging an old chair in there of an afternoon and relaxing with a long cold G&T....

You know that you are always more than welcome to join me darlings...

Princess Performs for your Pleasure....

2012-01-02T14:05:00.000+11:00

Hello Dhaaarlings...

How about a little song to welcome in the new year???

Sing along if you know the words darlings....

Happy Nude Year!

2011-12-31T12:00:00.002+11:00

Hello Dhaaarlings...

Princess will be having some well earned spa time with good friends down on the farm...

you can visit "here"

And read all about my "Tree Change" friends and fellow boggers and their epic challenge of moving to the country... You can also drop by and wish us all a happy Nude year.... We may well even be sober enough to respond!

Here's to a wondermentful 2012...

To good friends, good fun and Alcohol!

Let the New Year Unfold....

bottoms up Darlings!

update darlings...
princess is in the pond as we speak!
meet Prince Charming... his cinderella is in the kitchen awaiting release from her bonds....

Something a little Blue...

2011-12-30T16:06:00.000+11:00

Hello Dhaaarlings...

This morning... while out watering the vegetable patch...

Princess encountered a most delightful sight...

Not one.... but...

Two families of Blue Fairy Wrens came to visit and show off their numerous offspring...

There were two males and each had a harem of two or three females with a gaggle of about twelve baby birds between them...

The Males are quite the showy type with their vibrant blue plumage...

While the Females are more demure in their appearance and plumage...

(Princess (unusually) didn't have her camera at the ready... So takes this opportunity to thank Mr Smissen for his wonderful close ups)

Their visit brought to mind a lovely table cloth that Princess keeps tucked away in the linen closet and brings out on special occasions...

It is a very old hand embroidered tablecloth that was given to Princess many years ago in an incomplete state.
It is a square tablecloth depicting Blue Wrens in a circular garden scene... and when it was given to me several of the wrens were unfinished and/or incompletely stitched. I have no idea of it's true age as it was given to me by one of the Empresses friends. The cloth belonged to her friends mother and was never completed due to her mothers eyesight deteriorating.

Not only did the birds need to be finished but so did the crocheted edge of the cloth.

At that stage I had never done any sort of hand embroidery and it was not until several years later that I taught myself this skill and completed the tablecloth as pictured here...
following are several varying degrees of close up shots to give you a good look at the stitching involved.

And here are some close ups of the crochet edging...

for my first effort at hand embroidery I think that I did a pretty good job...

And tomorrow morning I'll be out in the in the back yard with my camera poised to see if I can't get some of my own shots of these beautiful and vibrant little birds...

A Post Christmas Post...Good Tidings from The Palais!

2011-12-28T14:17:00.000+11:00

Hello Dhaaarlings...

There is cause for celebration...

First thing this morning...
Princess took the Empress to visit her GP to receive the verdict of pre Christmas scans and tests...

Well darlings... The news is spectacular!

The tumour identified is BENIGN!

There is no further evidence of a primary lesions (Cancer) anywhere throughout her system!

It is such a relief for all of us... Particularly the Empress...

Just a referral to an orthopaedic consultant for a second opinion and discussion of treatment options (if any) and future management...

We spent the past few days having a wonderful time with family and a succession of good friends calling in over the Christmas break.
Fabulous food, Champagne, and much merriment was had by all...

The Empress and I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you wonderful bloggy friends...
For your kind words of support, love, thoughts and prayers over the past few days... your kindness has been a blessing to us both.

The Empress is a woman of very firm and unwavering faith and has not been phased either way by the outcome. Her strength staggers me sometimes...

The GP commented today on how he was taken aback by her initial reaction to the news that she may have cancer... as her reaction was one of almost "No nonsense" relief at the time.

"Well it's better to know what is happening... Just so I know what it is that I'm dealing with"....

And today's response to the Dr's comment...

"What were you expecting? I wasn't about to become a blithering idiot... I have better things to do than wail about in a doctors rooms on the news that I might or might not have cancer... Besides, I have God in my life and either way... He's got it sorted!

I'm in a win/ win situation"

I can't say that I'm not relieved at the news nor can I say that I am surprised at the Empresses reaction...

She is and has always been.... a remarkable woman...

I hear corks popping as we speak darlings....

I'd best be lining up the glasses... Please.. Won't you join us?

Christmas Greetings...

2011-12-25T10:21:00.000+11:00

Merry Christmas Dhaaarlings...

From Princess and the Empress...

To you and Yours...

May this time of the year be blessed with special moments...

Fun, love and laughter with family friends and good company...

We'll be Popping Corks Darlings!

Christmas at the Palais...

2011-12-23T01:14:00.001+11:00

Hello Darlings...

The Empress

Princess is feeling a little flat and numb and is finding it a little difficult to maintain some Christmas cheer this year...

Over the past few months the Empress has been increasingly experiencing what to her are very strange things.

Major panic attacks with lots of anxiety. Poor sleep, feeling tired all the time and headaches which were usually put down to being "a bit dehydrated" or "I must be coming down with something"...

She has experienced several episodes of loss of balance and her walking gait has changed considerably.

Her memory for recent events is becoming patchy often repeating the same conversation that she has had with someone recently to me several times throughout the course of the day, looking quite taken aback when I have said to her that she has already told me the story a couple of times already...

And her response is usually a perplexed "Oh have I?" and then another hour or so later repeating the same story.

Her usual Christmas preparation of cakes, puddings, biscuits and treats became a series of almost disasters one after the other this year... Over cooking. Burning biscuits and shortbread...Leaving out or miscalculating amounts of ingredients. Things that she would normally have managed in a breeze, now reducing her to tears...

There have also been episodes of misplaced accounts/ cards and Christmas gifts that result in a frantic searches throughout the house only to discover, once I have been summoned to assist in the searching that, the missing item is in clear view placed on another bench or in a different cupboard to the one being searched through....

Princess is finding these changes all to be a little bit confronting...

Wednesday I took her to her GP for some results on a recent heart monitor study. The results from that were good news. Nothing out of the ordinary and no need for a pacemaker or medication which were some of the options discussed if the results were not good.

We got talking with the Dr about some of the other things that have been happening with regard to the Empresses memory and emotional lability and resultant increased levels of anxiety... the GP suggested that we get some regular blood tests done and ordered a CT Brain scan and to fill out a questionnaire regarding mood levels looking at anxiety and depression symptoms stating that there was no rush and that it might take a while to get an appointment over Christmas.

Thinking that getting an appointment for a CT scan might take some time... particularly over the Christmas New year period... we phoned to arrange a booking when we got home after going about our regular business and got an appointment for today! Almost a miracle!

Mid morning I took the Empress for her CT scan then we continued with our planned shopping trip.

On arriving home there was a message from the GP Clinic. Could the Empress attend the clinic as soon a possible as the Dr had some results to discuss with her.

We phoned the clinic back and were asked to come in immediately

The news was not good.

The CT shows that the Empress has a Lytic Lesion of the skull. In lay-man's terms... a cancerous growth located in the skull bone over her left eye. The GP very gently went on to explain that these types of lesions can sometimes be benign but are more often secondary to a primary cancer. And therefore the Empress will

need to undergo further tests to investigate the cause.

Immediately we were sent to book the Empress in to have a regular chest x-ray, mammogram, and bone scans.

Again... thinking that booking appointments might take time and maybe even having to wait a week or two.

How wrong was I?

The Chest x-ray and Mammogram were taken on the spot! We have a booking for the bone scans at 8.30 in the morning tomorrow!

some times things just go right... But for me...it all seems to be happening too quickly to adjust to.

The Empress... in some ways... seems quite relieved... While I drove us home with our collective heads spinning in shock she suddenly announced...

"Well Darling at least I know now that it's not just all in my head!"

and laughing added...

"And I don't think a pacemaker is going to cure it... do you?"

"And I don't want to let the rest of the family know what's happening until we know more... I don't want to go spoiling their Christmas... the news can wait until after Christmas..."

Tonight the Empress had two of her very close friends call by and very much to my surprise...announced on their arrival...

"Princess... defrost those prawns I've been keeping for New Year we have guests for dinner... and while you're at it crack open one of those bottles of champagne in your fridge! (the Empress is usually a tea total) Tonight I feel like celebrating and I'm going to... while I can still enjoy it!...

We polished off one bottle and opened a second...

The prawns and salad... picked fresh from the vegie patch... were delicious

Good company with much laughter ensued over dinner... I think the Bupply helped...

You've got to Love a Woman with style!

That is my Mother.

We should have more results by next week...

In the meantime I intend spending Christmas with the Empress surrounded by family and the people that we love...

I truly hope that you can do the same with friends and family of your own...

Whatever the result.... I know that we are going to be in for one hell of a ride Darlings

A Casino Christmas Adventure.... and... A Little Disappointment....

2011-12-21T18:59:00.000+11:00

Hello Dhaaarlings...

Yesterday... The Empress and I arose early and caught a train to the big smoke of Melbourne... to meet up with some friends for a Christmas luncheon...

The weather was delightful... and all the way down on the train the Empress kept saying to me how wonderful the Christmas Display in the foyer of the casino was... remembering having taken the grandchildren to see it several years back... So by the time we arrived we were both looking forward to seeing it...

And the water of Melbourne's famous Yarra River...
almost sparkled in the sunshine... it was a lovely balmy summers day...

We strolled along South Bank Promenade outside the Casino...
Enjoying the sights and sounds of the city... Even seeing a Helicopter land in the middle of the river (On the helipad)

And I did say that the water almost sparkled...

Until one took a closer look!....

Inside the Foyer of the Casino one entered almost complete Darkness...

As our eyes adjusted to the dimness... I said to the Empress... "Well... for a place that takes so much money off people... you would think they could at least pay their lighting bill"... And as our eyes adjusted in the dark... there stood before us... a partially lit Christmas tree...

They must have heard me... as suddenly.... The whole place lit up and came to almost life with a (rather sad) Mechanised Christmas entertainment for the masses.... or those hearty gamblers that remained and could see though their tears as they were now left too broke to enjoy a real Christmas...

An umbrella contraption in one corner opened to reveal... of all things...

Circus!

Really? At Christmastime????

With strange little dolls attempting to do some sort of acrobatic performance

And across in the other corner...

A Santa on a carousel surrounded by monkeys playing musical instruments???

It was all just a little too weird if you ask me... At one stage... some fairly daggy looking furred creatures which were meant to represent

a "Barrel of Monkey's" but looked much more like misplaced sloth's hung down from the ceiling.... I couldn't even bare to take a photo Darlings....

The Sloth/monkey rags were enough to give any decent child Christmas nightmares... And for goodness sake... How many of the little darlings would know what a "Barrel of Monkey's" was these days anyway... even if it jumped up and smacked them on the head.... I'm sure that I heard one of them weeping into their smart phone to what I presume was the animal protection agency...

"Yes ... come quickly.... They're putting all these cute little monkeys into a barrel.... Yes it's terrible... hurry... the lid is going on an they will all die if you don't come and save them "

And then this was the big finish....

Ta Ddaaa!!!

The upside-down umbrella thingy... all hung with silver baubles revolved around to display the static message...

Merry Christmas!

As the foyer returned to its original state of gloom...

Suddenly the masses watching erupted into a loud round of cheering and clapping... I thought to my self.... Why are these fools clapping and cheering? Its a mechanical presentation... There are no performers... no one to receive the applause for this somewhat dubious presentation. The reset program will kick in in a minute and the cogs will start rolling again to repeat the whole awful extravaganza in a half hours time... Idiots!

"Come on Empress" I said... "After that display I think we could both do with a stiff drink!"... and to my surprise she agreed adding... "It would have been a lot better if they had been giving out complimentary hundred dollar notes"....

And with that we wandered off to find the nearest watering hole....

Which wasn't far given that it was a Casino that we were in after all....

We met up and had a lovely luncheon at the Chinese yum cha with our friends... The food was good as always....

Later we wandered back outside past the happily dancing mechanoids... and into the bright sunshine to appreciate some real talent and art...

A sculptural piece on the promenade...

I don't know what it is meant to represent...

And... I didn't even bother to find out who the artist was but...

but it caught my eye...

It was a welcome relief... and by far.... More impressive than an allegedly

Christmas themed Hurdygurdy!

Well... I think so anyway Darlings.....

A Little Christmas Booty...

2011-12-19T00:55:00.001+11:00

Hello Dhaaarlings...

Just the other night while rifling through some of the boxes full of Christmas trinkets and baubles collected over the years ...

I re-discovered my oldest and most favourite of all my decorations....

"My Old Boot"

It is an old "Santa Boot" Christmas ornament... made from cardboard, tulle net, tinsel and glitter....

That I am told... (by a very reliable source... ie The Empress) was originally filled with chocolates and hung to decorate the Christmas tree.

It... like me... has seen many a Christmas and many better days...

Indulge me a moment while I tell you tell you its tale...

"The Old Boot" was given to me by my parents for my very first Christmas in

1962

I hear you gasp as you're thinking..
"Surely Princess can't be that old? She looked so young in that newspaper article the other day... My my he has kept himself well... either that or he's had some work done".

Alright enough!

It wasn't such an Old boot back then but a brand spanking shiny New Boot

Bright red in colour and sprinkled with large glittery sparkles in all different colours.
The net around the top was a vivid white and closed with a little drawstring that when closed would allow you to hang it from the tree.

And it was originally full of chocolates, and then every year after that, amazingly Santa would re fill it with "Smarties"* overnight

Over the years the boot would be hung along with all the other decorations and tinsel on the tree. As my younger siblings arrived
(me being the eldest of 4) they too had a "Special Ornament" bought for them and also hung on the tree.

My brother, a Golden Glass bird with a tinsel tail. I remember that it wobbled on a spring that clipped on to a branch.

My sister, when she arrived two years later, was given a pale pink fairy that had little net wings and a little magic wand in its hand. It was all hand stitched silk thread and glass bead embroidered.

My youngest brother as I recall claimed most of the tree ornaments as his own. But by that time I was much older and "grown up" so it really didn't matter.

Each year as the family grew my "Santa Boot" would rise higher and higher on the tree... much to my siblings angst.
"Why does Princesses old boot always have to go higher than everyone else's?" they would cry..." My Bird / Fairy / Stars should go up higher this year...

Why is he so special"

But our Mother "The Empress" would always respond

"When will you kids realise that each of you are special to your father and I?

That boot... Yes it was bought for Princess the year he was born...

But... that year was also our first Christmas in this house as a family.

The only Christmas decoration that we could afford for the tree that first year was that Santa Boot... We had no money for anything else.
Your Dad and I sat and ate the chocolates on the floor by the tree while we took turns at rocking Princess in the pram trying to get the little bugger to go to sleep...

It's because of the memories that that boot holds for your father and I that he always makes sure that the Boot goes to the top of the tree"...

It's not because Princess is any more special than the rest of you!

And that would end the arguments

Years later when I moved out of home.... as she did for all of us... the Empress presented me with a box of Christmas Decorations.
Wrapped in tissue paper on the top was "The old Boot"

"But Empress" I said "I can't take that. You keep it please. I know the meaning that it has for you and the memories that it holds."

"No" she said. "It was bought for you... So that is where it belongs... With you... and where ever you go and wherever you are living you will think of me and your father every Christmas"

Like me... the old thing is a bit worse for ware these days. Faded to a pink from it's original red... It has lost more glitter than remains, the netting is ripped and dusty and it sill has the original tinsel twine that Mum added to it about 40 years ago "so as to hang it better on the tree" dangling limply from its side...
The little sprig of holly leaves have crackled and peeled in brittle age and a few of the red berries have gone missing in action over time.
I noticed this year that it has developed a large split along one side where the sole meets the upper.
The poor old thing looks quite sad really.
But some of the glitter, despite its age, still manages to sparkle when the light shifts

All in all... It is still my favourite... and I think... still holds its own among the newer and flashier baubles...

And the Empress was right... Every Christmas wherever I have happened to be... as soon as I find the old boot... I hear mum telling the story of She and Dad as newly weds and new parents.... sitting under the Christmas tree eating chocolates and rocking me in the pram, and all the memories of Christmas past come flooding back.

*"Smarties" are our equivalent of M&M's for those of you not familiar with the real thing.

A Berry Merry Christmas!....

2011-12-18T06:36:00.000+11:00

Hello Dhaaarlings...

Princess has just returned from a little trip to the awfully unruly and overgrown berry patch!

You may recall that last year I posted about my newly planted

Thornless Blackberry Hybrid .

and Raspberry canes...

Well this is what they look like now...

Rather neglected.... but it is quite amazing the number of little treasures one can find if one looks closely....

Berries...

And More Berries....

And these are just some of the fruits of my labour....

Banana Passion Fruit, Raspberries and a basket of Blackberries...

Already... The bounty of goodness has enabled the Empress to bake 2 Blackberry Pies
and
2 Raspberry and Custard Flans...

Sadly, the drawback is that she managed to give them away before Princess got a sample...

I'm hoping to at least get a taste of these with some ice-cream and double cream with dinner tonight... That is.... before they get ferreted into the freezer by the Empress as soon as my back is turned!

Too Late!
As soon a I took these photos and came down stairs to prepare this post... I heard the empress cackling up stairs...

sure enough... the fruit is now frozen!

At least there's plenty more where they came from... Darlings...

Santa's Little Helper....

2011-12-17T08:31:00.000+11:00

Ho... Ho... Oh!

{via}

OH!... Christmas Tree?.... That's Right....

2011-12-16T09:57:00.000+11:00

Hello Dhaaarlings...

with everyone in the festive spirit Princess thought she'd better do something ..... Festive

Losing track of time this year I'm running a little late with getting into the festive mood but I did make a small effort...

So I managed to dust off a few trinkets last night and this is the result.

It is only a small effort... as space is of a premium around "The Palais"

In other years the whole place has been festooned with Christmas lights,

the posts along the front verandah are usually wrapped with red light ropes to imitate candy canes along with strings of fairy-lights strewn about the garden...

This year my "get up and go" has "gotten up and went" regarding an outdoor light show usually complete with the Empresses Spot lit Nativity scene.

This year... Nothing!

I guess the coffee table will have to suffice...

Ho Hum...

Love Never Dies...

2011-12-15T00:33:00.000+11:00

Hello Dhaaarlings..

Princess has just got in from a matinee at the theatre... Andrew Lloyd Webber's sequel to"Phantom of the Opera" ....

"Love Never Dies"

Well Darlings... In my opinion it should have!

And funnily enough... after seeing the show before reading the review I held very similar thoughts...

Read a review "Here"

Its only saving grace was the incredibly elaborate and imaginative sets and fabulously colourful and quirky costume design.

As for the Music and Lyrics...... Could someone please pass me a bucket!

Not one memorable tune out of the lot of them.

At least with "Phantom" having the repetitive theme assaulting your ears through very loud organ pipes all evening at least sent you home humming a tune that you could a) remember and b) recognise if you heard it again

This one... Zilch! I couldn't hum a tune from it if you paid me...

But... at least it was a visual feast for the eyes...

And that.. In my opinion... At least gives it some redemption

But I did however, enjoy with much wonderment and just a little pride in seeing for the first time some of my (now deceased) Great Uncles work in the plaster moulded ceilings and walls that he worked on during the theatre's

construction. You can see some of the works in the video with the review link

Or Go to this site for a historical tour

Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore... But that "Witch Killing Bitch" Dorothy is moving in!....

2011-12-13T16:26:00.000+11:00

Hello Dhaaarlings....

Just when you thought "The Palais" was safe from Mad Hatter's, March Hare's and Cheshire Cats. Princess is about to be overrun with Munchkins, Flying Monkeys and Emerald City Citizens....

Another youth theatre company here in Bendigo called "Nexus" have collared me to work on their production on the "Wizard of Oz" scheduled for sometime Mid 2012...

One of my nieces is also auditioning for a role in her school production of "Joseph" so I may see some work (Pay per costume) coming from that production as well!

Planning meetings are happening in early January... So I have a little bit of break time in between...

the Budget is lower than "Alice" so you can expect less extravagant costumes but... none the less I shall endeavour to work my magic and attempt to make make silk purses from sows ears...Darlings...

Have you seen the "Promo's" for the New ALW Broadway show?

Well this will be nothing like that darlings...

Alice doesn't live here any more...

2011-12-10T21:41:00.000+11:00

Hello Dhaaarlings...

Princess is quite exhausted from the past few months of toiling over costumes for this fabulous production and considering that the main lead characters were 15 and 16 year olds they did a fantastic job.

Support roles were younger still... right down to the prep grades at primary school a total of 185 kids took part in the production. All requiring costumes and some of the support cast several costumes as they played up to 3 different roles!

I cannot claim responsibility for Alice... the King and Queen of Hearts... the Cards-men or the Dormouse or the green suit for the Frog Butler

(but I did make the frogs head)... Nor the big red Dodo Bird. Nor am I responsible for the Tweedles... (although I did manage to do a fabulous rescue of their outfits at around 5 am on the morning of the shows opening. Much to the shagrin of their maker)

Their shirts were too short/ long and ill fitting for their build. Both the kids playing the roles were quite disappointed after seeing what Princess had created for the other Leads. So I managed to make them a cummerbund in shiny yellow and red satin that disguised the problems with their costumes.

Both were delighted with the outcome and couldn't thank me enough for making the extra effort to bring their costume to life. I had some lovely feed back from their parents as well... to say just how much their kids attitude to the show had changed since the cummerbunds were added to their costumes...

So as much as it was a rush to do... I felt very rewarded in my effort...

The photos you see here are from the programme so you might note what I am talking about with regard to the Tweedle's...

Those of you with a keen eye might also have noted that there are 2 of my fabulous flowers wearing Daisy Hats. Well Darlings let me tell you... this was no accident. I had been having a devil of a time getting Violet's hat
(purple dress) to stay on her head during the dance scenes and was still working on getting it fixed on the day the photo's were taken... On the other hand Daisy (Yellow Dress) was absent from rehearsal that day due to being very ill (she made a valiant effort to recover to be well enough to perform in the show) But after the photo session with Violet using Daisy's hat, We sent the whole costume home to Daisy so that we would have a photo of her for the programme.... so with the wonders of modern technology.... she was photo-shopped into the picture... Hence the 2 daisy hats!

I have always loved the theatre and costumes... but this has been my first real attempt at costuming on such a grand scale.
I did not know that I had this ability within me... Nor did I anticipate the wonderful reviews, reactions from the kids and their parents and the general public. Nor did I anticipate the media coverage or the level of gratitude expressed by the design team regarding my talents and skills...

Through the process of observation over time working on the costumes it occurred to me as a new comer that there are certain attitudes amongst some of those that have been doing this sort of thing for many years... that although not openly stated some roles/characters are made More glamourous / "special" than others.

It is not in my nature to operate in this manner... particularly when it comes to Kids
I believe that

"Every kid in the show has the right to look spectacular on stage"

This became my mantra!

And I think it shows....

I think that I have done alright for my debut... and so must the school...
There are discussions afoot to include wages in the budget for my continued contribution to their drama programme and involvement in next years production of "Annie".

But right now darlings this tired little Princess is in need a nice big tall gin...
and a good lie down....

Bottoms up Darlings!

I''ts Opening Night Folks!!!

2011-12-08T16:43:00.000+11:00

Hello Dhaaarlings...

Things have been frantic over the past few weeks.

Princess managed to have the main costumes completed by Monday just gone...

But then came a list of costumes requiring repairs/ refitting and I still had a couple of Sea-Creatures to complete

It is all done now and Princess taking the Empress out to Opening Night for a "Show Spectacular"

We are guests tonight!

I'm backstage Wardrobe tomorrow night...

The curtain goes up at 7 pm

So I'd best be getting a wriggle on Darlings...

And don't forget to take a look at some of my costumes in action Here

thanks for finding the Link Miss Mitzi....

Princess in the Paper!!!

2011-12-06T15:21:00.001+11:00

Hello Dhaaarlings....

I'm all excited!

Princess has made the local paper...

More Pictures Here

Who knew it would come to this???

Here is a link to Youtube

(no microphones or full chorus at dress rehersal)

White Rabbit Make-Over....

2011-12-04T13:44:00.000+11:00

Hello Dhaaarlings..

At the almost last minute Princess was asked to work her magic on the "White Rabbit's" coat.

It was a commercially made rabbit costume that was purchased on line...

Replete with Brown Vest white fur mittens, oversized white fur rabbit feet

Huge oversized black top hat with fur and wired ears and a plain purple coat all in 100% polyester... eew... Boooring!!!

I made up a beautiful shiny purple satin ribbon that now goes around the brim of the hat and ties in a bow at the back with ling tails hanging down the back and....

Here's the result after the ugly coat had been given

"The Princess Treatment"

It was the least that I could do...

Every Kid on stage has the right to look Fabulous Darling!!!

The Princess and the Mushroom....

2011-12-02T15:32:00.001+11:00

Hello Darlings...

I have some photos of the Mushroom, the Caterpillar and the Butterfly that I talked to you about in yesterdays post...

And here they are...

I'm almost ready for a well earned champagne...

And a very long sleep Darlings...

and yes Darlings...

That is Princess in the middle photo!

Flutter By..... Butterfly.....

2011-12-01T23:46:00.000+11:00

Hello Again Dhaaarlings...

I made a mock up for a concept...

The Butterfly costume!

No... don't be silly Darling.... That's not it!

That's just the model I made up to demonstrate the concept to those with a less "visual" imagination darlings and as I have discovered throughout this process there are quite a few!

I'm seeing it now... An electric blue "Morph" suit... In my day they were known as a full body spandex body suit?...

Lots of Sparkles

Sparkly panels taking shape...

Wait for it...

There is colour...

Rainbow Wings with the back of the costume being the same glittery spectacle as the front...
And there is a handkerchief style black chiffon skirt covered with more strings of golden sequins....

And what's a Butterfly without antennae Darling????

Pipe cleaners are wonderful little treasures....

It's all completed and ready for a photo shoot tomorrow...

The Caterpillar's body is already ensconced upon the mushroom
but I don't have a picture to show you as yet...

It sits atop the mushroom beside the actor playing the Butterfly and all that you can see of her is from the waist up as she stands inside the mushroom...

To transform... she simply steps down behind the mushroom... dragging the body with her... (which is attached to the mushroom) so that it drops into the spot where she has been standing and she then emerges onto the stage proper...as the beautiful and colourful butterfly....

It's been a headache to work on.... but well worth the effort Darlings....

Opening night is on the 7th Dec with a second show on the 8th.

All the major costumes are completed now with only a few minor bits and bobs to finish.... So my work is almost done Darlings....

I will post more pics of the completed costumes as I get the time but as you can imagine I'm still fairly well flat out ....

I'm Almost Over Pink!

2011-11-30T18:01:00.000+11:00

Hello Dhaaarlings...

These "Cheshire Cats" look happy enough with their costumes... Don't you think?

They just need booties and mittens and they will be completed after final fittings today...

Have they really thought this through????

2011-11-29T11:57:00.000+11:00

Perhaps they have???

I can feel Nature Calling already Darlings...
If you need me you will know where to find me...

The Tale of the Admiral Lobster...

2011-11-27T23:46:00.000+11:00

Hello Dhaaarlings...

I thought I'd take a little break from beneath the mountain of pussy fur for a moment... to tell you of another little costume that I have managed to complete...

Did I happen to mention that along with "Cheshire Cat's" and "Caterpillars" that turn into "Butterflies"

I'm working on creating an "Admiral Lobster"?

No?.... Well now I have....

The costume consists of a Dark Blue suit... gleaned from an opportunity shop.

I have managed to construct a "Lobster tail" from a piece of foam rubber and covered it in red velvet. I then couched gold thread onto the velvet to define the shapes of the tail pieces.

From red pipe cleaners I made some long antennae and attached them to the admirals hat and finished it off with a red hood.

Team this with some patent red leather shoes and red boxing gloves and Presto!

I think it will be the coolest lobster on stage!....

Well the only one on stage really....

And just to let you know the follow up to the "Cheshire Cat" saga...
The fur flew... claws were almost drawn.... but things didn't get too ugly...

sanity prevailed and Princess got her way in the end Darlings....

Well....Back to the Pussy Fur it is then....

Do I Look Like a Cheshire Cat To You Bitch???

2011-11-25T22:39:00.000+11:00

Hello Dhaaarlings...

As you well know Princess is on a deadline!

final dress rehearsal is on the 7th December... Not all that far away!

I ordered some Fur fabric for "Cheshire Cat" costumes 5 weeks ago.

I had seen this fabric on an earlier visit to the store... but between reporting this news to the design team and returning to the store the next day with the OK to purchase some... the fabric it had sold out! I know! Who buys hot pink and purple tiger print fake fur?.... Oh.... Silly question.... Everyone's making "Cheshire Cat" Suits this season....

The woman that served me offered to order in some more and told me that it would take 3 weeks to arrive in store and they would notify me on it's arrival.

When I hadn't heard from them three weeks ago I contacted the store to discover that the silly cow that served me at the store failed to find a barcode for the product so when I checked back with them... they... and to my Horror... I... discovered that the fabric had not been ordered.

They re-ordered the fabric that day telling me that it would be another 3 weeks for it to be delivered to the store again... "Shit" I thought... "I'm going to be pressed for time"....

Two days later I got a phone call to say that the fabric had arrived in store and that I could call by for my purchase... "Great" I thought... "That was good service"...

So off I went to make my purchase.

Again... to my horror the fabric that had arrived was yes, hot pink and purple tiger print but splashed with orange yellow and green as well... Nothing like the fabric I had seen.

When I said that it was the wrong fabric the same silly cow that had originally served me looked at me and said...

"Well that's what's come in love"....... "I can't do anything about it"

"Well obviously not darling" I replied... "But I can" said Princess and wandered of to find the Manager.

Fortunately Princess is on very good terms with management at this store and so gave them some feedback regarding issues of staff competence and customer service.

Apologies were made and the manager assured me that she would track down the fabric herself...

2 hours after our discussion I received phone call from the Manager to say she had located the exact fabric at another store and that she could have it sent over... But again it would take another three weeks.

I informed her that it would be quicker for me to drive to the stores location and purchase it directly myself.

She then informed me that the stores had a phone order policy and that I could place the order over the phone and they would post it out to me within the week!

the Fabric arrived today!!!

And it's just Divooon Darlings...

I cant wait to fire up the Phaff tomorrow...

The Hatter and the March Hare completed....

2011-11-22T23:33:00.000+11:00

Hello Dhaaarlings...

Princess is finally reaching the home strait with her costuming for "Alice in Wonderland"...

the "Mad Hatter" and the "March Hare"

are finally completed...

Collar Detail...

It's amazing what one can do with some old curtains and a Jet brooch...

Cuff Detail..

The real Peacock Feathers were glued to leaf shaped pieces of velveteen and hand stitched to the cuff...

The March Hare now has a vest and pants to go with his Jacket...

And a big old bow around his neck!

Now there are just x3 Cheshire cat suits and a costume for a Caterpillar that transforms into a Butterfly.... (Stay tuned for that one I think you might just be impressed... I have the concept... and the fabrics... think Sequins and Rainbow colours darlings. I just have to work my magic and bring it to life...)

The caterpillar will be on a huge, purpose built, red fabric padded mushroom(2.5 metres across) at centre stage and will be lit internally. The caterpillar needs to transform into a butterfly while on the mushroom, in full view of the audience...

It's going to be one hell of a challenge!

Oh... and I still have to make 13 fish/ sea-creature hats/headpieces for the caucus race and the pool of tears...

Wish me luck darlings or I might just end up in my own pool of tears....

Get... Reeedeeee... Tooo... Ruuummmmble!.....

2011-11-22T12:14:00.000+11:00

I guess even pussy's get punched in the ring occasionally....

[via]

I'll Have What She's Having....

2011-11-19T23:59:00.000+11:00

[Via]

The Mind is a very Odd Creature....

Princesses Post Party Blues....

2011-11-18T15:24:00.000+11:00

Recently at a "Party" hosted by the
"Hostess with the Mostess"....

"Mistress MJ"

"Designing Wally" celebrated a Birthday ...

I had a marvellous adventure... and in celebration I'd like to sing you a little song

Happy Post Birthday Wishes Darling...

I Don't Have The Words For This....

2011-11-17T16:19:00.000+11:00

The March Hare....

2011-11-13T01:27:00.000+11:00

Hello Dhaaarlings...

The coat for the "March Hare" is completed....

Three dimensional carrot buttons and all!

they were quite the challenge to construct but...

well worth the extra effort given the final look that they give the coat...

close up of the antique braid button holes...

Cuff Detail

Sorry about the blurred close ups, but it is very early in the morning here and Princess is a little weary...

Time to toddle off to bed...

Nighty Nite Darlings

That's Just Dandy....

2011-11-11T10:14:00.001+11:00

Well it's a "Dandelion" actually...

One of the small characters is to be a Dandelion!

Here is a Picture of the real thing...

I like my rendition much better....

Don't you?.....

Oh.... and the first person to refer to it as a
White Agapanthus...

Gets a complimentary Bitch Slap....

Daisy Daisy....

2011-11-10T10:30:00.000+11:00

Almost complete....

Final fitting and try on Hat day...

I'm Coming up the Home Straight Dhaaarlings!...

A few minor adjustments and some Hemming is all that is required now...

"Empress... Pass the pins.....

Wrapsody in Blue?...

2011-11-04T23:12:00.000+11:00

What is it?

Dhaaarlings...

Keep scrolling...

That's right... just keep scrolling on down...

That's it.....

Not far to go now...

There you go!...

It's an old glass fishing float Darling...

I found it in an old antique shop many moons ago...
Outback and in the middle of nowhere... hundreds of miles from the sea...

I'd wanted one for years and finally found one in the most unexpected of places and it now has pride of place in my Fernery...

I guess that Patience is a virtue...

Land Ho....

2011-11-03T18:43:00.000+11:00

bottoms up Darling...

Petticoat Junction....

2011-11-01T23:39:00.000+11:00

Hello Dhaaarlings...

Princesses Palais has turned into a veritable

Petticoat Junction!

I kid you not...

I have been buried under a pile of Gathered Tulle all weekend with 5 full circle petticoats now completed

and the "Lead Flower" gowns are almost ready for their final fittings...

They don't look all that great as yet, hung on hangers...

But I'm hoping that by Monday coming they will look just fabulous on the girls that are wearing them.

The initial fitting session was a hoot yesterday and the girls were extremely excited.... none ever having worn a petticoat (how do we put this on?) or frock similar....

The Empress is dab hand with a pin or two, so she and another friend and I pinned up a storm...

The girls were most impressed with the gowns given that the last fitting was done with toile's made from calico

(Their little faces weren't so excited when I handed them one each of them to try on last time... )

There are only 2 weeks to go before publicity will be on deck to take some photos.

I'm meeting with the Milliner on Friday to make sure that the flower hats are stable and secure enough so as not to fall off during the dancing routines.

So... for now it's back to the Phaff Darlings....