Poupée Mécanique

I got this wonderful set at the local antique market today. They’re french made transluscent milk glass, glazed in these beautiful pastel colours, from the 1960s.

There are a few british habits I took on immediately as soon as I moved here, for example complaining about the weather all the time, even though I actually like rain. And there are others I thought I could never, ever get into, like their perverse obsession with tea. And I did pretty well, for three years. But then there was this one night, it was snowing, and it was incredibly cold, and I went to someone’s house and they offered me a cup. And it was so warming, so comforting, it converted me overnight. Now I drink a good few cups a day.

My favourite is Earl Grey and Masala Chai. These taste great with milk that I love, and they don’t need sugar which is good because I eat too much of it as it is. I hate English breakfast tea, and I hate Darjeeling. They taste like you soaked cigarette butts in water. Not really into herbal tea at the moment but I’ve learnt to never say never…

The english have TERRIBLE food. But there’s one thing they do well and that’s tea cakes. “Cream tea” is tea accompanied with scones topped with clotted cream and jam. Incredibly fatty, incredibly delicious.

Ooooh I am DYING with excitement for this. I just booked my ticket to see it in 3D. A week ago there were still plenty of seats for the premiere but I had no money. Today that I went looking, it’s booked FOR THE MONTH. I found ONE good seat, so I will go watch it on my own on the 10th. Five days after the opening! But that’s better than waiting for a month to see it with someone else.

I’ve been looking at photos of the costumes and teaser pics and trailers for months and it all looks so good. I’m worried most of it is so digital it will look like a video game…but we’ll see.

Of all the costumes this is by far my favourite. Blue velvet jacket, red waistcoat and a KILT?

A music video featuring Kirsten Dunst, shot in Akihabara, produced by Takashi Murakami! Oh my!

The lyrics go: Turning japanese I think I’m turning japanese I really think so! Well that’s a song I can relate to.

Ah, I miss Akihabara. Such a wondrous place. Can’t wait to go back.

Back to London as of yesterday, and it greeted me with ear-hurting, hand-numbing cold, and rain that has not stopped since I landed! Athens was hot and sunny. I’ve always found people who complain about the UK weather annoying, but honestly, there comes a point that it becomes too much. And now, after 3 years here, I’m finding it a bit too much.

I ate to my heart’s content back home, literally non stop, and gained a couple kilos while at it. Feta cheese, tomatos, olives, all sorts of dips, bread and butter and honey, mom’s cooking, chocolate, cookies, wine, the best oranges and so much more. I’ve kept that pace since I came back but I know supplies won’t meet demand so I’d better tone it down.

Speaking of being poor, the custom girl is doing so well on ebay, with over a hundred people watching her. The money will be going straight to rent and bills as per usual. London is brutal. Sometimes I feel that all I do is work to pay my rent and bills. I’d give it all up for a hole in Tokyo any day.

Anyway, enough with the emotional talk. My stomach’s calling, it’s been an hour since I last ate after all, plus I need to get back to studying japanese…so that hole might one day be more possible…

She’s got two days to go on ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170449079678

Finally, the mohair girl I’ve been working on for months is ready. I hope you like her!

Here’s her auction page – 5 days only!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170449079678

She’s wearing the Veruca Salt dress I’d mentioned I wanted to make in the past. I’m very happy with how it turned out!

I’m visiting family in Greece these days. I’ve been eating non stop, seeing friends and going to flea markets. The Saturday market has become especially difficult to get to, what with the construction work done on the train lines. You have to get off at a certain point, get a replacement bus shuttle, then get back on the train. It wasn’t even worth it, I found nothing.

However, last week, I had one of my best flea market finds ever!

I have no idea how a rare 1950s japanese celluloid doll ends up in the possession of a gypsy in a greek flea market, but I am thrilled she did. I LOVE those dolls and I always drool over them in Japan but they are so freakin expensive! I got this one for 1 euro and she is in near mint condition! Really big too, 40cm! I can’t wait to make her a little dress when I get back to London.

Seconds after I had picked her up, a lady showed up that clearly would have bought her. I was so lucky, a matter of seconds.

These are the two photos that made me love Blythe, a great many years ago. They’re by Gina Garan of course. :)

I watched this wonderful film today, based on the classic book by Frances Hodgson. I believe it is meant to take place in 1905. The book came out in 1911. The performances by the children and Maggie Smith were lovely. It featured fantastic time-lapse photography of growing flowers and plants and the settings in general were incredible, the mansion, the countryside, the garden. So were the clothes. The housekeeper’s austere corseted outfits, the children’s pretty nightgowns and especially Colin’s little ensembles were charming. A must watch!

I watched it last night. I really liked it and I was surprised to hear Roald Dahl had hated it back then. Granted, it strays from the book but it’s still nice as far as performances go. Apparently the Dahl estate only agreed to allow for another film to be made if they had full control over EVERYTHING. And thus, the Tim Burton film was made, which I personally find AWFUL.

It’s one of Marilyn Manson’s favourite films. His first album opened with Willy Wonka’s boat speech, and also the video for Dope hat is a take of that scene, but I didn’t realise the logo reference until now.

I especially liked Veruca Salt. Proper bitch from hell! I loved her dress, I want to make it for Blythe.