Friday Tip!

Dear Constant Reader,

I hope you had a nice Thanksgiving! Today, the day after Thanksgiving, has become known as Black Friday and everyone is supposed to rush to the Big Box stores and spend, spend, spend! I hate it. First and foremost I hate the culture of obligatory gift-giving and the idea that buying some mass-produced junk shows somehow that you care. I’d much rather people give gifts because they find something that’s *perfect* for someone and not because they feel they have to.

In today’s Friday Tip, I’d like to propose an alternative to mall shopping:

Buy your holiday gifts from some of the independent artists and craftspeople in the burlesque community.

There are many talented people connected to the burlesque world with fabulous goods for sale. By patronizing them, you’re supporting the community and getting unique and interesting gifts for your friends and loved ones. Win all around!

M2

Published in: on 29 November 2013 at 10:30 am  Leave a Comment  
Tags: ,

Winner!

Dear Constant Reader,

The winner of Great Philosophers Who Failed at Love is Red Snapper! I’ll be sending you your book shortly *after* the Expo.

M2

Published in: on 28 March 2013 at 9:33 am  Leave a Comment  
Tags:

The Expo is Coming!

Dear Constant Reader,

I know it’s Wednesday and no, I don’t have a book review for you. I’ve been so busy getting ready for the Expo. More on which in a moment.

You have until midnight today to leave a question on this post for a chance to win a copy of Great Philosophers Who Failed at Love. It’s funny, entertaining, and best of all, free!

The Great Burlesque Exposition of 2013 is just a couple of days away! I’ve been working, working away. Let’s see:

* Putting the finishing touches on costumes for The Boston Babydolls new act in The Rhinestone Revue.

* Making a batch of glamour bars for The Last Chance Speakeasy. They’re solid lotion that melts into luxurious moisturizer with a touch (that means, store them in a cool place!) and have just a hint of glitter (from Atomic Cosmetics, of course). The Babydolls like to use them as a base for more glitter.

* Packing up The Diva’s Coat for The Wrathskellar costume exhibit.

* Hemming panels to use in Toni Elling’s class.

* Preparing the B.A.B.E. sponsored drop-in classes.

* Creating ballots for the judges for The Main Event.

* Preparing materials for my class on Homemade Beauty. Come make bath products from simple and wholesome ingredients!

* Sewing adorable aprons for Brigitte and Mimi to wear as hostesses at the Tea Party.

* Planning to host the Newcomer’s Showcase.

* Agonizing over what to wear for every event!

And just to set the record straight, I am not involved in the least with organizing the Expo. I just do a lot.

Hope to see you this weekend!

M2

Published in: on 27 March 2013 at 10:22 am  Leave a Comment  
Tags: ,

My First Give-Away!

Dear Constant Reader,

I’ve got something very exciting to tell you today.

Someone gets a book*! (cue cheering)

I’m giving away a copy of Great Philosophers Who Failed at Love to some lucky person who leaves a comment. Philosophy is all about questioning life, so I’d like you to ask me a question in said comment. Who knows? Maybe I’ll even answer it in a future missive.

For the next week (until midnight on Wednesday, March 27th), if you leave a comment on this post with a question for me, you have a chance at getting the book. I’ll pick someone at random and announce the winner on Thursday the 28th.

M2
*So it’s not a car. Allow me my Oprah moment anyway. If this goes well, who knows what future give-aways may hold…

Published in: on 21 March 2013 at 9:19 am  Comments (1)  
Tags:

Babydollmas

Dear Constant Reader,

This past Sunday the troupe celebrated Babydollmas. It was a little late, but everyone had scattered hither and yon for various family obligations and wild trips to Vegas (I’m looking at you, Evie Sphinx!).

We assembled for a festive meal (at a restaurant near B.A.B.E. — Scratch wasn’t cooking a third holiday feast) and exchanged gifts. Everything was rather appropriate to the gift-givers personality: Evie gave everyone wine, Brigitte handed out gift cards to that very restaurant (it’s a favorite for Babydolls to retire to for drinks after extra rehearsals), Betty picked out fun books, Devora stuffed cute socks with all manner of whimsical (yet useful) items, I made lotion bars & lip balm, Scratch selected vintage or handmade items from local artists, Stella made us all nuts*. Ba-dum-dum.

And what did I wear to this festive occasion? I know you’re all dying to know, O Reader.trousersThese lovely 1941 trousers in navy wool twill. Sadly, because it’s a dark color you can’t really see all the charming details, like the pleats in front (darts in the back) or the side zip (balanced by a pocket on the other side). You might just be able to make out the wide belt loops because of the contrast against the leopard belt. And they’re not vintage, I made them my very self. Hence the pleased aura that surrounds me. That and they make me feel like Katharine Hepburn.

You have requested more photos in my missives and I’m going to try to make that happen. My camera is a bit of a relic these days and the flash is balky. Still, I will do what I can to make you happy, Dear Reader.

M2
*As much as I’d like to leave it at that, and Stella does make fine spiced nuts, these were actually from a local company, and Stella picked the perfect flavor for each of us.

Published in: on 8 January 2013 at 9:42 am  Comments (1)  
Tags: , , ,

Review: Weeki Wachee, City of Mermaids

Dear Constant Reader,


Vote for the Boston Babydolls!

Weeki Wachee, City of Mermaids: A History of One of Florida’s Oldest Roadside Attractions by Lu Vickers (2007).

You might remember that I spent a little time learning to swim like a mermaid. For my birthday my mother gave me this history of Weeki Wachee Springs and their famous mermaids. And it’s even signed by the author to “Mermaid Mina”!

It covers the history of this unique attraction from underwater entertainment before Weeki Wachee opened, through the glory years of the City of Live Mermaids, to the decline into kitch, and the recent (successful) Save Our Tails campaign. Many mermaids and others intimately involved with Weeki Wachee contributed interviews as well as memorabilia.

Hardly a page goes by that doesn’t have photographs, postcards, or ads from all eras of Weeki Wachee’s history. I was particularly thrilled to see some of the Former Performing Mermaids and pick out the wonderful women who trained us to swim and pose in a tail.

I know I said I had a lot of burlesque books to review before moving on to other topics. This book does have pictures of Bambi the Mermaid and Julie Atlas Muz in a tail. Does that count?

It’s obvious from this book that those who worked at Weeki Wachee, especially those who have swum in its crystal-clear waters, consider it a magical place. I have to agree — sometimes I still dream of the spring and my short time as a mermaid.

Published in: on 29 February 2012 at 11:46 am  Leave a Comment  
Tags: , ,

New Companion

Dear Constant Reader,


Vote for the Boston Babydolls!

dress form img_1627_6939072987_o
For my birthday, Scratch got me a brand-new dress form, which you can see here, graced with my latest creation (a 1914 blouse, just lacking the buttons and buttonholes).

For a long time I had been working with an old clunky mannequin that was very hard to adjust. It was only really good for keeping costumes in progress off the ground and for displaying them at the Expo. The new one is set to my measurements and height, so I can actually do fittings and hemming with easy.

Expect a lot more to be coming out of my sewing room!

Published in: on 28 February 2012 at 3:03 pm  Leave a Comment  
Tags: , ,

Holidays at Babydoll HQ

Dear Constant Reader,

I hope you had/are having a happy winter gift-giving holiday, whichever one(s) you celebrate.

We had a small, early celebration in our studio before Evie disappeared back home for a while. Scratch gave all the Babydolls black & white polka-dotted tote bags, monogrammed in pink (Betty and Brigitte are going to have to get creative to tell theirs apart…). Just the right size for carrying rehearsal gear!

I’ve been longing for some decent lounging attire. Something comfortable, yet still stylish, and my mother delighted me with leopard-print pajamas and satin slippers. Just the thing for relaxing around Stately Babydoll Manor on a winter evening.

Scratch is a terribly hard man to shop for, so I was excited to find something just right for him: Baggy Pants Comedy: Burlesque and the Oral Tradition by Andrew Davis. Hopefully he’ll be willing to write a review. And you might even see some new comedy in upcoming shows.

What was your favorite gift this year?

Published in: on 27 December 2011 at 10:46 am  Leave a Comment  
Tags: ,

More on Gifts

Dear Constant Reader,

After seeing my gift guide, someone asked me what I wanted for the holidays.

My first thought was “Peace on Earth; goodwill towards man” (name that movie!), but I figure a girl’s allowed to be a little materialistic once in a while…

* Any of the books on the Boston Babydolls’ Library Wishlist (scroll down). Bonus points if you buy them at an independent bookstore.

* Wonderful confections at Secrets in Lace, Fabulous Feathers, Stop Staring, or Vogses Haut Chocolat.

* Tickets to Sleep No More.

but really, more than anything, I’d like you to vote for Scratch in the Burlesque Top 50. It’s for people who have “made an outstanding contribution to burlesque this year” and if you’ve been to The Wrathskellar, you know he has. And then there’s the Expo and the Burlesque Marathon, just to name a couple of his other projects that benefit the entire burlesque community.

Published in: on 15 December 2011 at 3:01 pm  Leave a Comment  
Tags: ,

Gift Giving

Dear Constant Reader,

The winter gift giving occasion of your choice is almost upon us. May I suggest a few ideas for those gifts to give?

The obvious answer is a class at The Boston Academy of Burlesque Education! Just send me an email and I can prepare a lovely gift certificate for one of our class series or even a private lesson.

If you’re a hands-on sort, consider taking our Fabulous Fascinators workshop and learn to make 2 beautiful hair ornaments, suitable for gifting (or keeping). Register right now — the workshop is tomorrow!

For a little something to get you in the holiday spirit, how about Naked Girls Reading: A Christmas Carol this Saturday? There are only about a dozen tickets left for this intimate event.

It’s never to early to think about Valentine’s Day. If you buy tickets now for Unlucky in Love, the Boston Babydolls’ next show, and use the code xmas you can get $20 tickets for half price.

But enough self-serving suggestions…

Personally, I feel the best present is a good book. I’m fortunate to count amongst my friends several talented authors. Please take a look at the Supporters section of the Boston Babydolls Library and consider one of the books (and ebooks) there. There’s science fiction, fantasy (of the sorcery variety), fantasy (of the erotic variety), true crime, history, paranormal romance, and at least one that defies categorizing. Something for everyone on your list!

Published in: on 12 December 2011 at 9:58 am  Leave a Comment  
Tags: , ,
Newer Entries »