I was at school today attending a fundraising event organised by Nina's year group.
The theme, predictably, was Easter, but a very secular chocolate and bunny-based version.
Which is fine by me, not having a religious bone in my body.
Nina wanted to enter the Easter parade, for which she needed a costume or a decorated hat.
My suggestion of carrying a cardboard cross and saying she'd come as Jesus received an outraged response.
"Mummy - that's so offensive!"
Simon and I thought it was hilarious.
Honestly, they're being dragged up, these kids...
That little voice piping up with "I'm not!" and being shushed makes me laugh every time.
Anyway, just in case any of you who are appalled, don't fret; I relented, and cobbled together an Easter bonnet appropriate for the most refined of church-going ladies.
Straw boater and dress - charity shopped
Plastic flowers, chicks and eggs (on top) - Poundland
Scruffy hair - model's own
1970s dress - Ebay
Denim jacket, bangles, necklace and sunglasses - charity shopped
Boots - retail
It just so happened that the tulips and honesty mirrored the colours in my dress perfectly.
And the sunshine on the tulips was just dazzling.
Don't mind me, I'm having a Georgia O'Keeffe moment.
Oriental Poppies, 1928.
Georgia O'Keeffe
(Source)
And to prove this isn't just thrown together - I had my first mammogram this week.
It's a sign of being (almost) 50.
It was fine, very quick and efficient, courtesy of a chatty Dutch radiographer called Stephanie.
A quick trip to the local hospice charity shop this morning, en route to the Post Office and Tesco, saw me part with the vast sum of £4 for this little collection of goodies.
1962 Simplicity sewing guide
1970s Style pattern
1960s Featherlite sheet and matching pillow cases
(Oh, don't tell me you're not thinking of Durex now, I know you are!)
I am thinking of making the dress out of the sheet. It's probably too ambitious for a novice, but I'm going to try. I want the version with short sleeves really, but that might be pushing my luck, not to mention my rudimentary skills.
Of course I need another dress with an orange and pink floral print. Need you ask?
Sacramento's Share-in-Style feature on Saturday has a floral theme, so I'll be linking up.
Look at that face. Slapped arse.
I recognise that I frequently mock things which other people hold dear, but in my defence, I also take the piss out of myself.
A lot.
It's the only way to stay sane, I find.
xxxx
Sacramento's Share-in-Style feature on Saturday has a floral theme, so I'll be linking up.
Look at that face. Slapped arse.
I recognise that I frequently mock things which other people hold dear, but in my defence, I also take the piss out of myself.
A lot.
It's the only way to stay sane, I find.
xxxx
55 comments:
Ha! So you couldn't resist a controversial post after all. Nina's bonnet is a triumph...good old Poundland. Thanks for the Life of Brian clip, coincidentally I heard Michael Palin talking about it last week on R2. Love your new featherlite sheet and pattern and look forward to seeing you modelling it. We're all at it, it seems....xxx
I love "Life of Brian" ("blessed are the cheesemakers?") - so funny.
Love the angel wings on your dress; they just make me want to flit about, all giddy. Your boots are fabulous too.
Oh I love this dress! Here I am wondering where on earth my floral obsession started? Hmmm... :))
I am sure you'll make a perfect dress out of that pretty sheet and pillowcases. Just look at the bonnet! A dress couldn't be much more complicated, could it? :) Just joking. I haven't touch a sewing machine in ages. I forgot hot to make a rectangular sheet by now! :)
Nina is such a charming lady in this outfit, she could be on a magazine cover!
The video is really funny! I have to watch this movie. :) Justin probably is familiar with it, he's a fan of MP movies.
Oh dear I am hurting my sides laughing at the LOB clip. Always look on the bright side of life, as we say around here.
I hope you make the dress - I am just starting to re-take-up sewing and I need a friend to hold my hand. And I adore those old sewing guides, you really scored. Looking lovely, natch, in your floral frock. xox
You look gorgeous in your dress. Loving Nina in the bonnet--very crafty!
Well, I'm not offended in the least! Course, I love Monty Python! And I love that sheet, it would make a smashing dress! I'm working on a dress myself, and may be over my head too! We'll see! :)
What a lovely floral banquet! I love tulips, and the colors against the other flowers are just amazing. Nina's hat is inspired. I wouldn't be surprised if she wears it long after Easter. And your dress, too, is another classic Curtise style. How do you get that jacket to look so perfect with everything?
Oh Curtise I do adore you but look at Nina in her custom made hat she's so cute! I do think you must have lots of laughs in your family and tell your kids you don't have to follow me :) but why wouldn't they :).
This dress is another in your beautiful floral collection, the sleeves are only out done by your blooming buds. Tell me how does your garden grow?
I can be quite the shit talker myself but hey people make it so easy:). And yes you bet your ass I'll be back in the UK again and look out girl there will be panty flashing!
Feeling your love from here and love ya back honey
Xxxxxxooooo
Love your suggestion to Nina. Love! Imagine the reactions...it would've been priceless.
Your kids are so lucky to be "dragged up" by YOU x
p.s. please tell Nina I think she looks gorgeous in her Easter bonnet and give her one of these: x
My favourite film ever is Life of Brian and I have told my lads that when I pop off I want the song 'always look on the bright side of life' to play when they wheel me away to my next life. Everyone must whistle when required so it will be an audience participation kind of funeral!!
I too seem to have no religious bone in my body, I tell people of that kind that I believe in myself!! Me and mother nature!
Practically everything looks hot with a cool denim jacket and yours is fabulous! My question is, how did you get those sleeves in there? Good luck sewing your dress...it's been way too long for me...I might have forgotten how to sew!
...'Always look on the bright side of life!'...thanks for the out loud laugh. I have a husband that recites Month Python with great glee. Nina is a doll in her hat; you and Simon incorrigible. The print on your dress is remarkably similar to a dress I made recently. Dang, we've got great taste! And, {sorry if it sounds as though I'm rattling off my sentences here like a to-do list...not my intention, but I do want to comment on so many things today} how very cool to see that you have purchased, not only a pattern, but some fab fabric as well. Vintage sewers adore sheets; they make some of the best dresses. I think it's important to sew something that you want to wear...no point in sewing an apron as your first project; you've gotta have your heart in it. If you don't have someone nearby, and you get stuck, I'll help however I can. xo
That would have been hilarious, can you imagine the outrage on the faces of some of the other parents?
The marvellous hat is a lot less controversial and Nina looks quite the refined lady.
Gorgeous frock, incredible sleeves. You'll be fine knocking up a condom sheet frock, you can always post an update if you get stuck and we can try and advise you before it gets ripped to shreds and used as a duster (like any of my previous attempts).
Love you! xxxxxx
You & florals are a match made in heaven. That darn denim jacket seems to go with just about anything! LOVE the sheets. I get so excited when I see them in the original packaging. But then I feel torn about using them. I will be watching your novice sewing attempts. I'm still just altering my stuff. Maybe one day I'll be brave enough to sew from scratch. Xx
Personally I think going as Jesus would have been a fantastic idea! But the Easter bonnet is rather lovely as well, especially the wee Easter chicks! You should give making that frock a go! Its easier than you think, really. If I could I'd pop over and help you! Maybe you a Vix could have a sewing bee. I'm jealous of ALL those lovely flowers - winter has arrived over night here!
Aw, Littlest looks so cute in her bonnet, look at those lovely red cheeks! You did a good job there Curtise. Georgia O'Keefe is wonderful. I'd love to visit her house. That's interesting about the mammogram, they always look quite painful when I take my Mum, that's sort of alleviated some of my anxiety about going. I am so excited by your decision to get sewing. You're going to love it. Some of those destructions they give can look a bit complicated at first, but they're generally not. You can do this thing! Get going with your condom sheet! Can't wait for the great reveal. Xxxxx
Love your dress and it's batwing sleeves ... are they still called that?? Were they ever called that ... or did I just make that up????
xx
Hello Curtise,
How clever of you to dress in camouflage with your garden. Now if anyone comes looking for you amongst the flower borders you will be safely hidden from view. This could come in very handy indeed.
Your daughter looks adorable in her Easter bonnet but we suspect that she would look adorable in pretty much anything. She is so very pretty.
Easter is such a joyous time of year and, for us, it does have a religious significance. However, it is so important that we are all individuals and, yes, to be able to laugh at oneself as well as the absurdities of Life is so very important.
Wonderful bonnet job Curtise. I got jibbed and Cohen didn't have a parade, I was looking forward to putting together something utterly ridiculous and over the top.....just because I can.
Looking fabulous as always and I say just get stuck in and give that dress a go. May the sewing fairies be with you.
I love it all! ha! and I firmly believe Jesus had a sense of humour, we are religious in a non-church attendance family, I digress! I always do! Nina's hat looks beautiful, isn't she so pretty! in our school the parents used to turn up with the bonnets covered up in a binbag! wtf! competitive bonnets! you are florabundant! I love the dress and I have a thing for fancy sleeves, you have perfectly wrapped them up in your denim jacket! the featherlite sheet made me chuckle, I'd rather like to introduce it as the durex dress! glad the mammogram went well too, I hope they have enough surface area for my boobs when squash time comes x x x
There's so much to love about Nina. She couldn't give a stuff about her hair and as long as the hat's OK she's happy! Your tulips are simply incredible, your garden beckons. Careful, you might stroll out with your morning cuppa and find a mad lilac-haired hint frolicking about in her granny pants! I bloody love Brian and yes you MUST make the sheet-frock, I insist! I mean really, what have you got to lose at the bargain price you paid for the sheet and pattern? Anto has a Sheffield school friend over from Hong Kong and they're having a stroll, no burn-out, down memory lane. Makes me think of you! xoxoxoxo
love that dress!
and i have flower envy, my tulips are still green and closed.....
dont fear the sewing. the sheets design will look great in that pattern. just expect to line the skirt. if you have a sewing question, don´t be shy and ask me.
i´m with you on eastern - no religious bone in me too. i just celebrate the animistic version of greeting the spring and the fertility of mother nature - with decorated eggs in the tree and egg liqueur filled choco eggs :-P
That's our annual Easter movie!
Nah, not offended but even suggesting it where I live would have your suitability as a parent questioned. We take a fair bit of crap for not giving our son a religion.
Good luck with the dress, it has been ages since I've sewn anything-not sure I could anymore.
Coming from a Catholic gal....nah, that's not offensive, it's hilarious. I can just imagine the faces of the other mums if you had dressed her that way though :o
Loving all your garden blooms and floral prints. The bed sheets will make a lovely dress. I can picture you and Vix in your curtain and bed sheet ensembles visiting Wetherspoons.
looking lovely as always, and your daughter is such a cutie xx
Love her! I don't know how she puts up with you!!
This post is bursting with yumminess...I want to lick it. Life of Brian is the Easter movie in this house. When I went to see it on it's release there was a queue of outraged types outside the old Odeon giving it 'watch this and your doomed'...I'm ashamed to say I told someone to 'fuck off'. Hang on, no I'm not
You can knock up a frock from a sheet no probs.
See you soon.
xxxx
I would have laughed out loud at that remark and then my husband would have chastised me. LOL
You did a brilliant job on that Easter bonnet!
You get away beautifully with those flowy sleeves. It almost looks like you are wearing a cape.
Glad to hear your boobs made it through the squeeze. Sometimes I worry that mine will stay like that...flattened like pancakes and sticking straight out.
bisous
Suzanne
The Easter bonnet turned out just wonderful! And Nina looks so cute and pretty in it. The post is so flowery today: flowers on the hat, flowers on the dress, and flowers in your garden. Beautiful!
Fancy outraging your poor daughter like that! her bonnet is splendid.
I can't wait to see your sheet frock.
Take up thy cross and sew that dress, for Christ's sake!!
Love shocking the wee ones. It's one of the great pleasures of serving as a substitute teacher. More children to scandalize--though of course so many subjects are completely off-limits, and really all the best ones.
It can take a lot of water under the bridge (mmm, failed projects) to come up with a self-made dress you love, but that just means you should get on with some failures! On the other hand, some of the early dresses I made turned into firm favorites. When you are less immersed in dressmaking, it's easier to be fully in touch with exactly what your vision is.
Loved this post!
I must have read it five times already!
You can make the dress, I know it!
The nest thing that helps me is to cut it out on one day and sew it the next, no matter how keen you feel.
X
Loved this post!
I must have read it five times already!
You can make the dress, I know it!
The nest thing that helps me is to cut it out on one day and sew it the next, no matter how keen you feel.
X
I remember doing Easter bonnets!!!
Featherlite always reminds me of the Madness song, House of Fun, I think.
She is so cute in that brilliant bonnet !
And her mummy is gorgeous in that dress.Love your boots.
xxx
I loved your costume idea! Just think of the discussion it would have generated ;) I think if you go through life without offending anyone, then you're obviously doing something wrong!
Nice Easter bonnet you came up with and littlest looks quite pleased with herself. I don't usually do anything to acknowledge or celebrate Easter, being a heathen and all.
One of my former work-mates and I used to sing "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" if we were having a stressful day at the office.
OH a delightful post! I adore Life of Brian and your dress! I have been very carefully remaining non-offensive/controversial but believe me I could offend a bazillion people if I revealed my true nature. ;-) Prior to this new blogging adventure I was spending time on a social/opinion site poking tigers with sticks on a regular basis. They were usually tigers of the American religious right stripe. One of my heroes is Christopher Hitchens.
Now back to dresses....I love that pattern and most especially the one with sleeves. I used to wear a lot of dresses like that but I hate sewing so such dresses are not going to happen anymore.
xo
omg you just crack me up! x
I just love that flowery dres, it looks perfect on you. The pictures are simply gorgeous, Nina looks adorable in her Easter bonner!
What a cute Easter bonnet. Your daughter looks amazing. You are a cool Mum! Peeing myself laughing about the cross. OK, now I have sheet envy and I have the same Simplicity book as you. It is really good. The old ones are. If you ever see a McCall's one from the 50's grab it as they are full of stitching gems. Great that you got a pattern too. Sheets are excellent for sewing with and there is always loads of fabric. The colours will be great on you. xxxx
I thinks if we can all not take ourselves too seriously then all will be well. And part of that is mocking everything equally! Gorgeous floral frock (those sleeves!), great effort on the bonnet and thanks for reminding me of The Life of Brian which I really need to watch again soon. XXX
The sheet will make a stunning dress and I think you can do it!!!
You look smashing as always in your floral frock.
I love Finals hat....especially the peeps on it!!
What is it with the lovely vintage English sheets? Here in the US they are hideous gore stained things that I wouldn't sleep in nor wrap my bod in. Or maybe it's just my neighborhood. Anyhoo, I must say that Nina is such a doll. I love her little face. This time of year I have a brunch to entertain the Jewish relatives and the Christian relatives and the recovering alcoholic relatives and the gluten-free and the diabetic and the neurotic relatives all at the same time so I cook like the godless fiend that I am, then I get a bit sozzled and usually manage to offend a different person every year. Congrats on your successful mammo. The fun is just beginning! XXXOOO
how cute is she in that hat
i think that hat might go with your outfit as well
Brett
jump right in and make that dress. You've got nothing to lose!
Curtise, you always look so elegant in floral dresses with boots and denim outerwear. I don't think anyone can rock the look so well as you.
As for offending people, I am a huge fan of your sense of humour. I come to your blog to snort and laugh aloud. :D
Nina looks so sweet in her Easter bonnet and very proud too.
I'm always amazed that vintage sheets still turn up in their original packaging. It would make a fabulous dress with the added bonus that it wouldn't need any ironing! Go for it! xxxx
no easter bonnets are used here, and not a religious bone in my body! I'm used to avoid any easter procession (I think they're disturbingly sad and ugly!, but never say it aloud, I live in a catholic country, ugh!)
And you're blooming in your pretty dress, such fabulous sleeves and such a cute print!! Love how you uses to wear dresses with a jean jacket, so inspiring !!
besos & semana santa!
Hi Curtise!
I'm feeling a little better, i can look at a blot or 2, but can't over do it - Wonderful to look at blogs again -
Happy birthday to your wonderful mother btw - Isn't wonderful to see that your mother at 90 is still so full of life!
Life is so precious you should take advantage of it every day -
Your outfits are the coolest as ever Curtise
Love the little one's hat, i remember wearing those kind of hats around Easter -
Take care, hopefully i will be back soon
Arianexo
testing, testing, does this work yet?
OH YAY! Well that's one blogspot blog I can comment on now, anyway.
I love reading your posts Curtise. You always make me smile. I have to say I laughed out loud when you said about taking a cardboard cross into school!
Love your flower photos xx
Hello Curtise, you do make me laugh! the kids were given me strange looks Lol !!!.
The bonnet is lovely and so is your dress, yes I had my boobs checked last year, not half as bad as I thought, just puts one's mind to rest.
Have a great weekend Best wishes x Les
so much goodness in one post!
I'm glad to hear your mammogram went fine. I had one a few years ago and I was dreading it, as I had heard many stories of less than careful technicians... thankfully mine went on rather pain free as well.
I'm loving all the flowers in this post, it's making me crave warm and sunny days. You know, Springlike.
G once went as Jesus to a party, wearing a loincloth and a cross back pack I made out of vinyl.......o, and some ivy around his head. It was a raging success!
Ugh, I must be due my next official mammogram. They're free and practically compulsory from age 45 here. Scary, but not too bad! Glad yours was all fine.
You certainly did need that frock! It's divoon! Angel sleeves! Pretty print, too.
Love you! XXXXXXXXXXXX
WOW soo AMAZING post :) you have such good taste
Check out my new post....How to decorate your home with cute fabrics :)
I wish you a great week dear
LOVE Maria at inredningsvis - inredning it's, Swedish for decor :)
Just discovered your blog- brilliant! What an antidote to all the smug mummy blogs out there. You swear! You admit you have faults! And you look fab-u-lous in that vintage gear... :-)
Dorcas Scones xx
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