cherry valley forever
blake kathryn
Today's Document
Three Goblin Art
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if i look back, i am lost
noise dept.
TVSTRANGERTHINGS
No title available
wallacepolsom
I'd rather be in outer space 🛸
let's talk about Bridgerton tea, my ask is open
ellievsbear
YOU ARE THE REASON
occasionally subtle
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Peter Solarz
Alisa U Zemlji Chuda
tannertan36
almost home
seen from Sweden
seen from Palestinian Territories
seen from United States
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seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
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seen from Portugal
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@thewaywardmoon
I find it absolutely hilarious that after playing the popularised sexy man “James Bond” for what feels like a millennium, Daniel Craig has only now reached tumblr sexy man status by playing a funky southern gay detective with a hubby that bakes sour bread. If this is not the most on brand tumblr thing I don’t know what is
I started feeling better a few days ago, so I’m pretty sure I’m over Covid. I’m glad I managed to avoid it before now, and that I’m vaccinated and boosted to an absurd degree. It definitely sucked, but mostly felt like a really bad case of strep throat
I also managed to finish the last gown, which I’m pretty happy with
Right now I’m figuring out packing, and getting my luggage weight down as much as possible. Packing for a two-week trip in the winter is definitely making things interesting. I’m trying to put together a sort of “capsule wardrobe” where a lot of the pieces can be mixed and matched, but everything is still really heavy. I suspect that, at some point, I’ll go through it and pull out everything that I don’t consider an absolute necessity to make things easier on myself
I’m still under the weight mandated by the airline, but I’m going to have points where I have to drag the luggage around with me, and making it as light as possible will make things much easier on me
So, day three in Edinburgh…
I’m starting the day at Greyfriar’s Kirkyard, which is a medieval church and graveyard with some colorful residents. It’s also the place where the skye terrier, “Bobby” is reputed to have visited his owner’s grave every day for 14 years, and there’s a statue of Bobby nearby
(Greyfriar’s Bobby statue from Must See Scotland)
A little over a year ago, I lost my dog, Cricket, who was my constant companion for 12 years. I’m not sure I’ll ever get over that loss, or can even explain what she means to me, but visiting Bobby while in Edinburgh feels like a necessary part of saying goodbye
I will probably be a mess after this, so I’ve given myself some time to sit with my feelings and maybe get something to eat before the next thing I do, which is a walking tour of the Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle
(Edinburgh Castle via Trip Advisor)
There are actually two castles in Edinburgh, the Palace of Holyrood (which I’ll talk about more later) and this one, dating from the 11th century. The Royal Mile stretches between them, and most of the early city of Edinburgh was built around Edinburgh Castle
After the castle tour, I’m treating myself to dinner at The Witchery, which is just…
(The Witchery via Trip Advisor)
The Witchery is a restaurant and inn at the base of Edinburgh Castle, near the location where witches were executed from the 16th to 18th century. The Witchery is darkly gothic, and sort of pays homage to those who lost their lives. It’s also a popular stop for ghost tours on the Royal Mile
After dining with the ghosts of witches, I head back to my hotel to sleep and get ready for my last full day in Edinburgh
The next morning I’ll be hitting Edinburgh’s other castle, the Palace of Holyrood. This one’s a bit more contemporary than Edinburgh Castle. It was built in the 15th century and was once home to Mary, Queen of Scots. It’s also where the current royal family stays when they’re in Edinburgh
(The Palace of Holyrood via Wikipedia)
After the palace, I’m hoping to grab lunch or tea nearby, then spend the rest of the afternoon on the Royal Mile just shopping and sightseeing. Then I’m spending my last night in Edinburgh at The Piper’s Rest, a pub known for its craft beers and nightly live music. Then I wake up stupidly early the next day to catch a train back to London, where’ll be for several more days
I think that’s good for now. I’ll make another post on my London leg of the trip later
Updating this, because The Piper’s Rest cancelled my reservation without contacting me. Not sure what’s going on there, but I’ve booked a table at The Whiski Rooms for my last night in Edinburgh. The whiski pairings with their dessert offerings have me very interested!
Work got really busy for a bit. Now that things are less frantic, here are some more UK trip plans:
Starting from where I left off, I’ll be leaving Edinburgh for London, taking the LNER express from Edinburgh Waverley to Kings Cross. I actually sprung for first class on this part of the trip, largely because I needed to eat on the train, and that was the easiest way to do it. In LNER first class, food and drinks are included in the price of the ticket, and that ended up being more cost effective than ordering food in economy (or trying to grab something after the train arrives).
(LNER first class cabin via Wikimedia Commons. I’m in one of the single seats with tiny table on the left side.)
Once I arrive at Kings Cross, I need to hustle down to Tower Hill to check into my hotel. I’m staying at CitizenM Tower of London for the last third of my trip. CitizenM is sort of a pragmatic choice on my part, as I have what is effectively a membership with them that gives me a discount on the room and a bunch of other little perks (good views, late checkout, free hot drinks, etc.). Also I know what to expect with CitizenM, as their rooms are all fairly similar no matter where you are. They’re uniformly clean and comfortable, the bed is huge, and they have gigantic windows, which are great for sitting in bed and staring out of while you drink your morning coffee.
(A typical CitizenM room as shown on their website.)
The reason I have to rush is because I’m going to an immersive theater show called The Burnt City that evening. The Burnt City is by Punchdrunk, the same company that does Sleep No More, and is an elaborate, pervasive show where you wander through highly detailed interactive sets (going through drawers, reading diaries, crawling through wardrobes like you’re on your way to Narnia, etc.), and come across various performers in the midst of dancing, acting or some other type of storytelling. It’s kind of hard to describe if you’ve never done it, but I loved Sleep No More in New York, and The Burnt City is supposed to be Greek mythology-themed, and inspired by the Trojan war–which is a bit of an obsession of mine–so I had to go.
(A character–the Oracle, I think?–in part of the the Trojan section of The Burnt City.)
I won’t have time to grab dinner, so I’m hoping to gorge myself on the train to tide me over until after the show. After The Burnt City, I go back to CitizenM and pass out before doing it all again the next day.
Okay, well not all of it, but I am going The Burnt City twice. I’m getting ahead of myself, though…
My first full day in London, I’m sleeping in, then starting with the Fashion and Textile Museum, which is just across the river. I’m also grabbing tea at The Ivy near Tower Bridge. I figured, since I was in London, I should go to a formal tea at least once. Also, The Ivy’s tea spread should be large enough to stave off any hunger, since I’m going back to The Burnt City a second time.
(The Ivy at Tower Bridge from Trip Advisor.)
Obviously, being a costumer, the Fashion and Textile Museum is right up my alley. I believe they’re doing an exhibition on pattern design while I’ll be there, which is maybe not that interesting to everyone, but is fascinating to me. Fashion exhibits are some of my favorite things to explore in museums, so I knew I had to stop by the Fashion and Textile Museum while I was in London.
(The Fashion and Textile Museum from their website.)
Once again, this is getting kind of long, so I’ll make another post with plans for my next two days in London.
Editing this slightly, as I’ve dropped tea at The Ivy for tea at the Four Seasons Trinity Square. It’s both much closer to my hotel and is a better value for what you get. Also, The Ivy has had a slew of 1-star reviews since the beginning of January (like, enough that it was worrisome), so the Four Seasons is probably a safer bet for good service
No, you are not imagining things. This is not a Betsey Johnson dress somehow masquerading as a historical garment. There was no time travel. This is a real gown from the mid(ish) 1700s made of Spitalfields silk.
Like many extant gowns, the secret is in the stitching. We know a few things about this dress due to its construction. 1) it was remade to fit changing aesthetics, likely during the same century and 2) it's a selvedge dress, meaning that unlike mantuas, it's made of pieced together silk (most expertly done) to show the appearance of an undisturbed piece of fabric.
The bright, floral brocade pattern is not at all uncommon, as the motifs of this era were certainly vivid in every sense. I particularly love the contrasting deep brown of the stomacher with the rest of the dress. It's relatively simple in terms of the times, but I adore it!
From Cora Ginsburg.
Movie Costumes | Edith’s yellow day dress. Crimson Peak (2015)
I’ve had covid for the past week, so getting anything done has been a slog. It’s the first time I caught it, after having dodged it for three years, so I’m kind of grumpy. Probably better to have it now than catch it when I’m overseas, though
Speaking of which, I have only a few weeks left until my trip. I still need to finish my last gown, but haven’t been getting any sewing done because of aforementioned sick. I pulled out the clothing I intend to bring with me today, and doing that alone almost completely wiped me out. I’m also not making much headway with my actual work, so I’m feeling pretty useless all around
I ended up in the hospital again. That’s three times in the last six months. I think the issue is finally resolved... at least I hope so. Three times is way too much
➤ RAHUL MISHRA Couture Fall Winter (2022 - 2023) — The Tree of Life
I know I am somewhat predictable in that all roads lead back to the 1880s for me. This 1887 gown, in a vivid orange red, is no exception. But we've also been talking about velvet, and this example from White Howard & Co gown layers satin with silk velvet to create depth and dimension! The same color, but because the textures are so different, you get this lovely layered look.
I also love the chain details, which look so very modern. The contrast of smart, simple tailoring on the bodice with the freeform draping of the skirt really makes this a satisfying piece. Ideal for any soirée.
From the Met Museum.
So, my last two days in London...
My hotel is literally across the street from the Tower of London, so that’s where I’m starting my day. I don’t think too much needs to be said about the Tower, as everyone has heard of it and knows what’s there. It will be the dead of winter, so hopefully less crowded. I would love to visit the ravens while I’m there, but they may be roosting because of the cold.
(The Tower of London via Wikipedia.)
After the Tower of London, I head up to the Victoria and Albert Museum for the rest of the day. V&A is one of my most anticipated museums, as they have a little bit of everything (including their own fashion exhibit), and the grounds are supposed to be really beautiful. Honestly, I could probably spend a whole week there if I had the time but, unfortunately, I have to see all I can in one day.
Similarly, my last full day in London is going to be at the British Museum. That’s another landmark so notable that I don’t think I need to say too much about it, and trying to fit everything there into a single day will be difficult, but it is what it is. I’m pretty sure I’ll be happy with my visit anyway.
(The British Museum via The Financial Times.)
The last thing I’m doing in London is grabbing dinner at Savoir Faire, which is fairly close to the museum. My dining plans in London are a lot looser than in Edinburgh, mostly because I have to do a lot of eating on trains or at the hotel to make sure I can get to the things I want to see on time. I paid for the breakfast option at CitizenM--it’s something like $16 for all four days--so I know I can at least grab food there when I’m pressed for time. Savoir Faire is a cute little French cafe (which is my favorite type of food), so it will be nice to unwind there after running around to shows and museums for four days.
(Savoir Faire from Open Table.)
Thus, ending my last night in London, I check out of the hotel the next day, then it’s back to Heathrow to catch a flight to New York. I did allow myself some time to sleep in, since my flight is in the afternoon, but I may still zonk out on the way back. Since I’m getting in on a Tuesday, the rest of that week is going to be spent trying to recover from my vacation. Overall, I’m really excited for this trip, and I hope it’s exactly what I was hoping for. I don’t know if I’ll ever get the chance to do this again, but I’m glad everything came together so I could do it at least this once.
Work got really busy for a bit. Now that things are less frantic, here are some more UK trip plans:
Starting from where I left off, I’ll be leaving Edinburgh for London, taking the LNER express from Edinburgh Waverley to Kings Cross. I actually sprung for first class on this part of the trip, largely because I needed to eat on the train, and that was the easiest way to do it. In LNER first class, food and drinks are included in the price of the ticket, and that ended up being more cost effective than ordering food in economy (or trying to grab something after the train arrives).
(LNER first class cabin via Wikimedia Commons. I’m in one of the single seats with tiny table on the left side.)
Once I arrive at Kings Cross, I need to hustle down to Tower Hill to check into my hotel. I’m staying at CitizenM Tower of London for the last third of my trip. CitizenM is sort of a pragmatic choice on my part, as I have what is effectively a membership with them that gives me a discount on the room and a bunch of other little perks (good views, late checkout, free hot drinks, etc.). Also I know what to expect with CitizenM, as their rooms are all fairly similar no matter where you are. They’re uniformly clean and comfortable, the bed is huge, and they have gigantic windows, which are great for sitting in bed and staring out of while you drink your morning coffee.
(A typical CitizenM room as shown on their website.)
The reason I have to rush is because I’m going to an immersive theater show called The Burnt City that evening. The Burnt City is by Punchdrunk, the same company that does Sleep No More, and is an elaborate, pervasive show where you wander through highly detailed interactive sets (going through drawers, reading diaries, crawling through wardrobes like you’re on your way to Narnia, etc.), and come across various performers in the midst of dancing, acting or some other type of storytelling. It’s kind of hard to describe if you’ve never done it, but I loved Sleep No More in New York, and The Burnt City is supposed to be Greek mythology-themed, and inspired by the Trojan war--which is a bit of an obsession of mine--so I had to go.
(A character--the Oracle, I think?--in part of the the Trojan section of The Burnt City.)
I won’t have time to grab dinner, so I’m hoping to gorge myself on the train to tide me over until after the show. After The Burnt City, I go back to CitizenM and pass out before doing it all again the next day.
Okay, well not all of it, but I am going The Burnt City twice. I’m getting ahead of myself, though...
My first full day in London, I’m sleeping in, then starting with the Fashion and Textile Museum, which is just across the river. I’m also grabbing tea at The Ivy near Tower Bridge. I figured, since I was in London, I should go to a formal tea at least once. Also, The Ivy’s tea spread should be large enough to stave off any hunger, since I’m going back to The Burnt City a second time.
(The Ivy at Tower Bridge from Trip Advisor.)
Obviously, being a costumer, the Fashion and Textile Museum is right up my alley. I believe they’re doing an exhibition on pattern design while I’ll be there, which is maybe not that interesting to everyone, but is fascinating to me. Fashion exhibits are some of my favorite things to explore in museums, so I knew I had to stop by the Fashion and Textile Museum while I was in London.
(The Fashion and Textile Museum from their website.)
Once again, this is getting kind of long, so I’ll make another post with plans for my next two days in London.
I can practically smell the candy cane on this British dress from 1849! Surprise, though--it isn't a holiday gown... it's a wedding gown!
As many folks know, the concept of the white wedding dress is fairly modern, dating to the middle of the 19th century. And even then, it wasn't ubiquitous. Wedding gowns weren't the "wear it once" they are today, and many women sought to find dresses they could later incorporate into their wardrobes. Even my grandmother, who married in the 1940s, wore a brown dress for her wedding. Part of that was a financial decision, of course, but I love the idea of colorful, practical wedding wear, too.
This dress is silk damask, which is always exciting for me. That means the pattern is reversible! Not something you would notice by just looking at it.
In classic 1840-1850 transitional wear, it's got a lot going for it: the very tailored waist looks very 1880s, while the silhouette is firmly in the 1840s. Those candy cane arms, though!
From the Bowes Museum.
People who switch pronouns in songs to no-homo the situation are so funny. The idea literally never even occurred to me as a kid. Couldn’t be me. I am a woman scorned. I am a man who had his heart broken. I am a guy who hates his hometown. I’m a country boy, I’m a city girl. I’m a slut. I’m addicted to cocaine. It’s a song, man.
In other news, I’m heading to NYC this weekend to see some friends and a couple of shows. I’m finally getting to see Hadestown on Friday, then I’ll be playing a Changeling: The Lost game on Saturday and closing out that evening at the Mckittrick Hotel. The hardest part is trying to figure out what to wear as my character that I can then wander around in as a ghost in someone else’s story
Oh sweet, what’s going on in the CtL game?
I’m not entirely sure yet, since this will be my first game with this group. Should be a fun time, though
In other news, I’m heading to NYC this weekend to see some friends and a couple of shows. I’m finally getting to see Hadestown on Friday, then I’ll be playing a Changeling: The Lost game on Saturday and closing out that evening at the Mckittrick Hotel. The hardest part is trying to figure out what to wear as my character that I can then wander around in as a ghost in someone else’s story
When you have a chronic illness, after a few years you reach The State Of Meh.
That's when your body exhibits A Formerly Unknown Thing that is non-healthy and might be a symptom of something new (or not) and you're just like: "Whatever, man. I just work here."
