Saturday, 12 January 2013

My Wardrobe of Wonderful Women: the Liebster Award

 
 
 
 

"The Liebster Award is for bloggers with under 300 followers and the rules of the award is that the nominee must link back to whoever awarded them, write 11 random facts about themselves, answer the 11 questions from the award giver, and then nominate another 11 bloggers and make up 11 questions for them to answer. It's a great way for new and undiscovered bloggers to meet new people, get more followers and find some blogs that they want to follow."
 

I'm honoured to have been given a Liebster Award by Mici at her lovely blog Muddy Boots.

In keeping with the rules, here are 11 'random' facts. However they're not all about me; some are about Kiki, Penny and my mother, the women who have inspired me in my life and my blog:


1. Although I loved living in cities when I was younger, nothing beats time in the garden or biking up and down the steep country lanes nowadays. 

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2. I'm mad about meat pies, and make them for supper as a special treat whenever I can find an excuse. Steak pie is the pinnacle of pies, with chicken and leek coming a close second. I do a lot of baking, hence my baking blog Idle Bakes.





3. Granny Kiki patiently tried to teach me many of her seamstress skills when I was growing up. Sadly I'm a terrible physical klutz and never managed to learn more than how to sew a button.



Coat one of Kiki's designs for Kiki Couture.



4. I was once chatted up by the comedian David Walliams, in the years before he met Lara Stone of course, whilst wearing the furry outfit I blogged in my post Dreaming of a White Christmas. I was already with Mr Eve so nowt could come of it, and let me tell you, Mr Walliams isn't a patch on Mr Eve.





5. I am drawn to the darkness, romance and comedy of ancient folklore and fairytales, those narrated by the Brothers Grimm especially.



18th century Provencal cloak, family heirloom.




6. I didn't learn to apply foundation to my face until I was in my thirties, and still rarely wear it as it irritates my skin. I've not had my hair cut for over five years. It appears to be self regulating and stops growing at a certain length which saves me money at the hairdressers.



In my twenties, wearing a vintage lace dress.



7. As a child, my late granny Kiki was the inspiration for Cicely Mary Barker's Bluebell Fairy, and she is immortalised in the flower fairy illustration. Although in Barker's prose accompanying the illustration the Bluebell fairy is depicted as masculine, which I hope didn't offend the ten-or-so year old Kiki too much. Barker would visit Kiki's primary school to find all the faces she needed to populate her now famous flower fairy series.


Kiki the Bluebell Fairy





Kiki with my grandfather in their twenties, around the time she started her couture label Kiki Couture.



8. My late granny Penny spent some of the years of her childhood in an orphanage, which was a very tough experience. Despite her petite stature, she went on to become a lieutenant in the army during the 2nd World War. 




Penny in her twenties.



9. My dear mother used to be a picture restorer until she had her children. She fell for my father at a party: their eyes met over a plate of chicken. Greed and skinny genes run in the family.



My parents in their early twenties.



10. I used to work as an artist's model in my early twenties. It encouraged me to feel confident and comfortable in my body.



Ballgown one of Kiki's designs for Kiki Couture



11. I feel strongly that kindness and playfulness are underrated adult qualities in our society. So much time is spent wanting and regretting that it's easy to forget to feel whatever we feel in the here and now.



 Wearing another dress by Kiki Couture for a Mad Tea Party at Idle Bakes



My answers to the questions from Mici at Muddy Boots:

1. Listening to the radio or watching TV? Listening to the radio and watching dvds.

2. Swimming in the sea or in the pool? In the sea.

3. Even numbers or odd? Even.

4. Travel back in time or into the future? Both would be fun, but enjoying the present is best of all.

5. Are you a night owl or an early bird? Night owl.

6. Which skill would you like to learn? To learn the tango.

7. Moths or Butterflies? Butterflies.

8. Telepathy or Telekenesis?  Neither, Mindfulness is preferable.

9. What is your dream destination to visit one day? Taking the slow train to Florence, Italy would be wonderful.

10. Rather design a rollercoaster or a bridge? A bridge.

11. What is your favourite way to spend a Sunday morning? Having a lazy lie-in with my man and our cat.






Here are 11 blogs which I enjoy reading, all of which have a readership of less than 300:

Dylan's Dress
Little Low Heavens
Pastries & Sweets
Ruby Armoire
Custard Heart Vintage
So Past Caring
Advantage In Vintage
Ladylike Delicacy
Art, Clothes & Contemplations
The Taxonomy Of My Wardrobe
Hippy At Heart

But they're just the tip of the iceberg, for a comprehensive list of all the great blogs I read, see the list to the left of this post.






11 questions I'd like to ask the above bloggers:

1. As a child what did you want to be when you grew up?

2. What's your favourite novel?

3. Which person from your past (relative or another kind figure) has had the most positive impact on your life?

4. What are your character strengths?

5. And your character flaws?

6. What would be your dream meal?

7. How do you show people that you love them?

8. What's your way of coping when times are hard?

9. What talents do you have that you wish to encourage in yourself?

10. Where do you see yourself in 10 years time?

11. What was the last thing that made you smile?



 
 
 
The Soundtrack
 
Cinematic Orchestra: To Build A Home
 
 

I'm delighted to be a part of Visible Monday, hosted by the lovely Patti from www.notdeadyetstyle.blogspot.co.uk, click on the website link to see her outfit and those of many others.
 

37 comments:

  1. What a fabulous post, Emalina - thank you so much for introducing us more fully to yourself and to the incredible women of your family. Deeply wonderful photos, rich legacy, beautiful present.

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    1. Thanks for your encouragement, dear Amber! I'm so glad you enjoyed the post.

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  2. All your photos are such a delight Emalina. It feels good to get to know you better.
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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    1. It's lovely for me to get a chance to reveal more dear Sacramento, thank you so much.

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  3. I really enjoyed reading your facts combined with the photos. Your cloak - wow! What a special piece, incredible. I have tremendous respect for artist models, it's a difficult job but so appreciated.

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    1. Ah thank you! Yes it was a tough job in some ways..... one that demanded the capacity to stay still at odd angles for a long time, and induced a meditative frame of mind. Either that or I'd be planning what to cook for supper!

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  4. What handsome parents and your Granny was a stunner! I sew but don't dressmake, although I'd love to, but never been anywhere to learn.
    I seem to share a considerable amount in common with you, my dear. Hope you don't mind my saying so, it seems a little presumptious.
    I have a chicken pie planned for this week, and I'm in my forties and still can't apply make up full stop, not just the foundation!
    Lovely photos and those roses are just fabulous. xx

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    1. Not at all presumptious dear LollyWillowes, how lovely that we share so much in common! Thanks so much for your kind words, and wishing you a very tasty chicken pie (mmmmmmmm) this week you lucky thing!

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  5. What handsome parents and your Granny was a stunner! I sew but don't dressmake, although I'd love to, but never been anywhere to learn.
    I seem to share a considerable amount in common with you, my dear. Hope you don't mind my saying so, it seems a little presumptious.
    I have a chicken pie planned for this week, and I'm in my forties and still can't apply make up full stop, not just the foundation!
    Lovely photos and those roses are just fabulous. xx

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    1. Sorry for the double post, not sure why that happened, except that I am a Luddite where technology is concerned and when I type my brain dribbles out of my ears; hence the miss-spelling of presumptuous above, I also transpose all letters when I type so it takes me hours!

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    2. No problem, I often post twice by mistake too! Blame the technology I say!

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  6. What a lovely post, I like finding out quirky randomness about people, and of course the photos of you, and your glamorous grannies and parents are a joy.
    Thank you for passing the Liebster award on to me, that's kind of you. You probably won't be surprised to hear I won't be doing my homework, I'm far too lazy, but wantes you to know I do appreciate the gesture!
    Ooh, I could murder a steak pie for tea - my pastry is crap though! xxxxx

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    1. So glad you enjoyed the post, Curtise, and no problems at all about not doing your homework! Steak pies are the best... I recommend you use ready made shortcrust to save on the hassle and just focus on the gluttony!

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  7. Thanks for sharing these wonderful photos and glimpses of your past with us at Visible Monday! It's a pleasure to get to know you better.

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    1. Thanks Patti! And thanks for having me at Visible Monday!

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  8. Wonderful post! I loved all the pictures and beautiful clothes.

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  9. Hi there Emalina! As usual, I have enjoyed devouring this post -- love the nostalgia in your posts, the spirit of your mother and grandmother, and the gorgeous photos! And how neat is that about Kiki inspiring the little fairy picture! I love Cicely Mary Barker! I have been so slack about posting lately, but I have spent lots of time outside and on my art. Hope to catch up soon! And thanks so much for including me! I am up to the challenge! xoxo Lynn

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    1. Ah how lovely that you're up for the challenge Lynn! Look forward to reading your replies. Sounds great that you're so focused on your art at the moment, you're very talented!

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  10. How fun to learn more about you, accompanied by your usual array of gorgeous photos. Love the ballgown and the vintage lace dress, which are spectacular because you're wearing them.

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    1. What a wonderful compliment, thank you so much.

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  11. great post-- what a host of wonderful ladies you're related to! prettty amazing to have all those Kiki Couture dresses too!

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    1. Thanks Maria, glad you like it. And big congratulations on your pregnancy by the way, how lovely!

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  12. It was really good to read your answers to my questions and to find out a little more about you, your life and your family history.

    I was very happy to pass the award on to you, I very much enjoy reading your blog and admiring the photographs and wonderful clothes too of course!

    It's amazing that your Granny Kiki was the inspiration behind Cicely Mary Barker's Bluebell Fairy - I love her work and have many Flower Fairy books and postcards. I can spend hours admiring the illustrations.

    Arthur Rackham is another 'fairy' illustrator that I love.

    I am also a huge fan of Brothers Grimm too.

    Hope all is well in your world and that you are keeping warm. It's freezing here on the South Coast but the bulbs are starting to poke their noses up from the ground in the garden which always cheers me up when it is cold and gloomy!

    Best Wishes, Mici.

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    1. It was a pleasure Mici, thanks for the award and for your kind words.

      I love Arthur Rackham too, he and Kay Nielsen are my favourite illustrators of the period. Dulac's illustrations of Arabian Nights is pretty gorgeous too. But Rackham is particularly, beautifully, english in his depiction of forests and fairies.

      It's pretty cold here but no snow yet! Glad the bulbs are poking up through the garden, same here and it's a sign of loveliness to come :)

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  13. Your family has excellent style and taste!

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    1. Why thank you Kathleen, yes I'm very proud of them.

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  14. OOOOO, those pix of your grandparents and parents are SPLENDID!!!
    Gawd, I love old pix. I could stare at them for hours!

    It's fun to learn new things about you!
    X

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    1. Why thanks Helga! I agree, old pics are fascinating. Really glad you enjoyed these!

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  15. Wow! What a beautiful post and such a fascinating read! You have such a rich family heritage - both your grandmothers sound like the heroines of some great novels. Have you thought of writing their life stories down? The photos are just wonderful, of your family and you look so ethereal in your grandmother's creations, like you walked off the pages of a story book!
    Thank you for the liebster - you're the second person to give me one and I still haven't finished my answers to the first! But I like your questions and I'm going to try and finish off the previous and do yours too.

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    1. Thanks so much dear Veshoevius! I do love bringing story book images to life in my spare time, makes such a change from the buttoned up wardrobe I have for work. You're very kind to suggest that I write their life stories down, I do hope to do so in the future.

      It would be wonderful to read your response to the liebster, but no rush at all I know it takes some time. Look forward to reading those answers sometime in the future.

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  16. Oh and loved the tidbit about David Walliams too!

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    1. Teehee, I've a few more celebrity stories to tell, but will eek them out over future blog posts!

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  17. Emalina you are a beautiful and fascinating lady! I have enjoyed this post so much and your family history is incredible! I was especially excited to read about your Granny being the Bluebell fairy, that really is so wonderful!
    I also want to thank you for your our lovely comment on my post about moving out of the city, your were right about my soul belonging here. I can see that yours does too.
    xxx
    p.s I am not surprised that David wanted a piece of you in that outift! ;-)

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    1. Aw I'm so glad you enjoyed the post Kelly-Marie, and how lovely to have you comment on my blog - yours is such an inspiration to me. Thanks so much for your kind words. p.s. that outfit is a definite man magnet, I think it's the strokeability...

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  18. "I am drawn to the darkness, romance and comedy of ancient folklore and fairytales" - I love this and totally agree! Your photos and sentiments are all very beautiful!

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    1. Great to meet you, and thanks for introducing me to your blog, it's gorgeous! And thanks so much for your kind words about mine, so pleased you're enjoying it, plenty more fairytalesque words and images to come :)

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