Hats!

 

I was thinking about a theme for today and I kept thinking of the debonair Fred Astaire in his top hat that seemed to work with his elongated face. Top Hats were a staple in men’s fancy attire all the way into the 1940s. In fact, men wore hats throughout the centuries and it is only since the late 1960s that men stopped wearing hats. So, I decided to use this as a theme…

1. TOP HAT-1935

You know I would choose Fred Astaire because he made the top hat his own. He made 10 films with Ginger Rogers and this is considered, arguably, their best. Of course, this is the classic “boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl back” theme but it works in so many films. Fred plays a famous entertainer who irks his downstairs neighbour in a fancy hotel when he tap dances all over the room. They meet, Fred is besotted and she is equally enamoured until she mistakenly believes he is married to her best friend, the wonderful Helen Broderick. Mistaken identities ensue all the way to a wild look white Art Deco Venice. She finally gives in to his charms by dancing the most beautiful dance in the “Cheek to Cheek” with that famous feathered dress. In the end, all is revealed and they dance to their hearts’ content. This is a very funny, entertaining film with great Art Direction by Van Nest Polglase, fabulous dance numbers created by Astaire and his right hand man, Hermes Pan and great character actors like Broderick, Edward Everett Horton, Eric Blore and Eric Rhodes. It’s a must-see film.

2. THE NAKED SPUR-1953

Many western stars had their favourite hats and wore them in all their western films, so I had to go with my favourite actor, Jimmy Stewart who loved this well worn hat, a brown fedora, in most of his westerns in the 1950s. I was lucky to see this hat when I visited the Jimmy Stewart museum in his hometown of Indiana, PA. And wished I could have tried it on. Anyway, in this film, he plays a bounty hunter after a killer, played by Robert Ryan. Stewart enlists the aid of an old prospector, played by Millard Mitchell ( his last role before he died of cancer at 50) and a soldier. They capture Ryan along with his girlfriend, Janet Leigh, who believes the crap Ryan told her. Ryan tells Stewart’s co-hosts that he is not a sheriff and that the bounty is not $1,000 but $5,000. Greed gets the better of everyone but Stewart ( well, a bit murky there) and double cross him. Now, Stewart must capture Ryan again but without the 2 pals..or is there a change of heart? Does Janet see the light and realize what Ryan told her was crappola? This is a gritty, but entertaining western with a hardened Stewart at his best and the beauty of the mountains and country is photographed at its best. 

3. RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK-1981

This is not a favourite of mine…sorry, but true even though I love Harrison Ford and had a crush on him back in the day. This franchise (the 3rd film with Sean Connery is my favourite) started with this entertaining flick by Steven Spielberg about an archeology professor who gets himself into some great adventures usually with a couple of pals, played by Jon Rhys Davies and Denholm Elliott. It’s the late 1930s, maybe the early 40s and the Nazis are after the Lost Ark of the Covenant which, they feel, will aid in the domination of the world. In their way is Indiana Jones( Ford) who is trying to locate the Ark for himself and history. He battles natives, runs from huge boulders and has to battle Karen Allen whom he falls for, of course. Throughout the film, you find out he hates snakes and loves his hat, the famous fedora that Ford wears in all the films. It is fun and many love this film where I like it but I am ok if I never see it again. 

What films come to your mind that has famous hats?

Which Song Won the Oscar 1986

 

When will I ever remember to post who won, who was nominated and who received 0 love on Thursday when I write about movies. I am so sorry about that…so let’s cross ones fingers that I remember…hahahaaaa. It is freebie week over at Monday Music Moves Me and so I am talking about the songs from the 80s, specifically, the Oscars 1986. I love the 80s and had so much fun dancing many weekends away in the dance clubs that have all but disappeared today. So let’s see if you can guess which song won the Oscar, which was nominated and which song got 0 love.

1. TAKE MY BREATH AWAY SUNG BY BERLIN

This song is from the film, “Top Gun” which I still have no desire to see. It is a song that I love and have danced to, once, with a guy that I had a crush on and became a relationship that ended with me being used, hurt and reputation tarnished( he told friends that I was a nutty chick that wouldn’t let him go and was a bit crazy…asshole). Ok, I digress, this song was written by Giorgio Moroder with lyrics by Tom Whitlock and, initially, the New Wave band, Berlin, declined to sing this song. They asked others who also declined, until Berlin relented and sang the song becoming a big hit.

2. SOMEWHERE OUT THERE SUNG BY LINDA RONSTADT AND JAMES INGRAM

This Disney film, “An American Tail” was produced by Steven Spielberg who asked these 2 singers to perform this song that appears in the end credits. The music was created by James Horner with lyrics by Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann and was another hit back in the day. I love James Horner, who is a great composer, and I adore Linda Ronstadt but I felt my teeth ache every time I heard this song.

3. DON’T YOU ( FORGET ABOUT ME) SUNG BY SIMPLE MINDS

I love this song! The lead singer, James Kerr, has such a smouldering voice that lends itself so well to this song that was another huge hit from the big hit film, “The Breakfast Club.” It was written by Keith Forsey and Steve Schiff who had a devil of a time trying to find a band who would sing this song. Simple Minds declined it along with Billy Idol and Corey Hart. Jim Kerr was married to Chrissy Hynde ( from the Pretenders) who told him that he should do this song and believed, rightly, that this song would become a big hit. Simple Minds changed their minds and the rest is history becoming a huge hit defining the 80s. I love this song that I dance to every time I hear it, unless I am in the car.

So which song won the Oscar, which was nominated and which song came up empty-handed?

Irish Movies That Make One Smile

 

It was St. Patrick’s Day this past Tuesday so I thought I would carry it through for today’s pick of movies. There re quite a few movies that take place in Ireland or involving Irish people on a foreign land. I wanted to have movies that can make you smile since this world is just one big F@# up. We need movies that make one forget reality sometimes…

1. THE QUIET MAN-1952

This is a John Ford classic, who loved his Irish heritage, that includes many of his group that are Irish like Victor McLaglen, The wonderful Barry FitzGerald and the luminous, Maureen O’Hara. This stars John Wayne( who should have been nominated for a Best Actor Oscar) as a former boxer, who killed a man when in the ring, who leaves his career and his home behind to start a new life in Ireland taking over his mom’s former home. He meets the fellow people in town including the fiery Mary Kate, played by O’Hara,  who is equally enamoured by the tall Wayne. Her brother refuses to give her, her dowry resulting in much conflagration between Wayne, O’Hara and McLaglen. The townsfolk can see a storm brewing which results in a humdinger of a climax involving Wayne dragging O’Hara through the hills to her brother. The ensuing fight is so great and so much fun to watch. It sounds so wrong to say I love it when Wayne drags O’Hara from the train station to her brother, but…I love It! I find that scene as 2 people who are equal to each other, matching wits and taking no prisoners which is sexy. Ok, I said it, I guess I am weird. This is a must see film in my opinion

2. DARBY O’GILL AND THE LITTLE PEOPLE-1959

This is a fun Disney film that co-stars a young Sean Connery as the love interest to the pretty Janet Munro, the daughter of the main character, Darby, played by Albert Sharpe. Darby is the head caretaker to an estate who spins yarns to anyone who listens, that he can see leprechauns and fairy people, etc… When he is replaced by the young, rugged Sean, Darby decides to find the King of the leprechauns but, instead of him catching the King, the leprechauns catch Darby and bring him inside their mountain where the king of the leprechauns is happy to keep Darby with them. Darby outwits the crafty leprechauns and escapes plus he nabs the King and now is granted 3 wishes. What will poor Darby wish for and will he blow it and wish 4 times which will negate his other wishes? This is a sweet, endearing film that is just a fun movie to watch especially when we hear Sean Connery sing.

3. WAKING NED DEVINE-1998

This is a hilarious film that takes place in a small Irish village( actually filmed on the Isle of Man)  with 2 friends, played so brilliantly by Ian Bannon ( who died in a car accident a year after this movie came out) and David Kelly who almost steals the picture, who find out that someone in their tiny village won the lottery. They go on a hunt to find out who won and find him. A man who died of shock after finding out he won! The 2 devise a plan to keep the lottery money with one of them playing the winner, Ned. They must engage the entire town to on their plan when the lottery people come to confirm that Kelly is Ned. The only nemesis is an old wart of a woman who hates everyone and everything and might very well tattle. This is so funny from Kelly, naked as a jay bird, riding a motorcycle to a hog farmer, played by James Nesbitt, who loves the pretty village girl and she loves him but for one thing….he smells of pigs. It was the sleeper hit of the summer and it is another must see film.

Which Irish films can you think of? 

St. Patrick’s Day…A Day Late

 

St. Patrick’s Day was yesterday which was the main theme for this week’s Monday Music Loves Me and I did wear a little green to mark the event.  I have zero Irish in me but, apparently, my name is Celtic! I had always thought it was a Viking name that made its way to Germany and Austria, but it seems it it an old Celtic name which makes sense they went everywhere. Anyways, here are my 3 picks that I thought of when I saw the theme.

1. FAIRYTALE SUNG BY ENYA-1987

I love Enya and this is a song based on old Irish fairy tales and I love Fairytales. I think this is a beautiful song.

2. ISLE OF INNISFREE SUNG BY THE CELTIC WOMEN-2011

I thought of these women right away who are hugely successful around the globe and this song is perfect since it features so much in the film, “ The Quiet Man.”

3. LORD OF THE DANCE WITH MICHAEL FLATLEY-1996

My hubby, way before I met him, had the chance to see this in the theatre and thought it was the best thing he had ever seen. He bought the CD which he still owns. I watched it on TV and wished I could have seen it for real. My hubby was lucky! How do those dancers move their feet so fast..it looks impossible to do.

Which songs come to mind that makes you think Irish?

Best Costume Design 2019

 

The Oscars are just a few days away and, of course, I am excited to see who will win, who can’t shut up when up on the podium, what weird, way too revealing outfits they are wearing and figuring out what drug they are on. I also will love the In Memorium segment which should always be part of the awards. We lost a few greats this past year-Robert Redford, Diane Keaton and Robert Duvall, to name 3 giants. This year, I was left dumbfounded when, in the Best Costume Design, “Avatar” was up for the award….um…WTF? Yes, the designer actually made each costume before the CGI’d it but many are different loin cloths and this is the 3rd instalment on this franchise which is all about special effects and CGI which I am getting very bored with. This got me thinking about the Best Costume winners from the past and I didn’t have to go far to recall what was not even nominated and should have won, in my humble opinion.

1. ROCKETMAN

This biopic, starring Taron Egerton as Elton John, is an excellent film( much better than the Queen movie) following Elton John as he rises in fame and becomes a powerhouse during the 70s with his music and his ever8 flamboyant costumes. The costumes were over the top and we designed by Julian Day who based these outfits on the real nutty outfits Elton John would, and still does, wear. Unfortunately, this film came out early in the year and was largely forgotten by the time awards season took off. It’s a shame, because this deserved the award.

2. LITTLE WOMEN

Jacqueline Durran won the Best Costume Design for this film and it was controversial because she took many liberties in the actual costumes and what the people actually wore during this time period. She didn’t stick to reality and put in some “newer” looks to create a hipper vibe….whatever, the looks just reminded me of Little Outhouse on the Prairie. The film is the oft told version of the 4 sisters and their mom waiting for dad to come home fighting in the Union Army. The main character is Jo who is a free spirited gal who is the most independent of the sisters but is wooed by a couple of men including the patient Laurie..not a girl but a man. It’s not my favourite rendition of this tale, my favourite is still the Katherine Hepburn film from 1933.

3. ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD

 

I love this film which is about the days leading up to the horrible murders of  8 month pregnant Sharon Tate, Abigail Folger and others by the disgusting Manson Gang. It is a retelling of events that one wishes would have happened which I liked. These fashions make the late 60s and 70s fashion look cool. I was not a fan of 70s fashion since I was a kid growing up during this time wearing polyester that clung to me due to static cling. Quentin Tarantino made the times cool. Arianna Phillips was the fashion designer nominated for her designs which included the all denim look, nifty brown leather blazers, pant suits and lacy body suits which would be. Bitch to get out of when one has to go pee. This deserved a nomination because it’s just so cool.

The other nominees were Joker, The Irishman and JoJo Rabbit. Would you have chosen any of these or something completely different?

March! BLECCCHHH

 

This is freebie week over at Monday Music Moves Me and we are in the thick of March. Right now it is thundering and lightning with rain all day but, by Friday/Saturday, it will be cold and snowing, maybe freezing rain…who the F knows. So here are my 3 song choices…

1. MELANCHOLY MARCH SUNG BY JULIE LONDON-1956

I came across this number while listening to Julie London on YouTube. For some reason, I am enjoying her sultry voice and keep thinking how the nurse on the 70s TV show, “Emergency”  was actually this sexy kitten with the velvet pipes. This song was written by Herman Saunders, a film producer, and Dory Langdon, who led quite the life and was married to Andre Previn.

2. MELANCHOLY MAN SUNG BY THE MOODY BLUES-1970

I love, love, love the Moody Blues and this is from their album, “A Question of Balance”. It was written by Mike Pinder who just passed away in 2024. He wrote this, not bout him, but the global look at how people do not look at what challenges are facing them….very much today’s issue.

3. MY MELANCHOLY BABY SUNG BY ELLA FITZGERALD-1960

This great song, that I also love how the Great Judy Garland sings it,  was written in 1912 by Ernie Burnett( music) and George A. Norton (lyrics). It was introduced by, wait for it, William Frawley…Fred Mertz from “I Love Lucy” back in that Vaudevillian day. This song has beeen done by many famous singers but I chose the supreme Ella.

What Melancholy songs can you think of?

More Cards

 

52 Christmas Cards- Resist Stamping

Addicted To Stamps- Christmas 

12 Months of Christmas- Anything Goes 

CCAYR- E is for Exalt and F is for Faith

What says Faith better than an angel?:) I stamped the angel in white ink and stamped her in twinkle white sparkle. I took my distress inks in light blue and pink and added a couple of darker blues for the edges using a soft brush. I added the Merry Christmas sticker as well as the glitter border and stars. 

Stamp Sensations- Spring

The Four Seasons- Spring

My hubby's Uncle died unexpectedly 2 weeks ago. He wasn't in the best shape but we didn't think he was going to die this fast and soon. He had a heart attack in front of Michael's Aunt and a painter who was painting their living room. She went to him and started CPR while the paint called 911. She knew he was gone very quickly. It is very sad and she will be a bit lost as she did everything for him. The kind of wife many men dream of...he'd call for her and she'd be there. She made all his meals and catered to him. It sounds like she is a 50s housewife, but she is actually quite independent and strong. Anyhoo, we sent flowers and I made this card. I used the cuddlebug to emboss this frame image of flowers. I coloured them in with markers. I stamped the image in gold embossed powder and also coloured it in with tombow markers.

Alphabet-  Volume

I embossed this image using the cuddlebug and it came with a stencil cut which I used  to cut out the3 flowers. I took metallic markers to colour in the images with gold, purple and blue. I adhered the raised image with pop up dots. This is for a friend's birthday.

Stamplorations-Creative Blooms

Try It On Tuesdays- Make It Feminine

My mom's best friend, Brigitte, turned 90 on Feb. 19th and her son and his wife had a birthday party for her inviting their 3 boys, their spouses, one grandchild and her daughter in law's parents. My brother, my hubby and I were there and Brigitte was so touched. They made a traditional German meal...wiener schnitzel, spatzle, red cabbage, glazed carrots, a cheese sauce and a mushroom gravy. For dessert, homemade apple strudel. It was delicious! 

Her favourite coloyr is blue so I took a mirrored card and placed some blue alcohol inks on it spreading it around for that mottled effect. I stamped the image in a lavender glitter and embossed it. I took distress inks and used a soft brush to colour the flowers. I stamped the saying in the same embossing powder and cut both out and adhered the card with pop up dots. 

I meant to showcase 2 of the cards a week earlier but I missed it. Have a happy Friday!