Narnian Wardrobe--An Attempt

Hello, all! I haven't posted in much too long, mostly due to the fact that I haven't had much to post about...but I have a new idea. I was thinking that since I have in the past (and still do) adore Susan's and Lucy's Narnian costumes from the two movies, I thought I would add my two cents to the myriad of thoughts on the make and design of them. So stay tuned, and I shall attempt this task. ;)

~Lucie

The Andrews Sisters: Part 2

Fun Facts about the Andrews Sisters:

• They were three sisters whose age difference was excatly the same as mine and my sisters.


• They were actually Greek, their father's real name was "Andreos."


• Usually, the solos and leads were sung by the youngest, Patty (blonde, in the center). Eventually, that made problems for the group becuase she took it into her head to try a solo career.


• Only the oldest, LaVerne, (dark hair, on left) read music. And they still sounded good!
• The middle sister was named Maxene (she's the other one.)


• They sang quite a few compilations with Bing Crosby.

Have you looked up the songs I told you about? Well, get to it! ;)

Beret: Hat in French

Here are some pictures of the beret I just made...It's turned out to be very 1940's. I just started a 1940's style skirt with this lovely fall suiting solids plaid. It's very classic--and classy. But back to the beret. It was very fun to make, as well as providing a way for me to learn to use four needles...or five. By the way, the second picture is more representative of its color, though. You can't really see in the pictures, but its worn to one side, almost over the ear.

Bartok's Roumanian Folk Dances--Wonderful!

I've been working on playing Bartok's Roumanian Folk Dances...this is an absolutely stellar performance by Janine Jansen.

One of those "Random Mood" posts...you know how it goes.

I just wanted to jot down a quick post to explain...

a) Why do I not answer comments right away? I've been really busy...you know, being a student and all. I think that I'm going to really love 9th grade especially because this is the year that I got into a British Lit. class. All that to say, I'm going to be incommunicado Sunday-Friday. Sorry!
But never fear, I've got all of Saturday to catch up!

b) well, I think that "a) " pretty much explained it all!

And now to explain the large pictures of redness above: I have taken knitting back up after a long time. It's partly because I fell in love with the 1940's, WWII and old movies and found this pattern for a lovely *1940's style* beret. I'll try to post pictures of it when I take them during my huge amounts of free time! ;)



Lucie

P.S. I've put a poll up in the sidebar...please answer honestly! :)

Narnia and JW Waterhouse

Do these two dresses look alike? The one on the top is the Adult Susan Dress from LWW. The one on the bottom is a painting done by John William Waterhouse in 1905. Here are some of their similarities:


1) They are both zig-zag laced up the front.

2) Both have a boat neckline.

3) Both have a notch to allow for the lacing.

4) Both have a large embroidery around the "neckline."

Granted, the sleeves are not the same and the original painting does not have a split, but I just thought that it was SO neat how similar they are! AND--I found this one all by myself!

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This is what the people on The Wardrobe Door think that Susan's Archery Dress was inspired by...it's also a JW Waterhouse!
They both have a notch (about the same), a sleeve puffing through the middle arm and they're both fitted and the underdress neck is cut higher than the overdress. Both of these paintings of Pre-Raphaelite fashions.

Here is an interview with Isis Mussenden in which she states that the Narnian costumes were, in fact, inspired by this style. It is really great!

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Just a side note: my orchestra is playing Holst's The Planets in May, so when I first listened to the recordings, I thought "hey, that sounds a lot like Narnia!" Well, to make a very long story short, it is really incredible if you listen to "Prince Caspian Flees" and "Kings and Queens of Old" on the PC soundtrack, and then listen to the beginning of "Mars" and "Venus." Tell me what you think...I find it absolutely UNCANNY! Many of the themes are almost identical. It's amazing.

Seeing in Person...

...Joshua Bell!

Have you ever heard of him? He was the Grammy-award winning violinist on the soundtrack of a movie called The Red Violin (no, I have not seen it). He came to San Antonio to do a recital, and my orchestra offered a great deal for members to get tickets. So three days later, there my dad and I were at the door of the Majestic Theater.

It was a wonderful performance, and the program was absolutely fantastic. He and his pianist made a very charismatic team--they were really a good duo. At the end of the recital, Daddy and I scooted for the table where Joshua Bell would be signing autographs. As we arrived there, he came back on stage for the encore, and what should he play other than the piece I am currently working on, Meditation from Thais by Massenet. Let me tell you, it was an incredible treat to hear a piece that I know played live by a professional!

Music is powerful

Listening to "The Battle" on my playlist, I noticed something. I was listening to "The Battle" on my playlist. It just brought back that almost magical feeling of sitting in the theater, watching The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe for the first time. I used to be totally enamored with those movies. Now I realize why: it was the music. I think that it is the strains of the brass, the soaring of the strings and the vocal music in that particular song that so deeply entranced me. It literally did and still does give me goose bumps!

A flower

Just thought that I should post something instead of staring at my computer screen and going "uhhh."


Yes, I took this picture...with my 4 megapixel camera.

Music

I find music...

To be a friend (especially my violin). I can go and pick it up, I can get used to it and I can know it like the back of my hand.

To be a channel on which to direct my thoughts. Also, to be a channel on which I can express excitement, happiness or other feelings.

I can sing my heart out (with my voice) I love to sing along with my favorite CDs and make up a story to go along with the lyrics of the song.

I am so blessed to be able to play the violin and piano.