Sew What?! The "Happy Holiday" Frock

People often ask me where I go shopping for the fabrics that I use to create Mary's wardrobe.  The answer is simple - everywhere.  Wherever there is fabric being sold at discounted rates, one will likely find this oversized cheapskate knee-deep in broadcloth, seersucker, tartan plaids, and even metallic upholstery yardage.  It is, in fact, six-and-a-half yards of lamé, ribbed upholstery fabric in crimson and gold, bought at a deep discount at a hole-in-the-wall fabric store, that became Mary's Christmas frock this year.

As usual, my design process meant allowing the fabric to dictate the silhouette.
Surely there are myriad directions one might take with this light-as-a-feather, shimmering,
fantasy fabric, but in my mind, Christmas always calls for an extremely-full skirt!

Adapting the pattern I drafted for Mary's Halloween costume, I made a drop-waisted, boned bodice with princess seam lines.  When Mary wore the dress to a Christmas party last weekend, I was flattered when a new friend complimented my decision to vary the direction of the stripes (vertical on the bodice, horizontal on the skirt).  As much credit as I wanted to take for the clever design choice, I had to come clean that it was merely a byproduct of laziness.  Vertical stripes on the bodice meant I didn't have to worry about matching stripes; horizontal stripes on the skirt meant I could use the full length of the yardage with only one seam at the back.  The real question is, why is it so hard for me to just accept a simple compliment?

If you follow Mr. Tiny on Instagram, you might remember this picture, a
sneaky peek-y of  the dress in progress.  When a fabric I love comes in
multiple colorways, I will almost always buy them all.  Having bought
this material in purple (project pending), red, and acid green, I thought
I could use the latter colors to add a whimsical hip corsage in the form
of holly and berries; when it came time to apply it to the dress, I just
couldn't make myself do it.  Even the king of wacky tacky found the
size and scale of this appliqué a little too whimsical.  Occasionally,
I am forced to admit that in some cases, simplicity really is best. 

While a very-talented friend, and photographer, has graciously offered to take proper pictures of Mary in her new dress, I couldn't resist sharing a couple of photos of the Happy Holiday Frock in action before the big photo shoot.  I figure that it is best to share a couple of "low-budge" images and give you a very honest sense of how regularly unprepared we are to take glamorous photos (the following were taken at two-thirty in the morning on the streets of Los Angeles using an iPhone) and how much we preferred enjoying the scintillating company of the amazing party to pretending we know what to do with a camera.  The lighting and the resolution may both be low but the dress still sparkles!

It is hard to convey the scale of the corsage but I would estimate
that it was roughly the size of her face.  Don't you think I was right
to leave it off?  Even thought the belt was part of my original design,
I sort of hemmed-and-hawed over that decision as well.  In the end, I
think it defines the waist well and breaks up Mary's already-long torso.

Mary was a trooper; it was crazy-cold by Southern
California standards and the only she thing she had to
protect her from the cold night air was the matching wrap...
and the six-and-a-half yards of skirt.  Nary a crinoline nor a
petticoat was needed;the fabric was so airy and voluminous
that the skirt's fullness supported itself!  

What will you be wearing this season?  Do you have a favorite holiday ensemble?  Be you clad in fancy frock or ugly Christmas sweater, we wish you a very Happy Holiday!!!

"Happy Holiday" - Bing Crosby with The Music Maids (1942)

Cheers!

Mr. Tiny

Crazy Crafty: I'm Dreaming of a BIG Dream Pet!

Perhaps it is the flocks ("herds" doesn't allow for such clever word play) of flocked reindeer so ubiquitous at the holidays. Perhaps it is because they are the only pets that don't amplify my seasonal allergies.  Or perhaps it is the fact that they are a perpetual line item (bold and underlined) on my yearly letters to Santa Claus.  Whatever the reason, Dream Pets always remind me of Christmas.  It doesn't really matter that the only two Dream Pets I own that are not currently in storage include a backpacking squirrel and a red-and-white poodle; I can't help but get wistful for the holiday season whenever I see a Dream Pet.

At least I think it's a poodle...

One might think that after my tedious dealings with Mary's Showgirl Halloween costume that I would have gotten my fill of red velveteen but after giving the remnants a second look, I started dreaming of a big Dream Pet.  Attempting to recreate the red-and-white poodle Dream Pet in a large scale, would be my way of finally setting Halloween aside and welcoming in the winter holiday.

I actually had nearly all the materials on hand - red velveteen, fiber fill,
button nose, pink material for the tongue and eyelids, and black vinyl for the
eyelashes.  The only thing I needed to buy was one skein of nubby white yarn!

Much like the crack team at Madame Tussaud's, I had to carefully study my subject, taking countless measurements, making several plaster molds, and photographing it from every angle.

Or maybe, and much more likely, I just dove head first into making my own pattern with
absolutely no technical understanding of pattern drafting/grading for poodles whatsoever.

After one rough draft, I started sewing, pushing past the usual thoughts of, "This is never going to work," that occur whenever I begin a new project.  I was afraid I had hit a major roadblock when, after stuffing its red, velveteen body, I sewed the Dream Pet shut and stood up, or rather tried to stand up, my strange, faceless creation.  The disproportionately-gargantuan head toppled the pet over every time.  Mildly discouraged, I forged ahead, figuring that adding the tail would act as a suitable counterbalance; and wouldn't you know, it worked! 

What resulted, however, was hardly an exact replica of the toy.

Generously described as only a reasonable facsimile, the poodle's

fluffy fur was achieved by making the world's longest chain of single 

crochet (I'm trying to make that sound fancy but after one lesson, 

more than fifteen years ago, the only crochet stitch I still remember 

how to do is a single crochet).  I simply wrapped the legs and looped 

the crochet chain over the tail's wire frame.

Sure, my big Dream Pet's enormous head is cocked at a jaunty angle, the fur is bright white, and the eyes
are a little high on the head.  Nevertheless, I think this pair could easily pass in public as parent and child.

To heighten the seasonal splendor, and to avoid the inevitable cease-and-desist
orders from the Dakin Corporation, I averted what would otherwise be considered
blatant trademark infringement by making my Dream Pet's bow out of vintage
"Velvette" ribbon in emerald green and topping it with a holiday pick from the
local cake supply store!

This Christmas, while most people are dreaming about luxury goods and a giant, red bow atop a brand new car, you can be sure that Mr. Tiny's Dream Pet reverie will only be briefly interrupted by the occasional visions of sugarplums dancing in my head.  

The most common emails I receive all revolve around the same basic
question, "Mr. Tiny," they ask, "in what do you sleep?"  The answer is
always the same - my glasses and a stocking cap, you weirdos!

Incidentally, the photographer indicated that this is possibly the most disturbing
photo she's ever had to take of me.  All I can say is, "Sweet dreams, everybody!"

Do you dream about Dream Pets?  Do you collect them?  Which is your favorite?  Does a giant Dream Pet defeat the purpose of these terrifically-tiny little toys?  Whether you dream of Dream Pets or White Christmases, we hope that all your holiday dreams come true!

"White Christmas" - Bing Crosby

Cheers!

Mr. Tiny

Mr. Tiny's Neighborhood Watch: Tiki Go Bragh

Limerick, Shamrock, Donnybrooke, and Kerry, these names offer the promise of a wee bit o' Ireland in the form of rolling green hills, stone cottages, and colorful village pubs.

What if I told you that there was a wacky tacky neighborhood in Southern California with street names as Irish as Irish Stew but whose architecture couldn't be further from the Emerald Isle - homes where fieldstone is replaced by lava rock and cozy thatch replaced by high-pitched roofs with longhouse beams?  Only about four suburban blocks long in either direction, there is a neighborhood that somehow manages to seamlessly blend the shillelagh with the ukulele.  

It's true!
Costa Mesa's Killybrooke neighborhood is an
island of island style in a sea of '60s ranch houses.

A half century of makeovers, remodels, and incongruous paint jobs have obscured some of the details of this tiki-tastic neighborhoood, but as the old saying goes, "The [tiki] devil is in the details."

Some people might tell you that these houses aren't anything special, but that's just a bit of the blarney.
The lava rock, decorative screens, assorted stone, and beautiful trim work all speak to their polynesian provenance.

Many of the homeowners, probably unaware of the treasures they have, try their best to disguise some of the tell-tale tiki signs.  If a homeowner has made it difficult to detect the Hawaiian-style heritage, one need only look up; it is easy to put on a new front door or slap on a coat of paint, but very few people change the roofline.

Some rooflines are high-pitched, some are supported by decorative beams.
My favorites have the extreme angled notch and the longhouse beams.

Beyond the Irish names, the most surprising part of this neighborhood is that not a single homeowner has truly embraced the original architecture.  The most exciting homes are those that have essentially just been left alone.

All it needs is a bit of landscaping!

Not the most ostentatious house on the block, I appreciate this one for the louvered
vents on the garage, the roll-down window blinds, and the dynamic roofline.  In its way it does
faintly echo the architecture of some of the modest plantation homes on the islands.

Take a peek at that peak!

The stone chimney and garage gable are great!

I kind of love the monochromatic scheme of these two houses.  In a way it makes the trim more of a textural element.

My favorite roofline!

This garden is headed in the right direction!

Contemporary garage doors just don't do these houses any favors but a polynesian paint scheme
(and maybe a couple of masks on those white insets) would do wonders for this house.

I think this home has got it down - the tropical foliage, the covered atrium with decorative screens, and the rock walls.
It definitely wins the Mr. Tiny's Neighborhood Watch Award!

Do these homes actually look like the type of architecture one is likely to encounter in Hawaii, Tahiti, Fiji, or Samoa?  Probably not.  There is no denying, however, that these houses are wonderful relics of America's obsession with polynesian pop in the mid-20th Century.  I can't wait for the day when a hardcore-tiki enthusiast brings the spirit of aloha back to this micro-community.  Just imagine the luau block parties!  

Saving the best revelation for last, I must disclose that in a near-adjacent neighborhood in the very same city, the streets, with names including Tahiti, Pitcairn, Samoa, Palau, Oahu, and Maui, are all named for islands.  Was this a major city-planning mistake?  I, for one, would like an explanation!!!  Maybe Mr. "Mele Kalikimaka" can elucidate...

"When Irish Eyes Are Smiling" - Bing Crosby

I guess as long as everybody is smiling, we should just be happy too.

I mean why wouldn't those eyes be smiling when gazing upon such 

an incredible neighborhood?

Do you have a polynesian-themed neighborhood where you live?  Would you want to live in a tiki-fied house?  Even better, do you live in a tiki house now?!  Have you ever been to Ireland?  Having never been there myself, it just occurred to me maybe there is nothing unique about this tract of homes; this must be exactly how all Irish neighborhoods look, right?!

Cheers!

Mr. Tiny

201 Reasons for a GIVEAWAY!

Well another milestone has been reached here at wacky tacky and true to our word we are having a giveaway!  We are now in the 200+ followers club and it is our pleasure to show our appreciation by offering our third, and may we say, most exciting giveaway to date!

You might remember that for our first giveaway, we offered a handmade basket purse of Mr. Tiny's own design plus our entire selection of wacky tacky collectible pinbacks.

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Our second giveaway saw the debut of our wacky tacky signature tee and the set-of-four wacky tacky collectible pinbacks.

+

For our third giveaway, we are upping the ante and giving away our wacky tacky signature tee, our set-of-four wacky tacky collectible pins, AND a handmade basket purse by Mr. Tiny!!!

+

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A-tisket, A-tasket, a green and yellow basket!
A yellow, rectangular basket in a traditional basket weave is topped by a lined,
green, burlap upper, and trimmed with vintage brocade ribbon and three yellow roses.
This weird yet wonderful basket purse is the must have accessory for spring and summer.
According to our sources, "Goes with nothing" is the new "Goes with everything." 

This giveaway has something for everyone!  The t-shirt is unisex.  The purse is ideal for a woman, a gift, or an adventurous gentleman.  And the pins can just as easily be applied to the lapel of a fine suit as they can be to a denim, biker vest.  To win all of these great prizes, all you have to do is enter!

RULES OF ENTRY:

1.  All entrants must be an official follower of wacky tacky, meaning your face must appear in the followers section over here ------------------------------------------> somewhere.  If you are not yet a follower, don't be ashamed; quickly become a follower and you too will be eligible for the prize.
2.  All entrants must leave a comment in the comments section of this post indicating your desire to be part of the giveaway (worth one entry).
3.  Entrants may share the giveaway on another social media outlet (Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, etc.) to earn additional entries (each share is worth one additional entry; you must leave a link in another comment on this post).
4.  All entrants must have a valid mailing address that is deliverable via the USPS (foreign or domestic).

5.  All entries must be made by 12am (PST) Sunday, May 26, 2013.

6.  All entrants must be able to play the tuba.  This point is negotiable pending a valid argument in the comments section of this post and/or the ability to play the kazoo.

On a serious note, I would love to broaden our base (figuratively speaking, of course); if you know of someone who would enjoy our type of fun, please spread the wacky tacky word.  Also we are always looking to feature cool houses, cool collections, cool shops, and cool people; if you have any or all of these things and would like to be featured on wacky tacky, please email us: wackytackytiny {at} gmail {dot} com.

Stay tuned; one winner will be chosen at random and announced here after all entries have been collected.  Thank you for your support and participation; I've got plenty to be thankful for!

"I've Got Plenty to be Thankful for" - Bing Crosby

Cheers!

Mr. Tiny

Chinese Modern: Eat In or Takeout?

It is hard to remember a time when a strong Asian influence has been absent from the aesthetic of Western design - Craftsman joinery, stark minimalism, lacquered finishes, etc.  While it might not have been as strong a mid-Century movement as Early American or Danish Modern, there was a time when an overtly-Asian sentiment was expressed in both architecture and interior design.  Though Lucy may have thought that Carolyn Appleby's newly-redecorated apartment looked like "a nightmare you would have after eating too much Chinese food," we loved it and wondered, "Does anyone still do Chinese Modern?"

True, the 1944 Noguchi coffee table still has legs - in terms of its
longevity and integration into contemporary design schemes.

In the way most Western appropriation of other cultures bastardizes the
 source material, "Chinese Modern" is a blanket term for pan-Asian
design themes - including the work of seminal Japanese designers.
(Source)

Yes, figural Asian lamps are a fixture in many mid-Century enthusiasts' homes.
(Source)

And we'll concede that a pair of figurines is an imperative for any well-dressed dwelling.
(Source - currently for sale on Etsy)

But does anyone still do Chinese Modern?  Come to think of it, does anyone still say, "Chinese Modern?"  Is it the same thing as using that forbidden descriptive, "Oriental?"  More specifically, does any vintage-loving, lifestyle-recreating, interior-designing collector go whole hog with a sleek, Chinese Modern interior anymore?  To make that decision maybe Chinese Modernism should be briefly examined; Chinese Modern, as a movement, has some tell tale characteristics - minimal furnishings, wall murals, room dividers/screens, an infusion of natural elements, and often the use of orange/red as a dominant color in the design scheme.

This example from 1953 employs the use of shoji screen-style windows,
 low tea tables, naturalistic murals, and a striking orange in the
upholstery, accent pillows, and art.
(Source)

A pagoda-style birdcage, the Asian figure on the table, the lacquered finishes, a wall of
 windows that allows for a bounty of natural light and the integration of the outdoors,
plus the use of a brilliant tangerine hue make for a dynamic interior influenced by
the Chinese Modern movement.
(Source)

This stunning example, attributed to designer Tony Duquette,
is a departure when it comes to color but totally embraces the
form and feel of Chinese Modern through the emperor-style chair,
the carved room dividers, and the wall mural.  

A later example shows an official's hat chair, ceramic garden stool, mural
 wallpaper,  a lacquer-finish lampshade, and a warm color palette including
yellows, oranges, and reds.
(Source)

There is a house in my neighborhood that I would love to own one day.  Built in the 1960's, the black and white structure is one of a few Eastern-inspired, flat-roofed, ranch houses on a long block of homes.  A single globe-shaped, hanging lantern lights the way to the entry.  The gate, a semi-elaborate affair with an Asian motif wrought in black iron, closes off the the walled courtyard that is home to a decidedly Asian-style landscape design - including a water feature!  I have never been inside of  the house, but I can only assume that the black-and-white color story of the exterior carries on past the wide front door and into spacious rooms heavily punctuated by that Imperial orangey-red/coral color, black-lacquered furniture, and plenty of gold accents.  At least that's how it would look should I ever be put in charge.  While interest in Chinese Modernism may have reached its peak half a century ago, it is interesting to look around and see all that remains of the under-appreciated design philosophy.

What was purported on Craigslist to be Yma Sumac's television cabinet
would have gone perfectly in my 60's, Chinese Modern paradise.
The "Peruvian Nightingale" obviously had exotic tastes extending
 beyond the jungles and mountain peaks of Incan territory. 

Rob & Laura Petrie's bedroom included the ubiquitous wall
 mural, a hanging lantern and Asian inspired accents.
(Source)

Imperial Palace - Las Vegas, NV
(Source)

Love it or hate it, the Imperial Palace Hotel & Casino gives more
than a nod to all that is Asian and modern, it gives a full bow.

Imperial Crest Apartments - El Segundo, CA

While this building has surely undergone some
drastic Chinese Modern-ectomies over the last several
 decades, the original inspiration can be seen in the remaining
architectural elements.

Blue Skies Trailer Village - Rancho Mirage, CA

My favorite of all the themed trailers at Bing Crosby's mobile home park is the Asian trailer with its black, white, and saturated-red color scheme.  Surrounded by a wall of decorative block, Torii gates, statuaries, and bridges, there is no denying the homage to Eastern design - built with modern materials and techniques.

1960's Asian Ranch house - Fullerton, CA

A pagoda birdhouse (?), lawn ornaments, expertly-manicured greenery, and the magnificent coral-colored front door and screened sidelights make this house an exception to the prevailing perception of Orange County, CA as mundane, colorless, and devoid of personality or interest. 

The theme carries through even to the mailbox!
We are thoroughly impressed by the level of detail and commitment.

People might not be collecting/decorating in a major way, but after looking around, it is clear that Chinese Modern is a valid design philosophy whose tenets are still practiced today - if not so literally as in the Appleby's apartment.  So, what do you think?  Have you ever been tempted to take the plunge into full-fledged Chinese Modern?  Or do you dabble (what I like to call Chinese Modern Takeout)?  Do you have some wall plaques and figurines of which you are particularly proud?  However you decorate, we always encourage you to keep it wacky tacky!

Cheers!

Mr. Tiny

Waking the Dead: Holy Cross Mortuary

By now it is must be evident that I derive a certain amount of pleasure from visiting cemeteries. They are places of grief, of celebration, of remembrance, and of peace.  It is interesting and sobering to see the slice-of-life happenings at a cemetery; on a recent visit to Holy Cross Mortuary in Culver City, CA, I saw preparations for a Navy funeral, family picnics, the tending of grave sites, and hikers taking advantage of the quiet  surroundings and sloping terrain.

I will admit that it felt slightly capricious and mildly irreverent to be hunting for celebrity graves whilst "Taps" was being played.  After a quick assessment of my intentions, I determined that my motives were not entirely dishonorable so, with consideration for the mourners, I made my way around the park.

The mid-Century chapel and mausoleum were stunning.
I love the art, architecture, and the stained glass!

As much as I respect the architecture, I was on a mission to pay my real respects to some of Hollywood's brightest stars and some of wacky tacky's biggest inspirations.

June Haver & Fred MacMurray play tandem guitar.
I have a feeling that these two made great music together!
(Source)

"What's My Line?" - Fred & June as mystery challengers

One of my favorite Hollywood couples on one of my favorite television shows!

Spike Jones
(Source)

"Cocktails for Two" - Spike Jones & His City Slickers

John Candy
(Source)

Ray Bolger
(Source)

"Ain't She Sweet" - Ray Bolger & Verna Felton

Most of the headstones at Holy Cross are rather humble affairs - flat stones flush with the surrounding turf.
You get one guess as to whom the landscaped, stony-based, giant crucifix belongs.

Rosalind Russell
Auntie Mame kind of deserves a ostentatious marker, don't you think?
After all, this is a Catholic cemetery and she did play
Mother Superior in The Trouble With Angels.

Rosalind Russell
(Source)

Mary Astor
(Source)

La Pieta revisited

Mack Sennett
But where are the bathing beauties?
(Source)

Lawrence Welk
A legend, a hero, a benefactor of wacky tacky
"Keep a song in your heart."
(Source)

A feature common among graveyards is the waste receptacles;
I must say that I love a faux bois trash can!

Dennis Day
He may have been in The Girl Next Door with June
Haver (above).  He might and one of Jack Benny's
regular players.  To me, he will always be Johnny Appleseed.
(Source)

"Johnny Appleseed" - Dennis Day

(Source)

ZaSu Pitts was a marvelous actress and just happens to be
the grandmother of one the best Southern California musicians,
 whistlers, and regular Parlor Boy to Janet Klein, John Reynolds!
(Source)

Helen O'Connell
One of my most favorite female vocalists from the big band era
(Source)

"Green Eyes" - Helen O'Connell & Bob Eberly

"Rubber Dolly" - Helen O'Connell

Scale replicas of Michelangelo's La Pieta abound

Audrey Meadows
(Source)

Jimmy Durante
(Source)

"Inka Dinka Doo" - Jimmy Durante with Harry James

Bonita Granville
(Source)

Bela Lugosi
(Source)

Bing Crosby
We've already expressed our adoration for the much beloved Bing Crosby .
(Source)

Is there a bad picture of this woman???  PERFECTION!!!
(Source)

"The Shorty George" - Rita Hayworth & Fred Astaire

from You Were Never Lovelier

Word has it that Rita was Fred's favorite dance partner.

Can you blame him?

Other notable residents of Holy Cross include Loretta Young, Jackie Coogan, John Ford, Pat O'Brien, Sharon Tate, Charles Boyer, MacDonald Carey, Louella Parsons, Richard Arlen, Edmond O'Brien, Joan Davis, Mary Fran, Vince Edwards, Richard Arlen, and Mario Lanza.

I have no idea who Louis Lookadoo, Jr. is but that is a killer name.
I'm thinking about changing mine to Mr. Tiny "Wackadoo."

Holy Cross is a beautiful cemetery and it is located right off the freeway.  If you have a free afternoon to roam its rolling acres, you should take my suggestion and visit.  I'm sure that I'll be back because it is adjacent to another cemetery with residents of renown.  I always feel a bit conspicuous with my street clothes and poised camera; next time, I might wear black.

Holy Cross Mortuary

5835 W Slauson Ave

Culver City, CA

(310)836-5500

www.holycrossmortuary.com

Cheers!

Mr. Tiny