Sew What?! A Birthday Barn Dance Dress

Tiny & Mary
(not necessarily in that order)

Mary recently celebrated her birthday and to mark the occasion, I gave her the last thing in the world that she could possibly need - another Mr. Tiny original.  Always hankering to create something new and because our latest musical endeavor, Tiny & Mary, has a decidedly western/cowboy bent, I thought I'd make something thematically appropriate.  Too lazy to perform any actual research, I found emotional design inspiration in Town Hall Party (filmed in that well-known, country music capitol of the world, Compton, CA). 

"Loved and Lost Again" - Patsy Cline on Town Hall Party

I LOVE western wear but it doesn't always have to be all welted smiley pockets, rhinestones, and fringe, right?!  Sometimes (maybe most of the time) I just love those kooky, folky, farm-girl dresses that many of the women wore on Town Hall Party.

On the set of Town Hall Party (1955)
I think Mary could sneak right into this photo totally undetected.
(Source)

I try to convince myself that someday I would like to learn proper sewing technique, but who am I kidding?  You probably could teach this old dog new tricks but it would take a veritable mountain of food rewards to get me to roll over.  Nevertheless, I should mention that the strapless, fully-lined, bodice is boned using the unproven, Mr. Tiny method (read: complete disregard for any and all of the package's instructions).  Combined, the prairie-style skirt has about sixteen yards of length; I thought that cleverly reversing the direction of the stripe in the second tier was an inspiration but if I had it to do over again (and an unlimited amount of material), I would probably make the entire dress one-directional.

Jacquard? Brocade?  I am not a textile expert but I am coming to terms

with my predilection for yellow.  Lucky enough to live near many discount
 fabric outlets, I found something for my usual spending cap of $2 per yard
 that was reminiscent of that flocked, damask wallpaper (oh, shoot maybe
 it's damask?) used on saloon walls.  It is probably rude to post the cost of
 the material where Mary can see it, but she knows I am frugal...plus she
 got a new dress!  Gee whiz, Mary, quit complaining!!!

Mary hasn't quite cottoned on to the idea, but how awesome is it for her to
know that in the event of a downed airplane, a Titanic-style disaster, or a trip
 to the kiddy pool, she has her own flotation devices attached to her arms?

Seriously, let's address the giant water wings in the room.  How do we feel about the detached, puff sleeves?  I tried to convince Mary that sleeves like this are a real thing but every internet search returned photos of questionable, Halloween costumes in various themes.  In my mind, the reference point is that episode of I Love Lucy when Ricky and Lucy are handcuffed together; Ricky is appearing as a guest star on a television show and Lucy has to act as one of his hands until the handcuffs are removed.  It seems to me that the program's Mistress of Ceremonies had a dress with similar sleeves.

Okay, so I just found this.
I can neither confirm nor deny that her sleeves are
indeed independent articles of clothing, but this is
exactly the dress about which I was thinking.
(Source)  

Mary decided to inaugurate the dress by wearing it to a show that we played last week in San Diego.  Honored to be opening for Canada's finest, Petunia & The Vipers, we were given the opportunity to enact a little bit of my Town Hall Party fantasy.

Dig that fancy marquee!
See how casually, but with such clear intention, she covers my name...mm hmm...

"Cricket Song" - Petunia & The Vipers

These guys are awesome!  If they ever play in your neck of the woods, the word is "GO!"

My real heart's desire is to fulfill the notion of creating the most-perfect, old-timey barn dance that ever was or ever will be.  BR5-49 came pretty close with a short scene in their video for "Cherokee Boogie."

"Cherokee Boogie" - BR5-49

See 1:11-1:31

And if Town Hall Party was a stylistic nail, then Big Sandy hit it right on top of it's little, square head with "My Sinful Days are Over" - but I wasn't invited to that party.

"My Sinful Days are Over" - Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys

I guess I'll just be building my mid-century, western-themed utopia one dress at a time.  If and when that happens, "Y'all come!"

Cheers!

Mr. Tiny

p.s. (it's becoming a habit) If you're so inclined, please feel free to visit our Tiny & Mary Facebook page and "LIKE" us.  Thanks!!!

Happy Birthday to ME!!!

In eager anticipation of the big day, I'm guessing that you guys have long since picked out the perfect token of your esteem, wrapped it with the utmost care, and have had it perfectly synchronized with your local post office to be delivered to my front porch right on time for my birthday.  I can just imagine the postman as he struggles, wheezing, bringing package after package to the door.  Through the sweat and strain he is thinking to himself, "Geewhiz, someone pretty special must live here."  Unfortunately, I won't be there to collect the bounty of your generosity because I will be celebrating in true cowboy fashion (well, not exactly) - where the bloom is on the sage.  That's right, I'm trading the sparkle of birthday candles for the twinkle of starry skies in our local desert! 

"Happy Birthday Western Style" (1958)

Is it so wrong that I want all of my celebrations to be "Western Style?"  Some of my happiest times are a blinding whirl of western wear, cowboy songs, chuck wagon grub, and the warm desert wind.

Our friend, Lauren at Wearing History, showed
us the wonder of the Wagon Wheel.
Maybe this was the inspiration for the song???

Amber's western round-up birthday party.

One of my most favorite bands in the whole wide world and
 the Kings of SoCal Western Swing - The Lucky Stars.

In the afterglow of the star-spangled rodeo that
 is the Doo Dah Parade.  

A cowboy sign from one of our desert adventures.

Chow Time at the Steak Corral

Duded up with the fam.

A collection of western ties

Ready for show time at High Rockabilly.

I know I just shared these, but this lil' cowpoke is
too awesome not to include!

When I return from the desert, I'll be sure to regale you with our western style adventures.  Until the next round up,  Happy Birthday and Happy Trails!

"Happy Trails" - Roy Rogers & Dale Evans

Cheers!

Mr. Tiny

There's No Business Like Show Business, From What I've Heard

So here's something wacky for you.  A couple of weeks ago, Like an episode straight out of "I Love Lucy," Mr. Tiny joined show business!  I've been involved in the business world for years - primarily monkey, but this was a real star turn.  True, I have had my brushes with fame.  I've been told repeatedly over the phone that I could be a voice-double for Robert Downey, Jr. (by the same person, sort of a phone stalker who was more than likely deaf).  I've met Hollywood A-Listers like Alice Cooper, Kurt Russell, and Butch Patrick.  I have been paid to dance, act, model, but this was the big time - real show business.

 Proof
Ashley, Alice, Mr. Tiny, and Richard (l to r)

About a month ago, Mary was asked to perform a show down in San Diego at The Tin Can Ale House.  Mary is a Wild Records artist so she is entirely accustomed to the smell of grease paint, the glare of flashbulbs, and the bright lights.  I, on the other hand, am a hopeless rube, a bumpkin by the standards of slick, big-city, show folk.  Fortunately, it was a cowboy/honky tonk show, so I fit right in.

The mural on the front of The Tin Can Ale House is pretty darn cool.

Mary & Mr. Tiny (photo courtesy of Sarah Drake)
Maybe sitting wasn't the most flattering position to take.

Strangely, the pure and unadulterated hatred that I have for the sound of my own voice has never stopped me from singing  - or talking for that matter (although I might reconsider after barely making it through a brief review of these videos that a friend was sadistic kind enough to shoot).  Even more strange was the generally-positive response we received for our set.  Here are a couple of the songs (including a Mr. Tiny original) that we performed.  Please, be kind, it was our very first show!

"Someday"

written by Jimmie Hodges 

performed by Mary & Mr. Tiny

"Wagon Wheel"

written and performed by Mr. Tiny and Mary

I was dreading the performance on our way down to San Diego, mostly because I felt weird that I would just be there singing while Mary did all of the heavy lifting (guitar, song writer, vocalist), but I ended up having a lot of fun!  We even tried our best to include some witty banter in between songs.  The wittiness of the banter is widely open for debate, but I think we did a pretty good job, all things considered.

I'm tellin' ya, it was the real deal.
We got drink tickets (wasted on non-drinkers, like ourselves) and everything.
We even got paid; although Mary has yet to fork over my half of the loot!

I'm doing my best to have a good attitude and accept the challenges and opportunities that come my way.  Hopefully, this was the first of many fun times and exciting adventures ahead!  After all, how you gonna keep 'em down on the farm after they've seen SD?


Cheers!

Mr. Tiny

Back In the Saddle: A Cowboy Birthday

Last weekend we were invited to a very special western-themed birthday party for our friend, Amber.  It was held in the beautiful backyard of the home she shares with her husband, Bob.

All the guests were given a "western welcome" with their
very own, personalized, mason jar drinking glass.

 

Mr. Tiny & Mary with the birthday girl, Amber (I stole this photo from her).
 One can almost see the ghost of bunny ears behind Amber's head that she so
artfully retouched out of the photo.

Bob & Amber's backyard is great!  It is perennially decked out with a western/desert motif so the setting was ideally apropos.  I should have taken more pictures of the perfect surroundings that included wagon wheels, succulents, the barn and the corn!  Here are some photos of the cool desert details that were waiting around every corner.

 

 

The garden path (by day & by night) was lit with kerosene railroad lanterns. 

I've mentioned it before, but it bears repeating, I LOVE WESTERN WEAR!!!  My collection, if it can be called that, is measly, consisting mostly of ties.  There is something about the incredible detailing, the folksy charm, and the spirit of the West that makes western wear a favorite for me.  Not to mention the brilliant people like Nudie, Manuel, Jaime, Gene, Dale & Roy, and The Sons of the Pioneers that made western wear COOL!  Unfortunately, I can never really pull off the entire look head-to-toe because my arches are high and my calves too thick to wear boots!  Nevertheless, here are some fancy western duds.

Queens of the Rodeo, Amber & Mary. 

Mary wore a vintage western shirt with new two-piece western

ensemble that I finished for her right before we left for the party. 

I think it needs some applique before it is truly "finished."

Ben & Mary showing off their matching shirts

How!
Pale Face heap happy to see Lone Wolf, Emily,
(the only Native American represented) at the party.

My favorite family photo of the night.
 Lovey, Charles & Dollie
 Are you my mommy?

All the food an fixin's were delicious.  People roasted hot dogs over the open fire and I made my award-winning roasted potato salad.  My mom and dad told me that bestowing an award to oneself in no way negates the validity of the award.

Amber made all kinds of tasty, themed offerings.
You'll have to ask her why they are labeled "Smore Pogs,"
but I was particularly taken with these S'More Pops.
It would've been easy to fill up on homemade rice krispie
treats too, but...

We had to save room for the beautiful horseshoe cake that Dollie made!

Amber's feeling lucky with her lucky horseshoe cake.

No matter how much cake one consumes, there is always room for presents.

Charles & Amber and an inch worm

After the sun set slowly in the western skies, a chill set in, so we gathered around the campfire to sing some cowboy songs.

Singing cowboy songs with Steve, Mary, Ben, Amber, and Dave was my favorite
part of the evening.  Among all of the wonderful bands in which he plays, Dave is
a feature in The Lucky Stars, the kings of western swing in Southern California.

You know it's a good party when....
Happy Birthday, Amber!!!

Here are a couple tunes to give you the feeling of our wild west shindig!

 

"Way Out There" - Sons of the Pioneers

"Tumblin' Tumbleweeds" - Sons of the Pioneers

Cheers & Happy Trails!

Mr. Tiny