Sepia Saturday 226: 3 May 2014




Marilyn on Sepia Saturday says:


This week's prompt comes from the archives of The Library of Congress courtesy of Flickr Commons, where the subjects are taking part in what is described as a 'Greek Cymball Dance’ at a Sufragette Ball. Now, you may wish to hang on to that description as a possible avenue to explore if inspiration deserts you. Otherwise we have May Day, dancing, folk traditions or very silly poses; take your pick or forget about themes altogether. The main thing is to join in with an old image of your own choice and an interesting post to share with fellow Sepians. 



Hmmm.  very silly poses.






I trawled through my family photos and the closest I could come up with were these two photos.



My mother being silly with friends


But then I thought harder and remembered that I had a bit of fun this week at the local 
Vinnies shop buying Retro cookbooks.
My pride and joy was this for $1.



Published by Paul Hamlyn in 1971 it encourages you to have "fun" parties with the help of menus for a brunch party, morning coffee party, luncheon party, kitchen tea, christening tea, open house party, after theatre party, patio party (I know, I know), wine and cheese party...the list goes on - you get the idea.  I suppose that is why the urn is not centred properly on the pedestal...that's a subliminal nod to the idea of "fun".

Here's the hostess looking as though she's having enormous F-U-N  at a luncheon party.




'Cos you know if you're invited to a luncheon party you're bound to have "fun".  

I like the 3D effect of the real plant in front of the life-like wallpaper and matching curtains.  
OMG - I just realised the tablecloth is matching too.


A Summer Buffet Dinner might be more your style of "fun".  The lady sitting down is one of the guests.  She is oblivious to the hostess who is under the table in a foetal position with a Vincents powder and a very quiet G & T thoughtfully placed near her by George.

And then I remembered that really, if you're looking for really silly poses...well, knitting patterns are the best.

Stitchcraft No. 358

George here is so glad that Mary knitted him a reversible scarf...it's essential for reversing out of those awkward situations or tight parks....or Summer Buffet Dinner Parties.  
"Really!" thinks George. "Carol always takes on more than she can handle.  What was she thinking?"

Stitchcraft No. 376 1965

You don't know it but Jim is leaning on a saddle here.  He is leaning because he is feeling "casual" now that Mary has fashion trimmed his country jacket.  Goodness knows what the horse will think.  Jim just doesn't care.  Mary is pleased she found something to do with that rug.  She never liked Jim anyway.  It was just a casual fling.  


Score with these look alike sweaters with saddle shoulder treatment  Choose either the crew or V-neck
Villawool Book 87

Mary has in fact "scored" Todd.  He looks a bit plastic (in fact she can't believe he's real).  In memory of Jim she whipped up matching sweaters for them both with saddle shoulders.
Nix on the reversible scarf though.

Mary and Todd will of course have obliging children who will pose for knitting magazines, just like this rascally mob who seem fascinated by empty jars.


Our Raglan Shirts have very smart knitted ties - Stitchcraft Number 295



Children were so much easier to entertain in those days...now they want everything - water, tadpoles, aquariums, saddle shoulders and reversible scarves ; the list is never-ending.

Mary is glad that her boys always look well-dressed wherever they go.

The boys are glad that they don't have to fiddle with their ties - Mumsy helpfully sewed them on to their knitted shirts so they don't have to bother.
Nix on the reversible scarves though.  Mary wants her boys to have F-U-N forever.

For more silly poses and stories go here.
                                               

Comments

Kristin said…
You know, I rarely read the description under the photo prompt. I had no idea they were preforming at at sufragette ball. I wonder how that worked out? Did they have men there too? Did they dance? I do like the luncheon with the matching plants, wall paper and table cloth. I hope they had an enjoyable time, even if it was a luncheon.
Mike Brubaker said…
You've definitely had the most fun on the theme this week! It takes a creative imagination to tie cookbooks and handknitted sweaters to Grecian girl cymbalists.
La Nightingail said…
Absolutely LOVED your post. What a wickedly wonderful silly sense of humor. Bet you get it from your mom? My mom, too, has a great silly sense of humor & so did her best friend. They used to giggle over things all the time & I inherited the same from her. My husband has a very dry sense of humor & our son inherited the silly from me & the dry from his dad so his sense of humor is almost lethal. The red ladderback chairs in the cookbook picture are exactly what I've been looking for, for my breakfast nook. I don't suppose the woman still has them - along with that ghastly wallpaper & matching tablecloth. Totally 70s. Great post!!!
Alex Daw said…
There are quite a few photos on The Commons about those suffragettes and their ball. I don't know if there was just one ball or several but there are a few silly photos. Was it a fundraiser I wonder? I'm glad you liked the matching ensemble. It's a scream isn't it?
Alex Daw said…
Hi Mike. My talents are few I confess, but thank you for spotting one of them ;)
Alex Daw said…
Why thank you! (blushes and bows). Is that what a ladderback chair is? All I've been thinking about is that tablecloth getting dirty and then her trying to replace it years down the track when the fabric has been discontinued.
Little Nell said…
I think you had a lot of fun yourself with this and gave us all something to smile about. I love those vintage cookbooks and knitting patterns though - ah nostalgia!
diane b said…
You are so funny. Great theme pics
Boobook said…
This is great. You're amazing to associate the model photos with the theme photos - a perfect match and a fantastic yarn to tie them all together. Well done Alex.
This was a great post for this week! Thanks.
Unknown said…
oh what an assortment from those camera shy gals to knitted sweaters. I enjoy old cookbooks too but no longer buy them at any price, too many have accumulated and what to do with them now. The knit sweaters are so perfect looking. The women posing for table guests are elegant.
21 Wits said…
I kind of had that same feeling, it's almost as the girls are hanging, or trying to hang wallpaper was my first thought. Your silly posed first photo of three really makes my day! As do the others, especially the man in the knitted sweater, (brings back memories of my mother's books and the lovely things she knitted (just like that) she even knitted for my Barbie doll, and let me tell you, pulling up tight knitted slacks on my Barbie doll took lots of work! Fun post, thanks for the day brightener!
Alex Daw said…
Thanks Little Nell. Indeed I did have a bit of fun with this and I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Alex Daw said…
Thank you Boobook. It was a streeeeetch I confess ;)
Alex Daw said…
My pleasure Jackie!
Alex Daw said…
Hi Patricia. Like you my collection is getting a bit out of control. It's a bit of fun looking back at how we were...
Alex Daw said…
Dear Karen...such a fantastic memory of your Barbie Doll. My grandmother and mother used to knit clothes for my dolls...I think I used to dress them with great seriousness.
Wendy said…
Everyone should have a photo of their mother being silly. Everyone should be photographed being silly for their kids.
Nancy said…
I like your first two photos of your mom with friends. Do you know the story behind those photos? Secrets? A game? In heaps because of a guy who walked by? Or were they trying to hide from someone walking by? I think those photos are more fun than any of the others!
Alex Daw said…
Hi Wendy. I completely agree. Parents are humans just like us, aren't they?
Alex Daw said…
Hi Nancy ! I'm so glad you like those photos. I don't know the story behind the photos unfortunately. My mother died a while ago now - twenty years ago next year. There are many many photos of her with her friends. I think this was taken before she was married. Her friends seemed to go on lots of hikes or trips to places. I am taking a wild guess that they've been on a bushwalk and they're now thoroughly exhausted.
Postcardy said…
I like the retro hostesses and male models. I think viewing them is more FUN than going to a luncheon.
luvlinens said…
Great Dialogue Alex, and fascinating pictures. Oh by the way, You can keep that ugly sweater with the brown buttons and trim.
tony said…
I Love Your Mum's Photos! They Were Having some fun there! And 70's knitwear! I have a Green Tank-Top that's sat in the back of my wardrobe waiting quietly to come back into fashion.....
Alex Daw said…
Hi Postcardy...I couldn't agree more!
Alex Daw said…
Thank you luvlinens...teehee...what? You don't like the sweater??? How can that be?? Even with the trim???
Alex Daw said…
Hi Tony. They are a bit of fun aren't they? C'mon...bring out that tank-top ...why wait for the trend? LEAD the trend!!
The fun of the knitting pattern captions almost took away from the fun photos of your mum and her friends!
Great post
Anonymous said…
Lovely silly pics of your Mum and friends; obviously the hostess ran out of fabric or her frock would have matched too; and when you throw a party from all the new recipes you'll try in the Retro cookbook hope we are all invited:)
Anonymous said…
Your Mum and her friends look as though they are having a great giggle about something; the Hostess must have run our of material as she doesn't have a matching dress - and hope we all get invited to the party when you try out some of those Retro Recipes, although it's a bit scary when a lot of my favourite recipes are older than Retro!
anyjazz said…
Catalog and mannequin pictures! Of course! Nothing sillier than that! Why didn't I think of that? Good post!
These are a lot of fun! The best are the first two. Will always wonder what was going on.
At first, I thought your mom and her friends were suffering of narcolepsy, but the 2nd picture attested they weren't. I must say this post turned out to be quite fun!! The matchy-matchy stuff is a "Laura Ashley Syndrome", something that came about in the 1970s and where everything had to match in a room, even if it made everyone dizzy, even nauseated...

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