Bird of Prey

Out of the murky dark
flies the bird of prey
black wings swooping—hark!
Do you hear its fearsome cry?

It turns on feathered pinion
soaring high, gliding low
surveying its dominion
and giving voice to woe.

While you are sleeping
its claws are ever reaching
so pray for angels’ keeping
lest death you will be reaping.

~

Watch out for those ghosts and ghoulies on this night of frights! And birds of prey of course. Or, perhaps more aptly, watch out for stomachaches from too much candy.

I had such fun creating this picture. It was not originally intended for a Halloween story at all however. While looking through my suitcase of props, on a whim I pulled a golden mask out to play with. Highly reflective and with such flat planes, it was quite menacing on, I realised – especially with such narrow slits for eyes that accentuate the whites. And so the idea of the Bird of Prey was hatched.

A pair of black wings and my amazingly versatile (who’d have thought?) vintage 80s gold foil rah-rah skirt complete the costume. The tiers flap up and down in the most fearsome way too, though the most important aspect of my bird of prey is physicality. Leaning into the camera, hunching the shoulders and crooking fingers to resemble grasping talons help create a sinister mood.

In the end it was quite difficult to choose my favourite scary picture, so check out the Out-takes & Extras gallery for more.

Have fun on your Hallowed Eve!

What Would Mr Ed Do?

You know when you see a leather belt with a prancing pony brass buckle in a charity store for a few dollars that you must buy it. There is no question. It is not the time to ask oneself, ‘Do I really need a pony buckle belt?’ And if one does, the answer is a resounding ‘Yeigh!’

At the time the sales assistant (eyeing my haul) asked me if I had seen the pony buckle belt? ‘You bet I have. It’s in my basket,’ I replied promptly. She was very pleased to hear it. I suspect if I were the sales assistant in a charity store, I’d be fighting off the customers in order to claim the choicest items!

A Crown of Cherries

The Vintage Hat Series: 1950s cherry headpieceWho doesn’t love a cherry? Perfect juicy little red balls of deliciousness that burst with summer in your mouth. Not for nothing is the good life equated with a bowl of cherries. When I was five I hung double cherries off my ears, a few years later I am resplendent in a vintage 50s cherry headpiece. Isn’t it scrumptious? Now it can be summer all year long …

Bird of Paradise

Like a magpie, I am always attracted to shiny, pretty things. Anything beaded and embroidered catches my eye and begs to be touched, and so I particularly love the Indian decorative arts: textiles, jewellery, and miniature paintings.

One must admire the artisans for their skill and patience in the care taken over so much intricate detail. There is so much joie de vivre in these colourful works of art – the visual equivalent of Bollywood films. The landscapes are perfect little jewels of Arcadia: the sun shines gently, the breezes murmur softly through the ladies’ saris, and birds sing sweetly in the lush background.

Although these days I lean more and more towards minimalist fashion, I still cannot resist adding to my collection of sparkly vintage trifles here and there, particularly when I am travelling in exotic countries. They might come out on a special occasion to add pizzazz to an otherwise simple or graphic silhouette.

To create this picture, inspired by Indian miniature paintings, I’ve gathered together an Indian embroidered tunic and skirt (both purchased in charity stores), a silk scarf, a vintage embroidered and beaded belt, new and vintage necklaces, earrings from a local Indian fashion boutique, and beaded slippers, souvenirs from Vietnam.

It was Diana Vreeland who declared in 1962, ‘pink is the navy blue of India’, making the pink silk scarf an apt choice. I do love Indian jewellery too; the jingles only add an extra element of fun, and it is one of the few styles in which I like yellow gold.

~

The cloudy background is of a wall I photographed in Tangier, Morocco, and the lawn a picture I took recently in Melbourne’s own Royal Botanic Gardens. The bird in hand comes from here. The dried flower is a Billy Button or Craspedia, a member of the daisy family and native to Australia and New Zealand. 

Forecast: 79% Chance of Umbrella Breakage

Umbrella Carcass I :: Tinto // D-Type Plate // No flashHere is an amusing little set of umbrella carcasses. Poking out forlornly from rubbish bins as they are, these disgraced umbrellas look as though their former owners have deliberately left them on show as an example to umbrellas everywhere. They have failure writ large all over them.

Umbrella Carcass II :: Tejas // Claunch 72 Monochrome // No flashI have often wondered if designer umbrellas that cost hundreds are really better quality than the average $40 umbrella? Are their frames made of sterner stuff? Could they weather a fierce storm? Mind you, I have never seen a Burberry or Hermès umbrella poking out of a common trashcan, so perhaps.

What the meteorologists really need to do is add an umbrella breakage likelihood to their weather forecasts: anything over 30% and you would know to wear a hooded raincoat and leave the umbrella at home. That would be helpful. 

Umbrella Carcass III :: John S // Cano Cafenol // No flashUmbrella Carcass IV :: Tejas // Claunch 72 Monochrome // No flash