I love mushrooms. I love eating the kind you can eat, and I love photographing the kind you can’t eat.
I mean, just look at how cute these things are!
Some of them are more scary-gross than cute, but no less visually interesting
Cute, creepy, or just fascinating. I want to make a mushroom inspired dress. But one that doesn’t look like a cartoon.
My 1890s black silk corded corset was actually done two weeks ago, in time for the Dr Sketchy talk, where it looked gorgeous on the model, and was immensely popular with everyone. Not only had the original corset sold before the event, but I got three further inquiries about buying it or having one commissioned. I guess I had better get used to cording!
This was a time consuming and nerve-wracking corset to make. As I mentioned before, I wasn’t sure it would really fit and work until the very last, but the results are more than worth it. As always, I do have some tweaks to make to improve the next version though.
If you want to see it on a model, there are Dr Sketchy photos here, and here.
In 1823 Liholiho, Kamehameha II, the 2nd King of unified Hawaii, chartered a boat and set off for England, along with his wife, Queen Kamamalu, and a party of other Hawaiian nobles.
Kamehameha II, Liholiho in London, 1824
Can you imagine how daring and adventurous this was?
Liholiho was born in the 18th century, when Hawaii was just beginning to have contact with the West. His exact birth date is not even recorded, and he barely spoke English. Sea travel was still a long, arduous, and dangerous endeavor. And yet Liholiho was determined to go; to see and understand the world that was beginning to to have such an effect on his kingdom.
He and his entourage set off in the L’Aigle, stopping in Brazil to meet Emperor Pedro I, and arriving in London in May 1824. Liholiho and Kamamalu were welcomed by the Foreign Secretary, had balls and receptions thrown in their honour, and toured all of London’s top sites.
The Hawaiian Royal Party at the theatre
Everywhere they went they caused a stir; travel was still so difficult that foreign royalty were still a huge novelty, and Hawaii was especially remote and exotic. Queen Kamamalu in particular created a sensation, she was over 6 foot tall, strikingly beautiful, and with an innate sense of style. The turban she wore to the theatre was particularly remarked upon and became the latest style among the ladies of the ton.
Portrait of Queen Kamamalu from an etching, 1824-1830. Photograph by Antique Associates at West Townsend, Inc. www.aaawt.com
While the balls, receptions, plays and performances were thrilling, Liholiho was there for a purpose: to meet his fellow monarch, George IV. A reception was set for June 21st. Alas, the scheduled meeting never happened.
On June 20 Kamamalu became ill with measles. A few days later Liholiho was also sick. Kamamalu died on July 6th, and the grief-stricken Liholiho was so distraught that he refused to leave her body. Without his beloved wife he lost the will to live, and passed away 6 days later. Hawaii had lost both it’s King and Queen in a far, cold land.
Just as he had planned, but not at all in the way he wanted, Liholiho experienced one of the big effects the outside world would have on his island paradise: when measles made it to Hawaii a few years later it devastated the native population.
