Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Pipe Dreams


I can't help myself; it's in my blood. On both my mom's and dad's sides of the family, there was a undeniable propensity towards the theatre, dance and music. The handsome couple you see in the first photo (please click on all photos to see their beauty) are my maternal grandparents; they were ordinary people who lived rather simply, in fact according to my mom, Abuelo drived a delivery truck for Whitman's Candies and Abuela worked in a thrift store. But when the entire family got together, there were lively costumes, music, dancing and great memories; many souvenirs recorded in photos such as this one where they are posing rather elegantly are abundant in my collection. As I was looking through my mother's album one day, I saw photos of my aunts, uncles, and distant relatives dressed up in various costumes. I had seen these pictures throughout my childhood but this particular day as I was flipping through the musty pages, I was struck by a revelation. I said to myself, "This explains a lot." You see, I was a dancer and had acted during my teens and early 20s. But the love for dressing up, assuming the roles of my favorite characters and dreaming of fairy tales has never left me. Some of my more left-brain friends and colleagues find my artistic bent rather amusing, but I live and breathe creativity through the theatrical. I realized that day as I studied my family's photos, that the whimsical approach to my teaching and even home decorating revolves around my love for the fantastic. And like my father, I adore miniatures, especially vintage style trinkets that shimmer in muted golds or little crowns meant for tiny fairies. My father was a genius at making something wondrous out of junk from the garage and I don't know if I possess the degree of his abilities, but I do enjoy creating small things. I have had this itch to construct a French-style puppet theatre and using things I had around the house, here is the result.

I took a small bookcase, painted it white and nailed on some vintage tin trim that I got from Julie at gildedmoons.blogspot.com. I glued on a small gold frame at the top and small gold corbels on both sides.
Welcome to Le Petit Théâtre de Chimères. The French word Chimère means, "wild or pipe dream." Welcome to my world. Stay posted for the first act of the debut of my original play featuring some characters that I have collected through the years, who have been sitting unanimated in my curio cabinet. Therefore Mesdames et Messieurs, put on your mink coats, tails and top hats and amble on down the aisles and find a seat; the next post and le Petit Théâtre de Chimères will present to you,


La Diva©


I dedicate this work to my beautiful grandparents; Gracias Abuelos!

24 comments:

The Rustic Victorian said...

Just beautiful!!!

Ulla said...

Anita! Now I won't forget... I LOVE THIS THEATRE YOU HAVE CREATED! Wow! What a wonderful idea, and execution... the button tuffs in the back are divine and of course the whole setting perfect! Your ancestor photos are quite wonderful - lucky you for having such a creative history!
and love those gold shoes in post back - we are mutual shoe lovers!!!
U.

Anonymous said...

Anita, how stunning!!!! the theatre turned out absolutely beautiful! I love it......and yes, your abuelos are so romantic and seem to have shared a good spirit together! I am happy you finished the theatre and shared it with us......julie

Edie Marie's Attic said...

Bravo mon chere amie!
Your little French theatre is amazing! It took my breath away Anita! What an artist of the miniature you are. I am so excited to see your play. I can hardly wait!

The photo of your grandparents is incredible! What style they had! They did something we all wish we could do, become someone else in costume and persona for a bit of time.

I love your post Anita!! You have left me speechless! Again, Bravo!

Fais dodo, Sherry

The Victorian Parlor said...

This is all so beautiful! The picture of your grandparents is lovely and the theater that you created is delightful! I am looking forward to the first performance:)

KeKe said...

What a wonderful story and an even more beautiful puppet theater that you created. I think it's beautiful. I've always wanted to try to make one of those too. I love the theater and used to be a dnacer too in my childhood/early teens.

Fete et Fleur said...

Anita!

This is marvelous! I love small theaters and this one is truly exceptional. Love you!

Nancy

Hiroman said...

Hi Anita!
Wow! What a beautiful post! Those pictures are like western castle. Your harp is also nice. I'd love to listen your harp. Thank you!

Hiroki

Tracie~MyPetiteMaison said...

What a gorgeous theatre and a lovely tribute to your grandparents. I will be waiting for the first performance sans mink for me - I promise to find something just as beautiful for l'ouverture! What a lovely post.
~Tracie

Jena Williams, Not So Shabby Interiors said...

Anita,

Oh, such a sweet picture of your grandparents and what a beautiful design you have created! I love the theatre....how inspirational!

savvycityfarmer said...

This is one of the most charming accounts of history that I've ever come across.....girly, you have charmed the little white work out socks right off me.... your grandparents, well it leaves me speechless, just like the miniature vignettes in your theater.

Remember the scene in "Titanic" when Jack sneaks Kate down to steerage....they Irish dance all night long while Mr. and Mrs. prim and proper snore away upstairs.....I LOVED THIS SCENE...it transported me...

Loving Her Beautiful said...

Hi, Anita,
Thanks for the visit. I love that little theater!
Blessings,
BILL

Tracie~MyPetiteMaison said...

Hi Anita,
Enjoying your day off? It's beautifully sunny in CA. Thank you for the comments on my blog, my banner is by Cathy at Avalon Rose (she is on my sidebar if you're interested). Unfortunately, I have not been patient enough myself to stop and learn the software programs needed but Cathy is great and so is Alice at Painted White. If you have any other questions, you can send me an email through my sidebar as well. I love your french lessons here and will use them along with my Rosetta Stone, I promised myself I'd do much better on my next trip to France. I am good friends with Nancy (she's the sweetest!). xo~Tracie

A Bit of the Blarney said...

So very talented you are! The staging is beautiful! Cathy

Parisienne Farmgirl said...

More things we have in common. My left brained friends think I'm a little odd too. Sometimes it gets old but I think that life would be so boring without the fantastic!
This stage is so wonderful. I love mini's! This totally, totally reminds me of something - a little teeny stageI saw years ago at Chambord that completely captured my imagination. I will never forget it.
Great job. You could sell those!

oldflowers4me said...

wow-your blog world is so over the top divine-and the music-just made me want to swin my hips-

Susan McShannon-Monteith said...

Such a lovely tinted photo of your beloved grandparents.
And the theatre is divine. A perfect place to showcase a wonderful family photo.
Susan

Creations by Marie Antoinette and Edie Marie said...

Your theater is drop dead gorgeous!!!I love it.You did a wonderful job.Did I ever mention to you that my Mother's name was Anita? Well it is.
I know i have not posted anythinglately,I've been ill and its cliped my wings alittle.I'm hoping I can post something new soon.Please keep making your beautiful things,I love looking at them.Hugs Marie Antionette

Creations by Marie Antoinette and Edie Marie said...

Oh Anita!!!,I forgot in my mush brain,Your Grandparents are devine.Your family sort of reminds me of mine.XXOO Marie A

Anne Marie said...

FABULOUS!! Reminds me a little of Tasha Tudor...but more upscale and unique like the Sound of Music...
just gorgeous!!
My children astrewn the house with posters and signs: "show begins at 7pm sharp" and there is dancing, puppets, piano...it's just delightful....I think it's because I share something with your grandparents: we don't watch TV :)

thanks for sharing...but I better see a price tag on that idea of yours...too awesome!

Queen Of The Armchair aka Dzintra Stitcheries said...

Hello Anita...my first visit to your wonderful Blog. I came via Miss Maddies...couldn't resist, had to follow straight away...Dzintra

The Dutchess said...

How wonderful...a little theatre! The photo is just charming..what a lovely couple:)

Karen said...

This is beautiful!
I also love little fairy sized things. x

Unknown said...

Anita,
This is so gorgeous. I love little Theatres and this one is so lovely. Look at your grandparents dancing. What magic. I love miniatures too, and your imagination seems to have taken you on a dance with the creative muse. Karen