Tuesday 29 September 2009

How to make a PomPom!

This is a short video on making PomPoms. I don't know what you can use them for? The two that I made became decorations on Wedding Anniversary Presents and looked ace (I decided they were a bit big for a jumper... I'll make some smaller ones for that). Later they also found their way up my brothers jumper for his best 'lady' impression if you know what I mean! (Hilarious!)

You could make a really nice multi-coloured one and sew it onto a regular beanie hat from somewhere like H&M for this winter! In fact buy a matching plain scarf and sew pompoms on either end of that too!!

I made this video after midnight one-day last week so I get gradually tireder and more mumbley because I have a tendency to talk quite loud and wake people up. So I've gone for the polar extreme and am basically just muttering to myself but you get the point right?!

PS If you make something with a PomPom on it will you send a photo to me then I can blog your wonderful creation!

Goodnight all

xxx

Untitled from Rebekah Cooper on Vimeo.

Super fluff



As you may or may not know I have a bit of a soft spot for furry clothes and I was especially pleased to see some exciting takes on this style at London Fashion Week. In particular Charlie-Le-Mindu (see the two images taken from the Guardian.co.uk) I found my own fluffy coat in a charity shop along with a nice black hat. Both hat and coat are modeled by a mysterious cross-dressing Samuel (aged 12). And if you want to join this (super cool) trend then get this from Monsoon... http://www.monsoon.co.uk/invt/57002924&bklist=icat,5,shop,women,jacketswomenall,womfurcoats or this http://www.monsoon.co.uk/invt/57004623&bklist=icat,5,shop,women,jacketswomenall,womfurcoats
TTFN

Thursday 24 September 2009

My Baby Just Cares For Me... review



Congratulations to http://www.fullbeamvisualtheatre.org.uk/ for putting on a show that nearly had me in tears and wanting to shout "That's just like me when I was little" or "We went through that when Grandma was ill" etc.

I didn't think I would get into it at first. This is theatre with a sizable injection of visual art. There is a really handmade feel to the set and this is certainly in a genre of its own.

I've nabbed this from the promoter's pack on the Full Beam website because I just can't sum it up any better...

"The show explores a social phenomenon that will affect
us all: As the baby boomers start collecting their free bus
passes, how do we look after an older generation who are more
used to dancing to The Rolling Stones than playing dominoes?

My Baby Just Cares For Me is a deeply personal response to
this question, drawing on the experience of company members
and conversations with friends and family to create a frank and
funny portrayal of what it means to be a carer and to be cared
for.

Using puppets, Super 8 projection, upside-down physicality and
a Space Hopper, this show charts the erratic course of a
daughter’s love for her father through thick and thin. Snatching
unexpected warmth and humour from the jaws of a desperate
and complex situation, this is a sharp, stylish and poignant show
with a sizzling soundtrack.

In a country with a rapidly aging population, where pension
plans and life plans don’t match up, who’s going to look after our
parents? What are you going to do with yours?"

Their next shows include:

30 September

Sundial Theatre, Cirencester College, Fosse Way Campus, Stroud Road, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 1XA

01285 654228 | www.cirencester.ac.uk

1 October

Rose Theatre, Edge Hill, St Helens Road, Ormskirk, Lancashire L39 4QP

01695 584480 | www.edgehill.ac.uk/rosetheatre

4 November

Performing Arts Centre, Frensham Heights, Rowledge, Farnham Surrey GU10 4EA

5 - 6 November

Jackson’s Lane, 269a Archway Road London N6 5AA

020 8341 4421 | www.jacksonslane.org.uk

Get to see it if you can!

Hair Styles for Men




Okay, I declare myself the be-all-and-end-all of men's haircuts right now!
This is because I am trying to persuade my boyfriend to say goodbye to that damn mop that he has had since we met at 19years old!
No longer is the messy mop attractive. It's time to smarten up guys. We want to see your pretty faces so drop the flop.
I did a bit of scouting about on the web (mainly on www.models1.co.uk because they have fantastic models on their books!) So here are my two contributions...
I love Ferdi Sibbel's hair style, especially in the Paul Smith campaign! A fairly neat crop that looks brill if you're partial to a bit of stubble... also low maintenance (this is a preference for me as I don't like metro-sexual boys; I like men grrrr)
George Barnett's hair style is low maintenance too but probably a little more fun to play with if you want to style it different to suit a certain outfit or night out. If you like your hair messy then this is the one for you. Also if your hair is quite wavy this is your best bet.

Short hair like this is TOTALLY in for you guys right now! Nice and short on the sides with a good texture on the top. Loverrrly stuff. (See also the 3 images from London Fashion week.) For more of this visit Guardians' report on Menswear at London Fashion Week http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/gallery/2009/sep/24/menswear-london-fashion-week

Wednesday 23 September 2009

My Baby Just Cares For Me

Going to the Met in Bury tonight... http://themet.biz/event/my_baby_just_cares_for_me/625/

To see... http://www.fullbeamvisualtheatre.org.uk/

Really looking forward to seeing puppet theater in action! They'll be full size puppets by-the-way... not like a little booth with hand puppets. And hopefully they will be a bit ugly and creepy looking! The Czech Republic and Hungary are famous for this type of puppet show. I have a string puppet from the Czech Republic and he is so ugly! Yeh!

Honestly people! Get a theater visit booked... It doesn't matter if you have never heard of the play. This isn't like going to see Wicked in the West End where everyone has heard of it! (It's more fun than that!)

TTFN!

Tuesday 22 September 2009

Body stockings, unitards and Kate Bush





Last month I spotted Natalia Vodianova in Harpers Bazaar wearing a grey all-in-one-lace-unitard thing and I thought it was amazing. The one she was wearing was a little far beyond your average working girl's price range but then I thought maybe someone somewhere is making a more affordable option. I'm glad to confirm that the coolest woman in history (aka Kate Bush) has sported one in the past too! She has the best figure and it doesn't look trashy in the slightest.
I'm totally against cheap trashy styles of dressing and all about being ladylike (this doesn't mean skirts over knees and high neck lines but don't go out knicker-less in a mini-dress on a cold day... that's just cheap!) These are the two closest things I can find... an all-in-one from American Apparel that is quite ballerina like and a sheer centred leotard from American Apparel too (I have this one in my wardrobe but only wear it to do yoga in my living room!)

What do you think? Any other suggestions?

xx

Really quick review


Moooorrrning!
Just a quick post to review Dial M for Murder @West Yorkshire Playhouse.

What can I say? It was fantastic. I completely forgot I was watching a play. It seemed like I was noseying into someones living room and watching this drama take place. Seriously it was that good! Only 5 characters and one set that was on a revolving stage but so cleverly done. I jumped out of my skin at the murder scene and then actually could have believed that the victim had really died! The costume was gorgeous. It was all 1940s and I loved the overcoats that the actress kept on wearing. I hope she wears them in real life and not just on stage because they were too lovely. So much so that I will be on the hunt for one in vintage clothes shops and charity shops up and down the length of the country! Watch this space... I will be posting immediately if I find my dream swing coat.

Right will prob post again later.

TTFN xx

Monday 21 September 2009

A Night Less Ordinary...



This year the government have a fabulous initiative to encourage younger people to visit the theatre. So if you are under26 you might want to visit http://www.anightlessordinary.org.uk/for FREE theatre tickets! No catches either I promise!
It's a brilliant idea because lets face it things like the theatre and classical music venues hardly seem like the most welcoming place for young people. I often go to see a lot of the events at Music in the Round in Sheffield (http://www.musicintheround.co.uk/) but am often the only person there under 40. NOT KIDDING! I took a friend with me once and they were knocked off their feet by how the music grabs your feelings and makes you feel like you want to burst with emotion. PS Music in the Round often have offers on tickets to if you become a fan of them on Facebook and there is no age limit on this freebee either.
A lot of people find it intimidating because it is a very 'white-middle-class-age50+' thing to do. SO here is my (rookie version) 101 on how to access the world of theatre and classical music.

What is an Ensemble? A musical ensemble is a group of two or more musicians who perform instrumental or vocal music. I remember this by thinking of the word 'assemble' which means attaching things together to make an overall form' (Please note these are Rebekah definitions and not dictionary definitions but I'd general say that I'm a reliable source)
So if you want to go see a jazz ensemble you can probably expect to see one or two wind instruments like a saxophone and trumpet (these usually play the melody) and then one or two instruments that predominantly play chords like a piano or guitar.

What is an Orchestra? An orchestra is an instrumental ensemble, usually fairly large with string, brass, woodwind sections, and possibly a percussion section as well. The term orchestra derives from the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek Chorus. A chamber orchestra is a smallish size orchestra of about 50 musicians or often much less. This seems fairly self explanatory to me. I think of how many people would fit into a chamber and I'm not thinking of tons of people. If you get the chance look out for chamber orchestras playing in small venues. It is much less intimidated but incredibly exciting and intimate. So a symphony orchestra is an orchestra of 80 or more musicians on the roster. I can't find a exact difference between a philharmonic orchestra and a symphony orchestra but I would expect (and this is soley my own personal judgement and NOT fact) a symphony orchestra would sound more grand and pompous whereas a philharmonic would sound a little more contemporary and phrased into more melodic pieces. Either way expect these to be slightly more formal affairs. To be on the safe side guys should wear shoes and trousers not trainers and jeans and girls should wear an outfit that isn't too racy. But don't go dressed up as though you want to look like your mother! This isn't the 50's after all. Don't worry if no-one is dressed like you. It is probably because they are a little more senior and if they stare it is because they are happy to see someone like you there!

So how to access these fields... well google is always a good'n. Most successful orchestras have really great websites now. If you're from Liverpool then check out Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra (I know them by reputation so I expect they will deliver a pretty awesome display) Check out local venues like Bridgewater Hall in Manchester. The Upper Chapel in Sheffield is tiny and you can see quartets there. I've seen a fair few and they're great! Or get on down to your local library! LIBRARIES ARE FANTASTIC and we should be using them MUCH MUCH more so get off your arse, stop using the internet and go see how amazing your library can be (PS Sheffield library you are ace and I love you... more on that another day!) Libraries will have lots of leaflets and now is the time to start looking and booking! There are loads of concerts on around Christmas time. Sorry I can't advise for London but it shouldn't be hard to find something amazing in London! It is probably more easy to check out some international Orchestras if you are from around there!
THEATRE: Oops neglected this lot... well theatre is probably more self explanatory. Look out for films and books adapted for stage as these are easier for you to tell if it is something you will like. For example Dial M for Murder was a Hitchcock film.
You can find out if you think you will like the play in various ways... either the play itself; do research on the title, the director or writer; like Andrew Lloyd-Webber or Shakespeare, the theatre company; this could be a dance theatre, a puppet theatre etc, the venue; venues often have a house style for the types of shows they have so your city centre will have a venue that has really popular mainstream theatre (great for a night out with friends to suit a broader range or tastes) or a more niche theatre that will often be quite kooky.
What to wear? Well this is a much more casual affair but I still want you to dress up in your favourite stuff! This is a night out and yes you might not end up legless but there is nothing better than arriving home looking as beautiful as you did when you left. Layer's help... you never know whether you will end up cold or boiling. And comfort! Don't wear tight jeans that rise straight into your crotch when you sit down. One thing to consider... don't wear a sticky up hat or big hairdoo (if you don't want to be hated by the person behind you) and don't forget your glasses if you need them! There are usually cloakrooms so take a nice big jacket to wear over your lovely neat outfit.

SO! If that isn't enough to get you going drop me a line and I will be your guide! It's such a great experience and worth every penny more than another night out on the town that ruins the rest of your weekend whilst you recover. (Although don't get me wrong I love a damn good boogie every so often too! More on that another day!)

And also if you do go to something let me know what you think. AAAANNNNDdddd if your under 26 then there is NO EXCUSE to not go to the theatre in the next month or two! (I'm going 4 times!)

Aaaannnnd just for the record tonight I am going to see Dial M for Murder. I will be wearing my favourite D&G shoes. This is a photo I found on the inter-web so they aren't identical. Mine are wine red and have a bigger heel. But they are so comfy and sexy! ahhhhhh shoes! I love you.

Sunday 20 September 2009

I am my best friend's pet guinea pig...



My best friend Rachel is a budding fashion photographer and she's definitely got an eye for it.
She comes up with a theme and I bring a bunch of my clothes along and style myself with her approval. I'm hoping to get my hands on some of the raw files too and do some illustration onto the photos. This is some of the stuff we've done so far...


check out more of her stuff at http://www.flickr.com/photos/rachelmawdsley/

Sunny Sunday Afternoon

Hello.

This is my first post of my first blog (and only blogg).

I'm going to blog about my interests so you should know that it will include film (although please don't expect me to like anything in mainstream cinema), books (I read anything from airport trash to major works of philosophy), fashion (I hate materialism but love material and really appreciate well designed shoes!!!), beauty products (I'm like a kid in a candy store at cosmetic counters), music (I mainly like electronic and techno music on a night out, post-punk and neu wave, classical, jazz, world music and a bit of dancehall!), theater (I'm really chuffed about the under26 scheme the government have going this year!), animation and graphic design (I don't give a flying f**k about your work if it is just a pile testosterone filled car advert design... you know what I mean I'm sure... and nor do I think that drumming gorillas are clever or amino pepto protein caffeine filled face creams. L'oreal your chemical filled products are crap!)

I care about concept, things with a purpose and a lifeline that outlives the 'latest technology'. I also rant a little but hopefully in a good way.

Most of all you can expect photos, links, videos and short stories or articles of the things that I get up to. I hope it will be interesting and thought provoking or if not then just a bit of fun.

Let me know what you think... I love getting emails!!!!

Much love xxx!

Rebekah

PS You may have realised I'm a bit of a neg head. And when things get up my nose they really get up my nose! I will balance criticism with praise! I promise!