Time Travel

After re-visiting Downton Abbey awhile ago, a question of period pieces arose: will we look back at that early 21^st c. drama that took us from the Titanic to 1925 thinking that it looked true to the period, or will it look “so 2010”? Do "historic" dramas and comedies actually reflect the period in which they are supposed to be set, or do they simply look like the year in which they are made, with some “period” costumes thrown into it?  

Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities (1859) was set in London and Paris just before and during the French Revolution (1789-1799). Are the hairstyles, make-up, and clothing true to that decade of upheaval?

A Tale of Two Cities 1911

A Tale of Two Cities 1936

Of course, do we really want our films and television to reflect a moment in history accurately? Do we want to immerse ourselves into a time before a daily shower, 3x daily tooth-brushing, and regular laundry? Are we more comfortable with make-up and hairstyles that we see in our daily lives?

Napoleon Bonaparte lived from 1769 to 1821.

Napoleon 1927

The title of James Fenimore Cooper's book was The Last of the Mohican's: a Narrative of 1757.

The Last of the Mohicans 1936

The Last of the Mohicans 1992

Although Scarlett had her corset and Rhett his cravat, do we really want those two characters to reflect the popular styles of the Civil War?

Gone With the Wind 1939

Steven Spielberg's Abraham Lincoln looked incredibly authentic to our 2012 eyes, but will it still have the look of reality in 2030?

Abraham Lincoln 2012

And did we really think that Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, with Katherine Ross's 1969 eye make-up and "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" (yikes!) in the background looked and sounded like the 1890's?

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid 1969

Were Julie Christie's bouffant hairdo and blue eyeshadow right out of the Russian Revolution?

Dr. Zivago 1965

Characters and events of the 20th c. have been revisited many times in movies and television. The closer to the actual event when the film is made, there is a truer picture of that time period. The Last Battalion is the story of America's late 77th Battalion's entry into World War I. To our modern eyes, the second iteration looks really authentic. Will it hold up 30 years from now?

The Last Battalion 1919

The Last Battalion 2001

The Titanic sank on April 15, 1912. Which, in 2016, looks closer to that date, Downton Abbey, or the two films?

Downton Abbey 2010

Titanic 1943 German propaganda film

Titanic 1997

Period films and television series (think Happy Days, Laverne and Shirley, and That 70's Show) will be made forever. Try to guess when the following films were made and, with our 2016 eyes, do they reflect, at all, the period they're supposed to represent?

How the West Was Won

Bonnie and Clyde

The King's Speech

From Here to Eternity

Good Night and Good Luck

Grease

The Doors

Milk

A Cynthia textile vignette

20,000 BC. The cave walls of El Castillo and Altamira, and the Pech-Merle grotto in France reveal the first known attempts to make patterns. We humans have been patterning everything, including ourselves, for millennia, and the cloth that protected our bodies was no exception. Once twisting and weaving threads to make cloth began, it was no time before dyeing that same fabric evolved into printing.

Printing blocks from China have been found that date back to around 3000 BC. By the time Alexander the Great invaded India in 327 BC, colorful printed and painted chintzes, together with brightly colored tie-dyed cottons, were common. Santa Fe Fabrics offers some of the most beautiful block printed and resist dyed fabrics available.

By the 18^th c. increasing demand for printed fabrics led to the invention of automated printing machines…and the world of technology in fabric printing never looked back! Today’s textile producers have a vast array of printing techniques to choose from: everything from traditional stencil, hand or mechanized screen print, and roller printing, to anything C.A.D (Computer Aided Design) and digital technology can create. Our collection of prints reaches back to the ancient techniques that used only plant and insect dyes, and forward to the most advanced technical processes found today. We have the most gorgeous examples of all those choices to bring to you!

From santafefabrics.com

And now, a word from Reggie....

New Austen friends, Michelle and Alexander Webb-Fandrich, who are living "Down Under" for a year, arrived this week. They arrived during the biggest rain storm of the season, which made for amazing mud holes. Xander and I had the best time racing around the yard and jumping into an Olympic-size mud pool. Boy, did I make a new friend!

As always in my sad life, "they" took my friend away to show him lots of the fun things in Santa Fe. I was only allowed to have him to myself at the end of the day, when we played chase and tug-a-war. Of course, Xander's mom, Michelle, gave me lots of love and petting, which we know I rarely get from the Cavanaughs. Desi made his presence known, as always, and Lucy hid most of the time. That's great, cuz then I get all the attention.

At the NM History Museum

At the NM History Museum

Xander Rabbit Ears

Chavez Skating Rink (the photographer had a broken toe)

At the NM Folk Art Museum

At the NM Museum of Indian Art and Culture

The Very Best Olives

July, a terrace surrounded by ancient olive trees, lavender, and scented jasmine. We dine at a rustic table with the cool blue of the Aegean in the distance.

Old white-washed stone walls create a beautiful backdrop for the glorious saturated colors of the mixed pottery and homespun stripes covering the table.

A platter of grilled sea bass caught this morning, ruby tomatoes, luscious oily olives, feta and goat cheese, along with chewy, yeasty flat bread sit next to chilled Patra.

A Peloponnesian Lunch

Grilled Sea Bass

2 lemons

3 Tbsp. olive oil

1 Tbsp. fresh oregano leaves

1 tsp. ground coriander

1 ¼ tsp. salt

2 whole sea bass

¼ tsp. ground black pepper

2 large oregano sprigs

Prepare charcoal fire or gas grill for covered direct grilling over medium heat.

Meanwhile, from one lemon, grate 1 Tbsp. peel and squeeze 2 Tbsp. juice. Cut half of remaining lemon into slices, other half into wedges. In small bowl, stir lemon juice and peel, oil, chopped oregano, coriander, and ¼ tsp. salt.

Rinse fish and pat dry with paper towels. Make 3 slashes in both sides of each fish. Sprinkle inside and out with pepper and remaining 1 tsp. salt. Place lemon slices and oregano sprigs inside fish cavity. Place fish in 13” by 9” glass baking dish. Rub half of oil mixture over outsides of fish; reserve remaining oil mixture to drizzle over cooked fish. Let stand at room temperature 15 minutes.

Lightly grease grill rack; place fish on hot rack. Cover grill and cook fish 12 to 14 minutes or until fish just turns opaque throughout and thickest part flakes easily when tested with a fork, turning fish over once.

To serve, place fish on cutting board. Working with 1 fish at a time, with knife, cut along backbone from head to tail. Slide wide metal spatula or cake server under front section of top fillet and lift off from backbone; transfer to platter. Gently pull out backbone and rib bones from bottom fillet and discard. Transfer bottom fillet to platter. Repeat with second fish. Drizzle fillets with the remaining oil mixture. Serve with lemon wedges.

Vegetable Platter

Vine ripened tomatoes cut into wedges

The best Greek olives

Feta cheese cut into cubes

Sliced cucumbers and red onions

Good quality Greek olive oil sprinkled over, with salt and fresh oregano

Pita Bread

2 tsp. active dry yeast

½ tsp. sugar

35 grams (¼ c) whole-wheat flour

310 grams (2 ½ c) unbleached all-purpose flour

1 tsp. kosher salt

2 Tbsp. olive oil

Dissolve yeast and sugar in 1 c. warm water (115°-120°). Add the whole-wheat flour and ¼ c. all-purpose flour and whisk together. Put bowl in a warm (not hot) place, uncovered, until mixture is frothy and bubbling, about 15 minutes.

Add salt, olive oil and nearly all remaining all-purpose flour (reserve ½ c). With dough hook in a standing mixer, or with a wooden spoon, stir until mixture forms shaggy mass. Add reserved flour and knead with hook or manually for one minute.

Turn dough onto work surface or leave in mixing bowl with dough hook. Knead for 2 minutes until smooth. Cover (if kneading manually) and rest for 10 minutes. Continue to knead until dough is just soft and still a bit moist.

Spray a clean bowl with cooking spray and roll all sides of dough ball in bowl. Cover with a towel and let rise in a warm place until dough is doubled in size, about 1 hour.

Heat oven to 475° and place a baking sheet on the bottom shelf of oven. Punch down risen dough and divide into 8 balls. Cover with a towel on work surface and rest for 10 minutes. Remove one ball at a time (keep others covered). Roll to a 6” circle, then to an 8” diameter, about 1/8” thick, dusting with flour if necessary.

Carefully lift the dough circle and place quickly on hot baking sheet. After 2 minutes the dough should be nicely puffed. Turn over with tongs or spatula and bake 1 minute more. The pita should be pale, with only a few brown speckles. Transfer warm pita to a napkin-lined basket and cover so bread stays soft.

And now, a long-awaited word from Reggie.....

I can't believe I finally get to say a few words. You know, the Cavanaughs tend to like to keep me "muzzled" because they never know what brilliant (or embarrassing) tidbits I might reveal. I'm having my usual tough summer of doggy day care, the dog park, naps, poking around the yard, and trying to keep those OTHERS (they call them Desi and Lucy) in line. Some of my favorite humans have come visit. Kataya is one of them, and I know she actually stayed with us just to see me, not the Cavanaughs. Here she is all glammed up for her 8th grade graduation dance. I'm just really mad that she and her mom moved so far away.

Our cousin Janie sent a picture of my pal, Birdy along with a nice letter to me. She's the fab girl who sent me my favorite toy, The Green Alien. 

Me with the Green Alien

Here's Birdy and her letter to me:

Dear Reg, here's me plopped on 'the scary step'. There's something about this particular stair step that stops me in my tracks. Now, if someone comes to the door, I have no problem scampering down the stairs to greet them. But I know that when I refuse to move from this stair step, my mom will spend lots of time babying me to get me to move. I get so much attention (like I don't normally - ha!) from her that it's sort of become a habit. I bet you have all kinds of habits that bring you even more attention...particularly from your dad. We all know what a sucker he is for your shenanigans. We should share our tricks to get our humans to bow down to us. I'm sure you could use even more to get those Cavanaughs to completely ignore those other two furry things you live with, and focus entirely on you..

Love and Licks

Miss Birdy

It Has to Be Gin

Spring, 1961, Ave. A, East Village. The Berlin Wall is up, but the martini glasses are chilled, canapés are ready, and Miles is on the turntable. Early evening, with a slight chill in the air, a cashmere throw is tossed on the sofa. Will this be a night in, or will a venture out to Gerde’s Folk City be made to hear that new guy, Dylan? The doorbell rings and the other four arrive.

A Very Midcentury Cocktail Party – from Mildred Lindholm’s well-worn copy of Good Housekeeping Cookbook

 Assorted bread rounds, squares, and triangles

Crisp crackers

Parsley-Crab Spread

Cheese-And-Anchovy Spread

Cocktail “Hash”

Relish tray with celery, cauliflowerets, carrot curls, and scallions

Parsley-Crab Spread

Combine 1 c. finely flaked fresh or canned crab meat with 2 Tbsp. snipped parsley; 1 Tbsp. minced onion; 3 Tbsp. mayonnaise; ¼ tsp. curry powder; 1 tsp. fresh, frozen, or canned lemon juice. Makes 1-1/4 c.

Cheese-And-Anchovy Spread

Combine 3 3-oz pkgs. soft cream cheese with 1 Tbsp. anchovy paste, 6 Tbsp. light cream (1/2  & 1/2), ½ c. chopped stuffed olives, and 1 Tsp. Worcestershire. Makes 1-3/4 c.

Cocktail “Hash”

Preheat oven to 350°. Place the following ingredients in a baking pan and toss well:

1-1/2 c. bite-size shredded wheat cereal                   1 c. pecan halves

1-1/2 c. pkg. bite-size shredded rice cereal               ¾ c. salted peanuts

2 c. pretzel sticks                                                        ¾ tsp. garlic salt        

2 Tbsp. melted butter or margarine

Bake 15 min. Serve cold or warm. Even better if stored in tightly covered can (containerJ) to mellow a day or so. Makes 25-1/4 c. servings.

The Perfect Gin Martini – from Sid Cavanaugh

3 large jiggers of the best gin

1 large jigger of dry vermouth

Shake over ice (not stirred pul-eeezzzz)

Pour into chilled martini glass and add fabulous stuffed green olives or a lemon twist

That Favorite Dress

I didn’t live in my favorite fashion era, post-World War I to 1925, and I’m very thankful for so many reasons, including penicillin and swimwear. So, my second favorite style period is whatever moment I’m in currently. Yes, the 70’s was my favorite fashion time during that decade, and I was definitely a victim of it. With great joy I rode the wave of mini’s, midi’s, and maxi’s, Granny dresses, plaid pantsuits, suede lace-up boots, platforms, and my “unfortunate disco period.”

Charlie's Angels

 

To revisit all those evolving trends that I apparently enjoyed, I made a list of my “looks” through the 80’s, 90’s, and into the new century.

The She-Man 80’s

With a bit more maturity and self-confidence, I created my own version of the decade of the Iron Woman. Although I avoided the claw-nails, over-done make-up, and giant hair, I admit my mid-decade short bob was permed. Padded shoulders were de rigueur, but my power suit was pin-striped, narrow, and worn with an oxford shirt and man-knotted tie.

Melanie Griffith in Working Girl

Leaving the corporate world for art school and with my overt involvement in the women’s movement now history, I knew my power was on the inside. So I could wear clingy shapes that emphasized my aerobic-tight body, and still feel Helen Reddy’s anthem, “I am woman, hear me roar.”

The All-Over-The-Place ‘90’s

Like every decade, there’s no defining line for fashion change, and my own decade began with some softer, left-over shoulder pads from the 80’s, very short, straight hair, and leggings. That evolved into an odd combination of earthy/preppy, involving Birkenstocks, a Tag watch, and polo shirts. 

This gave way to, as my assistant called it, my “Ojai” period. Oversized jumpers, soft tunics, large ethnic jewelry, and wide pants that a friend described as, “Why didn’t you just come to work in your pajamas?”

The end of the decade brought the beginning of my very short Jackie O era. Since, as a museum employee, I had so many luncheons to attend with designer-clad women, my wardrobe seemed to fill with short suit-skirts paired with interesting jackets I found at the old Loehman’s “Back Room”, actual pantyhose, and “woman politician” necklaces.

The Anything Goes New Century

Several years into the new century, I left the art world job market and segued into animal rescue. When my shelter volunteer’s t-shirt, hiking pants and boots weren’t in use, I now had the time to express my wardrobe even more artistically. Although Jackie O could still be found in some great fitted dresses in my closet, I had the leisure to hand-paint, stencil, or block print fabrics into my own beautiful creations. Downton Abby took me back to my favorite fashion period, and even a Liberty print or two shows up in a few hand-sewn pieces.

The fashion world announced that styles and trends can go anywhere today. Millenials are revisiting the ‘70’s and everything that was old is new again. The 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s are reincarnated by designers everywhere, and women have the freedom to make their own looks without fashion magazines’ dictation.

So, although I really resent that my aging body can’t wear everything anymore and I no longer have Michelle Obama arms to show, this is my new favorite fashion period. I have more restrictions on what I can wear, but, as a textile designer, I always knew that the more restrictions I was given, the more my creativity was challenged. If I was told I could only use three colors in a design, I would mix half and quarter tones of those three colors, and create some of my most inspired patterns. So, today, within the physical restrictions that I impose upon myself, I’m finding much more creative ways to dress that don’t rely on my beautiful young body. The silhouette has taken a back seat to beautiful fabrics, used alone or paired with a luscious contrast, and accessories are even more fun.

Japanese Ikat 100% Cotton

This time in my life has given my creativity a whole new way to express itself, keeping me youthful, but still a bit of an age-appropriate rebel. This is definitely my new favorite fashion era.