Immortalized

 

I’ve tweeted it, I’ve facebooked about it but just to be sure I’m spreading the word I’m blogging about it:

If you read this blog, I’m guessing you’re into taxidermy.  Therefore, it would behoove you to check out this television show on AMC slated to premier on February 14.  I am on it.  It was a unique and fabulous experience which I am very excited to see in its final form.  The show is called Immortalized and you can learn more on the AMC website  since I can’t figure out how to put the video up on my own blog. But here’s a picture:

 

So I hope you can watch it!  I know the other Immortalizers and they’re a talented, riotous group.  I’m stoked to see all eight episodes!  So let’s all make a date to watch the premier on Valentine’s day.  It will bring new meaning to that chocolate heart.

xoxo,

BB

 

Ahoy!

It’s been embarrassingly long since I’ve posted, I feel a little ashamed about that but here is me dipping my toe back into the taxidermy blog waters with a quick little ditty about a pirate bunny for a client of mine who waited over a year for it!

I think the photos speak for themselves; my client had dropped off a rabbit for mounting some time ago but upon skinning the specimen I found  significant bug infestation and had to dispose of it.  I offered to replace the rabbit with one of my own and for no particular reason decided to make him a pirate.

Wooden peg-leg, check.

Eye patch, check.

Pipe, hoop earrings, anchor charm and shark bit ear, CHECK.

Happy client, CHECK.

 

I promise to have more posts up next week; soon enough I will have some very exciting projects to tell you about that will completely make up for my shameful blog negligence!

Taxidermically yours,

Beth Beverly

 

Brandywine Polo Season Opener

This past Monday brought us a dreamy mix of sun and clouds for the Brandywine Polo season opener.  I rounded up the lovely Bell ladies and we set up a picnic under a tree to celebrate birthdays, America and ponies.  It was a fantastic match and got the whole gang excited for the 2012 season.

I wish all anthems were presented so regally:

Have you tried Spodee yet?  What are you waiting for?

I could hardly see anything with these tiny binoculars.

There’s my friend Sharilyn bringing water to her polo playing beau, Juan.

Does it seem like I don’t have much to say?  That’s because I spent all my word-power writing this article for the Brandywine Polo Magazine.  Please give it a read if you like:

And that’s really all she wrote.

Good night!

Radnor Hunt Wrap up, 2012

 

The annual Radnor Hunt Cup was this past Saturday, and an exceptional day it was, as one might expect.  This time around I didn’t take any pictures since I’m not really on speaking terms with my phone.  I think my new modus operandi is to just be photographed as much as possible and then hunt for those images online. It’s fun and I highly recommend it for any fashion conscious gals and guys out there who hate carrying cameras and prefer to leave their hands open for cocktails and shaking other hands.

One tip: Wear the biggest, brightest, loudest thing you can find. This vintage dashiki  I’m wearing is like a brightly burning light,  attracting shutter-bugs to my flame.

 

That’s my agent Erika to my left and our body-guard who shall remain nameless a few steps behind. photo compliments of Malvern Patch.

 

The theme for the Radnor Hunt was “Islands, Large and Small” so I went with Cuba.  I basically channelled my inner Santeria Priestess and also this woman:

Sure a dashiki is an African garment but there are plenty of Cubans of African descent, and isn’t that where it all started anyway?  I hope my loose interpretation of the cultural melting pot isn’t offensive to anyone; I just want a piece of it all.

World Clique, y’all.

My hat is a series of rooster wings and tail feathers gathered around a visor with a vintage cat brooch and other embellishments.  A millinery masterpiece by no means, it was a last-minute confection whipped up just for fun and FUN IT WAS. I rolled in four deep with some polo friends, old and new and upon entering the Philadelphia Style tent dove headfirst into the oyster table, forgetting that whole 6 days of food poisoning that ravaged my internal organs just two weeks ago. We had already enjoyed some Spodee (have you had it yet?  Le duh.  Try it!) and now it was onto the race-themed cocktails.  I enjoyed a Finish Line with champagne and berries.

Soon enough I was chatting away with all my pals who I hadn’t seen since last Summer and watching the races.  They got off to a rough start, with several riderless horses running the course after having thrown their jockeys,  In another entry I’d like to explore my thoughts on the complicated world of horse racing when I can articulate it better, because it’s much more emotional and complex than on might think from first sight, but for now I will focus on the fun stuff.

I bet on a horse named “On the Corner” for the second race but he mostly stayed on the corner and didn’t win me any money.  No matter; just being there enjoying my health, my friends, the food and sunshine was all the winning I could have asked for.

My friend Jaun, who plays polo, is also apassionate photographer. He is the best as covering these events, photo-wise.  I ran into him and the lovely Sharilyn, plus their wonderfully engaging daughters, under the tent but didn’t have much time to chat- saving it for the  Brandywine Season Opener next week, suppose?  Can’t wait.  Anyway, I can’t steal any of his pictures to post on here so please go to his site and check them out.  He’s got it call covered: Juan Vidal Photography.

Other folks who have the Philadelphia social scene on lockdown are Susan Scovill who is a perennial delight and one of my fave rave folks to run into at these venues; (check her out here: Susan Scovill) plus Hughe from Philly Chit Chat who never remembers my name but gives me love nonetheless.  In fact he threw me some of that on yesterday morning’s episode of Good Day, Fox 29′s morning news show.  I took the liberty to upload a video of just the segment relating to MOI.  Turn up your volume for the chuckles:

 

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For full video go here:

Was Jenn Fred At The Radnor Hunt?: MyFoxPHILLY.com

We had to wrap it up and head out a wee bit earlier than last year (no rest for the wicked Mole Street crew) but it was just the right amount of fun and revelry.  Oh!  The hat contest.  By the time I mosied up to the judges stand, the women were piling into a gold cart to hand out the prizes to winners whom they’d already determined.  One shot me an exasperated look and I just shrugged.  Another one managed to hand me an “honorable mention” ribbon as a consolation prize.  Familliar scene?  Perhaps, except this time around sans heartache.  I’ve realised that sometimes it’s best not to be judged.

 

 

2012 Biennial Rogue Taxidermy Exhibition: Truly Outrageous

I’m almost done packing my bags and headed off to bed to get some beauty sleep before I hop on a sexy new Virgin America airplane for a direct flight to LA. 

I’m almost as excited for the flight as I am for the purpose of my entire trip, which is this:

I’m over the moon to be showing with some folks I’ve been admiring from afar for quite some time now.  It’s truly an honor to be in their company.  I still have pangs of self-doubt here and there as I prepare for this trip, wondering how my pieces will measure up in person when displayed next to everyone else’s.

And yes, I know it’s not a competition and I know those aren’t pretty feelings but it’s me giving you the truth.  I also know that everything I fret about always turns out fine in the end so I’ll cross my fingers, kiss my elbow, and enjoy my mini vacation.

Speaking of crossing fingers, you may recognise that gal above from such things as your childhood, saturday mornings, or recent forays into tv nostalgia.  It’s Jetta, from the Misfits.  My three submissions in the show are hats of course, all made from chickens sourced at my dear friends’ farm.  As the pieces came together and I listened to MIA’s “Bad Girls” song on repeat (I cannot stress enough how much of an inspiration this video has been on every single facet of my life) , these identities started rearing their naughty heads.

Jetta is composed of a Brahma Hen mounted atop a vintage pillbox cap.

Sparkly embellishments abound, of course.

I’ll bet you remember most clearly Pizzazz, the leader of the Misfits.  Man, what a bitch.

This Polish rooster was just dripping with attitude  (wait until you see the spurs on this cock) and came to be Pizzazz quite naturally.

I see you!

This guy is also perched atop a vintage hat, this one an old mink pillbox.

Last and never least is Roxanne. Did you know she was from Philly?  Of course she was.  And I’ll bet she walked around with a razor blade stashed in her mouth, Goretti girl style.

Roxy is a Buff Orpington Hen with a bad-ass beak piercing, nestled firmly into another vintage pillbox hat.  I should mention that the brass sculptural elements are from a remarkable lamp I trash-picked one Sunday morning- a time which I never would have been out and about except for walking what was at the time a brand new puppy.  So thank you, Jonesy, for that.

So that’s that. In keeping with my theme I’ve whipped up a poultry themed ensemble which I will be tweeting and facebooking and blogging all about so stay tuned should you be so inclined.

Along with the show opening, I’m pretty pumped to catch some good comedy in LA (I’m a stand-up hound, did you know that?) and perusing some estate sales.   Or napping in a hammock and eating some stellar sushi.  For now, toodleooooooo!

Admiral Batzaar

Mounted bat, original skull cleaned and in tact, fully decorated from his countless battles in the skies of New Jersey.

He’s a hero.

And that’s that.

Fashion Night Out Quickie

While I wait for the all-clear form a client to post about a recent project, I will toss these out there for anyone interested. Behold the lovely Meredith, who attended a flurry of NY’s Fashion Night Out events  donning two of my creations.  Below is the purple duck wing fascinator:

And another night, another event brings you Meredith in a yamamoto jacket I will steal from her someday , topped off with a masked hen hat.

 

For now, c’est tout.  I have my hands full with more pieces for the 20 for 20 project (speaking of which, it’s driving me batty knowing that two of my pieces have arrived at  Ms. Zoe and Ms. Von D’s respective locations and I have no idea how they were received and may never know  UGH the bain of sending unsolicited gifts), creating a fascinator for this Sunday’s season closer at the Brandywine Polo Club, two more competitions on the horizon, an Alice in Wonderland themed fascinator commissioned by a client,  pieces for a holiday craft show and today I am skinning a cat.

Yes I am aware that there is more than one way but I’ll be happy to master just one for now.

 

 

I came BEARing gifts.

 

Har.

Well, it wasn’t technically a gift as it was for a client and she paid for it, but the amount of love and time I poured into this piece could warrant usage of the term “gift”.

This  rug was a dream project, as I think rugs are beautiful and functional, as well as a joy to make.  I was instructed to “make a bear skin rug with lots of diamonds and flash”.

Ideal Diamond Tooth project, yes?

I found the hide already skinned and tanned from a hunter in Maine who had harvested it with a bow and arrow.  Knowing that this specimen had been sourced ethically and the meat was sustaining a family, I proceeded with confidence.

Diamond tooth, check.  Sparkling eyes, check.  Diamond nose stud, chain from nose to diamond stud earring, check and check.

Oh!  And tongue ring!

Diamond manicured paws, but of course.

After hand stitching the entire lining onto the hide I attached the fringe along with my tag along the bottom.  Finis!

I could hardly BEAR to see it go.  The fur was so soft and warm; I know it will feel just divine on a cold winter night.

Would this piece win any ribbons at a taxidermy competition?  Probably not.  It’s not perfect.  But I’m proud of it, I think it’s beautiful, and I hope she brings my client many a smile.

Hats Off!

 

This past Sunday brought sheets of rain,  thunderstorms and my lovely friend Pearl to Diamond Tooth Studios for a shoot.  Ms. Bell is more than just a pretty face, she’s also a lifestyle and home enthusiast.  She can wave her magic wand over any home, wardrobe, or human and said item will emerge sparkling and wonderful.  Please check out her blog, 7pm.

Together with the talented and professional services of Diamond Tooth on-sote photographer, Jim Coughlin, we had a few flashy packed hours together.  He like to shoot, paint, spray, stencil, and make music.  Please check out all the wonderful things he does on Snap, Bam Splat!

 

I’ve been busy working with the materials from that load of vintage hats I received a few weeks back, mixing and matching the elements from each piece with other pieces from my studio alongside certain taxidermy ingredients that revealed themselves as an ideal match.  This Gothic Bridal Fascinator started out as a black cage veil with white fabric roses.  I dyed the roses a fade-into black and added two mounted wings from a fancy chicken.

 

 

I kept the original velvet ribbon and added some black fur.

Here is another bridal fascinator; none of these bridal pieces are white  as they are geared towards a less conventional woman who is looking for something unlike what she can find in traditional bridal boutiques. This results in a versatile piece that could be worn by the maid of honor or even the mother of the bride..or for an event that isn’t even a wedding!

I used the blue veiling from an antique wide-brimmed blue hat (shown later in its reincarnate form down below) and attached it, with the wings of a fancy chicken, to a wire fascinator base.  The feathers are hand curled to compliment the wearer’s hair.

 

This is my Blue Poof Quail Fascinator.  This quail has been worn in several ways, before I found the perfect base for it which is the vintage blue ostrich feather one you see below.  I switched the original blue veil out with an off white, Swiss-dot one from another vintage piece and added a strand of sea pearls around the quail to bring out the creaminess.  I think this piece would be perfect for a Winter wedding….or even Spring!

 

 

Behold the wide-brimmed blue hat I mentioned earlier.  It’s a strong, beautiful piece of millinery that stands  on its own without a ton of bells and whistles so I simply added the mounted and embellished cape of a chicken, some pheasant feathers and a few pieces of antique hand-tatted lace, all meant to compliment the shape and motion of this piece.

 

 

Hair Doin’!

Next up is the duck wing fascinator which Pearl has worn before.  I very much enjoy manipulating crinoline/horsehair, and look forward to making more of these.

 

It’s light and easy to wear, ideal for the individual who wants to express some fashion sense but isn’t willing to compromise her comfort level.

 

Here is another bridal piece, this one crafted with the base of a vintage fasctinator which originally was a simple green bow.  I took the fabric off, rearranged it and added a green cage veil from another antique pice.  Then came the mounted wings of a chicken and vintage charm in center.

The two wings are firmly pressed together in a way that makes the feathers pop out on the opposite side, not unlike what your fingers do when you clasp you hands.

 

Hold on!

OK, perfect.  This is my beloved montera hat, embellished with a mounted chicken head  that has been encrusted with jewels. This hat generates a very healthy dose of attention and makes for an excellent conversation piece. Ole!

It also opens up some fun opportunities for various hair-dos.  I like twisted locks around and under it, but a side pony tail or a combed out fro would also work just as well.

The last piece of the shoot was another fascinator Pearl had worn before, crafted from an antique base with a delicate off white veil.  I added the wings from a chicken which had been source mid-molt, so the spiny veins of the feathers are exposed.  This made them ideal for stringing beautiful beads on; I got these marble and pearl beads from two vintage necklaces.  I also hand curled some of the feathers.

 

 

Not to be outdone, our house model demonstrated his ability to work a chapeau.

 

And that’s a wrap!  For more info and pricing, please visit my website, Diamond Tooth Taxidermy, or my Etsy shop.

 

 

I Always Dress for Success

And that’s what last Sunday’s polo match was all about.  Us spectators were treated to a  beautifully played match (although I spent a good portion of it mingling in the VIP tent tasting amazing food and drinking Magners and champagne I really have to curb my socializing but it’s so hard with all the great people to chat with!) and we were cheering for a cause: Dress for Success.  Hit that link and familiarise yourself if you haven’t already.  It’s ok, I’ll wait.

OK, that’s hacky.  Sorry.  Anyway, it was action packed, and while Susan Scovill has all the great pictures of the people (including me serving champagne for the halftime divot stomp!), she is unfortunately (for us) on vacation so I cannot borrow her images.  In the meantime, I have a few fun shots of my own as well as some borrowed ones from Amy Dragoo and Milicia Stojancic.

The beautifully captured photos of the horse-action is all Amy.  I think I am her biggest fan.  I truly adore her work.  It doesn’t hurt that she’s a quickly blossoming chicken master, either.

There was a hat contest advertised, and yours truly was slated to be judge.  The wheels sort of fell off that bus early in the day however, which is unfortunate because there were some pretty hats.  I chose my three favorites, anyway, and below is Cecilia (a rep for Dress for Success, coincidentally, although I didn’t know if when I chose her!) who I deemed “Most Classic Hat”.

Look at that priceless reaction; clearly it’s in response to one of the flawless coast to coast hits during the match.  She can’t believe her own eyes!

“Most Creative Hat” would’ve gone to my new pal Milicia Strojancic.  She crafts these lovely fascinators with botanical themes.

Pretty ladies! That’s Milicia’s friend Christine with us; she had a sweet little bird on the back of her head but we thought it would be polite to take a picture of her front)

There were some pretty ladies on the field, too:

Duke & Winston set up shop outside the VIP area; Pearl and I had the extreme pleasure of tending to this charming little guy while his human did all the grunt work of setting up the merch:

(I borrowed this picture from their website…again, Susan has all the good pics.  Susan, come home SOON!)  I also picked up a shirt for my mister; the tees are made from a really high quality cotton and I could touch them for hours.  Oh, and there’s some pretty cool screen printed images on them too.

The winners!

The only time its acceptable to wear filthy white pants.  Well played, gentlemen.

I had seen another hat which I deemed “Best Vintage” but the wearer disappeared before I had a chance to get a photograph.  It was a beautiful white cloche-type chapeau with a large white multi-pleated ribbon hugging the back of it.  I did manage to catch a shot of this lovely gal, who I made a category up for:  “Best Dressed”:

She has a polo match on her dress!  I love it.  She’d also been dancing, as we all had.  Nobody’s shoes lasted too long after the music started.

Here’s myself and polo pal Pearl.  We got pretty silly, like we always do, and had plenty of laughs.

And then somebody whipped this stuff out and the rest is kind of fuzzy…..

See you next time!!!