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Mar 27, 2011

New acquisitions + George W. Trippon



Readers, Sunday posts can tend to be idea dumps here at MPB.  Sometimes there are things I'd like to share but they don't warrant a post all their own -- or I lack the inspiration to create one.  Consider today's post an idea dump.  My mind has been unfocused of late.

As you can see above, the Vinyls have new clothes and, if you can believe it, there's more on the way.  People tend to sell Ken clothes on eBay in lots, and some lots are better than others.  Often they're poorly photographed and/or described by sellers, so you don't always know what you're getting.  I have been fortunate: so far I've gotten great stuff.  Of course, I don't care about a loose snap here (they can be tightened) or a frayed hem there (they can be trimmed).  I'm collecting these solely for our pleasure.

As you can see, the Mod boys (Brad, Grant, Brett, and Ben, though Ben's actually more contemporary) have new vintage outfits and the theme is denim.  Sadly, Ken and Allan will have to wait a bit longer for theirs but one of them is getting ice skates...or is it roller skates? 





 

I'm not a big fan of velvet jumpsuits but Ben looks pretty cute in his, don't you think?  As for Brett, he looks good in everything.



Meanwhile, at the flea market yesterday I picked up some vintage costume jewelry for Cathy.









Combined, I spent $8 and I know she's going to love all of it.  The locket is especially charming and won't it be sweet when she can put a photo of her special someone in it?  Let's visualize love in that girl's future; she has so much to offer the right person!

I know you're wondering how I can reconcile writing about decluttering on Saturday and new acquisitions on Sunday, but I figure that as long as the new things are smaller than the old things, I come out ahead.  And you'll be proud to know I passed over a gorgeous Singer 201 in a lovely Art Deco table being sold for less than I paid for my Featherweight.

Oh, good news!  The formerly-silent seller responded to me yesterday afternoon and assures me my machine should be delivered UPS tomorrow.  Here's hoping!

Finally, MPB reader Sam recently turned me on to sewing celebrity George W. Trippon.  Have you ever heard of him?  He was a professional dancer in the movies and then moved on to costume design and finally ended up with his own sewing show in the Seventies and early Eighties.  He died last December at a ripe old age and you can see video excerpts of some of his shows on You Tube.  He's quite campy but very entertaining and fun and he knows what he's talking about.  I'd watch him today, wouldn't you?







(Parenthetically, I just realized that my blog is much funnier if you read the whole thing in the voice of George W. Trippon.)

In closing, friends, whether you're decluttering or recluttering (let me guess which) I wish you all a happy and restful Sunday.

See you bright and early on the morrow, kids -- what are you sewing these days?

25 comments:

  1. Wow, I completely forgot about George W. Trippon! It's off to YouTube for me.

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  2. Oh wow, he is completely fabulous! George I mean. Sorry vinyls.

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  3. Love Cathy's new jewelry, she's a lucky girl already to have such a thoughtful cousin. Perhaps she could have Brett's picture for a placeholder until she meets the right person? Maybe you should search Micheal's family tree for possibilities? Or Freddy and Willy's picture, cute puppies are always such a nice icebreaker if she meets someone intriguing.

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  4. Oh Peter...let's all make ties for Father's day...You can show us how!!!

    I love this man and need to get some glasses just like his!

    I have been on a bit of a re-cluttering jag. Just bought a 1960's chiffon nighty on e-bay along with a few other things.

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  5. and did you shrink your corduroy coat for Brett? I noticed his 'nice fitting' jeans right away.

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  6. I love the videos - they're so great! Thanks for sharing!

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  7. Sassy, I'm not convinced some of those pants aren't Barbie's...

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  8. What a great post: vintage Ken clothes, costume jewelry, and sewing instruction with a campy twist. (I, for one, had never heard of George W. Trippon, but I *love* the idea that one could [even try to] film a sewing show in front of a live studio audience!)

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  9. I've already BEEN reading this blog with his voice in my head. I just didn't realize it. LOVE Mssr. Trippon. He's a total trip. :-D

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  10. I remember watching him with my mother, thanks for the great memory!

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  11. Yes, I would definitely watch him, or anyone else that can help me with sewing.

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  12. At the moment I am sewing a top and pants for my daughter. I got the inspiration from designer children's clothes. So right now I am using my gathering foot and making loads of ruffles and frills to be included on the pants and tops. Unforunately, I really don't have an eye for selecting fabrics that work together as the fabric for these designs are not singular but many different patterns and colors. There are many great ideas.

    At the moment I have been collecting vintage pyrex bowls from the 40's - 60's. I love them. They are brightly colored.

    I am still collecting vintage photographs. I love them. I love to look at the fashions and hairstyles, and love the furniture in them.

    I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend too. Thank you for all the fun and educational things you upload on your site.

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  13. Love the George Trippon videos. I had never heard of him. By the way, your models look great. It's fun to reminisce about Ken and his friends' wardrobe items. I no longer have my Barbie and Ken dolls, but I still have my daughter's 90s-era "Barbie Wedding Party" set with Barbie, Ken, Midge, Allen, Kelly, and Todd.

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  14. You'd think Mr. Trippon had dressed Jean Harlow, he's so excited about the bias!! He's a hoot!! Thanks for introducing him to some of your readers...

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  15. Idea Dump! Loud LOLing going on over here! You are really assembling quite the collection of Ken dolls. So impressed Peter, so very impressed.
    But then, you know I am easily impressed.

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  16. Thanks for the shout out-George was my friend and I'm the guy who posted his videos..I still have a few more to post so stay tuned. I also am waiting to hear from the gay film fest in LA and NYC for my documentary on him...find out in May.

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  17. Great to hear from you, Shawn! If there's anything I can do to help spread the word, let me know. Good luck with the film festivals!

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  18. Thank you Shawn for putting those on youtube and thank you Peter for putting them on you blog for me to find. My mom was born in '21 and studied briefly at The Traphagen (sp?) School in NYC. She loved the fashions of the '30's as she thought those were the "sexiest" with all those bias cut dresses. So, when George started on what the bias was I got all nostalgic wishing I could share those videos with her. But I'll be sure to check "the tube" for more!

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  19. Thank you for the introduction to George W. Trippon! I love the videos :-).

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  20. Thanks for sharing George with us. What a great guy! Wish I had know about his sewing show back then when I was learning.

    I will be looking for more George clips...

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  21. Thank you Peter! He is priceless!

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  22. I've been lurking and enjoying since one of the Selfish Seamstress links a while ago. Thank you for the introduction to THIS George W.! He's wonderful!

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  23. Oooh, thank you so much for this! I am from Europe and had never even heard about Mr. Trippon - how fun he is! And by the way - I love your blog, got you on my reading list... Bummed that I missed the shirt-sew-along (have only recently joined the Blog-world), but might join the Jeans one in May. Thanks a lot for everything!

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  24. Wow! I'd never heard of this gentleman and now I'm in looooove! He is hilarious and really knows his stuff, the perfect combination.
    And you're right, your blog goes from funny to hysterical if you read it in Mr Trippon's voice!

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  25. Thanks for remembering George Trippon! When I was a teen I used to watch his show on an L.A. TV station, and one day my dad came into the room and said "I know that guy!". They had both grown up in Aurora, Illinois, in the same neighborhood, and in fact George wrote a book about his upbringing in the Rumanian Pigeon Hill area. What a talent, what an incredible personality, so entertaining! I hope that more of his shows will become available!

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