Onofrio comes home

 Luchino: So your brother is coming to live here
Costanza: I'm so happy. He's preparing a new play or something like that.
Luchino: Well, if you're so happy, but he always seemed a bit odd to me.
Costanza: You're so narrow minded Luchino, it's just his a true artist, and a great theater actor. And in the end they are just Tattoos.
Luchino: Like blood stains on his face? All right, all right. We won't get started on this,  but he's not going to be a good influence on Armando, he already spends enough time reading crime novels.
Costanza: I believe he will be good for the boys. He will take them out and maybe they could even meet some girls....at long last!

Onofrio: Hello Sweethearts! I'm home! What's you name darling dear?
Mafalda: Mafalda sir, I'm the maid
Onofrio: You're a jewel, darling dear. Please take these and put them somewhere. Hallo!!!! Anybody's here to welcome the homecoming warrior?

Luchino: Costanza tells me you're preparing a new play?
Onofrio: Well, just a reprise of my famous Richard the III!
Luchino: Oh, so you needed to come home to prepare a reprise?

Onofrio: To be honest, old man, there was a lady in Paris, and one in Rome and somewhat they both got the strange idea I was going to marry each of them, so I had this idea to accept this reprise close to home and made my famous disappearing act!

Mafalda hates the guy

Luchino: I thought it had to be something like that
Costanza: Onofrio, Richard the III such a great part
Onofrio: Thank you little sister, it will be nice to  a permanent base in between theater engagements and tournees.

Luchino: And a secure hiding place.
Onofrio: Where are the kids?

Armando & Taddeo: Uncle Onofrio! This is great!
Onofrio: Good to see you boys, you can go and get your darling dear maid to fix a drink for your old uncle? Adelaide, little princess, come on and hug your old uncle!

Luchino: Now he's here, and I already feel like I've been struck by a tornado
Costanza: Luchino, you have no reason to be so stuck up with Onofrio, you saw it for yourself: he wears socks!

Family group

As you've seen there's nothing to be worried about, Onofrio is just a flamboyant and careless theater actor. Here's a picture of him in his outfit, I believe steampunk is perfect for him.

Express post: my first (and only) American Doll mini!

Today at the beach some kids were holding a yard sale, a good way for parents to get rid of tons of old toys during the summer season, and look what I found for 50 cents?

She's going to be called Adelaide

I've been thinking for a while about adding a kid to the crew, for diorama purposes, and there she was, waiting for me. She was all alone in the middle of monsters and mini cars.

The thing that impressed me most, is that I've been reading Farrah and Barb posts about American Dolls and I never saw any of them in shops here in Italy, so I had to double check to be sure.

I can understand people talking about "rescuing unloved dolls". In fact she's in perfect order, her hair are a bit bushy but I believe she can be easily fixed with a gentle brushing.

Now she needs a good washing, some love and new clothes and shoes....she's goint to fit perfectly as the younger daugher of Luchino and Costanza
And she's going to be as spoiled as her big brothers!

Honey, I promise you, next time you're going to make a new movie!

A kid upstairs?!?!?!? Are you JOKING?!?!??!!

Classic Hollywood: Miss Sadie Thompson

Hollywood really loved W. Somerset Maugham's  short story "Miss Thompson" (later retitled "Rain").
It was famously played by Gloria Swanson in the 1929 silent movie

And by Rita Hayworth in 1953

But my favourite version is the 1932 pre-code talkie, starring Joan Crawford. Comparing Swanson's outfit with Crawford's you can see what the great depression did even to glamorous stars!

It is a "torrid (rainy) melodrama" set in the South Seas. Miss Sadie Thompson is an "easy living girl" who is escaping from San Francisco to Samoa and is forced to stop at Pago Pago with her fellow passengers, among wich is notably a righteous preacher.......interesting developements ensues....
As this movie is in the public domain I won't tell you anything more. I rather post the link where you can enjoy it for yourself: Rain (1932)

I like the movie and I like Crawford style and dress. Costanza agreed to model it, she's such a classy and versatile girl!

                                                   I made the dress, hat and bracelets.

  Earrings are IT  (Hot Property Natalia)

Shoes are by PaulZanby. 

Gloves and purse are Poppy Parker's.

I'm pretty happy with this dress, maybe Costanza shall pop up in some future story dressed as Sadie!

The Cover: treats for january

30's evening dresses collectionOdette in Oman part 1Neckties!
The short happy life of Francis Macomber

A Merry Christmas from Billa and the girls!!!

Here's the Christmas Special I've been working at. All the girls wanted to partecipate, but they are too many! So this year the models for the Christmas Cards are:

Costanza

Camilla

Virginia

Caterina

Margherita

And we all wish you all a

40's nostalgia

I believe Costanza (aka FR Veronique Sweet Smell of Success) looks a lot like Gene Tierney and she's absolutely stunning.
She arrived a week ago, and as soon as I saw her I was inspired to sew for her this outfit, in an early 40's style

the complete outfit with a  bolero and a small net hat

a beautiful headshot of her

and Gene Tierney