Thursday 15 November 2012

Let Them Eat Cake

About a month ago I posted about Inspiration and Excitement. I was fired up and ready to go and made a start with these little chaps...
 
 
and teased you with this...

 
Some of you recognised some of the cakes... and some even guessed what I was up to. But I suppose I should explain for those of you who haven't been reading since last year... or perhaps for those of you who have been reading and haven't been paying attention... or are not really interested... or perhaps have just forgotten... or just don't care? But I'm going to tell you anyway and it all started with this knitted bodice...

 
You can read about why this came about here. To start with I thought it would be fun to decorate Marie Antoinette's 'woolly vest' with knitted cakes in tribute to the alleged statement "Let them eat cake"* but it just didn't work. So then I came up with idea that perhaps I could use knitted cakes to re-create the ridiculous hairstyles worn in the Court of Marie Antoinette. I really do worry sometimes where these crazy ideas come from but not long enough to stop me acting on them!

 
Now it became apparent it would take me forever to knit enough cakes and so of course I enlisted your help. And as ever, you came up trumps. It started as a a bit of a virtual party... which then became a real party... and eventually I ended up with over 90 knitted and crocheted cakes. And since last October I've been procastinating and putting off doing unything with them and they have remained in boxes under the bed in the spare bedroom. Until last month...
 
 
And so finally, here it is... I give you "Let Them Eat Cake"... a wig for Marie-Antoinette... made with your help and support. Thank you!

 
Piled high with all sorts of wonderful cakes.

 
And because in real life these ridiculous hairstyles were often left undisturbed for months and frequently had all manner of vermin living in them... I thought a couple of mice...

 
and a nesting bird would add to the effect

 
Now... don't laugh... but it is not only a slightly crazy art installation... but quite practical too...

 
if you want to make a complete twit of yourself that is... I said don't laugh!

 
Shame they're not real... could pick one off if you felt peckish!

 
Not entirely sure what I'll do with it now... as it won't fit back in the box under the spare bed... but I've got one or two ideas... watch this space!

 
* "Let Them Eat Cake" is most likely to have been the result of journalistic cliche and never came from the lips of Marie Antoinette.


42 comments:

  1. I can also confirm that the hat is stylish AND comfortable

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  2. Gina, yet again I'm amazed! What an incredible head of hair :o)

    xx

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  3. You wear it well.
    A little too well...

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  5. Too late ~ I laughed!!! :)
    It's brilliant Gina and I love the addition of the mice! Those shredded coconut cakes actually do look good enough to eat!
    Vivienne x

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  7. Are you in panto this year, you crochet genius, you?!

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  8. Well I've heard of wearing your hair in a bun...

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  9. It's wonderful. And everytime you look at it it'll make you smile :-)

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  10. milady has a vest, and her wig. Now ... a petticoat? This is delightful!

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  11. You're hysterical!!! That's fantastic and I want one!!!!

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  12. Sorry I laughed too and I had forgotten, but what a fantastic combination. It works well together and with such humour

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  13. A triumph! You look wonderful and I bet your ears were warm!

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  14. That's truly WONDERFUL and very clever!

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  15. Love it, especially the mice and I think I even spotted one of my cakes.

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  16. Suits you Ma'am!! Very practical for cold weather too and I am thrilled to recognise my cakes being put to such innovative use. A brilliant idea and I love the mice.

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  17. Genius Gina! What a brilliant idea!
    I'm so glad this is not the end of the story - a lady with a head for such heights is sure to go far.

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  18. and all of the above (photos included) are the reasons why I always smile when your blog pops up in my reader.

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  19. Priceless... definitely one for the Turner Prize.

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  20. Oh my WORD! Utterly brilliant. Loving that first photo of you.

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  21. Sorry I laughed as well, but that is BRILLIANT!!!!

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  22. It's amazing - love the mice.
    xxx Hazel.

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  23. There must be a special occasion you could wear it at! How about a 'Ladies Day' at the races somewhere, you'd defiantly turn heads, even if you couldn't turn your own!!!!!

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  24. wonderful Gina. definitely worth waiting for the right idea to come along and love the added mouse and bird!

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  25. Amazing - should be in the V&A !!

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  26. I love it Gina. I think you could be starting a trend towards wacky wigs. You've outdone Paloma Faith and Niki Minaj here with your updo.

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  27. Just an afterthought: Why didn't you model Marie Antoinette's woolly vest for us as well?!!

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  28. Finally finished - love it. Well done you!

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  29. Fantastic and hilarious, Gina.
    Make sure you have a public place to put them on display, a bakery or so. I love it, especially with those mice in it. x

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  30. Totally brilliant - it should be on display somewhere!! x Jo

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  31. That is marvellous and I am so glad that you wore it! Think of how warm your head can be on the coldest days...

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  32. Totally hilarious! What a great image to see on a foggy, foggy morning. Where do you find these ideas of yours?

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  33. Love the mice and the model! Congratulations on your new career! X

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  34. Marvelous! What a crazy, wild, fun, fantastic, creative wig!

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  35. Great fun and very creative!! I dare you to wear it walking the dog!!

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  36. Gina - this is stunning! So chuffed that you did this. This has to be my favourite knitted thing that I've seen in a while. And I spotted my cake in there! Tres bon :) x

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  37. Oh Gina it is wonderful!! I hope you have thought up as wonderfully inventive a resting place for it as it deserves. But given the creativity you've shown in coming up with the idea in the first place, I am sure you have.

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  38. Tres chic mon ami, Marie Antoinette would have loved it..... and it really suits you too!

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  39. Completely, brilliantly, gorgeously bonkers Gina!

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  40. It's fantastic in more ways than one! I don't know how you think of these ideas either...and it's not just the idea, it's the ability to make the idea reality.

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  41. Love the photos. I think the wig is fantastic. Having had a sneak preview of the wig I am really looking forward to seeing it on display in the future. Well done to you.

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