Sunday, December 12, 2010

At first sight

The small one-horse town near to where I grew up had a town garage sale today, it was advertised as '40+ households, church and community centre'. In reality it was more like 7 houses and the local hall. Admittedly we went on the Sunday and it was apparently on Saturday as well, which might have been more populated. However given that the newspaper were very limited in their information and that the town's monthly market was on today, we assumed the 'festivities' would be Sunday as well.

But not to matter, for bargains were still to be had and had they were! I'll get you some shots of what I scored tomorrow when the sun comes back and the rain stops, but in the meantime I can show you one thing I acquired...



...her name is Clara, she cost me the princely sum of $20. Shoved in the corner of the stall with a bad wig jammed the wrong way round on her head she might have looked worth less to most people, because I spotted her about an hour before I actually bought her. I didn't have much money in my wallet and there were no readycash facilities in town (that's how one-horse it is!) and I'd not yet done a round of the junk market. So I requested to the universe that if it saw fit, could they keep her there for me while I did the market.


The whole time at the market (where I didn't see anything good) I was worried that she'd be sold when I came back, but she wasn't! Breathless from the climb back up the hill I peeked in at the church hall to see her plaster face gazing serenely into space. I felt as an enormous sense of pride as one can have with a half-naked torso under your arm, and in my world that's pretty big.


The blonde wig was in mum's theatre costumes box (the bonus points life gives you when your mother is wardrobe mistress of the local theatre company) and suited her the instant I dropped it on her head. With false eyelashes she's a dreamy and romantic Dolly Parton, without she's modern punk-pop Debbie Harry. In her chop-do brown wig she's grunge and urban, if you flip it slightly around so it gets in her eyes she's boyish and fresh.


I originally bought her to hang my earrings from- modern earring mannequins are small in the head and slightly weird looking, and 60-70 bucks to boot. But with two quick flicks of the drill she had pierced ears- they stuck out a bit from her head, originally for clip-ons I'd imagine. She's from the 1960s judging by her Twiggy thin frame and solid construction, but looking closely at her face you can see a great amount of detail- skin texture, multiple eyeline shadows, highlights in the iris...she's no slap-up wench for the front window of a chain store. This is a quality fiberglass woman.


And she's all mine. 20 bucks!! As you can see, I'm in love.

9 comments:

Carol said...

Oh, your Clara is gorgeous!!
My poor Madeline the model mannequin would cry tears of jealousy if only she had a head :)

fanciful devices said...

wow- and in the last spot, she;s a pirate!
ok, but, so, you already have 2 or 3 mannequin/dressforms -dont you think thats a bit unfair? hmmm? the universe doesnt know what its doing, clearly.

Jo Archer said...

Some mannequins are really creepy looking, but I have to say, she's a beauty!

Twigart said...

I love this. I used to have two mannequins. One much like yours called Jade and a male one i called Sylvester. Sadly i had to part ways with them due to copious house moves but this just brought back many happy memories of photographic projects i did with them.

Continue to enjoy her, she's great.

russian girls said...

Thank you, it was very interestingly.

Pretty Things said...

Lucky, lucky girl! We just have the tube socks and NASCAR variety markets around here. Sigh.

Anonymous said...

Some things are meant to be.
I agree it is a good price, still the junker in me has to ask...
did you negotiate at all????

Penelope said...

I didn't have to! All I did was point at her and the lady knocked 10 bucks off the price immediately! I would've been happy to pay 30 for her, as it's still half the price an earring mannequin would've cost me.

I rarely ever haggle, I must say. I suppose as a hobby dealer I understand prices, but I'm happy to pay the ticket price if I think it's right. If I do haggle I don't suggest anything more than 20% lower- I feel rude!

MACC said...

Beautiful mannequin! The short brown wig really suits her, great find!