The Beast

President Obama was on my block last week for a fundraiser at Harvey Weinstein's home.  Here are two shots I took from inside the lobby of my building (a few minutes before he came the police made us go inside).  There were two Presidential limos (the Beasts) as is apparently standard procedure - one more level of safety... so we didn't know in which one he was.

Here's a 1/43 scale model, marked down to $10 at the moment at Modeltrainstuff:

Can you guess what's inside this box? (Before scrolling down)

If you guessed  (and I imagine some of you did as it is rather obvious ) that it is a rare French musical sewing necessaire automaton from 1890 that has a key- wind, two-air cylinder movement,  and was at one time possessed by the British royal family, you would be correct.   See the more detailed notes  and photos below, which are from liveacutioneers.  There was a video on that site, but it looks like it was removed. Too bad.... I would like to see how the pieces move.

Needleprint blog  

Found photographs at National Geographic

I came across these two very interesting pictures on the Nat Geo site.  They have a section called "Found".  The above photo of a male lion, lit with a flashlight,  was taken in 1910, in Africa.  

The second is a shot of Fairbanks, Alaska at Christmas.. It has a nostalgic feel and reminds me of Michael Paul Smith's work.  Here's my original posting on his fictional village,  Elgin Park.

Here's a shot of Michael's fictional town Elgin Park.  (His photos are available for purchase on his Smugmug site):

Sherlock Holmes: models and mustache

I've posted a few times in the past on Sherlock related miniatures and models.  Here are a few I came across recently.  The above model is by a Ms. Caroline Stafford of the U.K.  It is for sale for 345 British Pounds here. 

 For previous posts visit:

• Sherlock in Miniature and Model
• More Sherlock Holmes - This one's off the cliffs!
• Sherlock in 1/6
• Leslie S. Klinger's Baker Street diorama

Meanwhile, the following are from a Mr. Arthur Walker (aka Charles Baskerville) of Florida.  Read more about his model here.   Nice model and mustache Mr. Baskerville!

Thought I'd close with this very nice graphic I found while searching for the post.

Open House Miniatures

These are beautifully constructed miniatures made by Elizabeth Plain (who thinks her name is too awkward for a website name so calls her site Open House Miniatures).  She has a blog well worth visiting.  If you are so inclined, you can take a crack at printing out and building some of her models, from a page she supplies for that purpose.   She is also very generous in showing readers how she makes her miniatures.   If you want to buy a piece, visit her  Etsy site.  Great work EP! 

Our True Intent Is All For Your Delight - John Hinde photographs

"Our True Intent Is All For Your Delight"

The phrase doesn't roll off the tongue but it may invoke nostalgic memories of vacations past for many in the UK.  It is the slogan for Butlin Holiday Camps and is also the name of a  book containing John Hinde's photographs.   As for why I like these images I don't think I can say it better than Martin Parr who wrote the book's introduction:

 As with all Hinde images, they show an idealised view of the world and, after the passage of time, acquire the power of a lost dream. The most remarkable thing of all is that the cards were painstakingly produced not for an aspirational ideas or as great art, but as humble postcards to sell for a few pence to holidaymakers." - Martin Parr

From Amazon: In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the John Hinde Studio, based in Dublin, produced a series of postcards to be sold at Butlin's holiday camps throughout the British Isles. Famous for their "hi-de-hi" catchphrase, redcoat hosts and bargain packages with all entertainment included, Butlin's annually hosted over a million holidaying Britons throughout the 1970s. It was the challenging job of two German (Elmar Ludwig and Edmund Nägele) and one British photographer (David Noble) to execute the photographs to Hinde's rigorous formula and standards. With innovative use of color and elaborate staging (the trademarks of a John Hinde postcard), each photograph is painstakingly produced, with often large casts of real holidaymakers acting their allocated roles in these narrative tableaux of the Butlin's quiet lounges, ballrooms and Beachcomber bars. Shot with large-format cameras and lit like a film set, these photographs were an extraordinary undertaking in their production values, and helped John Hinde become one of the most successful postcard publishers in the world. Most of the John Hinde Butlin's photographs have only ever been published as postcards. This new affordable edition of Our True Intent Is All For Your Delight, first published to critical acclaim and popular success in 2002, is published to mark the 75th anniversary of Butlins.

Find the book here

Aloha Lanes..... somewhere in California

This is a fantastic model.  My compliments to the builder,  Mike Cozart.  On his site, he describes a passion for all things mid-century.  This 1/8th scale model depicts a time and place that seems ideal.   It's Brady- Bunch  -ish (is that a word?).    The model is cool but so are the photographs.  They add to the blue sky safe feeling of the  place. 

See more at Mike Cozart Design and Model.