October 19, 2011

Vintage Illustration - Creepy or Cute?

illustration by G. C. Williams

Thumbing through an old needlework magazine from 1906, this illustration definitely jumped out at me. I love images and illustrations of people working in embroidery, but, isn't the Victorian, Gibson-girl-esque woman's head on the cherub's body a bit strange? What do you think? Creepy or cute?

I'm saying creepy and posting it because Halloween is coming! Maybe she'll become the flying monkey of the embroidery world...(not responsible for ensuing nightmares).

With kind apologies to G.C. Williams, rip.
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25 comments:

  1. SashaOctober 19, 2011 at 2:28 PM

    LOL! I'm going with creepy. There's something really weird about that lady's head on a cherub's body.

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  2. Nicole Follow the White BunnyOctober 19, 2011 at 2:47 PM

    Definitely not cute! *shudders*

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  3. Sharon BOctober 19, 2011 at 2:48 PM

    I agree it is creepy! Maybe someone could redo the head :)

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  4. TrishOctober 19, 2011 at 2:52 PM

    What the...I don't even...

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  5. Sidereal DayOctober 19, 2011 at 3:03 PM

    I vote creepy, definitely creepy.

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  6. Sagacity KelleyOctober 19, 2011 at 3:16 PM

    Odd...not cute or creepy...just odd.

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  7. teresaOctober 19, 2011 at 3:23 PM

    That is creepy in oh so many ways. Eek.

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  8. Kathy-Catnip StudioOctober 19, 2011 at 3:35 PM

    Freakishly creepy, and just plain weird!

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  9. Hi! I'm Wendi!October 19, 2011 at 3:38 PM

    Ew. Definitely creepy!

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  10. BoOctober 19, 2011 at 3:41 PM

    creepy

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  11. Denise :)October 19, 2011 at 4:00 PM

    Ummm, yeah. I definitely going with creepy. *shudder* :)

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  12. beadgirlOctober 19, 2011 at 4:28 PM

    I vote "creepy."

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  13. Gumbo LilyOctober 19, 2011 at 5:59 PM

    creepy, for sure.

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  14. giddy99October 19, 2011 at 6:42 PM

    CREEPY & bizarre!

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  15. DrewzelOctober 19, 2011 at 6:48 PM

    I agree with Nicole, it's hideous! ugh!

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  16. Jennifer JOctober 19, 2011 at 7:39 PM

    Not cute! Couldn't they have at least draped some fabric over her nakedness?

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  17. SLMPetersenOctober 19, 2011 at 8:04 PM

    I go with creepy...who sews with a hair-do like that and no clothes on? okay, on second thought I don't wanna know...just a little to creepy for me.

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  18. UnknownOctober 19, 2011 at 8:40 PM

    C-R-E-E-P-Y!!! lol

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  19. RubyMarilynOctober 19, 2011 at 10:45 PM

    Creepy!

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  20. The undomesticated scientistOctober 20, 2011 at 3:05 AM

    very very not cute! its abit alice in wonderland, or the campest cherub i've ever seen!

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  21. AnonymousOctober 20, 2011 at 7:06 AM

    I did a double take; I too love Victorian, but this was eerie........I wanted to stitch a dress on her, or put a cherub's head on it!

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  22. AnonymousOctober 20, 2011 at 7:35 AM

    Totally creepy! Looks like a naked cherub body with my great grandmother's head on it!!! :)

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  23. ElsaOctober 20, 2011 at 7:58 AM

    She, indeed, could be a flying monkey and is terribly creepy. Thant was my very first thought at seeing the picture.

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  24. LaraOctober 21, 2011 at 7:31 AM

    creepy, indeed! why, is that a basket of threads on her derrière?

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  25. Bella CarraraOctober 22, 2011 at 11:12 AM

    It's funny, the first thing I thought when I saw this was start to think in Art History terms (maybe I've been to one to many museums in the past 3 or so years).

    It seems the cover artist was providing their own interpretation of a Putto (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Putto), and after reading a couple of entries online, this style started popping back up again in the early 1900s. In this case, they are trying to add additional art and thought to the purchaser of these patterns, based on "retro" art styles, if you will.

    I like it...think it's funny and cute. I mean...come on. A cherub-like woman stitching? If that doesn't somehow communicate "embroidery-ness is next to Godliness" or the opposite of idle hands on this cover...

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