Need a thatched roof of Grey Gardens quality? Call William Cahill.

I stumbled across this article about this craftsman who worked on Grey Gardens.

What part of Grey Gardens has a thatched roof, you ask? Why, the hut in the famous garden! You can view a selection of images of the thatched hut at Grey Gardens.

From Salem News, by Tom Dalton, on September 25, 2010

Peak Performance

Thatcher restores the roofs at Pioneer Village in Salem

William Cahill lives in Ohio, but isn’t there very often.

He travels to work, sometimes as far as Asia and Africa, more often to places like California and Utah. He estimates that some years he is gone 200 days or more.

The burly, bearded Irish native arrived in Salem a few days ago in a red truck, drove past all the tourist haunts and went directly to Forest River Park.

Although he loves the park and harbor and once swam clear across to Marblehead, he came here to work at Pioneer Village.

He is a roof thatcher—a rare breed.

"He's one of the few professional master thatchers working in America today," said David Goss, director of The Institute for Public History at Gordon College. Gordon has a five-year lease with the city to oversee Pioneer Village, which is open daily through October.

In addition to Jamestown, he has worked at Winterthur, the du Pont estate in Delaware; the Nashville and Denver zoos; and Grey Gardens, a fabled home on Long Island restored by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and her sister, Lee Radziwill.

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David Robson's ''A Few Small Repairs'' available in paperback

David Robson wrote the play "A Few Small Repairs" based on Big and Little Edie Beale.

This raccoon hasn't ever seen the play, but it's now available for purchase on Amazon.com.

A Few Small Repairs
by David Robson

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Author J.C. Burdine's book about Grey Gardens

Grey Gardens has a strong affinity with animal lovers. Here, an author who lost her dog has made a picture book about the dog's trip to Grey Gardens.

It looks like she also used her book as a way to raise money for charity. Wonderful!

Bijoux goes to Grey Gardens
by J.C. Burdine

From 27east, by Laura Cooper, on October 26, 2010

Ghostly Tale of Grey Gardens Adventure

After Southampton-based writer J.C. Burdine lost her 8-year-old French bulldog two years ago to death by natural causes, she took to her computer to create what would become a six-book series about her pet companion’s fictional adventures out in the world.

Ms. Burdine’s most recent installment in the series, a spooky Halloween-themed tale called “Bijoux Goes to Grey Gardens,” hit bookstores on October 20, just in time for Halloween.

The book, the longest of the series so far, centers on the late Bijoux—who lives on in the book—taking a trip to the house known as Grey Gardens at Georgica Beach in East Hampton, where the dog encounters the spirits of the house’s most famous residents, “Big Edie” Beale and her daughter “Little Edie.” The eccentric pair, cousins of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, were the subjects of a celebrated 1975 documentary named for their house made by Albert and David Maysles.

Ms. Burdine, a former Manhattanite who used to work as the creative director for Grey Advertising in Dusseldorf, Germany, and London, England, before returning to New York, said that she started the series in order to cope with the loss of her dog. She laid out the books, which she published herself, using Photoshop and other computer programs to place cut-out photographs of Bijoux in different story lines.

“I did a series of books about her to get over the grief,” said Ms. Burdine, who added that she also wrote a feature-length screenplay based on Bijoux. “I couldn’t accept it,” she said of Bijoux’s passing. “She was still alive to me.”

The latest book is special to Ms. Burdine, she said, because of its local roots and also because Bijoux is joined by some special friends in the book—more dogs and a cat belonging to other East End residents.

Ms. Burdine recently donated five signed hardcover editions of the Bijoux books, including “Bijoux Goes Sleepy, A Late Night Tale,” “Bijoux’s Birthday Cake: A Delicious Adventure,” “Bijoux’s Big Box of Crayons,” “Why Bijoux Believes in Heaven” and “Blessed Beast: Bijoux Says Please and Thank You,” to the Artists Against Abuse charity auction to benefit The Retreat this past summer. The author set up her donation so that the highest bidder on the item would also be entitled to have his or her pet featured in the next Bijoux book.

According to Ms. Burdine, so many bidders were interested in obtaining a cameo for their pet in the series, the bidding was stopped at $1,500 by auction organizers and three bidders at that level got to have their pets featured in “Bijoux Goes to Grey Gardens.”

“None of them gave up,” said Ms. Burdine, of the bidders at the charity auction. “So I put all of them in the book and made $4,500 for the Retreat.”

Ms. Burdine said that “Bijoux Goes to Grey Gardens,” starts with Bijoux being awakened by the ghost of Lois Wright, an artist who once lived at Grey Gardens. Afterward, Ms. Wright whisks Bijoux away to the East Hampton home where she and her dog companion explore the estate and spend time with the ghosts of both Beales.

“It’s just very satisfying for me,” said Ms. Burdine, who drew on her skills as a fine arts painter when illustrating the book.

Ms. Burdine said that although she originally intended to create the series for children, she now feels that dog lovers of all ages can relate to the book.

“People love them,” said Ms. Burdine, noting that the series has sold well. “Sometimes people will read them and burst into tears,” she said, adding that the books deal with such issues as generosity, creativity, and overcoming fear.

Author and illustrator J.C. Burdine will read from “Bijoux Goes to Grey Gardens” on Sunday, October 31, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Hampton Coffee Company on Montauk Highway in Water Mill. Complimentary Halloween cookies and candy will be provided for children at the event.

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Grey Gardens inspires Vogue Spain

The October issue of Vogue Spain has a Grey Gardens-inspired photo shoot. And, as you can see from the images below, it's pretty amazing. Nice work!

From Fashion Gone Rogue, by Joanna, on October 19, 2010

Alana Zimmer by Mark Seliger for Vogue Spain October 2010

Inspired by the film Grey Gardens, photographer Mark Seliger captures a story of clutter and beauty with his latest work in this month’s Vogue Spain. Starring Alana Zimmer and styled by Belén Antolín, El Sueño Eterno juxtaposes retro glamour with a setting of pure chaos.

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Why not dress as Little Edie Beale for Halloween this year?

This raccoon loves the notion of dressing as Little Edie for Halloween. Here's a very well-done costume, and the story behind it.

Read on:

From Condo Blues, by Lisa, on October 13, 2010

My Little Edie Grey Gardens Costume

After I saw the Gray Gardens HBO movie, I knew I wanted to be Edith Bouvier Beale or “Little Edie” (she was named after her mother who everyone called “Big Edie”) for Halloween. This year husband and I are going to a Halloween party in the Short North, our arts district. If anyone should know who Little Edie was or about Grey Gardens, it would be this crowd.

Little Edith Bouvier Beale was known for wearing scarves to cover her alopecia. When their fortune ran out and Gray Gardens disintegrated into a filthy mess that violated every health and housing code on the books, she obviously did not have money to update her wardrobe. Instead, she wore what she had in odd combinations. Tablecloths became skirts, wildly patterned hose, sweaters became head coverings to create what she called “bohemian” or “revolutionary" costumes.

I took my cue from this clip of Little Edie describing her “best costume for the day” in the 1975 Grey Gardens documentary.

Drew Barrymore recreates this scene in the HBO Grey Gardens movie.

I routed around put together my own Little Edie costume from things I had in my closet. I wore my brown pencil skirt upside down and paired it with a turtleneck and scarf. I wore patterned tights one year as part of my witch costume. I bought the bow pin at a thrift store and wore it when I played a noble at the Ohio Renaissance Festival. A pair of Assets stands in for wearing my underwear (what she calls "pants" in the video clip) as outwear. (And I get the bonus of tummy control during the party - whoo!)

Using what you have on hand to make a Halloween costume is a green way to save money. Living in real life Grey Gardens like squalor is not.

My interpretation of a staunch Little Edie.

It also goes without saying, that eco doesn't have to be ugly!

Or boring.

Or a normal.

I’m glad I tried this on before the party because I found out that it’s hard to walk up stairs in an upside down pencil skirt. I’m going to open up the seam with a seam ripper and put it on with a few safety pins.

Then if I need to, I can always wear the skirt as a cape.

What are you going to be for Halloween?

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Artist Nancy De Boni paints Grey Gardens

The Towne Square Gallery in Oakville, Ontario, Canada is showing works by artist Nancy De Boni, inspired by Grey Gardens. The show runs from October 16–31.

Unfortunately, there's only one image of her work here, but it's a really wonderful rendering of the house exterior!

From Towne Square Gallery

Nancy de Boni: Grey Gardens

October 16–31, 2010

The documentary, Grey Gardens by the Maysles brothers, Al and David evoked a memory trace in my own life as it depicts the eccentric, chaotic life of the two women living there which mimicked a memory of events that I was privy to in my childhood. I was so struck by the similarity of their lives as portrayed in the documentary film to my own experience, that I was hooked by their story to paint the backdrop of the life of these women who, at a former time, were consumed by fashion and show business and then descended to live in dilapidated conditions nevertheless maintaining song and dance. They relived their vibrant past in what appears to be a melancholy manner, outwardly oblivious to their surroundings with a persistence of “richness of being”, stemming from their past life as Socialites. Big Edie died in 1977 and little Edie sold the house in 1979. Little Edie died in 2002 at the age of 84.

The work on this theme represents my interpretations of the Beales’ story and by extension to others who lead unconventional lives. Some of my former work used the theme of tracing human occupancy in interior settings and served as an ideal conduit to depict the story of Grey Gardens.

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There are many reasons to love Grey Gardens

Thanks to Denise for sharing her blog post!

From Imitation of Vintage Life, on July 9, 2010

Why I love Grey Gardens

Grey Gardens if you don’t know is a documentary filmed in 1972 which depicts the isolated lives of the mother and daughter pair both named Edith Beale in a decrepit mansion in the Hamptons named Grey Gardens. . They were relatives of Jackie O and were from a once wealthy prominent family. Attention was called to them when it was learned the county health department condemned their home and they were ordered to clean it up and get it up to code. It is a cult classic and was remade into a feature film by HBO.

Yes I am one of those people who is obsessed with this film. I first saw Grey Gardens in the eighty’s. I have to say I enjoyed the film and often recalled scenes in my head thought of Edie when I donned a scarf and fastened it with a vintage brooch. If I saw an article or book or review of the original or the play I read. I made a point to check out all fashions claiming little Edie as inspiration or looked greygardensesque. But that was it.

Then several years ago I heard HBO was planning to do a film based on the documentary starring Drew Barrymore and Jessica Lange. I adore both Jessica and Drew in fact it’s a short list of actresses today I like as well. I just couldn’t picture them as the Edies. I had more faith in Jessica than Drew. She is just simply so LA,so 30ish, so today, so $500 highlights, $200 jeans $100 t-shirt and flip-flops, mac makeup to run to the grocery. And the whole talking out of the right side of her mouth with a lisp thing. Don’t get me wrong its works for her and is endearing but it’s so not old school, privileged New York City. Even so interest was peaked, I decided to rewatch the original.

That second of many viewings is when I fell in love with the film, with little Edie. Being a lover of all things old the house, the furniture, the flashback photos of the women’s past were certainly appealing to me. The house in its glory days is close to my dream home. There is no where I’d rather live than close to the beach and the Hamptons at that! I was born in 1970 this film was shot in the 70′s so that was familiar to me. What was also so familiar to me was the Beale’s accents and choice of words.I told you earlier it’s a distinct privileged New York city of the time that’s sadly disappearing. My grandmother and her siblings had it along with their spouses. Theirs wasn’t quite as upper crust but it’s similar and familiar and I adore it. Little Edie also had that way of whispering less savory bits that is sadly not seen much any more either. And they both seemed to voice their thoughts the second upon thinking them, They both were so completely themselves if you know what I mean. Completely uninhibited yet they did it graciously in my opinion. How many of us are that free? How many of us say exactly what we’re thinking? How many of us belt out a song, or break into a dance even if we don’t have a particularly good voice or have much rhythm proudly just because you felt like it? Not many but I have wanted to.

Which is one of the many reasons this film is fascinating to watch. You can see little Edie never quite fit in(how many of us haven’t felt that way at one time or another) But she didn’t seem to want to try, she was certainly comfortable in her own skin. They seem to have so little left yet they don’ t pity themselves , they still just enjoy life as they can. Little Edie doesn’t buy the latest fashions, but she still manages to fashion her own style out of pieces left from better days. Their relationship while complicated is based in a strong love. Big Edie seems to want nothing more than her daughter, her cats,her hot plate with some favorite foods, and her beloved grey garden home and that what she does. Watching the film you’ll wonder how they got there but the bigger question I ask myself is how far am I from getting there? I aspire to be as comfortable in my own skin as big and little Edie are. I don’t feel sorry for them. I relate to them. About the only thing I cannot relate to is the filth. I can’t justify not cleaning up or getting a litter box. I don’t know where that came from. Maybe if I watch it a few more times I‘ll get it.

Or maybe the HBO film will give me some insight. I ordered the DVD should arrive any day. I’ve heard I needn’t have worried about Drew,she gave the performance of a lifetime. I can’t wait to see.

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Crate & Barrel's CB2 references Grey Gardens in bed linens

I wonder if they picked the name because it's a gray floral pattern, as it doesn't seem very Grey Gardens to this raccoon. It's about as Grey Gardens as this. Still, I couldn't not share it with you!

From CB2

grey gardens bed linens

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Is Salma Hayek a Grey Gardens fan?

Perhaps this raccoon is desperate for Grey Gardens-related news, but when he saw this photo of actress Salma Hayek wearing a turban, his mind instantly went to Grey Gardens. What do you think?

From The Huffington Post, on October 4, 2010

Salma Hayek Wears a Turban

Salma Hayek stopped by Stella McCartney's Spring/Summer 2011 show on Monday wearing a belted royal blue ensemble with thigh-high boots and... a turban.

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Ephrata, PA production of Grey Gardens the Musical

Performances have already started! If you're in the area, do see the show and let me know how it is!

From Ephrata Playhouse in the Park

Grey Gardens

Big Edie and Little Edie Beale—Jackie Kennedy’s aunt and cousin—became notorious in 1971 when it was discovered that the once-elegant East Hampton mansion in which they lived was now a dilapidated wreck, overrun with cats and raccoons, along with a five-foot mountain of empty cans in the dining room. What had happened to two of the brightest names in the Social Register? Based on the famous Grey Gardens documentary about the two Edies (who were also the subjects of the Emmy-winning HBO movie), this hilarious and devastating musical brings the ladies back to outrageous and glorious life. Sponsored by The Michael Sharadin and Terry Bigler Foundation, Zeller Travel, and Ann B. Barshinger.

From YouTube, by lancasteronline, on October 1, 2010

"Grey Gardens" at Ephrata Performing Arts Center

From YouTube, by ephrataplayhouse, on September 28, 2010

Grey Gardens at EPAC