I'm back ...

Mahalo! I have returned after quite a long break... four months to be exact ... things have been a little hectic here on the Secret Island ... family, work (,cocktail consumption!) and a limited amount of time hall conspired to keep me away from the blog for a while. But I'm back refreshed and ready to bring you more of the same ... but on a slightly more regular basis!

Wahine of the Week: Ava Gardner...

Welcoming a vintage Wahine to the Secret Island this week: Ava Gardner...

“Because I was promoted as a sort of a siren and played all those sexy broads, people made the mistake of thinking I was like that off the screen. They couldn’t have been more wrong.”

- Ava Gardner

Wahine of the Week: Maybelle Lee

Introducing this weeks wahine of the week Maybelle Lee ...

Hi all you Cats and Kittens! My name is Maybelle Lee and I am an American vintage Pin Up model! I specialize in sexy, retro, classic, cheesecake, Hollywood glamour, swimsuit, garage, rockabilly, alternative, recreations, and hot rod photo shoots. I have been absolutely in love with this era since I was a little girl when my dad would take me to all the car shows with him.

Well done dad I say! Check out more of Maybelle Lee here.

Wahine of the Week: Belle La Donna...

This weeks Wahine of the Week is the stunning Belle la Donna. I love the flower in the hair,the tattoo, the eyes, the dress ... should I go on!?

She says...

"I'm Belle la Donna, I'm a Burlesquedancer and a pin- up model. I enjoy to seduce the audience with a sweet cocktail of the poison cherry. Only with the secret mixture of this exotic drink I will let you lose your mind!But be careful! Only take a look, not more, don't touch or die !!!"

But what a way to go! ;0)

Wahine of the Week: Ruby Peru ...

It's Tuesday and so time to warm the Southern Hemisphere Winter here on the Secret Island with my Wahine of the Week. This week I bring you Ruby Peru.

Now I have to admit that I know absolutely nothing about Ruby although I do know that she is the perfect accompaniment to a Tiki carved by none other than Marcus Thorn.

Wahine of the Week: Ms Bombshell Belle Fey ...

It's Tuesday and that means only one thing ... it's time for this weeks Wahine of the Week. This week I'd like to introduce you to Ms Bombshell Belle Fey...

She describes herself as

"A creepy thing loving, pin up Frank Sinatra listening dame from San Diego."

She spent most of her time with her aunt and grandparents listening to oldies and learning how to do the Charleston. She loves Halloween, the rain and baking cookies :) She decorates her house year round with bats, candles and universal monster pictures. Despite only being 22 years old she is already a tattoo artist and is slowly working her way to opening a shop of her own!

Vintage Wahine of the Week: Jayne Mansfield ...

Introducing this weeks Wahine of the Week Jayne Mansfield, a bit of a blast from the past. Biography from Java's Bachelor Pad.

"In the 1950's, Jayne Mansfield was probably the most well-known Hollywood blonde bombshell next to Marilyn Monroe. Whereas Marilyn was the unattainable goddess, Mansfield was the girl that every swinging bachelor hoped and prayed to meet at a nightclub. She was everyman's ideal of the buxom beauty. She knew how to purr and how to sway her hips. But these are the same attributes that caused her own downfall. As intelligent as she was (an IQ of 163) and as much as she wanted to be taken seriously as an actress, she could never shed her image of the dumb blonde."

"In the 1960's the world changed, but Mansfield stayed where she was, a prisoner of her pink-colored world and unmarketable to a new generation who had grown tired of the classic glamour model. But in the last 40 years, Mansfield's mystique has grown. As kitschy as her life was, we still adore her."

We certainly do!

Wahine of the Week: La La Hartline ...

Three posts in three days ... I really am back!

As its Tuesday its Wahine of the Week time! This week I bring to you for your viewing pleasure La La Hartline.

LaLa is a Tattoo Shop owner, Body Piercer and Tattooed Model. She has been modeling for 10 years with experience in everything from runway and fashion to pin-up and adult, and has also featured in countless tattoo magazines. Besides all that is tattoo, piercing, and modeling her interests are interior design, gardening and sewing!

Introducing Trevor Carlton...

Trawling through Tumblr this week, whilst sheltering from a tropical cyclone,I came across the work of artist Trevor Carlton. I was immediately impressed with not only the subject matter but also the patina of the finish. I love that vintage, slightly worn paint effect to the point that some people who know me quite well just don't understand why I'm attracted to the sort of stuff that most consider tatty or just simply rubbish!

Monte Trevor Carlton was born in 1972 in Olympia, Washington State. Although he took up painting in high school, the first artistic passion that Trevor embraced was acting. He decided to forgo an art scholarship in favor of attending a dramatic arts scholarship at Skagit Valley College.

Trevor next attended the Lee Strasberg Acting Workshop. The following year he relocated to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career. Amidst the chaos of auditions and callbacks, Trevor paid the bills by working in a custom furniture store, specializing in antiquing and faux finish designs.

It was here that a style was born. Using reclaimed lumber as his “canvas”, he started painting images of vintage Americana with subjects ranging from pop icon celebrity to the hey day of jazz.

After numerous gallery shows in Los Angeles and private commissions he has now combined his unique style to that most American of symbols, MICKEY MOUSE. Along with a series of classic lobby card paintings, he has also created a performance piece that has him painting a large canvas of our favorite Disney characters in a matter of minutes.

Find out more about Trevor and his work here.

Wahine of the Week: Madeline Sinclaire...

I've been busy clearing the sizable piles of driftwood that seems to wash up on the shores of the Secret Island in the hope that I can return to regular posting. Things have been very busy ... still I'm back and ready to share with you this weeks wahine (yeah I know we've missed a few Tuesdays!) of the week. Introducing Madeline Sinclaire.

Madeline is a classic Burlesque dancer, choreographer and pin-up model with 4 years of performing and modeling experience. She loves performing, pin-up and totally live the rockabilly lifestyle. She is also a costume and vintage clothing collector and has a huge collection of burlesque props including boas, feather fans and other odds and ends.

She says "I take great pride in what I do and how I present myself and hope it shows in my photos."

It certainly does Madeline! Please check out her website for more info and photos.

Wahine of the Week: Nikki Napalm...

For your viewing pleasure I present my latest Wahine of the Week: Nikki Napalm.

"My name is Nikki Napalm. I’m 25 years old, and currently live in Southern California. I’m very much a part of the tiki culture and rockabilly scene, a big fan of redheaded men, and a bit of a horror movie and sci-fi nerd. I live a life of good clean fun; I have never drank alcohol, done drugs, smoked a cigarette, or posed nude before, and I don’t plan to. I’m a makeup artist, alternative pin-up model, and fashion designer."

If you want more ... and why wouldn't you? Check out her Tumblr page.

Wahine of the Week: Kelsey Alexandra ...

This week for your viewing pleasure we have an up and coming pinup, Kelsey Alexandra. She was born in Belize and raised in Torrance, CA, USA. This twenty one year old loves Classic Horror films like Frankenstein and therefore enjoys a creatively freaky photo-shoot or two! But here on the Secret Island we certainly appreciate her Tikified Work!

Outside of the modeling world she has a passion for animals, one of here favorite quotes…”a caterpillar by day a butterfly by night.” You can check her out on www.modelmayhem.com

Wahine of the Week: Ms. Redd ...

Our latest Wahine of the Week comes straight from the front cover of Issue 15 of Bachelor Pad Magazine. Introducing Ms. Redd...

The feature in this issue was shot at none other than the famous Frankie's Tiki Room in Las Vegas. Its one way to draw in the punters! See her on some of the 56 pages of Atomic Age goodness on offer in the forthcoming issue! You don't want to miss this one!

Wahine of the Week: Remembering Jane Russell ...

This weeks Wahine of the Week is a tribute to Jane Russell who sadly passed away this week at the age of 89.

The voluptuous actress known for her roles in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and The Outlaw along with her lifelong work as an advocate for adoption.

Gone but not forgotten. Check her out in the movie trailer for The Outlaw...

Wahine of the Week: Charlee Sin

This weeks Wahine of the Week is Charlee Sin. I have to confess that I know very little about her but her MySpace tag might just be right!

"The sweetest Sin you will ever know."

From her profiles she seems quite the down to earth gal. She likes Twilight, Harry Potter, singing and baking! She also likes tattoo's, rainy days, gardening and bloody meat!! As she says she's a "Simple girl with a twist!"

What's wrong with this picture? ...

I came across this picture on PinUp Post (Well worth a look by the way!) At first glance it has everything ... the beautiful (... and former Wahine of the Week) Doris Mayday - check, a Tiki Bar - check, Tiki mugs - check, bottles of stuff - check and bamboo - check...

... now look closer! What is oh so wrong with this picture? Answers on a postcard to "You made a Mai Tai in what? Competition" The Secret Island, Pacific Ocean.
Closing date will be the day that the Tiki Gods wrath strikes the culprit down. ;0)

Plastic Wahine of the Week: Hula Girl Lego Mini Fig ...

I know how visitors to The Secret Island love the Wahine of the Week posts! For some of you Tuesday has become the favourite day of the week! Well I like to give visitors what they want so here's another. Presenting Hula Girl ...

As reported on Tiki Talk LEGO has taken a page from the vinyl figure toy and trading card market and started selling a series of highly-themed minifigures in sealed “mystery” bags. The figures typically include special accessories, a display plate, and leaflet describing the character. The idea is that kids (and collectors) will purchase the minifigs like trading cards, swapping the duplicates with friends.

One of the latest figures is a very cute Hula Dancer. Part of the just released Series 3, she comes with a “grass skirt” and maracas. Buy LEGO Minifigures Series 3 at LEGO.com for $2.99 a pop. If you want to avoid the lottery of the random bag then check eBay and Amazon where there are plenty available (with the inflated prices of course!)

Wahine of the Week: Bettie Page...

Okay okay so I should have done it sooner! Better late than never my Wahine of the Week is the one and only Bettie Page.

With locks as dark as midnight and a smile as bright as day, Bettie Page was much more than a beautiful pinup model, she was simply the best. A legend as much today as during her modelling days, every facet of Bettie's life and personality captures the interest and devotion of the thousands of fans that followed her career until the day of her mysterious disappearance.

Without elaborate props, costumes, or set-dressings, Bettie produced some of the most beautiful shots to ever grace the covers of hundreds of magazines. In 1955, Bettie won the title "Miss Pinup Girl of the World." In January 1955, she was the centerfold in Playboy’s January issue and named the "Girl with the Perfect Figure," with her photographs appearing in everything from record albums to playing cards. It’s hard to disagree.

The dark-haired girl from Nashville has become a living legend, a modern icon, a symbol of beauty and femininity that transcends ordinary standards. In the heart of her adoring fans, Bettie will forever remain the queen of pinups.

Official Fans Website.