The Strange Case of Ethel & Sian

External Brief

Flipside - You are living side A of your life, what is side B?

I explored the subject of alter egos and split personalities hoping to find a way to express my old fashioned personality, and came across the well-known tale of Jekyll and Hyde. I utilised the narrative to create my own rhyming story about how I took a potion which could turn me into an old lady. I then made the designs for a set of vintage plates so that the story and illustrations could be read accross in an order. Finally I presented these plates on an old dresser along with articles that were described in the story.

Story telling plates dresser granny poem rhyme story Victorian old fashioned floral presentation alter ego Jekyll and Hyde

My name is Sian and I have a secret - one I've never told.
I'm from Milton Keynes and since my teens, I've dreamt of being old.

Modern life was not for me - computers weren't my scene.
But that all changed, with one exchange, the day that I met Jean.

I'd helped her out as she crossed the road, so she gave me a recipe.
'It's not what you think', she said with a wink, 'I know that you'd rather be me.'

Some lavender stems, a thimble of milk and a dash of sherry wine -
sat next to me was Jean's special tea and it smelt ever so divine.

I sipped away as calm as could be, then suddenly felt quite strange.
Wrinkles everywhere! And locks of grey hair! I'd somehow started to age!

I sat down in my arm chair with the radio on, surrounded by doilies galore.
I placed down my cup, and propped my feet up, I was ready for an afternoon snore.

I woke to a knock upon the front door, and wondered just what would they think?
Who is this old gran and did she eat Sian? Just where did I put those mints?

I pulled it together and took out my rollers, I needed to get on the right track.
Jean told me a humbug would be the right drug to help me get myself back.

My skin went smooth as my energy peaked, my body regaining its youth.
'This easy?' I thought, I'll never get caught and no-one will know the truth!

With ingredients stocked and a mint in my bag, I played the cards I'd been dealt.
Ethel was the name, and how could I complain, I was the happiest that I'd ever felt.