Archive for March, 2010

Make-it Friday – Daffodil Easter Basket

Tuesday, March 30th, 2010

Make up this Daffodil Easter Basket for your little bunnies… or even yourself (we all need something stylish and cute for the many, many chocolate eggs that will be coming our way!)

First gather your materials:

Yellow felt

Co-ordinating basket lining (I’ve used vintage flowery material)

Interfacing

Scissors

1. For ease make a template for the petals and cut out 6 – try drawing it free hand you’ll surprise yourself how easy this is!

2. Use a small bowl to trace around and cut out a circle to attach the petals.

3. Cut a rectangle out of the felt for the main body of the Daffodil. In order to get the nice trumpet cone shape,  cut each end with a diagonal, this will create the desired shape. Repeat with the lining material and stitch together.

4.  Next cut a strip of felt, (mine measured 10 x1 inch) interfacing and lining for the handle and fuse together. Hand sew into place.

5. To create the trumpet frill cut a long strip of the felt,  stitch wide tracks down the entire length. Pull on the threads to get an even ripple and stitch to the rim.

6. Go off skipping on your Easter egg hunt!

Searching for all things Easter I had my fake bunny ears stand on end when I found Boopsie daisy’s Flickr page. Images flooded with colour and love.


How could I (how could anyone) resist  falling in love with the colours, the flowers, the fun and the bows… this is the world in which I’d like to live… candy coloured forever spring like world…

Boopsie prints feature wide-eyed dolls, dressed up all purdy-like and photographed in the prettiest settings. As with all her prints they evoke that feeling of childlike wonder. Delight your eyes with them at her etsy shop.

Images to make your eyes pop and your heart bounce!

There is a delightful mix of vintage dolls like Kewpie, Strawberry Shortcake and  Blythe as well as the original Boopsiedaisy dolls that feature in some of the prints – Boopsiedaisy dolls are also available to sell.

Surly the love affair with Blythe dolls universal, shes a different doll to the Barbie, shes’ unique, probably a vintage gal (she was first made in the 1970s) has that wide-eyed innocent look that is both thoughtful and creative.  Poetry dances in her eyes, adorable, sweet. You just get a feeling she would make the best of friends too. See her below in bunny-ears with all her bunny friends, no doubt off to plan some merry Easter games.

Steampunk

Tuesday, March 30th, 2010

Forget beads, feathers, sequins and pearls… when it comes to jewellery design opt for vintage mechanics, such as cogs, brass fittings and the workings of the inside of a clock. Steampunk jewellery is the next thing and has exploded onto the scene with its combination of fantasy, Victoriana and modernity and the resulting creation is something out of this world.

The jewellery must be futuristic but also look Victorian, using pieces from the steam age including cogs, wheels, antique brass and filigree and is beautiful and quirky in equal measure. Here at Ollie&Agnes we love it.

Jewellery designer Miss Emily Ladybird-Adventuress, says: ‘ The main artistic references are taken from the arts and crafts movement of the Victorian-era, lots of sinuous curves and organic-feeling metal work which complements the practical nature of the Victorian steam age. Cogs, gears and moving parts are a key feature to this type of jewellery, so parts from old watches are a favourite signature. Each designer has their own take on Steampunk.

The genre is HUGE in the states and swiftly gaining in popularity in the UK, and Miss LBA tells us here at Ollie&Agnes that the Oxford science museum held a Steampunk exhibition earlier in the year and it attracted more people, through the doors, than had visited the museum in the previous two  years!

According to Miss Lady-Bird Adventuress Steampunk is definitely a “lifestyle” and literary movement, as well as a design-style, with conventions in the UK and USA. She says: ‘It is kind of like Goth or Punk in that it is a lifestyle as well as a design; dressing up in Victorian costume is a big part for many Steampunks, as is writing, reading and taking tea in the park. There are even bands who claim to play steampunk music!’

Steampunk is an alternative Victorian history inspired by the ‘Father of science fiction’ Jules Verne, author of Ten Thousand Leagues under the Sea and Journey to the Centre of the Earth and more recently Phillip Reeve who wrote the Larklight trilogy. Miss LBA explains: ‘It’s basically Victorian science fiction, and has actually been around forever,  but the phrase ‘Steampunk’ has only been used since 1980-something; when William Gibson and Bruce Sterling wrote “The Difference Engine”.  Since then, and with increasing frequency, fantasy films and graphic novels have used a lot of Steampunk design; including Hellboy and Vanhelsing.’

For more info check out the Victorian Steampunk Society and to see Miss Ladybird-Adventuress’ beautiful work – log on to: www.steampunkjewellery.co.uk , she also takes commissions and sells pieces at  www.etsy.com/SparkleyJem

PS: Ollie&Agnes favourites The Tea Appreciation Society has also written about Steampunk in the form of a teapot they discovered, which was influenced, by the trend. This work of art was created by Cincinnati-based designer Michael Morarity and is an example of elegance from the Victorian era. (Log onto: www.teaappreciationsociety.org to join this lovely group!)

Photo by Miss Ladybird-Adventuress.

Glove Flirtation

Monday, March 29th, 2010


Taken from The Lady’s Every Day Book which has been handed down from my Great-Great Grand Mother. ” A Practical Guide in the Elegant Arts and Daily Difficulties of Domestic Life”

Printed in 1875 it includes information on subjects “restricted to those of feminine interest” like “Rules for the Young Wife”, “The Art of Eating Oranges” and “How to Choose Perfumes for Handkerchief”

Glove Flirtation

When you wish to be acquainted, carry you gloves with the finger tips downward;

if you wish to say, Introduce me to your companion, use them as a fan;

for saying;

Be contented, hold them loose in the right hand;

I wish to get rid of you very soon, bit the finger tips;

Yes, drop one of them;

No, clench them rolled up in the right hand;

I am indifferent, draw one glove half way on the left

Follow me, strike them over the left shoulder;

I am engaged, toss them up gently

Be careful someone is watching us, twirl them round your fingers

I hate you, turn them inside out

I love another, tap your chin with them

Do you love me? put one on the left hand, with thumb exposed (!)

I love you, drop them both

Gloves can transport any type of day or evening wear to instant glamourpuss-heights… It’s amazing to me that actually if I noticed some fair maiden doing any or all of the above I probably could get a feel for what she was saying… the art of conversation as they say is 90% non-verbal and I think that goes double for glove flirtation – try it out and let me know how you get on!

I feel a slient mini movie glove flirtation featurette coming on!

For more vintage glamour accessories take a peek in store…

The Spring Cure 2010 – Week 2

Sunday, March 28th, 2010


I’ve had so much fun with the Apartment Therapy Spring Cure already, it really feels like things are slotting in nicely with that renewed feeling that springtime brings. Spaces have been cleared (mentally and physically) and I can already envision the changes that will incur and stick.

So the tasks this week have been:

Deep Treatment
- Fix one thing in your apartment yourself. Fixed the kitchen chair.
- Clean your kitchen from top to bottom and throw away old food. Done! Do things go off more quickly these days? My veg doesn’t keep well even in the crisper drawer…
- Buy a water filter and use it. We did have a water filter but never got around to habitually using it.
- Run your hands over every wall in your apartment. This feels lovely and reacquaints you with your home, like giving your house a real big hug! :D Lovely!
- Clear space for an Outbox. I love this idea, I have so many things I often find when doing the cleaning something always gets cleared out!
- Buy fresh flowers. Bought some daffs!
- Determine your style. I think I have settled on an updated bright flowery country look (best suited with my 200 year old cottage kitchen!)
- Find a new recipe and cook one meal at home. The Delicious Miss Dahl came to my recipe rescue (see below)
- Choose the date for your housewarming. 8th May!

One-Room Remedy
- Decide what activities you want in your room and where they will go. Erm… kitchen for cooking, hallway for general getting from one room to the next :P
- Buy, borrow, or make a floor plan tool. This won’t be necessary for either room but great if you’re looking at re-doing a bedroom or lounge.
- Map out the room that bothers you the most and work out your solution. This is centred around the lighting and the open fire. I will need to book a sweep and electrician in the weeks ahead-’tis the only solution!
- Name your vision. Heathers hallway into heavenly kitchen..
- Build a Shopping List. Easy and delightful to do.

I was so inspired this week by watching the all new food programme by Sophie Dahl ~ The Delicious Miss Dahl ~ watching it in the wee early hours of the morning, this first delicious and delectable episode talked about those wonderful days where you can be purely selfish- taking that important time to make something tasty just for YOU! It is so rewarding to truly go with that feeling and self indulge in all those wonderful meals prepared at your own pace for you only. Wonderful! I made the omelette this week but definitely have the Peanut-butter fudge marked as a must do!

Enjoy!

Watch the entire episode on BBC iPlayer. (WARNING – You’ll want to cook all these meals!)

SEW Column: Patchwork Cover

Friday, March 26th, 2010




Viva La Pimp

Thursday, March 25th, 2010

Photobucket

Check out the Hot Tongs Blog – super great glamourous write-ups!

My handmade vintage hair bows got a mention ~ lovely!

Lambs leap..

Sunday, March 21st, 2010

Lambs leap,

Flowers peep

through the earth, Spring is birth…

Everyone is happy now.

~An original from my lovely big sis Miss Linette Jones (circa age 5) – quite the perfect Springtime poem.

Vintage Daisy Dress at Extinct Design

Blossom Image By Dan

The Spring Cure 2010 – Week 1

Saturday, March 20th, 2010


Week One – Show  & Tell

I’ve signed up to Apartment Therapy’s Spring Cure 2010 and very excited about it! You can follow everyones progress on Flickr too!

I plan to concentrate on my hallway (image tray pic above) & kitchen.

Might keep adding mydifferent style trays / mood boards. I love making them up. You can probubly guess I’m pretty keen on pattern. I love to sit different patterns next to each other to see what works. I am undecided as yet to whether I want to continue with a cute country look in apple white and flowery patterns or edge more towards a funky finish with a mix of high design accents. Oh the choice!


Those vegetable mugs are a must however and will have to work with whatever I decide.

So this is a brief overview of whats in order for this week:

I’m going to follow the still Deep Treatment tasks (although applies to your entire pad) but concentrate on the One Room Remedy, it will get me organised even if I don’t tackle everything.

You can check out everyone’s photos and how their doing in the Apartment Therapy Flickr Group, post your own or add comments. Its a fabulous community of interior design enthusiasts making their homes that every bit better one manageable task at a time.

Deep Treatment
- Make a complete list of repairs and solutions.
- Vacuum and mop the floors.
- Remove one item from your apartment and put it outside.
- Buy fresh flowers.
- Sit for ten minutes in a part of your home that you never sit in.
- Look into earth-friendly cleaning products.

One-Room Remedy
- Choose one room.
- Gather pictures of rooms you love.
- Start a style tray.
- Visit your favourite home store.
- Set your budget.

Decisions must be made but for now I s’pose I’m just a lil bit country… a little bit rock n roll… and a whole lotta kitsch! Hit it Donny n Marie!

My Flickr – www.flickr.com/photos/extinctdesign/

Vintage Snob… moi?

Wednesday, March 17th, 2010

OK, yeah, I know – I admit it! At times, there have been moments where… I can be a complete VINTAGE SNOB!!

HAS to be original HAS to have a certain look… Same goes for films set in the sixties, music that thinks its sixties… d’ya “catch my drift?” (Ahem. Me trying to use sayings from way back when)  What makes vintage, “vintage” to me is that it was there living through that time, those moments, taking in the air, the whole vibe of the time… I do love the current upcycle and re-direction of clothing using materials from vintage periods as it still retains the same sort of flavour…

Back in my university days (I’m reminiscing a lot lately) I did my final year dissertation on The Pin-Up; Imagery and Photography. I loved the hairstyles, the fabrics, the shapes and the mood of the pictures ~ such genuine beauty with a big dollup of saucy fun!

So I guess it’s rare that I see something that gives me the same feeling as vintage photography or the magic of that thrift shop find, if it’s not the genuine article. Something with the same sense of style from those glamourpuss days…that age and warmth.

But Adam Gaverluk has changed all that! Shooting images of the female form exclusively and as he puts it “as there is nothing more interesting or more beautiful”  Dang right! Check out his site Adam Gaverluk Photography, for Fashion, Portrait, Fine Art, Glamour & Pin Up.

I suppose that’s just what photographers, artists, painters are meant to do… make you stop, look and think a while…

…and if that’s not all his sister owns the fabulous Weezi.com – a place for new and recycled t-shirt tops,  bags, vintage items and handmade dresses!!

Q is for…

Monday, March 15th, 2010


Queen of Hearts
And all things Wonderland…

Curiouser and curiouser!

Alice – My own tail…

I recall my 2nd year of University French exchange trip took me to a Parisian apartment up many swirling flights of stairs where during my stay I read Alice in Wonderland in french… I laugh now as I too was lost in a strange land… I came across a rabbit…  I saw it left abandoned on a little low brick wall outside the Cergy-Pontoise University, picked it up – much to the horror of exchange partner who tried to dissuade me from taking “Nou-nours” right there and then, I decided after the tour of the university I if he was still there I could rightfully claim him. What Joy when I saw he still there! I survived that time mainly on peppered olives from the local and fabulous Marcadet Poissonniers market and cheap European version of orange fanta… visiting the endless galleries, museums and shows… what sights for my eyes… Paris J’adore – its my own special wonderland…

Hair Heart – Facinator, Stripey Black and White Tights, Vintage Bow-Tie

Quant – 60s design queen

The Mary Quant ethos was that fashion should exist for everyone, not just for the privileged few… Opening first store, Bazaar in London in 1955 it was an instant hit! After experimental designs and a second store, Quant was exporting to the U.S.  Working with young model Twiggy creating the fashion storm that was the “mod” look.  Her mix and match looks of stockings, accessories, coats and boots really earnt her title as The designer of the mid sixties.  Known of course mainly for the mini-skirt (the namesake of her favourite car) Mary Quant reflected the time, the women and shaped the decade with her creations… Quant, queen of inspiration…

*Vintage Mary Quant Nylons * Black & White Stripy Vintage * Black Velvet Bow-Tie *