:: Good Times Ahead

 Great Day!

Today I scoured the local oppy's for glassware because Modern Times have asked me to return for their next installment! 

More Macrame!

They are expecting a new shipment of vintage furniture delights in august!...I will keep you updated.

Whilst mooching about I spied the lovely Pip from Meet Me at Mikes. 

She is my crafty guru!

She kindly chatted to me and let me gush at her!

I'm still smiling from our chance meeting :)

Then the morning got even better because I came home to inch high fluffy pancakes and a hot cup of tea....yum!

:Pippa.

:: Looking Good!

 Hello, 

I went on a little blogging course last Saturday to learn some fancy ways to use Photoshop and Illustrator, to help improve the look of the blog!

Well what fun I had and have been having since! 

Here are what I have played around with so far...

 Banners! I have chosen to use the pink one! 
I know PINK? but it feels right oddly, so I'm going for it!
I will say it loud and say it proud, ouch flower is pink!

 Turn a photo into a button, love this! More buttons please!

 The beginning of the ouch flower logo, there will be more to come.....soon!

Well where did I have all this fun? 

Well the lovely Simone from States of Nature, is running these courses in Sydney and Melbourne, do check them out!

:Pippa.

:: Yarn Bombing Update!

 The Melbourne winter has firmly set in but our trees are looking cosy!
So many of our staff at school have come out to knit and crochet squares to decorate the tree's! 
So far so good!

On side note I have been drawing! I was so inspired by the Willa's Wildlife illustrations that I had to draw my own.

At the moment you see a very faint pencil drawing......I'm now stuck!

Should I just add fine liner or go all out and render in coloured pencil?

Sorry the pic is a bit ordinary, it's so hard to photograph white paper!

I will update soon on my progress. 

I'm still doing macrame and crocheting a blanket as well!

...... Busy, busy, busy!

Happy Tuesdays to you!

:Pippa.

:: 24/06/06 - 24/06/12

Lion -Lisa Larson.

 Today, Mr Ouch Flower and I celebrate 6 years of wedded bliss but it has been 12 years that we have shared our lives together!

Someone has been paying attention, because here is my gift.....soooo lovely! 
Big smiles over here :)

We had a small wedding in a pub, on the Mornington Peninsula, no fuss..... just great canapes, live music and a huge bar bill, thanks Dad!
Literally, my Father and Father in law were stationed at the bar, out doing themselves with the Guinness and whiskey chasers!

I was determined to create everything for the wedding myself invites, pin holes, thankyou gifts, wedding jewellery, hair, makeup etc

This did not include the dress, which was lovingly made by a dear friend, using this vintage Vogue pattern.

We altered the front to a V and AUD $50.00 later, done!

I couldn't do flowers so I made this beaded bag instead and the brooch, to add to my belt.

 We were smiling with joy but it was cold and wet and @ 5pm when this pic was taken, very similar to today's weather!

::Pippa.

PS You have gotta love a Scotsman in his kilt!

:: Midwinter Homage

Thrift finds-gasp!

 Now this is a going to be a long post, so go make yourself a cuppa and settle in!

Midwinter, popular for collectors due to the tireless designing of notable UK Designer Jessie Tait.

Spanish Garden and Country Garden 1960's

3rd edition of the Midwinter Pottery Book.

I have been hunting for this book for a while now, so when the 3rd edition became available, I swooped like a hungry falcon!

I have learnt from its glossy pages that the Midwinter Pottery was looking to boost sales after the post war gloom, they created the stylecraft shape (1953) inspired by a trip to the West Coast U.S where Roy Midwinter viewed the work of Eva Zeisel 

(psst linked to Mid2Mod, Dana did a great post here and this is where I first learnt of Eva)and Russell Wright.

These wares were rimless, organic in shape, no banding typical of traditional pre-war forms and the colour palette was brighter, cleaner!

The stylecraft shape was developed to have an "ease of cleaning and economic storage" for "smaller homes and tighter budgets" all to captured the younger generation.

This was the beginning of the "starter pack", 20 pieces- four tea cups & saucers, tea plates, dinner plates and cereal bowls.

Young couples could add to their collection and replace as necessary. 

Does this not sound familiar?

Do you remember buying your first set of crockery?

 Browsing through this lovely book I have selected the Midwinter ranges I will happily swoop on, if I found them in the wild!

Plant Life by Terence Conran.

The "Plant Life" design in the fashion shape 1956.

What a delightful design and still relevant to today's current market!

Vase-Caribbean

Caribbean.

 This design is in the fashion shape (1955)
again the colour combination and organic motif is timeless. I don't think I could handle the complete set, to use daily but a nice wee plate or vase or both would be nice!

Festival.

 "Festival" in the fashion shape was inspired by the Festival of Britain.

Savanna.

 "Savanna" in the fashion shape and the fancy shape (1940's-1960's).

Vase Collection-Tonga, Candlesticks, Bands & Dots.

  I fear another collection is going to start if I ever manage to get my hands on one of these beauties!

image via book.

These are the lovely showroom ladies  c:1960, look at those hairdo's, glasses and pins!
 If I was born in this era, I think this is where I would like to be, move over Jessie Tait!


 Thanks for reading!

:Pippa 

 In the book there are excellent images of the shape guides and pictures of the early design drawings for some of the popular designs, I haven't posted these because I strongly encourage you to buy the book...and I don't want to upset the copyright police either!

Images Via

:: June Celebrations

It's my Dad's birthday this Sunday.....so what to give a man 65 years young? 

A picture of his offspring on their wedding days, with him. 

All of us looking our best!

 

A bit of Photoshop later and Ta Da as they say!

Yes that's me and the handsome bugger in the kilt is my big Bro!

Incidentally both my brother and I celebrate our wedding anniversaries in June, so the wedding pics kind of fit well...brrrr they were both, cold and wet days!

But more about that later!

All the best for the weekend!

:Pippa

:: More Macrame

Off to Modern Times again, with the latest batch of Hangers!

No two are alike, which is probably what keeps me going, I kinda see them as little art gardens. 

I hope your not tired of seeing these? :)

But when in Collingwood you have to shop as well, here's the booty! No pun intended!

This winter I have given up black!  

Black! did I hear you say, no self respecting Melbournian, gives up black. 
Well I have decided too because it makes me look sickly and pasty. So bring on teals and blues!

New Portuguese Leather boots!

New Hornsea Vase-LOVE!

New Read, which will have a post all of it's own, soon!

Happy long weekend, Thanks Queenie!

:Pippa

:: Trio Neon Supreme!

Diana Ross eat your heart out! 

This neon business is the business and I'm on for the ride, with a bit of Ouch Flower flavour!

Bright aren't they?

When you have recovered, I'm planning to open the shop with these babies in August to celebrate my 1 year blog anniversary. 

What do you think?

Hope you are well, no nasty winter bug has you at it's mercy?

Ta,

:Pippa