Swarm inspired

Sfgirlbybay posted about the work of former Anthropologie visual director Lesley Oschmann. Well having quite literally been reduced to tears by the wonderfulness of the Christmas window at the newly opened regent street site of Antthropologie with its 15ft newspaper polar bear....I needed to see more. Oschmann's Swarm studio in Amsterdam is amazing. All kinds of mid century furniture finds recovered in stitched and cut art canvas.Go and see.

Leslie Oshmann's work at Swarm

I rescued a pile of tiny infant school plywood chairs from the furniture recycling centre. I keep changing my mind about what to do with them. It was going to be decopage. Then it was going to be vintage wallpaper. Lately we've been pondering a fabric wrap but now.....well would it be wrong to try using a canvas?

Anthony Burrill poster from The Lollipop Shop

Its such an original idea of  that it seems such a cheet to steal it but the effect is so amazing I think I've got to have a go.

I asked the hairy one what he thought.

He's not confident it will work.

Colour Combo love

Well is almost a year since the chosen one bought me what is still my favourite Cream top from the lovely boutique that is MyaRosa. No....that's not me in the photo...if only.

Wearing sparked an almost uncontrollable love for the pink/orange/lilac combination which has had untold implications for both the kitchen and the bedroom.

But now a new piece of retro loveliness has fallen into our lives and is both folly and cause of much glee.

 A fabulous 1950s/60s eiderdown quilt in perfect unused condition. Look at that colour combo - chartreuse green/yellow with rose pink. I do not dare even place it on the bed for fear of sparking another new colour combo fetish.

Better put it into the shop quick.

Morrell inspired

I revisted the web site of Frederique Morrell yesterday.Her work is truly spectacular and truly eccentric...but oh so inspiring. Well worth a browse not just for the gallery of amazing products but there's also a slide show on how they made the life size reclaimed tapestry deer. I found the statement about the philosophy behind her work to be very powerful.

....so this evening I have sewn my own Morrell inspired cushion for Folly&Glee incorporating the "special ingredients: materials that tell stories of simple, ideal happiness"....in this case 1950s barkcloth with blue poppies, 1960s chenille trim, a vintage flying duck tapestry. Happy days.

...should have been in Frankfurt.

Well not the family city break in Germany that we had planned.

The power and wrath of nature with the eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland has I suspect made us all feel rather small.

We were lucky enough to have heard the news of flight disruption in time to head of in a different direction and explore the Kent coast......and a good time was had by all. A timely reminder that often real happiness is closer to home than we might think?

Spring Fling feature

Oh my goodness Rita has just been kind enough to let me know that my vintage barkcloth patchwork cushion has been featured as part of a Spring Fling feature on the  fabulous Sfgirlbybay blog.

sfgirlbybay is known for representing ‘Bohemian Modern Style’ and for showcasing the freshest designers, artists, crafters, products and trends. It's really given me a much needed confidence boost. I've only been blogging a week or so and the Folly and Glee shop won't open til the end of the month.........to be placed in the company of some of the other gorgeous Spring creations here is just such a buzz.

I'm now itching to take a tour of some of the other blogs mentioned....just look at the amazing curtains next to the bird cage by dottie angel. I know what I'm going to be doing this evening (oggling pics on Flickr) and heaven help anyone else in this house who needs the PC!

Cathrineholm + barkcloth or fablon

I have a dilemma. A wonderful dilemma it's true but a dilemma none the less. Thrifting friend (J) and I had fabulous day trawling the junk shops of one of our rather more neglected south coast towns this weekend. There were several wondrous finds all of which will be revealed in due course but its little Cathrineholm saute pan that's the cause of current deliberations.

Tucked away at the bottom of a cardboard box beneath many a  sad and no longer loved kitchenalia bits it's  truly a miracle that this little lovely lay undiscovered and in perfect unused condition. His loveliness was recignised immediately but we had no name for him until after a little look at the interweb revealed a whole world of Catherineholm loveliness.

But what now for said pan - where does he sit best?

Is it to be (a) nestled in the alcove above the hob backed by the single wall of gloreous 60s French fablon OR in the window nustling next to my favourite barkcloth patchwork curtains.

Please help?

Crochet Stooly Bin Thing

Really pleased with my crochet stool top finished today. We have a great little Danish Mod desk on the landing and its a nice communal space for a laptop and family browsing.......but its very low and the big boys in this house were looking a bit stooped over it. A thrifting friend (J) was very sweet and passed this 70s storage bin/stool thing on to me cos I love these colours. Its been skulking in the office doing a grand storage job but I think its found its real purpose in life now. A new foam seat and a crochet cover and its good to go. The bonus is every time I pass and find boy "stuff" spilling out over said desk I can scoop it up and shove it into stooly bin thing.

If anybody had said "Polly you'll crochet a top for your stooly bin thing" a month or so ago I woud have sighed in dismay cos alas I could not crochet a stitch. However thanks to the patience of talented friend (A), inspiration from the super gorgeous Woodandwoolstool, and an old bag pattern from a fab 70's Golden Hands magazine ...I did it. 

 

Boys of course think the flower a tad unnecessary but it hides the hole in the middle where I haven't yet mastered the crochet magic circle method. Anyway tis nice and soft for their buts cos its crocheted in Rowan Purelife organic cotton. The colours are really unusual ( I used lipstick tree/brazilwood and quebracho cuba) and are the result of natural plant dyes.  Pleased to report already been in the washer and the tumble dryer with no ill effects.

You can read more about the certification of organic cotton at bioRe and exactly what they do to support the farming community that produces this super wool. Just to help get the message across about their good intentions Rowan have free downloads of a cute trio of knitting patterns for Eco Eric, his girl and now a lamb.

Easter Sunday and all's well

Easter Sunday and we've enjoyed putting together the fabulous Cluck Gable, Eggory Peck and Sophia Le Hen paper cut outs from Mibo. These Yolk Folk were such good fun we might try the Carrot Crew after a slice of something chocolatey.