Monday, August 22, 2011

Australian Furniture Guild Shows 1958 to 1965

My Husband and I are both slightly obsessed with Mid century design, particularly chairs. When I say slightly, our Study/guest bedroom is almost packed to the ceiling with furniture that doesn't fit anywhere else our little house, and don't get me started on the garage. Our house is quickly becoming the "house of chair".

Ben found this amazing set of images from the Sydney Guild Furniture Show in 1965 on the State Library of NSW website. It's amazing to see these pieces as they looked when first released. We have a few pieces from some of these makers that have stood the test of time in terms of workmanship/construction and design. Oh to be at that Furniture show...

 Fler display

 Parker

 Parker

 Parker

 Parker

 Parker



  Parker dining room-divine!



 Parker Knoll

 Parker Knoll Study

Vynoid display, I've never heard of this brand but love the brandname

Many an hour could be spent looking at these fantastic historical images. I'm off to make a cup of coffee and daydream for a bit...

Monday, August 15, 2011

Publisher Textiles, I love you...

I've had a long term love affair with Publisher Textiles since getting a freebie botanica print note book with an issue of Inside Out Magazine many years ago. They have the most beautiful range of hand printed fabrics and wallpapers. We have this Rocket Lamp covered in their "Apollo" print fabric in our lounge. Such a lovely intricate print:




I don't know if this fabric is still in print, but there are cushions available in denim colour on the Publisher Textile site here

After searching for about 2 years we found this fantastic mid Century Fler rocking chair. It had been badly recovered in dusty pink velvet, complete with cigarette burns, delightful. The foam was still in pretty good shape, so I thought I would have a go at re upholstering it. I used Publisher Textiles "Bugsey" fabric, which was the perfect weight and really easy to work with. Not bad for a first effort, I love it!






How amazing does the print look on a larger scale?


 Image from Inside Out Magazine via Publisher Textiles site here


I had enough fabric leftover to make this table runner:




I also bought a few meters of this gorgeous botanica print to play with. It's beautifully sheer and would make a lovely curtain. I would love to paper a room with this print one day, just need a bigger house!





Thursday, August 11, 2011

Geometric market finds

We found these at these lovely wooden shapes at the market last week. A real steal at six bucks! I'm not sure what they are but have some memory of them lurking from my childhood, school perhaps? The wood has a beautiful colour and grain. I'm always surprised by the funny things we find when treasure hunting.

The painting behind  the shapes was bought from a community art gallery on another country treasure hunting trip that weekend. Community galleries often have wonderful work that is ridiculously affordable. This beauty cost $35! We got to have a chat to the artist (Ann Williams) who told us the painting is based on the principals of Sodoku, interesting stuff!




The shapes remind me of the work of super talented Adelaide designers daniel-emma and their range of amazing desk accessories. I love the simplicity of their collections and the whole story of their brand. Despite working at some of the most amazing design studios in the world (Marc Newson, Thorsten Van Elten and Committee), they have chose to live and develop their brand here in little old Adelaide. It is a fantastic reminder that anything is possible no matter where you live.

A great interview with the talented couple can be found here on from The Design Files.




Friday, August 5, 2011

Birthday celebrations

I turned the big 34 last week and  had a lovely time celebrating. I generally try to avoid the birthday thing, but every few years I get my head out of the sand and invite a few friends over to celebrate. Good friends, good food and booze and some very lovely gifts. Feeling very spoiled and incredibly lucky.

Elias drew this 'black hole', (slight Space obsessed at the moment) for me at kindy. Kind of a big deal considering he hardly ever draws (much to Ben's dismay). It went straight to the pinboard!:


Some lovely lilies from my Dad, who lives on Kangaroo Island, but came over for the week to celebrate my brother Al and I's birthdays, conveniently 4 days apart:


A gorgeous little china owl box from have you met miss jones:
And my most favourite gift of all... our lovely friend and talented photographer Elise gave me framed prints of these gorgeous photos she took of Elias earlier this year. Heart melts every time I look at them, now to find the right spot for them:





I should do this birthday thing more often!