Self-Gifting

It's that time of year when we're all rushing around frantically doing last minute 
preparations for Christmas. It's a busy time, but I feel like my Christmas has 
already happened... my present-to-self has arrived :) 


This is my updated collection...





I've fallen in love with a 1950s dinnerware range by Franciscan Potteries called
Starburst. It was only made between 1954 and 1957. I just love the fresh and fun 
1950s vibe. As you can see, it's taken top shelf position ;)

Last month I was an obsessive eBay lurker... all these amazing pieces appeared 

and some kind of craziness came over me. Thank goodness for Christmas and the 

certainty that my family would greatly appreciate me arranging my own present ;)

Do you do this too? Is it a universal truth that we purchase, wrap and place our
own gifts under the tree these days? I'm certainly thrilled with mine :)
The only thing I really wanted but wasn't able to get was a Starburst teapot...
but then there's always my birthday in March! (hint hint family)





Hope you've all found your special gifts-to-self for this year, or that you have
lovely families who find just the right thing for you :)

Inspiration: Renée Rossouw

I've been swooning over a lot of ceramic work lately... are ceramics the new 

'wallpaper'? These lovelies are part of the Pattern Diary collection of South 

African designer Renée Rossouw.

As is so often the way, she was originally an architecture student (don't you 

find that the most interesting people began by studying architecture?)... 

Rossouw's love of graphic pattern-making was honed at the European 

Design Labs in Madrid under the direction of Jaime Hayon.

You can really see her love of comics and colour in her pattern board below.

And just in case you were wondering about their size, this cute

blue-footed photo below shows the scale of the pieces.

You can see more on Renée Rossouw's website.

via

A most beautiful thing :)

I received a most beautiful thing from a really good egg in the post today... 

It's a crocheted egg!  Isn't it gorgeous? :)

I think it looks perfect on another lovely gift – a lace-pressed bowl.

First, I had them next to my much-loved hoop girl...

... and then I realised that they actually belong with swinging girl :)

She reminds me of someone... can you guess who?

Ceramic lace + organic skirts

I've just received some yummy crafty post :) I'm a hopeless case when it comes to resisting a beautiful brooch. These lovelies are the latest creations of talented ceramicist Kim Wallace here in Brisbane. Had to have them and how could I possibly choose between them? Kim is also the driving force behind the creative e-shop Udessi... have a stroll around and see all the fabulous goodies she has on offer.

I had coffee with the lovely Mady yesterday and she hand-delivered one of her divine pieces... I'm totally in love with this skirt :) Mady creates these pieces from organic cottons and hemp which she dyes herself. You can see her shop here and she has two fabulous blogs, Abundance and Mady Dooijes, as well as a gorgeous Tumblr site.

Friday Finds: Sculptural Ceramics

There's something about whimsical ceramics that I find incredibly inspiring and the work of British artist Katherine Morling has me longing to see it in person. I think it's the interplay between the fine artistry in its detail and the satisfying sureness and weight of the pieces that seems at once fragile and permanent. When I first saw them I felt sure they were made out of cardboard - they almost have that 'window display' kind of presentation. Discovering they were sculptures in porcelain and ceramic made me want to touch them and feel that cool surface that one would think was so at odds with the inventive forms they portray. They're so much fun, don't you think? :)

You can find more of Katherine Morling's work here and here.

via Coolhunting

Sunday Stash: Homemaker tableware

I don't think Sunday Stash is operating as a meme anymore but I thought I'd do my own today today anyway. This is a very special stash to me. Found at a second-hand store here in Brisbane, six original 'Homemaker' plates from Ridgeway Potteries Ltd (Staffordshire). I love them.

They were designed in 1957 by Enid Seeney as an affordable range of tableware especially for the Woolworths stores. All the plates are stamped on the back with the year they were produced and mine range from 1962 till 1968. The range was produced until 1970.

Designer Enid Seeney studied at the Burslem School of Art and did her apprenticeship at the Spode Copeland works, where she learned to paint and gild ceramics. The random domestic items and furniture she placed in this design are apparently other design classics from that time, including a Robin Day armchair, a Sigvard Bernadotte sofa and a Bernard Russell sideboard.

I did a bit of web-wandering to see if they were still available and it seems they've become collectors' items now (with prices to match, of course!) If my Valentine is reading, I'd love some matching cup and saucers and a teapot! ;) Aren't they just exquisite? Love my plates :) Do you have a favourite ceramic find?

Inspiration: Stig Lindberg

This is a very self-indulgent post, I'm afraid. I realise the whole world probably already knows of the amazing Stig Lindberg and I'm not even going to attempt to precis a career that spanned so many functional art forms. This is simply a visual feast because it is so very inspiring. There is an official site for Stig Lindberg (in English) here and about a google of other hits should you wish to explore further ;)

The lovely people who signed up for my PiF (Pay it Forward) will be pleased to hear that I'm finally on to this item in my list of things to do.... and hopefully they'll be glad to hear that the wonderful Stig is featuring highly in my inspiration for this :)