Mid Century Modern Furniture

09:26:00 MoonDoggie 2 Comments

This poster by James Provost is eye candy for the 'mid-mo' furniture lover. It features iconic pieces from mid - century designers including my faves from Eames, Aarnio and Jacobsen.

I really like the round ones - like the ball chair and the egg chair. They seem so cosy and inviting. Maybe some day in the future I will own one.

You can see more on his flickr. Prints are also available!

2 comments:

Spruce Mother Goose

22:46:00 MoonDoggie 6 Comments

I mentioned recently that I found a vintage children's book at a car boot sale - 'Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes', illustrated by Esme Eve (1958). Well, as I had the scanner out I decided to scan a few gems to share.

There are sooooo many nursery rhymes in this book - a lot I've never even heard of (and I've heard a few). There's even a very, shall we say... politically incorrect rhyme.

If you have a favourite nursery rhyme, tell me in a comment and I'll scan the illustration. Wonder if we will stump the book?

See more scans on my flickr stream.

6 comments:

Wonderful World of Jim Flora

18:55:00 MoonDoggie 5 Comments

I am becoming increasingly interested in mid-century art. Not that I wasn't before... the interest is just rapidly INCREASING. Somehow I came across Jim Flora. Not sure how but most probably blog surfing and his work has stuck with me since.

He did quite a few funky album covers. I found this montage on flickr.

He illustrated and wrote a few children's books as well. Here are a few of my favourites.

The Day the Cow Sneezed

Written and Illustrated by James Flora

ward-o-matic

A Red Skel[e]ton In Your Closet

flickr

Some more of his art that I found on the Jim Flora website - http://www.jimflora.com/.

www.jimflora.com

And for a touch of synchronicity, I found his art used on an Esquivel album,whom I have also featured here on moondoggie.

flickr

5 comments:

Diet Vintage Style

16:15:00 MoonDoggie 3 Comments

All this blogging has not really encouraged a healthy lifestyle. I spend far too much time on the computer - it's just so darn addictive!

While thinking how I should get up and get active, my thoughts naturally turned to vintage diet techniques. So instead of getting up, I've decided to blog about it instead.

Although outside of my usual mid-century bracket, I just had to include the first one - sanitized tape worms will banish the enemy that is shortening my life!

Gum, jelly, pills and some kind of equipment that looks like a vaccuum cleaner were also invaluable in the quest for a perfect figure - according to the advertising of the time at least.

For more great diet related mid century advertising, visit this flickr pool.

3 comments:

A Doggie Went A-Hunting

23:53:00 MoonDoggie 4 Comments

Had quite a busy day hunting for coolness. Went to a car boot sale and managed to get some super things at great prices.

First find was this tiki glass float decoration. I was really pleased to find this as there isn't much tiki around in England. Think I'll probably replace the 'net' with one made by my own hands though. I just really wanted the glass float.

Then I saw this wonderful vintage Cadbury Biscuit tin. It has what seems to be mid century illustrations of knights jousting with medieval looking emblems on the side. It's so bright and colourful it makes me happy to look at it. Not sure of the date yet. I hope it's not one of those reproduction tins, but then again, I like it so much I don't really care if it is.

My final purchase was a nursery rhyme book illustrated by Esme Eve. This 1958 edition has seen better days but most of the pages are still in good condition and the illustrations are divine. These would look gorgeous framed but I still haven't decided what I'm going to do with them. They are so lovely to look at.

We also had a drive around some local villages in search of mid century English houses, which I will post on another time. Hope you're all having great weekends so far!

4 comments:

Got wood?

17:30:00 MoonDoggie 3 Comments

I find so many cool things while browsing Etsy but this wooden wall art really stood out to me. It would look so cool in my dream house! This piece comes in different stains and there are also some side and coffee tables. I also think this headboard is pretty special.

I wish I had the money to buy even one tenth of all the things I want.

Experience the coolness at mstrf's shop.

3 comments:

Shop Update

07:25:00 MoonDoggie 1 Comments

I've finally added some more Ebbo Art to my shop on Etsy.

Three new pieces (in order of photographs below): Nuclear Spring, Quattro Stagioni and Bank Holiday Monday.

Bank Holiday Monday takes the prize for strangest title so far but that's the artist for you. ;)

So far I have only added Nuclear Spring to misi (I got a bit fed up of it) but I have also listed this musical jewellery box. You may remember this box from my first antique shopping experience in the post, My Antique Fair Lady.

To see more images, please click on the photos or visit my shops through the links on the sidebars.

1 comments:

Desk of Dreams

19:20:00 MoonDoggie 3 Comments

Could this be the funkiest desk in the world?

Designed in 1969 by Maurice Calka and apparently only 5 of these were ever made.
This one's currently up for auction at Sotheby's with an estimated price of £60 000 to £90 000!
At least the chair comes with it.

Information and images from Retro to Go.

3 comments:

Modernism Rediscovered

20:56:00 MoonDoggie 8 Comments

Well, I'll never convince 'the husband' but I've found my new dream book.

I was browsing through flickr and came across a gorgeous black and white photo of children playing outside a gorgeous mid century home.

A few things stood out to me.

I LOVE the bike and other period toys scattered around.

The early evening lighting lends a certain atmosphere to the picture. It reminds me of playing outside as the sun went down, not wanting to come inside.

Then I look closer and see a girl playing with her pram inside. I notice that one of the boys is absorbed in a book. Wonderful.

I noticed it was taken from a book called Modernism Rediscovered by Julius Shulman and there were a few more images from the book on ouno's photostream - just as (or almost as) wonderful. "I want this book" I said to myself and popped on over to amazon uk to find it comes in three lovely hard back books at the cost a mere £199.99 (marked down from £200 - bargain).

As much as I love books, I can't really justify spending that much. But I added it to my wish list. Oh, yes I did.

As I researched Julius Shulman, who is, it turns out, a very well known architectural photographer, I then came across this photograph (on CORSIWORLD's photostream) which made me gasp...

Simply stunning.

8 comments:

Pass the Swizzle Sticks

22:53:00 MoonDoggie 2 Comments

Here are some cool, vintage, cocktail bars I found on ebay.

The first g-plan looked a tad dull at first but it looked a lot cooler when opened. I'm really into curved furniture at the moment. This seems to be reflected in my choice of bars here.

I keep changing my mind about which one I like the most ... although I'm leaning towards the white one with the quilted padding. It's all academic though really as none of them would fit into my home at the moment.

Which is your favourite?

And for the tiki fans among us, I thought this was quite a cool bamboo drinks trolley for a tiki lounge.

2 comments:

Surprise!

22:08:00 MoonDoggie 2 Comments

Now, anyone reading this who has known me for a while (I know you're out there lurking!) will be very shocked to hear this news... I have a sewing machine!!!

I've spent so long looking at etsy and all the crafty blogs out there, that when I read a message on the board at work offering a free sewing machine to a good home, I actually thought about it.

I have NEVER been one partial to sewing - despite my mum's best efforts I avoided it like the plague. However, since I'm miles away from her and have no one to hem my trousers for me, I have found myself thinking from time to time, "if I had a sewing machine..."

So, I now have a sewing machine in my possession. Mind you, I have NO idea how to use it so until I find the time to get my head around it, it will stay in the boot of my car.

I think my first project will be to make a headband with some funky retro/vintage fabric. I found a pattern on the mmmcrafts' blog. This lady's really talented. Check out her Baby Binky Bunnies - they're almost too cute.

Before I go, I really must comment on the picture accompanying this post. 'Mom' actually looks a bit unimpressed with her present to me. "Gee, thanks...a sewing machine...". It's as if the family have played a cruel joke on her. 'Dad' looks smug, like he got one over on her and Junior seems to be laughing fiendishly. But maybe it's just me...

2 comments:

Yawn!

23:03:00 MoonDoggie 2 Comments

I really wanted to post about something swish today but I got caught up in designing web stuff on illustrator. I was enjoying myself so much I lost track of time and now realise I'm knackered and really must toddle off to bed.

I'll be back with something more interesting tomorrow - promise.

2 comments:

Twittering On

22:09:00 MoonDoggie 1 Comments

After hearing a lot about 'twitter', I opened up an account a while ago and basically left it. This was mostly due to the fact that none of my friends are particularly technically minded. Well, some are, but they're not on twitter. I've now decided to give it another go.

I've also decided to add a little 'find me' box to the left side bar to help me keep track of myself!

My online presence has increased dramatically over the past few months - I used to always be a bit of a lurker but now I seem to be putting my two pennies worth in all over the place! I love getting comments so I figured other people must too. I've been watching my 'followers' slowly grow and I seem to have gained a few loyal 'moondoggers'. Thanks guys - your comments are important to me and its nice to know someone's listening. :)

If you are currently lurking, I urge you to step out of the shadows and join in - it's fun!