Reinvention is not a new idea. From Pretty Woman, My Fair Lady – in fact right back to Pygmalion – we have been mesmerised by the idea of transformation. It’s all about reinventing – or upcycling as we often term it…
Reinvention is not a new idea. From Pretty Woman, My Fair Lady – in fact right back to Pygmalion – we have been mesmerised by the idea of transformation.
This is slightly different to crafting, where you take materials purpose-built to be made into something, such as wool or fabric, and fashion them them into a new garment. This is taking things with one purpose that have perhaps had their day, and giving them new life in a crafty resurrection; to carry on with the metaphor, it’s like Easter at Christmas time.
I love this idea of reinventing – or upcycling as we often term it – old things to make new gifts. In the past; during the War, or in times of recession, it was just being thrify. Everyone did it. Now, when we can afford new things, those who prefer to make these old things new, with their inherent charm and history, do it by choice.
I was so excited when I got Homemade Gifts Vintage Style that I went to bed taking the book with me. For me, there are three favourite projects in it for me to make; teacup candles, teapot planters and plate cake stands.
Written by English vintage addict and mother of three Sarah Moore, who sells at local craft markets so knows what works and what doesn’t, the book – published by Kyle Books at $45.00 – is a hardcover coffee table tome with a full page colour photo at each turn.
She has divided – so you may conquer- the projects into sections of Made by Hand, Sewn by Hand, and Sewn by Machine, thus giving no-one the excuse of lack of technology or sewing expertise to master at least a few. In fact some projects would be suitable to do with primary aged children to give to grandparents for Christmas presents.
Giving this story its title, New Vintage, subtitled The Homemade Home: Beautiful Interiors and How-To Projects is another beautiful coffee table hardcover book with projects of a more housey than crafty nature.
It contains how-to guides on restoring antiques, making curtains and cushions, and tips on decorating.
The author Tahn Scoon is an interior decorator and stylist herself with a magazine column and radio voice on interiors and the pages, photographed beautifully by Anastasia Kariofyllidis look like pages from aspirational interior magazines like Vogue Living. Some of it looks slightly more British in style than the more relaxed feel we have in New Zealand, but that doesn’t matter; the tips and projects are completely transferable whether you live in a Chelsea mansion or a Birkdale bungalow.
I want to do her project of recovering old kitchen stools and may use some Brazilian coffee sacks I have in the basement. The Birkenhead inorganic collection is not going to see me coming after reading these two books. New Vintage is $45 and available from November from New Holland Publishers.
Inspired by these books I hit the All Saints Fair on Saturday and got this bag of old aprons and this lace tablecloth. I particularly like the yellow roses one.
Someone who would not be shy of an apron or two is Kiwi musician Flip Grater- names that in themselves bring to mind cooking eggs and cheese respectively –
… who has just released her cookbook of recipes evocative of her musical tour through Europe. The Cookbook Tour, $34.99 including a 5-track CD of her songs to play whilst eating, is published by David Bateman and features 34 recipes of meals that Flip cooked, or had cooked for her, on her travels. Flip writes with an easy-going, personable style and a self-deprecating sense of humour.
From her time in Paris on to Amsterdam, she has, aptly for this story, a section called New Vintage.
The recipes are all vegan so won’t suit the more carnivorous cook, and I would have liked more imagery as the photos aren’t on every page. It’s a humorous take on the travel diary in what’s certainly a niche; the Kiwi vegan folk-singer category.
The following day I got up with the birds (having kids helps with this) and hit the Takapuna Markets. At the china and bric a brac stall of Jo from Browns Bay, I got these old plates and cups to make the cake stand.
Below: Layered Cake Stands, p 34 of Homemade Gifts Vintage Style.
There’s also a luxurious-looking one in New Vintage made entirely from cups and saucers. I like her tip of using non-toxic glue as it is near food, and of leaving the top cup unglued for ease of washing.
My version, below. There were Ferrero Rocher chocolates to go on it, but they were eaten by the Photographer. Me.
Below: Teacup Candles, p 60, Homemade Gifts Vintage Style. I made the teacup candles using soy wax.
I also got these old fashioned dusky pink roses at the markets.
I think they go divinely with this new scented candle in fragrant Pomegranate Dolce by MOR, which is now officially launched in Farmers.It smells absolutely amazing and the lilac and vintage-inspired gold logo is so pretty.
Retro prints don’t go out of fashion.
A designer who knows this more than anyone, is Celia Birtwell. Her designs looked as good on then-husband Ossie Clark’s fashion models as they do today in Topshop designs on Kate Moss. This autobiography, out from Quadrille Publishing for $69.99 and distributed by Bookreps.co.nz, is an encyclopedic volume with stunning full page photos that tell the story as vividly as the (also fascinating) text.
Below: A gorgeous daisy print.
Below: Maxi dress, maxi style. Celia Birtwell was able to combine different – often clashing – prints together, something not every designer can do well. From Flower Power in 60s and 70s Swinging London, her prints moved to a more geometric graphic look away from their earlier floral look.
Her fashion career underwent a renaissance with her comeback in 2006 with a sellout capsule collection for Topshop. This meant that today’s fashionistas could buy inexpensivele the designs of yesteryear. New vintage, indeed.
It’s pretty amazing when another generation can appreciate and wear your designs, and proves the timelessness of her prints.
Words and photos, Megan Robinson
25 October 2011
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