Monday, November 28, 2011

Don a Frock and Smash a Machine


Flourish and Blume have been venturing into the hardcore DIY scene, yep, we're screen-printing. We've become regular Luddites - you know those funny fellas from the early 1800's, the original hardcore DIYers who wore frocks and smashed the new (at the time) textile looms that did away with the necessity for their skilled labour? Well I tried to write a whole postgrad thesis on this shit, how the relatively recent romance with 'Handmade' had all those associations with socialist ideology from way back - the rights of workers to meaningful labour, the production of local economies and the survival of craft skills in the face of all consuming technology... Am I boring you? Well imagine the horror of trying to fill in the blanks with another 40 000 words? Hence, no letters after my name.


It does sound Utopian though doesn't it - all that handmade labour, and we've had such a great time making this Home Decor and you know you need another cushion for Christmas!


The flying duck design is based on Katie's Nanna's ducks on our wall (chipped wing and head glued on). It's my own drawing and the best thing about technology is that you only need one drawing then you just shrink it down twice on the photocopier and voila, you have three differently scaled, perfectly replicated flying ducks (no machine smashing today). The design was originally called 'Quick Before They Shoot' but then when I stuffed them with 100% duck feather inserts, I realised the implications of the poor wee things not having made it and wondered what kind of sick mind came up with that. The design is now called 'Pillow Stuffers'.



 


The pig's head design is called 'Who's Your Dirty Pigman' which goes out to all those women who have to live with one.



Anne Leon has been incredible with her expert tutelage and assistance and we've had so much fun working at her fabulous studio in Byron Bay. Thank you Anne!

Colour-ways are as follows: white ducks or charcoal ducks on natural linen (100% european linens all from Thea and Sami); white or charcoal on sage green linen; charcoal pigman on natural or dusky pink linen. Measurements are 60 x 40cm (give or take a couple of cms) for ducks and 40 x 40cm (same) for pigs. Visit our shop at Down That Little Lane.

Next post we're back to chairs (a cushion or two thrown in perhaps).

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Clunky to Funky



I'm starting with the finished item this time so that if you're inclined to share this on Facebook, you aren't posting an ugly thumbnail of a dead chair... always thinking of your reputation and style kudos.
Yes, it has been a while hasn't it? Well just think of all the amazing things we have to catch up on!


I wasn't totally sold on these Parker Dining chairs, there's a couple of Parker Dining chair styles that I just can't stand but Katie insisted I put my visualisation cap on and see 'the potential'! The potential could easily outdo the purposefully pilling, special-shades-of-green fabric that was covering them.


Absolutely stunning sanded teak.


The backs are finished in 100% Natural European Linen from Thea and Sami and the buttons and seats (super-comfy, webbed) are in 100% eco-wool from Sustainable Living Fabrics, it's our favourite 'Poppy' again! SOLD!!