Archive for bird
Floribundae owls
If ever you needed a reason to keep your tresses on the long side, here it is: the fantabulous Floribundae hair accessory.
First on the list is the super large Japanese ponytail holder above. Just the right amount of retro owlishness, combined with perfect colours, vintage textile and practical elastic too.
It’s made from a hand-made button and a features a no-metal, Trevor Sorbie tie – especially good for sensitive toddler scalps, but also for larger hair that is prone to frizz (ahem).
Next up are these hooties – a new colourway and size, but equally perfect beak and eye features (essential in any owl, but especially in those featured on Owls and Pears).
Watch this space for more Floribundae delights – there is a promise of pears to come!
Owls at teatime
Gawd – there’s so much rain outside I’ve been forced to cook fish pie and dig out a cardigan. I guess summer is over, and it’s time to succumb once again to dark afternoons, cold toes and muddy jeans. So by default, it’s the perfect opportunity to enjoy all the pleasures a good cuppa can offer. Speaking of which, here are a few owlish teatime fancies to tide you through the autumn.
The owl gocco coasters above are de rigeur: you don’t want to scorch your table top. Thank goodness for Kerry Beary’s mid-century modern designs, printed on 100% recycled paper (which is then pounded into a sturdy chipboard bar coaster) and oozing with seventies chic. By the way, if you have fallen for these owl designs, Kerry has also created a set of limited edition, hand printed versions for you to hang on your wall.
While escaping some of the rain today, I found myself steaming in Debenhams (literally) and spotted these owl mugs. Nicely down to earth, with a light-hearted pattern and good ceramic finish, and all for a fiver. Bargain, right? They’ve a touch of the old halloween theme about them too, which is good preparation for the coming months. You can buy them online here, if you prefer to stay dry and shop while you sip…
For a more traditional owl, it’s gotta be Emma Bridgewater, every time. Check out John Lewis for this particular earthenware barn owl design.
Now a proper cup of tea normally involves a scooby snackette too, and if these owl biscuits from an earlier blog post are just too plain, how about an owl cupcake instead? These ones are baked by the Artisan Cake Company, and look just about chocolately enough to warrant a second cup. Roll on winter.
Sleepy owl music box
This owl post has been a long time brewing. I originally found the sleepy owl music box featured below back in 2009 through one of my favourite blog spots – Bambino Goodies – which regularly updates followers with hot owl products for babies and toddlers (triple woop).
Now there’s a lot of owl-related loveliness out there, so at times it’s hard to find something owlish that really appeals on all levels. This was it for me. At the time of my purchase, I did not realise how much the bump would love the tune played by this music box, but over the following six months, I came to appreciate the look and sound of this darned fine owl. As I type this now, it still hangs from the side of the cot, looking out calmly, exuding retro goodness and above all, sleep.
So where can you get your hands on one of these night owls? Well it was designed and made by the wonderful German graphic designer and illustrator Anne Wendlandt, who also goes by the name Enna. She has online shops on DaWanda and Etsy, and while she does not have any more of the music boxes in store for the moment, she has mentioned that if Owls and Pears followers react positively to them, she might make another batch… In the meantime, Anna/Enna does create an abundance of all things owlish: cushions (see above), wall decals, stickers. Owl lovers, eat your heart out!
Kristian Vedel wooden bird
It feels a bit cliched to include Vedel‘s wooden bird here – it is such an obvious choice for anyone interested in toys, Scandinavian design, birds or mid-century modern desirables. But I remember the first time I saw one – on the desk of an uber-cool designer I was working with. I was fascinated by the way you can adjust the bird’s head, even minutely, and its expression changes completely. Perfect when you’re a little distracted and need time out to figure how to proceed on something computerish. Luckily I received one as a gift last year and it is now sitting on the freecycled teak sideboard, looking out the window at the garden. Thanks Mark!
Iittala Toikka Little Tern
A few years ago I was browsing through a junk shop in Beverley and saw three perfect ruby red glass birds – each one just a smidge larger than the other. Anticipating the train journey home, I left the shop empty-handed. What was I thinking? Ever since, I have been on the lookout for a replica. Ebay has shown up nothing. The closest I can get to scarlet, glass birdiness is Iittala’s Little Tern: totally beautiful in its own right. If I had a simple white shelf above my computer, and if I could offer this Little Tern a home, then I would carefully place it up there – not too high so that I couldn’t see it, but out of reach of the monster baby. Luckily I don’t have either, so won’t have to worry about dusting it. A blog indulgence for now.
Bird dish
Oh look – a bird salt dish. But I think I’d probably keep some mini eggs hidden away in this particular pot. It’s crying out for some chocolate. Or else what about a vintage pearl necklace curled up inside? Check out Oxfam’s online shop for something special, and ethical.
Nectar & Perch bookends
Cripes. My favourite birds, alongside my favourite things (apart from creme eggs). In case that’s obscure, I mean books. I have a problem with storing them, despite numerous expensive shelving systems and book cases. So these bookends by Mexican eco designers Neko would be a very welcome, and stylish, addition to our home. They’re so clever too: the vertical part of the bookend is hidden inside the book cover, so the magnetic birds look like they’re holding up books all by themselves. How cool would they look with a Farrow & Ball Charleston Grey wall in the background and a stack of Persephone books in the middle? And the best part? They’re made from recycled aluminium and steel, so they’re eco friendly too.
John Dilnot bird poster
Oh for the love of birds. Could this poster be any more gorgeous? Screen-printed on watercolour paper, John Dilnot has managed to squeeze every last drop of vintage birdiness into 28 x 37 cm of pure beauty. And it even includes the odd owl or two.
Another bird bag
This simple cotton bag is, in my view, achingly awesome. My shoulder would just love to have a bag such as this dangling from it (note to self…). I can already picture the simple jeans and T-shirt combo that would just set off nicely against the bold colours of the bird – in itself, just the right size to indicate true birdiness. Check out Kate Broughton‘s other birdy merchandise on Folksy (a true gem of a place) – I especially love the colouring book of birds which is probably going to feature in more than a few Christmas stockings this year.
Winging My Way Back to You pendant
One day a few years ago, my good friend Lila spent a romantic weekend in a Norfolk B&B. On the bedside table there was a card advertising Eclectic Eccentricity‘s beautiful (and affordable) jewelry. She bought this necklace. I saw her wearing it soon afterwards and started stammering with excitement: it is just the right size – not too big, but large enough so that the bird is truely visible, next to a perfect globe on a chain. Anyway, to cut a long story short, I immediately ordered one for myself and have worn it religiously ever since. Well, that’s not strictly true – it is an easy target for a baby, which is a damn shame. Roll on teenagerdom, that’s all I can say. It’s time this necklace got another airing.
