DIY Petal Tee

It's very rarely that I make something for myself but after seeing a super cute picture of a DIY upcycled t-shirt on Pinterest I thought I would give it a go.  The clincher was that it looked super easy and wouldn't take too much time.  So I tracked down the original post and found that there was a tutorial - even better!  I am all for up-cycling - as you know! and it feels so good on my conscience and my wallet to be able to refresh an old tee into something I will wear again and feel like I've expanded my wardrobe a bit too.

Check out the original tutorial by Disney at rufflesandstuff - thanks so much for the cool idea!

                                                                                                                  

I'm so in love with.... Plates on walls!

Ok so you know by now that I love plates, especially decorated plates.  Where I love them most is on walls.  Now this was considered until quite recently to be the epitome of un-cool, very Nana and super twee.... blah blah blah.  But yay! they seem to have had a resurgence in popularity and quite rightly so.  The funny thing is with displaying plates is that they seem to get lonely very fast.  Put up one or two and your wall is soon crying out for more - it is dangerous - but so cool to see your collection spreading outwards and upwards.  Check out these pictures I have saved in my travels.  How gorgeous do they look in groups - I am completely in love!

I'm sorry but I collected these images quite a while ago (far before even considering I might write a blog) and have no record of their origins - if you recognise a pic please let me know so I can properly credit it.  Thanks!

          

                                                    

Tattooed Plates

When I first started painting on vintage plates it occurred to me that it was very much like tattooing.  I love the way that you have to adjust your image to the contours of the plate and either work with or hide little flaws.  I always try to incorporate the original plate design into my illustration by hiding or revealing certain parts.  I get really excited when a design is finished and it is hard to tell what image was on there first!

One of my first series of illustrations was in homage to the old school tattoo designs I just love.  Anchors and daggers, hearts and swallows I really love the nostalgic imagery and I think they suit the vintage plates so well.  Of course I had to include knuckle tattoos as I have always been so intrigued with the variations of four letter words that some people come up with.  My tattooed plates have proven really popular and sell very well.  I have also been lucky enough to have had some awesome commissions, where I have reproduced the tattoos of my clients on to vintage plates and even teacups!  How cool would it be to have a copy of your tattoo hanging on the wall or even using it to serve up a piece of cake to your guests!

I still have a couple of sketchbook pages of tattoo designs to complete - so watch this space & do let me know if you have any ideas you would like to see as well. 

                                    

Odd One Out & About

I am feeling so lucky this month that my little upcycled plates have featured in a few lovely kiwi mags.  There is something so exciting about seeing my work in print! 

Each time I've hurried out to the bookshop as soon as I have heard, thumbed through the mag trying to find it and then rushed up to buy them grinning like a crazy woman.  The lovely old lady at our local is probably thinking I'm a bit nuts by now! 

The first two features, I owe a big thanks to Toggle for hooking me up.  Toggle is a fantastic online design store featuring some of the best of New Zealand Artists, Designers and Crafters... go on have a look!

The first little Odd One Out snippet is from the July issue of  'Next' magazine (left)

Below is a page from the June/July issue of 'Her' magazine featuring my 'Origami Birds' plate. 

The last magazine is the July issue of Your Home & Garden.  I can't believe I actually saw 'Mr Stag' in there as he is so tiny - but he jumped out of the page at me as soon as I turned it!   He looks so cool on the kitchen wall of stylist LeeAnn Yares absolutely stunning house.  Yay Mr Stag & thanks LeeAnn for giving him such a cool new home!

Thanks for indulging me in a little showing off, I promise it wont happen too often!  (Well I'm actually secretly hoping it will, I could get used to all this excitement!)

                       

Hello my name is....

It's quite strange writing a first blog post.  Who am I actually writing to?  Just me probably, but hopefully you out there will someday read this so.... Welcome! Hi, have a look around.

My name is Niki and I am a Mum of a just turned two year old boy, Luca.  He takes up most of my time, but the time I have left, I love to spend collecting vintage bits and bobs - lots and lots of vintage bits and bobs!  Because I love it a lot, (ok maybe a bit too much) I have started making a range of goodies, all made with upcycled vintage items gleaned from my various collections.  Now this is a great way of justifying my obsession as well as giving me a good excuse to keep buying said vintage stuff.  Clever me!

My range is ever changing and expanding.  I'm not a person that really likes repetitive things and I get bored easily so I am always thinking up new designs and my product notebook is already overflowing with ideas.  I'm hoping this little blog will act as a sort of online visual diary so I can share new ideas, inspirations, my products and to show off my latest vintage purchases (because I know I wont be able to help myself!)

I must make a little disclaimer now.  I am most definitely a designer and not a writer, this blog will hopefully be a feast for the eyes - but I can tell you now that it will not be very eloquent in the writing department.  Please forgive me in advance all you writers out there!

Thanks & enjoy!