1) A 1970s Childhood We're talking Dick Bruna, FisherPrice, Bod, Meg and Mog, Playmobil, Topsy and Tim. Those strong, simple designs with their black outlines and bright colours translate to stained glass so well.
Images from here, here and here
2) Retro Fabrics I never get tired of gingham. Ever. It just always looks so fresh and fun and girlish. As soon as I learnt how to acid-etch glass, I used that technique to make gingham. Back in the old days, when I lived in London, we lived around the corner from Cath Kidston's first shop in Clarendon Cross. This was in the days before she was a household name and had sold her soul to Debenhams (sorry Cath) when it was a quirky little shop selling lovely things and the catalogue was a couple of photocopied hand-drawn sheets of A4 (cue harp music and misty eyed nostalgic moment). I digress. Around this time was when I started learning the various techniques of manipulating sheet glass, and the first pieces I made were pretty much homage to the fabric designs of La Kidston. I was also (much to the amusement of my OH) spending a lot of time hanging round the Imperial War Museum and using up my ration coupons. Once I'd worked my way through cabbage roses and floral sprigs, I moved on to abstract designs of the 50s and 60s - Lucienne Day and Evelyn Redgrave. I love the challenge of trying to recreate fabric designs in stained glass. The limitations of the medium are also what make it so addictive.
Images from here, here and here
3) Scandinavian Folk Art Bold colours, simple designs, repetitive patterns, flourishes, symmetry, flowers, birds. Of course.
Images from here, here and here
Well, as much fun as this is, it is also taking up all of my Friday night. So Part Two follows soon....
What a great collection of inspirations! I love the 70s stuff you've chosen - looks just like my childhood too. The Bruna stamps are gorgeous and perhaps it explains why I loved your winter girl so much. Wish I'd remembered to pay attention on the auction evening!
ReplyDeleteThe mog picture you've chosen reminds me of one of my favourite books, I think it was called 'Tom bakes a cake' - I can't find that on google but it was the inspiration for this drawing I did a while back, which will clearly explain everything!: http://www.flickr.com/photos/franny_b/2520999620/ .. Sorry, I'm rambling.
Are you planning to make any more pieces similar to the Winter Girl? :-)
oooh, good post. i love the 1970s aesthetic aussi. actually i love all your inspirations. and gosh, aren't we up late? yikes, actually i had better go to bed...
ReplyDeleteIt's almost 4 in the morning here and I'm off to bed... loved this post Flora - the Bruna and folk art especially.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment!
ReplyDeleteYou're pics are great and I love your stain glass, especially your new egg head ones. The one with moustach is fab!
I LOVE that patchwork screen, and gingham is always a good way to go.
ReplyDeleteloved this,i love everything you love,
ReplyDeleteI think miffy was the irish version of bod ?
am i the irish version of you ?
looking forward to part 2
Oh how lovely to see your inspirations, love the 70's childhood, I wouldn't know...I'm way too young...hee hee!! although I loved hearing Bod again! wonderful!!
ReplyDeletelovely post - I have been out of blog land so long - this was such a lovely one to come back to - such a lovely collection of you and the inspirers!
ReplyDeleteyes, very nice
ReplyDeletelove this post! and may i say BODDDDDDDDDDD!!! i love bod, with all my heart. what with the flumps on laura's blog and bod over here, it's 1977 all over again. x
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