A slightly longer than expected break from blogging to spend time with my ailing father, who sadly died a couple of weeks ago…
Anyway, it’s good to be back. You may wish to check out our latest Curious Trends posts.
And if you want to know what Prince Harry has in common with the Boy Scouts, take a look at my post today over at The Dabbler.
Talking of Scouts, we’ve some curiously collectable Scout memorabilia at ShopCurious, including vintage books that will come in handy if you’re organizing your own alternative Olympic Games – or are already suffering from games nostalgia.
These sorts of establishments are where contemporary jewellery and accessories designers often go to find retro bits and pieces for upcycling into curiously characterful new creations. Check out some of the uniquely arty items I’ve spotted in our latest Curious Trends post.
Products with past lives and provenance assume added value in today’s superficial, soulless world. Of course, you can create your own story too – and at ShopCurious we’ve got some ready-aged journals so you can do just that. The diaries in question are conveniently undated, yet give the impression of having been around for a good few years:
There are several to choose from, including a girly pink ‘Soulmate’ version, and a somewhat more antiquated ‘Moment de Memoire’ - which wouldn’t look out of place in an old fashioned gentleman’s library. They’ll make great Christmas gifts – plus you’ll avoid the crowds (and less original items) on the high street.
Alternatively, you may wish to record your own doings and thoughts. A few notes scribbled in an old book, perhaps alongside the odd photograph, may well become precious memories one day. Or you could always invest in one of Philip’s charmingly curio-filled photos and go all gooey about how things used to be…
I was rummaging around in a drawer the other day, when I found this funny old photograph. Like many images of the time, it comes in postcard format, and Margate is mentioned on the reverse. Judging from the age of my aunt (centre, in a curiously old fashioned bathing suit), the picture was taken in the 1930s. My grandmother (on the left), and a rather matronly looking older lady, are wearing stockings and shoes… on the beach!
Fashion codes and swimwear styles excepted, a trip to the British seaside hasn’t changed that much over the years. Simple seaside pleasures remain much the same. There are still donkey rides, deck chairs, amusement parks, ice cream vendors and buckets and spades.
In fact, retro seaside style has become fashionably cool of late. At Clerkenwell Design Week, I posed in a vintage vermillion striped all-in-one swimsuit at the Camira stand. I only did this to be rewarded with a bar of rock – another traditional seaside treat.
Our nostalgia for the cheeky seaside postcard never seems to wane either... If you’re a fan of classic British holiday fun, you’ll love Fake London’s Wish You Were Here t-shirt from ShopCurious.
Tony Husband’s characterful cartoon captures the essence of the chavish chap enjoying a soaking of sun, sea and suds. Wish you were there?
There’s nothing like a bit of nostalgia - so, what are your favourite musical memories? Does anyone remember Andy Pandy?
I’m of the opinion that an appreciation of music, as mentioned in my latest post at The Dabbler, is something that should be introduced to children from an early age.
When I heard about the Fun with Music CDs by Ann Rachlin, where she narrates stories to famous pieces of classical music, I bought selections of them for all my Godchildren.
I’m also a big fan of nursery rhymes. This wonderful vintage children’s picture book, currently available at ShopCurious, combines the well known Hey Diddle Diddle and Baby Bunting with curiously charming and old fashioned illustrations by famous cartoonist, Randolph Caldecott.
The rare publication dates from 1882, yet the rhymes are as loved today as they were then. This would make a very special heirloom gift for a newborn baby, young child or Godchild.
Anyway, I’m interested to hear your childhood musical memories, so do let me know...
An aging population, a fascination with vintage style and our nostalgia for slower, less frenetic, times have contributed to the growing popularity of retro sounds and musical curiosities.
At ShopCurious, we’ve unearthed some unusual pieces of musical memorabilia that will be appearing on our website over the next couple of weeks. Fans of old style rhythm & blues, and quirky kitsch, will appreciate this collectable set of hand painted, ceramic musicians.
I love the curiously characterful faces of the members of this band – each one is totally unique. Dressed in fashionable red, these colourful figurines will jazz up any home décor scheme...
I was rummaging around in a cupboard the other day, when I stumbled upon some old family photographs. I thought I’d share this one of my mother as a child – the curious scribblings around the border demonstrate my early artistic flair.
Talking of which, the Mothers’ Day card I chose this year, courtesy of the inspired Edward Monkton at Really Good cards, looks curiously childlike in its design. But what a lovely message – and so appropriate for my long suffering mother, bless her. Of course, I’m not saying that she isn’t beautiful on the outside too…
It’s a shame we can’t stay young forever, but ephemera like photographs are such a lovely way of remembering how things used to be. If you’re the nostalgic type, you might like the collectable film programme of Shirley Temple in Dimples that’s available at ShopCurious. It’s full of wonderful retro photographs of the young Hollywood icon.
Anyway, have a Happy Mothers' Day! I’m feeling all sentimental now...
Happy St David’s Day! My grandmother, who sadly died years ago, was born in Wales, so I decided to explore my Welsh heritage. Welsh icons include leeks and a delightfully archaic national costume. But it’s not all coal, rugby, sheep and dragons in this curiously Celtic corner of our little island... There are also daffodils and lovespoons too - the latter being rather pertinent in view of Prince William’s impending nuptials - what with him being based at RAF Valley in Anglesey and next in line to inherit the heir apparent's title, Prince of Wales.
Possibly dating from the 14th century, and based on the ‘cawl’ or soup spoon, lovespoons were carved by young Welshmen to demonstrate their practicality and craftsmanship (much needed in rural Wales) to the father of their intended brides. The suitor carved one or more of a selection of traditional symbols to convey his special message:
Single Heart – My Heart is yours Double Heart – Love is returned, we feel the same way Celtic Knot – Everlasting A Flower – Courtship A Daffodil – Flower of Wales The Dragon – Symbol of Wales / Protection A House – My Home is Yours A key / Keyhole – My Home is Yours A Chain – Captured Love Balls in a cage – Captured Love / Number of Children Desired Heart Shaped Bowl – Fulfilled Love Double Bowl – The Couple Triple Bowl – The Couple and family Vines – Growing Together Horse Shoe – Good Luck Bells – The Wedding A Cross – Faith A Ship – Safe Journey through Life An Anchor – I Want to Settle Down (List courtesy of Lovespoons Wales).
However, accepting this token of love was by no means an indication that a Welsh girl would marry her suitor - and some popular women amassed huge collections of lovespoons…
Anyway, I blame the Royal Wedding for my digression onto the subject of lovespoons, when what I really wanted to talk about is identity. These days it’s rare for us to identify ourselves with one particular place and culture. Most of us are a conglomeration of influences, ranging from birthplace and hometown to cities we’ve travelled to and people we’ve met. Our unique psychogeography and the individual stories that make up our lives have become more significant than our local origins.
Unlike lovespoons, today’s gifts and tokens of affection are more likely to reflect globally procured character – like the curiosity charm necklaces by Cartography40N74W at ShopCurious.
But might this curious trend lead to the wholesale globalization of culture, and what will the implications be for future generations? Or has the nostalgia-led backlash already begun? Your comments are most welcome, especially if you’re proudly Welsh.
Isn’t it amazing how nursery rhymes are immortalized as they’re passed down from generation to generation? Such is the power of children's abiding fascination for nonsensical verse, combined with a pretty melody. It’s so funny how babies like to hear the same words, or tunes, over and over again.
These curiously cute retro baby prints by artist Lilian Rowles, available at ShopCurious, remind me of the lullabies my mother used to sing to me. My favourite was ‘Go To Sleep My Baby’. I’ve looked this up on the net and it seems there are many variations of the lullaby. The words I know (using my name by way of example) are:
Go to sleep my baby - Close your big blue eyes Angels up above you, Watching little Susan from the skies;
Great big moon is shining, Stars begin to peep, It’s time for little baby Susan To go to sleep.
If there’s enough demand, I’ll ask my mother to sing it for you too. By the way, she soon progressed on to rather more curious rhymes, for instance:
If all the world were paper, And all the sea were ink, And all the trees were bread and cheese, What would we have to drink?
And curiouser still…
My Aunt’s name is Aloysia (pronounced Al-oo-ish-a) Waterbutt, She lives down at Burton on Trent, Every time she goes out on her bicycle, She always gets her handle bars bent...
That one always had me in fits of giggles.
I’m not sure if this is just a sad weakness for nostalgia, but my theory is that childlike curiosity sometimes doesn’t go away - and can develop into a lifelong taste for unusual things.
Anyway, I was wondering if you might want to share your childhood favourites too – or perhaps even some of the lullabies you’ve sung to your children…
In these fast-moving times, there's rarely an opportunity to sit back and spend a moment reflecting on what really matters: probably our family and our dearest friends.
Occasionally, we fall out with loved ones, or find ourselves distanced from those we’re emotionally close to. At some stage in life, it’s likely we’ll suddenly lose someone we love and realize we haven’t said all we really wanted to. Perhaps we’re rushing around so much, we forget how important it is to express our feelings … until it’s too late.
Recording feelings, thoughts and memories can be surprisingly rewarding, which is why, at ShopCurious, we’re offering a selection of journals to help you do just this. ‘From You to Me’ journals make really precious gifts – simply ask your loved one(s) to answer the questions in the book and return it to you, full of personal nostalgia and stories you’ve always wanted to know. Capture the memories and anecdotes of times spent with those special to you - and receive your own gift of love and friendship back again.
One of the journals, called These were the Days, is especially appropriate for anyone who’s leaving and moving on to pastures new. Whether you're graduating from school, university, taking up a new job, or moving abroad, this journal provides an opportunity to capture key memories and experiences from the people you've met along the way.
Alternatively, you may want to reflect on good times spent with your partner - or even an old flame, someone overseas, a mentor, or person who’s had a key influence in your life... Or, you may simply wish to recall experiences shared with a friend, relative or colleague you particularly admire, as a record for posterity.
It’s worthwhile taking a moment to remember those special to us. The gift of love is timeless.
In this age when so many of us are curiously self-obsessed, there’s still a chance to prove that genuine love is well and truly alive. Valentine’s Day may seem to you like a commercial conspiracy, but it’s also a rare opportunity to express our appreciation of and affection for our loved ones.
Valentine greetings can be traced back as far as Medieval times, but Valentine cards were first made in Britain in the early 19th century. Since then, all manner of cards, gifts and curios have appeared on the market. Last year, our custom made curious pop art rings were very popular - these were mainly requests from girls ordering miniature paintings in their likeness on the rings to give to their husbands and boyfriends.
There was also one memorably romantic request from a man wanting us to replicate his image, (from a photograph), on a ring to give to his girlfriend when he proposed to her. Fortunately, she accepted, and we’re very happy for both of them. He also told us that his portrait on the ring bears an uncanny resemblance - and that his girlfriend wears her curious Valentine ring, with his picture, all the time. How sweet!
If you’re not quite ready for a personalized Valentine ring, or a piece of statement jewellery - a card, perhaps even a postcard - should suffice. At ShopCurious, we’ve some lovely old-style postcards, adorned with rather stylish vintage brooches, that will make the perfect gift of love. They’re especially useful if you’re not quite sure what to buy, as they’ll serve as a Valentine’s gift and a card all in one.
Valentine’s Day is a time to indulge in a little nostalgia – and an original, vintage brooch will add a touch of unique colour to your day. The weather (at least here in London) is depressingly grey and gloomy at this time of year, so why not brighten up an existing outfit with a stylishly unusual embellishment? It’s less expensive than buying a new set of clothes – and the association with a loved one will make this small and inexpensive gift more precious than any luxury designer accessory.
Alternatively, you may prefer to treat yourself to one of these beautiful brooches. With or without a partner, some of us will always be romantic at heart...
Could the global recession have sparked off the new trend of fashion featuring national flags? In the UK, our Union Jack flag gained pop-art style status in the 1960s. Then, from the mid-1970s, punks adopted the flag, making it the object of their disaffection towards the prevailing culture and the establishment. Punk-style clothing and accessories have reappeared over the years in various, increasingly commercial, guises. However, only a faithful few have maintained a life long love affair with all things punk.
I spotted punk devotee, Rob, (left), at my local art school. He was wearing the classic punk uniform of bondage trousers and brothel creepers (both pin-striped in this case - see below). I was curious to know what he did with his hair when he went to bed. Did he flatten it down, or cover it up so as not to poke his partner in the eye during the night? Rob matter-of-factly informed me that when he went to bed he simply went to sleep. He wasn’t overly chatty, so I thanked him for allowing me to take his picture and hastily made my retreat.
In the late ‘70s, punks, infamous for promoting anarchist messages in their music and accessorizing their clothing with anti-establishment symbols, were seen as being aggressive types – “keep out of the way of those punks”, your mother might say. It’s rather ironic that, nowadays, far from being seen as a threat, old-style punk rockers are considered to be an established part of our British heritage.
When you look back at video footage of punk rock bands, like the Sex Pistols, the members actually look quite clean-cut young chaps…rather like older schoolboys trying to be a little outré in their dress. Perhaps it’s the influence of glam-rock, but the jumpers in this clip of God Save the Queen look positively camp, compared to the popular impression of punks as snarling, hostile aggressors. Just because they’re making a radical cultural and fashion statement, doesn’t mean that punks are necessarily antagonistic people. Most of them are probably just as peaceful and friendly as Rob.
I’ve also noticed that, although many punks choose extreme hairstyles, clothing and unusual accessories, (like safety-pin piercings), they don’t always look as though they feel entirely at ease with their appearance. Even now, several decades after the arrival of punk, and with totally outrageous designs on catwalks the world over, punks still seem a tad uncomfortable in their own skin. I wonder if it would help punks feel more comfortable and accepted, if they knew we actually regard them as something akin to national treasures?
Anyway, back to trends, and flags…. and ShopCurious, where we’ve got a fabulous vintage Union Jack enamelled ring with faux ruby gem-stones: Perfect if you’re looking for punk-style Valentine gifts, or just feeling slightly overcome with patriotism or nostalgia.
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