We Love Geometrics! A peek at some of our china hire collection

Detail from the Thomas Pinwheel Design from our hire collection

Geometrics. They manage to convey a sense of the modern and the retro at the same time. Geometrics look best in the brightest colours, and it's no surprise that some genuine examples of geometrically patterned 60s and 70s china have made the hire collection.

We have an entire tea set in the Eclipse design by Empire Potteries

A geometric pattern is a kind of pattern formed of geometric shapes which often tend to repeat themselves, although this is not always the case as with our Empire Potteries Eclipse set.

Geometric patterns, with their neat uniformity appealed particularly to the mods in the early to mid 60s, not just through the surface pattern but also in the shapes of a-line skirts. 

It's no surprise then, that Peace, Love & Daisy Chains' hire collection includes some wonderfully vibrant examples of genuine 60s geometric china. 

We have several pieces in the bright Thomas Pinwheel design of repeating circles - a dinner or cake plate in orange, and a whole set including dinner plates, tea plates, mugs and a sugar bowl in shades of purple and pink. As well as orange and purple, this pattern also exists in blue.

The Thomas Pinwheel and Empire Potteries Eclipse Designs

Our ex-Yugoslav milk pail and enamel teapot, scavenged from the flea markets of Ljubljana, make perfect containers for flowers - a modern-retro twist on using rustic metal pails and containers.

A 1970s Slovenian enamel teapot 

....and our Slovenian geometric milk pail

Geometric pattern is a key tenet of Islamic and Moorish design; geometric patterns in Islamic art is often used to symbolize the transcendent, indivisible and infinite nature of God. Artists would even intentionally make mistakes in the patterns as a way of proving that only god could produce perfection.

As soon as I saw this Staffordshire tea set I knew it had to join the collection. It brings to mind sunny mornings in Southern Spain in a tiled courtyard. Indeed, as the 60s and 70s heralded new, easier ways to travel both for the hippies traveling the Silk Road and the less hip looking for package holidays, patterns which brought to mind foreign shores were reflected - in fashion, textiles and pottery.

Staffordshire Tea Set and Mug

...and did you know that we also have salt and pepper pots to hire? These are in the Kalabar design by Palissy, and look super 70s and also channel the southern Spanish-Islamic geometric look!

Kalabar by Palissy salt & pepper pots

Geometric shapes for clothes became fashionable in the mid 60s. Rather than the geometric shapes being reflected in the pattern of the fabrics, the fabrics were made up of panels of block vivid colours. The idea was that the fashion was centre stage and took most of the attention, rather than the wearer, transmitting a sharp, contemporary look.

From Vogue 1967, via Peter Harris on Flickr

Clockwise from top left; geometric makeup via Eyeshadow Lipstick, via Green Wedding Shoes, via birthanddriver on Etsy, via Style Me Pretty.

There are so many ways that Geometrics can be incorporated into a modern-retro wedding or party - from handmade bunting made from geometric-patterned fabric, strings of shapes made from coloured card, to napkins and cushions in geometric patterns. They can be mixed and matched with other styles from the era like our bold flower power china, or pop against more minimal decor. How about using vintage tiles as pot holders for your wedding breakfast?

If you are interested in adding a bit of retro geometric pizazz to your tea party then check our our website and get in touch on hello@peace-love-and-daisy-chains.com.

We are collecting all sorts of geometric inspiration on our Pinterest board.

Musings on Retro China with yay retro!

A few weeks ago, I spoke to the lovely Sue from yay retro! about Peace, Love & Daisy Chains, our motivations, our hire collection and our favourite pieces for sale on the yay retro! online site. You can read the article here.

Today I have the pleasure of introducing you to yay retro! yay retro! is my go-to place to find and salivate over those special pieces that crown my collection, those pieces which can't be found with my usual rummages. 

I bought the wonderful Barker Bros Springtime cups and saucers, plates and milk jug from yay retro! and duly added them to the hire collection. Ever since they have attracted admiring and covetous glances.

Without further ado, let's chat to Sue! 

Sue's interest in retro china began some time before she founded yay retro!:

'The first piece of retro china I ever bought would have been a jug of some sort back in the 80s, I have a ‘thing’ about jugs…so many different shapes, sizes and thicknesses with an array of handle and spout designs -they are visually appealing and almost like mini sculptures to me! They are infinitely useful as well as decorative and can be used in the kitchen or as ornaments around the home.'

I agree with Sue that jugs are just wonderful - they can hold milk, or gravy or sauce! Here is that fabulous Barker Bros jug in full glory:

'The first piece I sold at yay retro! was a vintage cheese board covered in bright daisy patterns, I can even recall the date and who bought it on 4th August 2012!' 

Sue began began collecting Poole Pottery in earnest back in 2012, after finding a 'wonderful minimally shaped 1930s cheese dish of theirs, during my quest I amassed lots of other vintage pieces of tableware. My husband and son run a web design company and built me the yay retro! website www.yayretro.co.uk as a birthday present, so that I could sell my vintage treasure online. I haven’t looked back, it is now my full time job. 

'I send vintage wares all over the world, from South Kensington to South Korea. My favourite 1960s Figgjo Flint pieces, such as the Anne-Marie and Daisy patterns often end up being repatriated to Norway, and are also very popular with collectors in Japan. Australia is a popular destination for Poole Pottery and 1960s Flower Power designs, but of course my biggest customer base is in the UK, where I have lots of brilliant regular and repeat customers.'

The Figgjo Flint Daisy and Anne-Marie designs

As with all good vintage retailers, vintage is not just consigned to the day job, but a passion and way of life:

'I love to cook and to have the whole family over for dinner, when we are all together there are 10 of us. The table always has vintage serving dishes and plates. Currently I am using 1950s Empire Shetland pastel blue check plates, with sky blue Poole Pottery. For cooking I use vintage enamelware and a variety of Norwegian ceramics such as the Daisy pattern from Egersund, Norway.'

Egersund Daisy pattern and 70s Daisy teaset (which we also have for hire)

In the few years that yay retro! has been retailing, Sue has seen a distinct shift in trends:

'When I started up yay retro! a few years ago, lots of people were ‘into’ pretty roses on 1930/40s china, now the bold Flower Power designs of the 60s and 70s have definitely taken over, and there are many, many more people collecting. Bright Scandinavian designs on both fabric and table-wares are definitely the most sought after and drooled over pieces! The good thing is that with such bold patterns, you can buy one or two statement pieces and they will shine in your modern vintage home. 

'Grey and Yellow has become a stylish colour scheme in the home recently, and so yellow vintage-wares have also become very desirable.

'The most popular items in the yay retro! shop change from year to year to be honest. When I started out in 2012 Pyrex and Gaydon Melamine tea sets were the ‘thing’. Now I rarely buy these brands in as they don’t ‘go’ as well. Right now, anything with huge bright daisy patterns, or Scandi bird or fish designs are sure to be snapped up by collectors. Spice and storage jars are also sought after. 

Figgjo Astrid and Worcesterware Spire

With regards to her own personal collection, Sue would like to add a 'classic piece of mid-century furniture. A minimally designed armchair covered in pale grey fabric with bright yellow daisy cushions. I am still looking for the ‘optimum chair’ but may cheat with a look-a-like from IKEA! 

'The 1960s and 70s time period has the most influence on the way I have decorated my home – It’s very minimal with bright colour accents & patterns here and there. I was born in the early 60s and can remember most of what I sell at yay retro! being used in my parents and grandparent’s homes. I have wonderful memories of growing up in this era, and so being surrounded by vintage homewares of this period gives me a warm fuzzy feeling. In my kitchen I have a vintage kitchen unit made in 1953, which is just like the one my Nan had – it’s even the same colour. This is where I keep all my vintage china which of course I use every day.' 

Finally, Sue says that if given a chance, 'I would go back to the summer of 1968 to walk along a country lane in Wiltshire in the sunshine spotting primroses with my wonderful Gran – my most treasured memory.' 

Do take a look at the wonderful items for sale on yay retro! - I would be very surprised if you left empty handed! I particularly love the latest addition to the shop - flower power cushions - wouldn't these make a brilliant, bright alternative to ivory seat cushions at a wedding?

yay retro! also has a wonderful 'retropedia' of articles about various different potteries and collections which is a treasure trove of information for anyone wanting to learn more about vintage china.

Figgjo Clupea and Scandi Cushion

If you would like a taste of retro or to add a flower power vibe to your wedding, party or event but can't commit to accruing a large collection of items, then take a look at our extensive hire collection of retro 60s and 70s china and props - we have enough china to serve dinner or afternoon tea to 160 people, as well as pineapple ice buckets, crochet blankets and picnic baskets!

Five alternative ways to flower power up your wedding 

It should come as no surprise that here at Peace, Love & Daisy Chains we are huge fans of flowers. We have our roots in the flower power movement, with the vast majority of our retro china hire pieces dating back to the late 60s and 70s. The obsession with flower power was not only shown through flowers in hair and embroidered kaftans, but also reflected in the china of the day, with brazen blooms and kitschy blossoms adorning the porcelain. 

In our journey we have seen so many fabulous ways to incorporate flowers, both real and faux, into the big day, which go beyond the usual bouquet of roses and vase displays. Here is a round up of the most inspiring ones we have seen recently!

1. Eat them!

Stuck on choosing favours that you want to guarantee will be taken home? Who could resist the flowery lollipops created by Eat My Flowers?!

Eat My Flowers started growing and selling edible flowers from their farm in the Dee Valley, Wales, in 2011. These lollipops were originally created as a thank you gift to their crystallised flower customers, but were so popular that they decided to continue to produce them to sell. 

They come in a variety of delicious sounding flavours, including strawberry swizzle, raspberry  ripple, orange zest, rose-y-posy, peppermint dream and violet haze. 

Isn't this pansy pop so cute?!

2. Drink them!

There are many more edible flowers than you probably realise (such as cornflowers, tulips and even the humble daisy). They make a beautiful, bohemian accompaniment to a cocktail or even a glass of champagne.

You can buy edible flowers from Maddocks Farm Organics, who have a beautiful selection of flowers, not just for cocktails, but also wedding cakes and they sell fresh foraged salads. They can be bought as a wildflower mix or one single variety. Alternatively, you can pick the flowers yourself from your garden or country lanes - what a lovely way this would be to tie in a country theme? Just make sure you know what you are picking and whether it is edible or not, and try to keep away from polluted areas such as the side of roads - you don't want to poison anyone after all! Maddocks have a really useful guide to using edible flowers here.

Another alternative is to create ice cubes with flowers in them - make sure you use boiling water to ensure that the ice cubes freeze clear. If you want to reduce your stress then you can order them from Maddocks Farm Organics.

3. Throw them!

I have always been in two minds about confetti. While it's beautiful and a unique wedding-specific tradition, there's the little problem about its impact on the environment. Many churches forbid the use until you are already outside the church gates, and I remember many a childhood summers day collecting the confetti left over from that weekend's wedding.

Coloured and bleached paper, while paper is biodegradable, is never going to be wonderful for the environment. Step in Natural Favours, who grow and dry beautiful mixes of flowers for throwing. Not only do they have beautiful, non uniform colours and shapes, they smell much more wonderful than tissue paper.

Note: make sure you check out the policy of your wedding venue to see what is permitted.

4. Adorn your Walls with them!

Who says that flowers have to be real? I had the pleasure of meeting Paper Flower Wedding at the Vintage Wedding Fair in Stoke Newington recently. Offering a completely bespoke service, this company creates the most amazing paper flowers. From flower arches to stunning walls covered with flowers of different kinds, colours and sizes, this is certainly one way to add a wow factor to the room.

There is also the option to add details in lace, crystals and pearls, and flowers can also be made in plastic to withstand the whims if English weather. How amazing would plastic flowers in bright saturated colours look behind the top table or on the dance floor?!

5. Eat off them!

Last, but not least, why not incorporate bright, vivid flowers into your table decor by mixing and matching dinner plates, side plates and cups and saucers? From sunflowers, to poppies, to kitschy mod flowers and Romanian folk flowers, our collection of mismatched china creates an eclectic flower power feel. 

If having a smaller reception, we can colour coordinate to your specific colours, while bigger parties look bright and stunning all mixed up together! We excel in bright, bold colour, like this yellow cup and saucer and purple dinner plate combination.

Take a look at our pinterest board or the kodak moments on our website to see more fantabulous ways to add a bit of flower power to your wedding or event as we spot them!

70s Wedding Dress Inspiration for Peace Love Brides

Hello and welcome to Peace, Love & Daisy Chains' new blog!

This is going to be a monthly feature where we will be providing 60s and 70s inspiration and championing some of the lovely brands and companies that we come across on our journey. As a small business ourselves, we are particularly keen to feature small and less visible brands that we may not have necessarily read about on the wedding blogs.

So we are beginning the blog with the most important sartorial aspect of planning a wedding - the dress!

Anyone with half an eye on the catwalks or high street could not have failed to see that the 70s is a big thing. And here at Peace, Love & Daisy Chains, we are huge advocators of the laid-back bohemian vibe of 70s chic.

Suzanna M Designs, Photographer credit: LiaTorosyan

The 70s was a long decade (well… as long as any other decade!), and encompassed a variety of styles. Ok, so we're not necessarily advocating you go out and don a flared jumpsuit for your wedding (although that would be awesome!), but bringing a bit of 70s inspiration into your wedding is a wonderful way to channel bohemian chic.

Here is my round up of the key 70s styles to look out for, as well as some fabulous places to find both genuine 70s vintage and 70s style wedding dresses.

Real Vintage

But for all the 70s dresses that you can find in vintage bridal boutiques, you’d almost be forgiven for thinking that the decade just didn’t exist. It’s not so much a question of era, more the fabrics they used. Polyester, viscose, the 70s was a huge fan of manmade materials. And these staticy materials don’t quite give the same desired vintage effect as a soft silk 1930s dress or a lace dress from the 1950s.

But there are some fabulous vintage online boutiques, where the sellers have found the cotton and lace among the polyester.

Buttoned Up, Edwardian Style!

While we love to hark back to earlier eras, in the 70s, vintage style then was all about the Edwardian era, with its high buttoned-up necklines and long flowing skirts. Laura Ashley was a big figure, and specialised in lovely, flowery romantic Victorian style prints and dresses - my mum’s handmade wedding dress in 1978 was in the Laura Ashley style!

Edinburgh-based vintage shop Sartorial Matters curates a lovely selection of genuine 70s wedding dresses, including this lovely high-necked Laura Ashley Victorian-style dress.

Sartorial Matters

Less chosen by brides wishing to evoke the 70s these days, it would make a striking and inspired choice.

Angel Sleeves

Also popular at the time were huge, bell-shaped angel sleeves. Also in store at Sartorial Matters is this lovely trumpet-sleeved Biba maxidress – how wonderful to come down the aisle in this beauty!

Sartorial Matters

And Saldana has created this lovely mini angel-sleeved version. As well as selling some vintage pieces, Saldana uniquely creates their own dresses using genuine vintage lace - a novel compromise for those who want to bring a flash of 70s vintage but with a more contemporary twist.

Saldana Vintage

Finally, although Abigail’s Vintage Bridal is mostly dedicated to the 1800s to 1960s, they do sometimes have genuine 70s items come into the boutique, like this 70s take on a Medieval gown (note it's no longer available, but contact the boutique to see what they have in stock).

Abigail’s Vintage Bridal 

Shopping vintage requires investment in time and money, and a willingness to see beyond what is presented before your eyes. Sometimes all a garment needs is a small adjustment and it can be transformed. Take a look at Love My Dress's guide to shopping for a vintage wedding dress.

Vintage style

Of course, relying on finding that perfect vintage dress for your big day may not entirely pay off - you just might not come across it as you peruse the clothes racks, or you might find the perfect dress online for it to have already been sold. But fear not, there are so many vintage-inspired brands with be eye in the 70s.

Loose, Flowing Bohemia

In the 70s, the boyish silhouette of the 60s shift loosened and lengthened into light, airy maxi dresses. The loose flowing bohemian silhouette speaks of flowers in hair and bangles on arms, and it's definitely easier to dance barefoot under the stars in a loose dress!

Suzanna M Designs is the online boutique to check out for lovely 70s-inspired bohemian gowns, with loose flowing lace skirts. Made in Greece, they feature relaxed forms and details such as three quarter length sleeves and low-scooped backs.

Suzanna M Designs, Photographer credit: LiaTorosyan

Saldana has several long maxi-dresses made from vintage lace and crochet - another 70s stalwart, including these two beauties; how lovely would they look with a vintage crown?

Saldana Vintage

Off the Shoulder

Such a beautiful,free style, dared by so few, the off the shoulder look is emblematic of 70s rock n roll style. A little bit gypsy, a little bit Mediterranean, this example from Suzanna M breathes freedom and happiness.

Suzanna M Designs, Photographer credit: LiaTorosyan

While Saldana has this crochet festival-ready version.

Saldana Vintage

Mexican Style

Travel became more about the experience, with hippies exploring the traditional dress of the countries they spent time in. Indian and Mexican styles were popular. Have you thought about having a Mexican-embroidered wedding dress? Aida Coronada sells the most exquisitely embroidered and colourful white wedding dresses from her workshop in Mexico. As Aida says, there is a little heart in each dress.

Aida Coronado

Finally, if you’re looking for 60s or 70s inspired bridesmaid’s dresses, then be sure to check out Molly’s wonderful creations, which can be custom made from genuine retro flowery sheets. I have never seen anything like this for bridesmaids, how wonderful would a mix of colours and patterns look?!