These are some of my collection of vintage Crestworth (now Mathmos) Lava lamps. They consist of 2 "Living Jewels"(from 1978 and neat CFC and therefore banned!!) One Telstar glitter (orange one from 1970), one mark 2 astro copper (1965ish with blue glitter), one "Hunter lamp" (orange with glitter strands-not Crestworth, but from 1970ish again), and 2 later copper mark 4 or 5 Astro lamps with lava (1975 upward). Enjoy!!!
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Friday, November 25, 2011
Kitsch Vs Retro: Dodgy Decor Standoff
Strange as it may seem, there are people who enjoy decorating their homes in styles of bygone eras. And, we not talking about vintage style, or anything that smacks of class or elegance, we're talking about the dodgy designs that proliferated in the 50s, 60s, 70s, and even, these days, the 80s. Some call it retro, some call it kitsch. Those who call it retro don't like it when you call it kitsch and those who call it kitsch don't much care what you call it because they're happy in their Elvis-themed rooms bowing before their shrines to Graceland.
According to Wikipedia, retro is a "culturally outdated or aged style, trend, mode, or fashion, from the overall postmodern past, that has since that time become functionally or superficially the norm once again." That's a very long-winded way of saying that people get hooked on the past and develop dangerous obsessions with plaid. Of course those who are into retro prefer to think of it in more positive terms and once again we turn to Wikipedia which obliges us with a referral to "quirky or attractive products that are no longer available". There is even a term for an intense love of retro objects: retrophilia.
For the discerning, there is a difference between kitsch and retro with kitsch being the inferior of the two styles. Wikipedia weighs in with a brief history on the word, which is of German origin and used to refer to inferior or tasteless art that shamelessly borrows from the real thing. Kitsch refers to things that are aesthetically deficient, and gaudy. Kitsch takes things which could be subjectively construed as cool (Elvis, Star Wars, garden gnomes, Oriental influences) and mangles them so badly that they are barely recognisable.
A few examples
When one thinks of retro décor, one thinks of colours, textures and bold shapes. The most obvious example, and one which almost anyone referring to retro examples uses, is the avocado green kitchen. You've seen it movies and TV shows and maybe even is some old family photos. The walls are green, the floor is black and white chequered linoleum, the wall phone is turquoise and the curtains are brown (there may or may not be an orange rug on the floor).
The example above harks back to the 50s and 60s. 70s retro is a little more adventurous; the colours are brighter and seem almost to clash on purpose, lava lamps make an appearance and beaded curtains separate rooms instead of doors.
Coral Nafie writes about retro in a way that makes it seem almost reasonable. She says that retro should have a fun, lively feel to it, a sense of flair and should definitely be funky. She shamelessly admits that retro is loud and busy and that furniture should be big and bulky; rather than the more subtle approach of having one piece of furniture as the focal point in a room, all of the furniture in a retro room vies for attention. Avocado green is mentioned as are chequered patterns, tie-dyed fabrics and shag carpeting.
Those who want to venture into retro should bear in mind one important word of caution: too much retro equals kitsch.
Which brings us, rather neatly, to some examples of kitsch décor, and we really are spoilt for choice. Think ceramic pink flamingos on a lawn, porcelain dogs in the living room, three ducks flying across the passage wall, frog-shaped tea pots, stuffed fake alligators (which are only moderately better than stuffed real ones), animal heads on the wall and rooms stuffed full of Raggedy Anne dolls. To really epitomise kitsch, however, you need to get your hands on a poster of Yoda Elvis. Nothing says screams aesthetically deficient like Yoda in an Elvis jumpsuit.
So, on a scale of one to ten, neither styles scores. But if you really have to choose one or the other, pick retro, you'll have more fun and are less likely to be estranged from all your loved ones.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Lava Brand Wave Motion Machine with Sound www.wavemotionmachines.com
www.wavemotionmachines.com I will be building beautiful, large scale (2+ feet) custom versions like the one below in the coming months. They will be painstakingly handcrafted to order with your choice of size, color, lighting, sound, and base (brushed aluminum, polished cherry wood, clear acrylic ect). If you are interested, please send an email to phreaktor@yahoo.com and I will let you know when they are released. Check out my 100% positive feedback and rest assured that you will receive your item as described, well packaged and in a timely fashion. Ad me to your favorite sellers as I have 5 more of these in various styles that I will be listing. THIS ONE: cgi.ebay.com BLUE CARIBBEAN: cgi.ebay.com
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Time Laps Lava-Lamp!
Time laps vidd i made with my old vintage Lavalamp. I mainly made it because i ran out of ideas...
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Friday, November 11, 2011
Tips on Installing a Beaded Curtain
It's hard to know exactly when it happened, but make no mistake about it - the 60's and 70's are definitely creeping back into style. Whether it is because the music of the time refuses to die (Janice Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, The Bee Gees, etc.), or because current pop culture keeps reminding us (think Austin Powers, baby), it is definitely hip to be retro. Vintage T-shirts, hip huggers and lava lamps are just some of the items enjoying a renaissance of sorts. It may be time to add another accessory to that growing list of groovy comebacks. The beaded curtain is quickly becoming popular again, as people everywhere are adding this unique accessory to their home interiors. They are sure to liven up any room, and better yet, they are so easy to install. In this article, we'll provide you with some easy tips on installing a beaded curtain.
First things first - what exactly is a beaded curtain? For those of you born after the time of free love and flower power, a beaded curtain is a curtain made from many strands of beads that extend down to the floor. These curtains are typically hung outside of a doorway, so that people can truly make an entrance. They usually feature a wide array of different colors, and can even be made to create a painted picture or design. Beaded curtains provide any room with a new look, and you might not believe how easy they are to install. In fact, putting up a beaded curtain should take you 5-10 minutes, tops.
The first thing you need to do in order to install a beaded curtain is to gather a few necessary supplies. You will obviously need the curtain, and in addition you will need a hammer, a pencil, and either two nails or two hooks. That's it. Once you have selected the doorway from which to hang your beaded curtain, you are ready to go.
You have the option of hanging a beaded curtain either inside or outside of the door frame. However, it is recommended you choose to hang the curtain on the outside of the frame, just for the sake of convenience. Hold the curtain up above the door frame, and make sure that is level against the wall. Take your pencil and make two marks where your nails or hooks will go. This will ensure that you are hanging the beaded curtain evenly.
The next step is to hammer your nails or hooks into the wall above the door frame. Use the marks you have made with the pencil as your guide and you should have no problem. It is important that you make sure the nails or hooks are securely hammered into the wall. After this step is completed, simply hang your beaded curtain onto the nails or hooks and enjoy!
See, wasn't that simple? These tips on installing a beaded curtain will truly turn this job into a breeze, giving you plenty of time to enjoy this wonderful blast from the past. Have fun!
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