Sewing for Men and Boys…

Mr. Peacock found this 1970’s sewing publication, Sewing for Men and Boys, at the flea market. The title made me chuckle. This 1973 publication showcases menswear trends and sewing techniques, while promoting Simplicity sewing patterns, in a magazine format.

The topics of this magazine cover fabric types, measurements and tailoring techniques. Much of the advice and tips are timeless, such as the importance of a properly fitted garment.

It has a “Sewing Illustrated “ section with step-by-step photos and diagrams. To quote their “Ties” section, “….the nostalgic bow tie is now enjoying popularity.”

Sewing for Men and Boys was meant to inspire home seamstresses to make contemporary clothes for the men in their families. I don’t think many moms or grandmothers sew clothing for the men in their families anymore.

This magazine also highlights seasonal clothing for men and boys, including "Summer in the Sun."

The high-waisted tennis shorts look dated, but many of the trends they touch on are still relevant today.

You get your own copy of this seventies menswear magazine here. I have my copy of Sewing for Men and Boys next to my Charles Hix book collection.

Sewing for Men and Boys begins with a section on “Self Image” and breaks menswear into 4 categories: tailored traditionalist, active casual, now generation, and young executive. What category are you? Mr. Peacock would categorize himself as a "casual-traditionalist." What category are you?

Dishes stacked to the roof...

Mr. Peacock is swooning over these modular porcelain Italian “Palace” tableware pieces by Seletti. They would compliment my dish collection nicely, and you may already know I like dishes that stack!

Each Florentine-inspired “building” is comprised of six individual pieces, plus a serving dish as the roof.

Even the interior of each dish has “architectural” detailing.

The clever Palace collection includes 4 “buildings”

• a dinner plate building (each plate is 8.6” x 8.6” x 1.1”),

• a dessert/fruit bowl building (each bowl is 6” x 6” x .8” ),

• a small bowl building (each bowl is 4.3” x 4.3’ x 2”),

• a soup dish building (each dish is 7” x 7” x 1.6”).

I immediately thought of Piero Fornasetti when I first saw the Palace dishes. A Fornasetti tea set would nicely compliment Seletti’s modular tableware pieces.

These beech wood cutlery sets are packaged in a printed brown paper bag and would look great with these dishes…or for a picnic.

The Palace tableware collection would look chic displayed on this red Ming console.

The table is set…now what’s for dinner?

Mr. P's favorite T's

The weather is heating up and it's time for flip-flops, shorts and t-shirts. "A picture speaks a thousand words"…and so can a t-shirt. T-shirts can become very sentimental possessions referencing a special event or time in your life. Here's some of Mr. Peacock's current favorite t-shirts, maybe one of these will become your favorite too.

Mr. Peacock loves the Danish label Wood Wood, created in 2002. This Wood Wood tee is a pie chart showing the religions of the world.

There's a plethora of t-shirts that give homage to The Smiths.

This Charming Man, How Soon is Now? Oh the memories….

You either love or hate The Smiths….

And it the people…, Death of a Disco Dancer, To be gentle and kind.

These Laurent Desgrange t-shirts are made from collages.

They are packaged like vinyl LP records.

Is your head is in the clouds…or do you feel like a sad cloud?

American Apparel has created a series of "Library" t-shirts using historical images such as juveniles dispersing from the Los Angeles police on Sunset Strip in 1966, or a pair at a Gay Pride Parade in West Hollywood in1984. It will be interesting to see if they continue this series of t-shirts.

Arthur Conan Doyle wrote Hound of the Baskervilles (see my homage to Sherlock Holmes). It's immortalized as a t-shirt here. This lady cop t-shirt is by Patrick Nagel (remember the Duran Duran Rio cover?).

This double trouble t-shirt will make anyone smile. Mr. Peacock likes the "tennis tail" on this iconic number tee.

Opposites attract. This love/hate t-shirt weighs in on timely issues. "Okay is not okay"…..references the Berlin dj duo, but it could be a mantra for anyone.

Mr. Peacock likes this architectural mustache man t-shirt. It reminds me of the interior of my kitchen cabinets. The bearded man t-shirt looks like an illustration from a fable.

This scientific illustration of mushrooms looks striking on this tee.

Color block t-shirts always look good. I like the combination of red, yellow, ivory and blue of this t-shirt.

Even if you don't party at The Chateau Marmont, you can still own a souvenir t-shirt.

You can peek at my previous favorite t-shirts here. What's going to be your favorite t-shirt this summer?

Dish it up...

Mr. Peacock shared his dish queen affliction last fall. Here's a few more of my favorite black & white porcelain pieces from my collection.

This vintage bowl is one of my favorite pieces of my dish collection! I found this vintage Copeland/Spode bowl ages ago at a flea market. I was drawn to the zodiac pattern and the scalloped edge.

Here’s a detail of Capricorn. I always use this bowl (10” diameter) to serve a side dish at Thanksgiving.


I also use this small platter (12”) at the holidays. It’s a vintage Syracuse China plate—probably from a diner or restaurant. I’ve had it a long time—I think I bought it at a yard sale for $2. I like the black scrolling around the top and bottom edge... for some design reason the scrolling doesn't connect.

Here's a detail of the scrolling pattern. I'm guessing it's from the 1940's or 1950's.

Mr. Peacock recently acquired this inexpensive “You Are My Sunshine” plate.

Here’s a detail of the clothespins (drawn with dots) and paperclips that create the circular pattern around the center type.

This little 4” Danish plate is dated 1967 and is inscribed with “Den standhaftige tinsoldat—handmalet.” I think it translates to “The standing tin soldier.”

Here’s one of my small vintage (4”) Fornasetti plates from the Sun & Moon series.


Here's a silly video of Cousin Emmy, and Pete Seeger, performing her rendition of "You Are My Sunshine" —circa early 1950's. Have a fun weekend!

From the journals of Mr. Peacock...

I’ve kept journals, or should I say “scrapbooks” for decades now (yikes-time flies). They’re not really a journal in the traditional sense, but more of a visual diary of my life. I've always been obsessed with assorted bits of ephemera and magazines (I work at them and buy them). I admit I can be somewhat of a pack rat too. As I’ve mentioned before, I was always a gypsy and moved around many times in my life.

One day I started gluing everything that I liked into my sketchbook, and I’ve never looked back. When I would move—all I had to worry about was my journals, instead of stacks of magazines and boxes of ephemera.

I know many people enjoy keeping similar cut & paste journals. I find the actual act of clipping, gluing and collaging to be very therapeutic and relaxing. I try do constantly maintain my journals, but sometimes I get behind on keeping up with my “paperwork.” In fact, right now I’m behind a few months, but I’ll eventually take a weekend and plow through my “stuff” and get caught up. Over the years I’ve even had some intimate friends become frustrated, and almost jealous, at the time I spent maintaining my journals.

My journals have been like a close friend to me over the years. I turn to them when I want to escape, to be cheered up, or if I need a bit of inspiration. I can tell what year I created a journal just my thumbing through the pages. It always takes me right back to where I was at that moment in my life—much like a written diary for some folks.

I’ve purchased the same size hard-covered 10.5” x 13.5” Canson hard cover sketch books year after year. I've had some red covers & white covers, but most are black covered.

I always put a “title” on the front of each journal that sums up my mind-set at the time. I’m not too precious when I work on my journals, no straight lines or perfect layouts here; they’re just for me. I can tell you I've gone through cases and cases of glue-sticks over the years.

The IKEA Billy Bookcases in my living room nicely store some of my journals ( above-on the bottom two shelves behind my sofa).

I’ve never tallied up how many journals I’ve filled over the years. They’ve been in storage, lost, stolen, and regrettably I sold some journals.

Above: I like the way some of my "vintage" journals are getting a patina and discoloring from time.

Almost 20 years ago, I sold some to a shop owner that purchased rare books and magazines. When you entered the shop you had to check your bag. The shop owner peeked at my journal as I shopped. When I retrieved my bag he asked me what my book was and I said it’s my “journal.” He asked if I had anymore and said he would be interested in buying them. I told him I didn’t sell my journals. However, when I needed some quick cash I took a few back and sold them. I don’t even remember how much I got for them, but in hindsight I wish I had kept them.

I'll probably continue to keep making my journals until I die, although, unfortunately I'll run out of space to keep them. Many pages of my journals are naughty, and I can't share them here, but over time I will share some more "G" rated pages from my journals (and photograph them better).

Do you keep a diary, journal or scrapbook of your life and thoughts? Or do you have a ritual that inspires you at the uninspired lulls in life? Whatever you do, I hope you have an inspiring weekend!

Functional Porcelain Look-a-likes

Mr. Peacock loves porcelain pieces that replicate or mimic everyday objects. They can be strictly decorative, but if they’re functional—that’s even better!

I acquired this little teapot/coffee pot, that mimics a moka pot, last year. It's perfect for two cups of tea.

I love these porcelain faux boots (5.75"w x 15"h x 10.5"d) created by the talented Czech artist and designer, Maxim Velcovsky of Qubus studio! They’re pictured as a left and right boot; however, you can only purchase a left boot. A big bunch of peonies would look fantastic in a boot vase.

They remind me of a pair of Wellies or old Frye boots.

Of course, I like the white porcelain boot vase the best, but this glossy black porcelain boot vase is very cool too. The porcelain boot with the blue pattern reminds me of Dutch Delftware.

These mugs, Bird in the Bush cups, don't mimic everyday objects, but they're very clever. When they’re stacked, they look like a "tree branches" with a bird. The bird also comes in pink, although, I wish it was available in white.

These porcelain "Happy Dishes" dishes make me smile—especially the lidded dish that looks like croissant!
For these breakfast dishes, Tina Roeder, the designer, was inspired by children and her friends. These days, anything that puts a smile on my face is all right with me!