I’ve noticed this little trend emerging after spotting Lou Rota’s bug-and-bird infested vintage plates at one of my favourite London shops, Caravan, last year (a full Caravan shop tour is on the to-do list!). The plates are customised using homemade and vintage decals. I particularly love the beetles scurrying across this chintz tea plate:
They’re mainly used for decorative purposes (they look amazing grouped on a wall) but can be used ‘lightly’, say for serving up cake for afternoon tea. Lou’s vintage plates can be found at Caravan and Liberty in London, and you can buy them online from Not on the High Street.
Ninainvorm is one of my favourite bloggers – and her Netherlands home is probably one of my most-visited ‘destinations’ on Flickr. (I love her patchworked wall of vintage wallpapers.) She also makes ceramics (a combination of slipcasting and hand-shaping), and she screen-prints her own designs (like Scandi-style birdies) on to her work.
She also uses vintage items to screen-print as well, like these vintage plates with bunting and birds:
You can purchase Nina’s ceramics from her Etsy shop.
Le petit oiseau is another gorgeous blog I follow, this time closer to home in the UK. As well as being a real bower bird for lovely vintage finds, she uses decal paper to re-design vintage plates with Tangram-style collages.
Check out her Etsy shop at Le petit boutique.
Very snazzy! I've not seen this trend yet in Sydney!!
Posted by: Sam | September 17, 2009 at 08:46 AM
Great finds - I'm sure the design on the top plate was part of my Nana's plate collection - I would love to see a piece of her sponge cake served on one of these customised beauties!
Posted by: Natalie | September 17, 2009 at 11:35 AM
Lovely post!
(*)
Posted by: Louise Naomi Best | September 17, 2009 at 12:32 PM
Lovely selection (pleased to see nath's plates :). A definite trend, haven't seen anything like it in France yet.
Posted by: Deb | September 17, 2009 at 12:37 PM
Very very cute! Cheeky and clever too. Inspired to make my own now! xx
Posted by: the likkle girl who wurves pwetty things | September 17, 2009 at 01:57 PM
I'll go to Caravan with you am overdue a visit!
Posted by: Make Do Style | September 17, 2009 at 06:28 PM
Make Do - sounds good!
Posted by: Top Bird @ Wee Birdy | September 17, 2009 at 09:39 PM
Oh these are super, really unusual too. Lovely find as ever x
Posted by: spudballoo | September 17, 2009 at 09:43 PM
Oh man! These are awesome. I especially like the raven plate. Cool!
Posted by: Paul Overton | September 17, 2009 at 10:27 PM
wow, thanks dear, i'm very thrilled to be included, especially amongst such illustrious talents! *blush*
Posted by: nath | September 18, 2009 at 12:56 AM
Oh my gosh, those plates are just beautiful! I especially love the floral/beetle ones, sweet but a little dark too :)
I collect cute china, I'm tempted! <3 xxx
Posted by: Porcelain Blonde | September 21, 2009 at 04:40 AM
Love these vintage plates - can I mention them on my blog please?
Posted by: That's Not My Age | September 24, 2009 at 01:06 PM
I am sorry, but I have to point out that Lou Rota's plates are using computer printed decals that are not fired on. They are not really permenant and scratch off. As someone who has study ceramics for many years I am pissed off at seeing so many people now using the same ideas but not the skill. This dumbing down of basic ceramic skills - ie. the printing of real ceramic transfers is just going to lead to more of our valueable skills being lost.
Posted by: extremecraftivist | April 03, 2011 at 11:12 PM