Motivational quotes of the week!

Slow textiles....

Have you ever sat and made something free-style with no purpose, need or objective....

Doing so is good for the soul... Hand-sewing is used in hardy men's prisons to help calm, focus and offer reflection for inmates...and you can get this at home too! Take some meaningful scraps, family keepsakes and tatty trimmings and collage together stitching with needle and thread... pretend you're Tracy Emin and put your soul into it.

Slow textiles in this form can add real value to forgotten time honoured crafts and skills, putting some love into something because you feel like it will improve your mood and sense of worth. Art & Craft can be life changing, fulfilling or something to simply keep you out of trouble.. but do give it a go. Slow down.

VALUE = TIME + LOVE x EFFORT

This is my imaginary new summer wardrobe....

Not that I shall be making and summer purchases this year (maybe in the flea market in Budapest!?) but in my head this is what I shall be sauntering about the studio in on these balmy summer days! Punchy prints and boxy cuts, maximum effect whist remaining breezy, cool and collected... the reality won't be exactly as above...but day-dreaming is the tool for all future imaginations...
x

New 'Holly Berry' prints and papers..

New designs just completed for Wallpapers, gift-papers and linens. To be laser printed onto heavy calico and light-weight silk dresses.

Always inspired by nature and the juxtaposition between us and how we interact with the environment, these designs bring pure studies of nature into home and wardrobe in a fun and friendly way.

More colourways to be added soon.

Experiment...

Colour varying in degrees of proportions means contrasting things... you have to experiment...cut and stick quick!

When you really look, you really see...

A continuing preoccupation of mine, is the fragile, dysfunctional and utterly beautiful (in some cases) relationship between man and nature. Only when we really study can we clearly see the magic! I have been working on a body of studies of man made V's natural forms, the crossings over of bio-mimicry, the architecture of a shell or bone compared to that of Waterloo Station for example. This strange journey is taking the form at present of images and detailed drawings...but soon I'm thinking of mixing it up and designing some products or prints around this theme. Will put up continuing research.

Wilderness, optimism, freedom and perspective.

Finally had time to digest my recent trip; having studied natural forms, drawn inspiration from the outdoors, met fantastic UK suppliers who will help to form the chain in making my ideas come to life...and developed a very celebratory feel for processes and manufacture...from mum's hand crocheting to traditional mill production... Individuals, curatives, people getting on with life and making things, 'JUST do it' (thanks Nike) perfumers, ceramicists, wood turners, fiber experts... what a sense of making it happen...dreams to follow, industrious creativity and a culture and network of artisans and craftspeople. I cannot wait to go on my next trip...this time to Shetland...to get stuck into some serious weaving and studious development! But first, I have a range of hand-woven pieces to make for design week in September, and samples of the 'Morse-code' comfort cloth and my 'Free as a bird' collection to get finished ready for production!

Back in London Village...

I've jumped strait back into the murky mixed water of work, creativity and city-living, and have thrown myself into some rather pressing ventures, so haven't yet had time to compose some visual treats reporting from my Scottish adventure. But be assured, it was perfect and I'm full of creative juice to pour into my Studio ventures, and to translate that bit of Scottish heaven into our New Cross renovation project! I will make a south London Oasis come what may!

To provide a small taster, I think I have developed a liking for a new favourite collour...see images from Ullapool pier.. these sea soaked fish boxes on dock were the perfect shade! and the ropes, nets, buoys and mountains all inspired me. I'm going to post some drawings, moods, ideas, sketches etc as soon as I can. But I am most definitely back and things are a happening!