inspiring book

I have bought a new computer and I am just about getting to grips with the new system and software, discovering just how much things have moved on in the five years since I last upgraded.
Life was simpler when it was just books - 'How to wrap five eggs' is a favourite from my childhood. This classic book about traditional Japanese packaging fascinated me. Everything about this now rather dog-eared original hardback edition, the content, design, photography even down to the print quality and the matt paper inspired me to want to design even before I knew what a designer was. I don't think an app would do that!

while the sun shines

I love it when I can hang my prints out to dry! I made this new screen last week, a repeat pattern inspired by the simple pleasure of the Slinky toy - the height of amazing new technology when we were kids. I am experimenting with colours here, finding it hard to get away from my favourites. 

I am also busy with a lovely new illustration project, one a month for a year, should be fun.

day job

January has found me in front of my computer screen, a years worth of accounts have been put in order and I now have to put on my day job hat as I have two packaging projects to do.  I will be up to my ears in yoghurt and apple crumble for the next couple of weeks. After that I may get out and see what 2012 looks like!

Over the years I have done my fair share of own brand packaging for Sainsbury's and Marks and Spencer, so this book was a must for my Christmas stocking, Own Label compiled by Jonny Trunk, a nostalgic look at the basic but beautiful, graphic output of Sainsbury's design studio from the 60's and 70's. Those happy days before barcodes, nutrition panels, GDA's, recycling guidelines, five a day, freefrom, EU, organic logos, use by, sell by, best before........

pomegranate tree

We have a little pomegranate tree in our garden in Spain which produces a tiny harvest of these waxy pink flowers and strange and beautiful fruits. I spent a fair amount of time under this tree in the summer and the result is a new design appropriately called Pomegranate Tree. Here's a sneak preview, I am just sampling some colours here and hope to have cushions in my shops this week.

new cushions

I have been busy stitching and photographing and have just put some new cushions into my Etsy shop, they will be appearing on my website soon. Two colourways at the moment, teal and olive both on white or natural linen. My collection of Ercol furniture always comes in handy as props for my photographs, it's lightness and elegance provides the perfect backdrop.

work in progress

I have been printing a new design today, this was inspired by some vintage fabric that I made into cushions. They were very popular and soon sold out, so this is my version.  I am still choosing colours, can't help being drawn to the bold and bright, I like them vibrant! 

These are printed onto unbleached linen but I am also going to print onto natural linen, they should be in my shop soon.

Lucienne Day 1917-2010

Lucienne Day who sadly died on 30th January was my textile design heroine, she paved the way for women in the design industry and her outstanding designs based on abstractions of natural forms still influence and inspire.

One of my earliest textile memories is the Ducatoon fabric bought by my mum from Heals in the sixties and made into curtains that travelled with us from house to house. She never did get round to finishing them and I remember the rusty old pins that held up the hem. The cushions, sitting where they belong - on my Ercol sofa, are made from a short length of Rock Rose fabric I found in a flea market a few years ago - beautiful. 

book love

I picked up this huge book about the life and work of Arne Jacobsen in the charity shop. Makes me wonder why someone wanted to get rid of such a fantastic book. Anyway, lucky me, it's full of all the things I love - Scandinavian design, mid-century architecture, chairs and these lovely designs for fabrics and wallpapers that he created in the 50s.