Sketchbooks

Back in Art School I remember my teachers emphasizing the importance of sketchbooks.

 I was always envious of the students who could lose themselves in this medium, and the incredible thought process which they documented this way. I kept sketchbooks, and now I look back on them and see the beginnings of good ideas but I also see the 'tightness' of my hand in them.
Freedom for me has always been a large open canvas or piece of paper, but I do wish I could reign it in and produce a jewel of a piece like the work of this artist, Alison Warmon. Would love to look through these pieces she makes.

At the end of my degree show back in 2000, many of the students were asked whether they were selling their sketchbooks, by collectors, designers even the teachers.

The honesty displayed within those pages for most, was pricless. Broke or not, it was the one part of our degree shows not for sale.

via The Aviary

WIKSTEN

Super news! Jenny over at Wiksten has just opened an on-line store! Please check our collaborative print on the 'Helen Dress'.
Jenny has great taste, and has cherry picked the designers in her shop. Be sure to check out all the deliciousness at Odette, MCMC, Alyson Fox and Object and Totem

All photography John Allen via here

Loving...

...... the work of La Wilson. Each piece is like a curiosity cabinet.

All Images are via the John Davis Gallery

Hudson Valley inspiration trip

For a great weekend retreat, Hudson Valley is just a short train ride from New York along the Hudson River.

Warren street has many beautifully curated antique shops. The windows alone give us tons of inspiration and home decorating envy. One day pricey Hudson shops, one day!

A favorite to stop in at, is the John Davis Gallery . Housed in one of the oldest mill buildings in the town, the space itself is beyond beautiful and the artists it shows are always a treat. We have managed to hit up a few of their opening nights over the years, go on a Friday or Saturday night and you are guaranteed to meet interesting folk over wine and good art.  Oh, and they have the cutest chocolate spaniel too!

Below are a few examples of work we have seen at the gallery in the past few years. Unfortunately I don't have the name of the Artist who made the woven piece below.

Suzanne Ulrich

Leticia Ortega-Cortes

  There are so many interesting textures, paint color choices (mango and green pea anyone?) and building designs around town. It all works together somehow.

And cats. Loads of kitties...

 ...all over the place.

It's hard to leave.

 But check out the evening ride home by train.

We hope you get to visit some time!

Palettes: Plummy sunsets

Popped in to see goddess of flora, Nicolette! She was putting together some gorgeous dahlia infused settings for NYC tables and weddings this weekend.
 Ah, to have a wedding designed by this lady. Her arrangements always look so naturally effortless, like they were just gathered in a meadow on a walk, totally dreamy.

Arranged and photographed by Nicolette

An insight into the change of colors to come...

Erdem F/W 2011

The Standard NY, from the Highline

Grapes from the studio grounds

A bit of Kate in Vogue September 2011

September sky

Crafty women

-Hey all,

As the weather is beginning to turn here in NYC it's time to take full advantage of the dwindling warm evenings with some crafting outdoors.

We are talking Dreamcatching crafters!

Jenny being crafty here    

here....

and here.

At the beautiful Odette studio

 Inspired by these fine ladies at Wiksten, Odette and MCMC Perfumes who have done some real beauties, a few of us thought we would have a go ourselves. More about each of these truly talented women to come!
Also, I am finally watching David Lynch's Twin Peaks, it's amazing.  For anyone who is familiar, I think you'll agree that  the 'D-C' fits right in with all the other oddball fashion/textile/awesomeness going on there. I'm finding that I'm now strangely drawn to bad, christmas gift style sweaters in thrift stores, and I'm only just beginning season 2!

You will need:
-Feathers
-Scissors
-Hoops
-Threads/ Ribbons
-Beads and bits
- We also used old bits of WG designs fabrics, torn into strips for around the hoops.

I found simple instructions here.

Nail painting break

A Chanel 'frosted peach' nail ( for Lara Flynn-Boyle)

 Have fun weaving!

Premiere Vision, Paris

Twice a year we show our Textiles at a trade show in Paris. Premiere Vision is one of the largest annual trade shows for Textile design and is housed in a giant hangar style building a short train ride outside the city.

Images from here

So the month before the show it's all hands on deck for the 'churn' of textiles for the event of the Textile season.

Wonderful and talented intern, Gaby, helping with garment making

Some unfinished fabrics

Hand-painted designs