Amelia’s Magazine | Home London at Olympia, January 2015: Review

WOW_Home_london
WOW lighting from Pad Home.

This year I attended the January Home London show with toddler in tow, since needs must. He was very, erm, helpful, on the first leg… then promptly fell asleep in his buggy after lunch (something he never ever does) – giving me a good few hours to see more of the show and actually chat with the designers.

Ella_Doran_vintage_toy_car_wallpaper
First stop, vintage toy car wallpaper by Ella Doran went down especially well with Snarf.

Michael_Angove_Ary_Trays
Åry Trays is a Scandinavian manufacturer of birchwood trays who work with a host of designers including many UK based ones. I particularly liked quirky designs by RCA alumni Michael Angove.

Nazanin_Kamali_Minecraft_cushion
Shrimp_cushion_Nazanin_Kamali
Snarfle made a beeline for this Minecraft inspired beanbag by furniture designer turned artisanal textiles designer Nazanin Kamali. She had made it for her own son and was very tolerant of his desire to kick his shoes off and pretend sleep, and even helped bribe his removal with a handy chocolate coin. Her unusual embroidered shrimp cushion got a huge amount of love when I posted it on instagram – a sign, perhaps, that people are growing weary of the ubiquitous owls and foxes that still dominate current decorative designs. Find her cushions stocked in SCP.

Otago_design_beaded_pots
I discovered Otago Design at last year’s Tent London (about which I still planning some kind of review… unfortunately my Kickstarter campaign to produce a book got in the way of an earlier blog). I really love the way they marry African design sensibilities with contemporary design.

Toby_House_iridescent_lighting
One of my absolute favourite finds was this amazing iridescent flat pack lighting by the relatively new TOBYhouse from London based designer Toby Sanders. Having already wowed the world with super fun Beach Ball lights, this is his latest innovation.

Moomin_tile_arabia
Arabia make a whole host of Moomin ceramics that are just so darn cute… can’t wait for Snarf to get better with china!

Klaus_Haapaniemi_iitala_dancing_foxes
Klaus Haapaniemi does it again for Iitala with these gorgeous dancing foxes. His designs are out of this world, if only I could afford to own some.

Lush Designs_Beekeeper_Snarfle
Lush_Designs_unicorn_plate
Lush_designs_ceramic_kitty
Snarfle gave the thumbs up to the new Bee Garden fabric design by Lush Designs, and we were both enamoured with their lovely new range of melamine tableware for little ones, inspired by requests from customers with kids who frequent their East Dulwich shop. The unisex designs feature a unicorn and a lion, and Snarf promptly set up a play kitchen to make us cups of tea with the beakers. Also new to the range: these ceramic kitty money boxes.

Fanny_Shorter
This year the COADG curated area had grown, with some old names joined by new finds. Fanny Shorter textiles are always a winner, and I’m looking forward to her new collection, due for release later this year.

Laura_Slater_cushions
I am in no way surprised that designer Laura Slater has created a bespoke collection for Heals. Love these painterly designs!

Anna_Jacobs_lamps
These awesome hot pink flamingo lampshades are by Anna Jacobs.

Thorody
Thorody is the brain child of fine artists Vicky Putler and Theo Sykes, who are inspired by a combination of Modernism and South East London life. The resulting graphic designs are super slick and wearable for the home.

My Top Drawer review is coming up next!

Categories ,2015, ,Anna Jacobs, ,Arabia, ,Åry Trays, ,Beach Ball lights, ,Bee Garden, ,COADG, ,Ella Doran, ,Fanny Shorter, ,flamingo, ,Heals, ,Home London, ,Iitala, ,instagram, ,Kickstarter, ,kitty money boxes, ,Klaus Haapaniemi, ,Laura Slater, ,Lush Designs, ,Michael Angove, ,Minecraft, ,Moomin, ,Nazanin Kamali, ,Olympia, ,Otago Design, ,Pad Home, ,review, ,SCP, ,Snarfle, ,Tent London, ,Theo Sykes, ,Thorody, ,Toby Sanders, ,TOBYhouse, ,Top Drawer, ,Vicky Putler

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Amelia’s Magazine | A Review of The Pattern Sourcebook: A Century of Surface Design

PatternSource_jacket cover_drusilla_cole
The Pattern Sourcebook: A Century of Surface Design is a new mini edition of a recent larger volume, and includes the work of well known contemporary designers such as Eley Kishimoto, Angie Lewin and Ella Doran amongst those of unknown origin from decades past.

The Pattern Sourcebook_Spread_7
The Pattern Sourcebook_Spread_6
The Pattern Sourcebook_Spread_5
The author Drusilla Cole has also included her own work, which is heavily influenced by the minimalism of Japanese textile design. This mishmash approach stretches across 350 pages and provides a subjective snapshot of surface design as collected by one person. It will appeal to designers and aesthetes who prefer an unorthodox approach to finding inspiration, dipping in and out of years, locations and styles.

The Pattern Sourcebook_Spread_3
The Pattern Sourcebook_Spread_1
The Pattern Sourcebook: A Century of Surface Design is published by Laurence King. It costs £12.95 and is available here.

Categories ,Angie Lewin, ,Drusilla Cole, ,Eley Kishimoto, ,Ella Doran, ,Laurence King, ,Mini Edition, ,pattern, ,review, ,surface design, ,Textile Design, ,The Pattern Sourcebook, ,The Pattern Sourcebook: A Century of Surface Design

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Amelia’s Magazine | An interview with Ashley Le Quere: Amelia’s Colourful Colouring Companion featured artist.

Ashley Le Quere_Sketchbook_1
Ashley Le Quere creates colourful artwork with a twist, often accompanied by her beautiful typography, learnt from a master calligraphist in Australia. Here she shares her lovely ‘peeping cat’ colouring book artwork and tells us more about her design practice.

Ashley Le Quere_At Studio Desk Pic
How would you describe your style and what art materials can you not live without?
I always find it so hard to describe my style, but I would say it is hand drawn, as it looks natural and flowing. My favourite material would have to be my black Winsor and Newton ink, which I use for every project! I hand draw everything with my ink and my favourite paintbrush, which is now very old so I probably need a new one.

Ashley Le Quere_Sketchbook_2
Where do you find most of your inspiration?
If I’m really stuck for inspiration I tend to have a look though a magazine and pick out a few of my favorite books like Paris Kitchens, and if all else fails I go take a walk in the park. While I’m walking I tend to look for bits and bobs to collect, like really big leaves, petals or flowers that I find interesting and sometimes I make a collage of them!

Ashley Le Quere_At Studio Screen Printing Pic
What do you find so special about the screen printing process?
I love to screen print really because it is such a quick process; you can have an idea and by the end of the day (if all goes to plan) you will have a beautiful print or product.

Ashley Le Quere_colouring book pages
How did a peeping cat inspire your colouring book pages?
I drew the peeping cat in my sketchbook first off and it was playing on my mind… I wanted to take it further but I didn’t know how. That’s when I saw your open brief and thought it would be amazing opportunity to make more out of my peeping cat sketch.

Ashley Le Quere_Cat doodles
What did you learn at Ella Doran?
Working in Ella Doran’s studio was such a great experience but I think my favourite time was while I was helping her set up for the Home show in 2012. I think the main lesson I took from her was to keep calm under pressure and when working to tight deadlines… keep working through it and it will all work out eventually.

Ashley Le Quere_suitcase project
How did your time in Australia inform your work?
I think the time that most influenced my work while I was in Australia was while I was living near Byron Bay working on a coffee farm. I was in the middle of this tropical, beautiful country side and alone with my thoughts and all the flora and fauna for most of the day: I think that was the calmest time of my life.

Wuthering-Heights-by-Ashley-Le-Quere
You were chosen as one of the featured artists for the East End Prints Valentines exhibition, what inspired that artwork?
I illustrated a quote from one my favourite books for the True Romance Valentines Exhibition, which is Wuthering Heights. I love a good romantic period drama! (read more about Ashley’s artwork here)

Ashley Le Quere_suitcase project_2
How did you come to work with a suitcase company and what has been the best part of the project so far?
They approached me to create designs for their ‘Artist Create’ range. I think the best part of the project was that they trusted me and let me create whatever I wanted. I left very relaxed and enjoyed creating the designs: I think that it shows through in your work when you have fun doing it.

Ashley Le Quere_Hand Drawn Lettering
Your typography is beautiful, how did you learn this art?
Thank you, I have been playing with typography and lettering for years now but it was when I was in Melbourne that I really fell in love with it. I had a studio space in an converted warehouse where I met an amazing calligraphist called Maria Montes, so when she started to do workshops I couldn’t say no. I joined up and learnt so much from her: now I can’t stop!

Ashley Le Quere_My Firends Pattern
How exciting that you are taking part in the Crafty Fox Market for LDF. Can you tell us anymore about your products?
Yes, I’m working on creating cushions and some tableware textiles. My Gran (who I called Nanina) was a huge inspiration to me; she was an amazing women who I spent a lot of my child hood with. She died a couple of years ago and since then I have found myself drawn to the things she was passionate about or things she loved, like Ferns! So this project has been a very personal project, full of love.

There are many more interviews with Amelia’s Colourful Colouring Companion artists to come, so stay tuned.

Categories ,#ameliasccc, ,Adult Colouring Book, ,Amelia’s Colourful Colouring Companion, ,Artist Create, ,Ashley Le Quere, ,australia, ,Byron Bay, ,Coloring Book, ,Colouring Book, ,Crafty Fox Market, ,East End Prints, ,Ella Doran, ,Home show, ,interview, ,Maria Montes, ,Paris Kitchens, ,Peeping cat, ,screenprint, ,True Romance, ,typography, ,Winsor and Newton, ,Wuthering Heights

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