So, first up is the Cross Stitch collection by Sandra Figuerola which have been made with felted wool using traditional embroidery techniques:

The yellow rug is my absolute favourite, I would love one of these adorning my living room- what do you think?

The next collection is by Charlotte Lancelot and is available on rugs, cushions and poufs.  The cross stitch design is made using a perforated soft belt base, with interwoven threads of wool, which I think creates a great effect.  I love that it’s quite a traditional style design used in a completely different way.

Lastly, I really like the lace effect of this design by José A.Gandía-Blasco which has been hand tufted:

So what do you think?  Which is your favourite?  These are just my top three, but they have quite a large selection online, so do have a browse.  As you would expect for a handmade designer rug, they’re by no means cheap, but they do ship internationally and you can access their shop here: Gan Rugs shop.

Have a lovely weekend all.

Hollie x

Sourcebook: Gan Rugs- Handmade Designer Rugs by Hollie Brooks

Gorgeous, no?! I caught up with Abigail to find out a little more about her:

Q. What’s your background?  How long have you been a textile artist?

A. I studied a degree in Surface Decoration and Printed Textiles which finished in 2003 and I started making textile art pieces and plush toys then. I did it alongside various design and illustration jobs until 2008 when I took on a studio space to concentrate on my own work.

My love of fabrics came from my grandma who was a seamstress. My earliest memories are of her sewing machine, threads and fabrics. It’s a very natural medium for me to work in.

Q. Can you tell me a little bit about your design and making process?

A. I do very little preparatory design/drawing work. I like to get straight into making once I have an idea. I gather my ideas and inspiration, make a little sketch perhaps of my idea which I use to create the pattern (if working in fabric) then I just let the fabrics help me form my thoughts.

Q. Do you have any of your creations in your own home? And if so, can we see a picture?!

A. We have a few pieces, I have to gift them to my boyfriend to stop me from allowing people to buy them!! We have a few birds, some circus animals, a fabric totempole piece, a paper fox sculpture and a large white peacock with vintage brooch detail.  We have just moved house, but this is a shot of a couple of my birds set up in old our flat:

Q. Have you ever been commissioned to do a piece a little out of the ordinary?

Not really, the only one slightly out of the ordinary was to replicate a customer’s dead pet canary, and to include some of its’ feathers that had been kept. It’s sweet really and nice I could make her something that stood in memory of her beloved little friend. 

Q. Finally, where can your work be bought from?

A. I sell directly to my customers through my website www.abigail-brown.co.uk, making each piece to order. But I sell in shops and galleries all over the world.  Here in London you can find them in Liberty.

Abigail works from her studio at Cockpit Arts in Holborn, London, and they open twice a year to the public, once in June and then in November.  The June open weekend runs from Friday 6th – Sunday 8th.  You can find out more information on the Cockpit Arts website.

I would love to know which is your favourite from Abigail’s website? Mine is without doubt this absolute beauty…  incredible to think he’s been made entirely by hand, I can’t imagine how long that must have taken.  Sadly at £1,530 he is on my dream wish list for now!  I firmly believe that Abigail’s work are heirlooms of the future and pieces to be loved and passed down for generations to come.

Image sources: all Abigail Brown

Thank you so much to Abigail for answering our questions and I hope you’ve enjoyed hearing a little more about her.

Hollie x

Sourcebook: Abigail Brown Textile Art by Hollie Brooks

]]> https://blogs.audenza.com/blog/sourcebook-abigail-brown-textile-art/feed/ 3 https://blogs.audenza.com/blog/earth-inke-wallpaper/ https://blogs.audenza.com/blog/earth-inke-wallpaper/#comments Thu, 17 Apr 2014 15:24:33 +0000 http://www.miafleur.com/blog/?p=2654 This week, I wanted to shine the spotlight on a very talented wallpaper designer, called Katherine Morris, whose company is called Earth Inke.  I came across Katherine’s work on Twitter and showed my mum who happened to be looking for wallpaper at the time.  That evening she ordered samples (look out for the offer below for free samples) which came very speedily and sure enough, one of her designs is now adorning our hallway and stairs:

Image source: Audenza

Image source: Audenza

Both images above are from our house, we went for the Teasels design in the ‘Toad’ colourway and teamed it with black gloss woodwork for the real wow factor.  Word of warning though- beware of black gloss paint! It shows up every morsel of dust and every imperfection in the wood.  That said, we love the impact that it gives as soon as you walk through the front door.  The gold accessories just give it that extra bit of bling!  What do you think?

I caught up with Katherine to find out a bit more about her:

What’s your background?  How long have you been designing wallpaper?

I actually studied Countryside and Environmental Management at university, but art and drawing has always been something I have loved and continued doing, without even realising sometimes.

The wallpaper part comes from my love of paper products, drawing and interiors. My mother nurtured my flare for interiors from a young age. I helped her look through pattern books and she gave me full independence on designing my bedroom from as early as I can remember.

Image source: Earth Inke

Can you tell me a little bit about your design and production process?

The design emulates from a memory to a sketch.  If, like the ‘Teasel’ pattern, they are based on things I can go and find I will go out for a walk and bring them back home.  If not, I take photos and work from them.  I pencil sketch an idea and composition and then work the main design with pen and ink.  Its scanned into the computer and then created into a pattern.

I always wanted to keep an element of tradition into the way I printed. British manufacturing was also important to me and my business ethos. I found a family run printers in Lancashire who still produce wallpapers on 150 year old surface print machines. I knew it was right straight away so everyone of my wallpapers is printed there.

Do you have any of your wallpaper in your own home?  And what style of home do you envisage your wallpaper works best in?

I have only lived in this house a few months but I transformed the spare room into a show piece for ‘Poppy Pepper Pots’ in ‘Dormouse’.

Image source: Earth Inke

I’d like to think that any house could look good with Earth Inke wallpaper. Whether it’s a  country cottage with a full room full of ‘Teasels’ or a London apartment with an ‘On A Wire’ toilet, if you personally like it, it will work.

I had Teasels in Toad in my last house. it was packed with period features: cast iron fireplaces, stripped cupboards with cute brass locks so I kept it simple with a matt chalk putty coloured paint and crisp white paint work.  I have an inherited elaborate gold framed mirror which was center piece to the feature wall. I love the idea of black gloss work, that sounds amazing! I think with that particular colourway because it reacts and changes with lighting so beautifully a hall stairs and landing would be fantastic, as the pattern would look different night and day. It’s soft enough for you to play with texture and dramatise with strong contrasting colours and statement pieces. Hanging art works would also work with this paper.

What style have you decorated your home in? Do you prefer antiques and vintage or new and contemporary?

Vintage and antiques all the way, I think not only is there wonderful hand craftsman ship to be had but great value for money.  I love a piece that can tell a story.  My favourite piece in all the world is my Globe Wernicke barristers bookcase, it makes me smile every time I walk past it.

 I am a super massive wallpaper fan, so I enjoy other people’s designs in my home very much. I have a big soft spot for all things Cole and Son, that quirky, almost craziness in some cases really appeals to me. I love grubby green colours , pattern and colour – no magnolia for me!

Image source: Earth Inke

Katherine has recently launched two gorgeous new designs, ‘Moths’ (above) and ‘Poppy Pepper Pots’  and is very kindly offering Audenza readers free wallpaper samples.  Just mention in your email that you heard about Earth Inke through Audenza.

Thank you so much to Katherine for taking the time to answer our questions and please do head over to her website to have a look.

Hollie x

Sourcebook: Earth Inke Wallpaper by Hollie Brooks