Je t'aime Paris

I have been trying to find inspiration for my summer project, My vava voom always comes from architecture or structure but I have struggled to find something new and challenging. So I have been browsing through my old pictures of a trip to Paris I took two years ago (taken to by my lovely mister) and have finally found my starting point. Here are some pictures below. I have edited them slightly to allow me to draw using an aged technique. These pictures bring back so many memories..I really want to live in Paris.

all pictures taken and edited by yours truly

go green

There seems to be a lot of organic colours in my home at the moment, maybe I am trying to compensate for the lack of summer we have had? I really love an aged green with dark wood, earthy colours I seem to be drawn to. I have snapped a few bits of my home for you to see the colour combo below...summer don't live her anymore.

summer tricks

I had a little play around last week using the technique of hand weaving and a few contrasting coloured yarn. I wanted to produce a few pieces with colours that'd brighten up your home. I put them in to frames, arranged them as a window display and photographed them. Here is the result 

Forest London

Forest London is a self described mid century Scandinavian furniture designer, the lady behind the name is Eva Coppens. The furniture will read you the same story as all Scandinavian designers....absolutely marvellous. The online website caters for furniture, home accessories, lighting...all of which are beautifully well made with acute attention to detail. That is what I love about Scandinavian design - the simplicity of design is so tightly bound by to attention to tiny detail, it allows only for a perfectly finished construction. What more could you ask for? There is a new shop in London on Clerkenwelll Road, which I would highly recommend a visit...credit cards at the ready.

images from forestlondon.com

Birminguem Museum - Style Africa

I took a trip to the Birmingham museum & Art gallery last week to find some inspiration. I stumbled across a great exhibition called 'Style Africa' which was a collection of printed textiles that were all hand printed in Africa by locals. The quality of the work was incredible & the technique they used was old school screen printing & batik...even on five metre panels. no photo shop or mac in sight. I really love the retro colours. The exhibition is on until 2nd September so if your near, take a peek.

working from home

Here are a few snapshots of what I have been up to this week. I am experimenting at the moment with stitching in to leather and I have also had a play around with some bright coloured inks while the sun was shining.

Architecture - the birds nest

We all have Olympic fever..It has been on every day for nearly two week so it is very hard to avoid. But I have been inspired equally by the athletes we seen on our screens and by the Olympic buildings of the past. As you know I have a very keen interest in Architecture so for me the Beijing Olympic Stadium (2008) ticks every box for my visual requirements. Take a look. Nothing says grand, power or winners more than this beautiful structure. I always feel completely in awe of China..they always seem to get everything spot on, perfectly. The Olympic stadium is no exception.

pictures borrowed from myclipta.blogspot.com

Interning summer 2012

I recently took up residency in London to spend part of my summer interning for my favourite designer Helen Amy Murray. Firstly, to anybody who is considering taking on an internship - forget what you have ever heard about internships. What you learn will be invaluable for life.  My time working for the studio was truly fab, the team I worked with all wonderful and the work I was able to assist with was jaw-dropping, absolute attention to detail. Helen Amy Murray Studio will be admired by myself for many years as a design concept and the BEST memories. The sky really is the limit - drive yourself.