Inspiration: Eleanor Pritchard

This is she... the very talented Eleanor Pritchard... have you seen her stunning 
weavings before? While I should really be crocheting, I've found myself mesmerised
by them lately.






It's strange that I haven't come across her work before seeing as she is so celebrated 
in her native Britain and far abroad... Anyway, now that I have (finally) I do admit to
being completely smitten :)






And, of course, when I saw her studio I just wanted to live there! Isn't it amazing?







I love that her work comprises of strong geometric shapes and basic patterning. 






There's a freshness to her designs... a kind of 'less is more' aesthetic carried 
by bold colour combinations that highlight the design rather than smother it.






And she loves making cushions too, so she must be alright ;)


You can read more about Eleanor Pritchard and see more of her work on her 
website and her blog.

Inspiration: Humlegården Apartment

I found these images the day I finished my new design for the triangle cushions. 

It was such a Wow! Snap! moment. It's given me fresh inspiration to do more...

and this green is definitely calling my name ;)

So where is this amazing place? It's the Humlegården Apartment, developed

by Tham & Videgård Arkitekter in a traditional Art Nouveau apartment in Stockholm.

The oversized multicoloured parquet floors and walls are so visually striking, 

it makes me happy just looking at it :)

As much as I love it I have to admit that I find some of the rooms a tad overbearing. 

Perhaps these are the architect's show photos and there are real people living 

there now with real things...?

... and perhaps a few books on those shelves ;)

It's an exciting idea, though, don't you think?

I found this on a very inspirational blog, Plenty of Colour 

via another fabulous blog, elisabeth andrée.

Our Creative Spaces - Repeat Patterns

I've been trying to be more pattern-organised in my creative space this week...

and this is what I've come up with.

My process with composing the crocheted triangle cushions is so erratic, 

so haphazard... I'll crochet up the triangles I think I'd like and then only 

once I see them next to each other do I realise whether they'll 'work' or not.

Consequently, I have a lot of spare triangles in the 'didn't work' pile.

So, I've gone back to this wonderful book and have been 

playing with pattern making.

It's been a fabulous help with figuring out more complex forms.

My own triangle grid has helped me compose colour combinations on the 

computer so I can get a better idea of whether they'll work...

... and I can calculate how many triangles I'll need ahead of time 

so there's less time wastage.

This is all probably sounding incredibly anal, but it helps me feel more 

productive and less like a meandering ninny ;)

More creative spaces can be found right here.

New Design

So, the first design element to come out of my doodling... I love how different it looks to the original drawing... the unexpected effects of different mediums :) 

The background block in citrus was a result of my wanting something to counteract the floral nature of the top design... and just because I love lines, of course. Note to self: make sure they line up next time ;)

As much as I like the lines I really wanted to develop the design, to make it 'fuller' or something... but I haven't been able to bring myself to covering them all just yet ;)

What do you think... edgy enough or just a bit too twee and chintzy...?

Inspiration: Repeat Patterns

It's arrived! There was a special delivery this morning and I've been pouring over this most excellent book ever since... Repeat Patterns - a Manual for Designers, Artists and Architects. If you are at all interested in pattern-making in design, I thoroughly recommend it.

One of the things I've discovered while bumbling my way through screen print designs etc, is that I am visual in my design process; I need to see it before me in order to play with the design or judge whether it works or not. This had led to some pretty disastrous experiments as well as some happy accidents.

Repeat Patterns approaches the design process in a very visual way. It actually begins with a school-like tutorial in creating design units that can be positioned for the construction of a repeat pattern. I'm quite smitten :)

I should mention if you do try to find a copy, I had problems trying to buy it through these people and ended up taking Belinda's advice and getting it via the Book Depository. (Thanks Belinda - it was an excellent suggestion!) Many thanks again to KT Doyle for originally posting about the book :)

Summer fern

Just playing around with patterns and fern fronds found in the garden. I've just ordered this book, found via KT Doyle. Can't wait for it to arrive. Have a lovely weekend :)