Spring

Spring Is In the Air

Spring officially starts at the weekend. Although most of the country is covered in snow and to be honest it does seem more November than March. However trying to put a positive spin on this; the better weather is just around the corner, along with lighter evenings and a general sense of rejuvenation.  The quote “He has a spring in his step” being a description of a positive feeling rather than the grey and gloomy days associated with winter.

I like the feelings of new beginnings that spring brings and the new signs of life; lambs been born, the shoots of flowers and plants…

From a personal point of rejuvenation, I see this as looking at things differently and re- working existing ideas with a fresh eye, going back to the drawing board. So I am eager to start on my new creative projects and I wish you all the best with your own personal projects.

I have found some lovely spring images, for no other reason than they remind me of the coming months.

Have a wonderful Easter.

Sara x

Spring Images

Yet More Bespoke Chairs

This beautiful bespoke chair is just so different. I love the colour and pattern on the side.

This over sized chair is large enough to share or just big enough for one greedy person.

Beautiful Worn Furniture Pieces

Romantic setting in an old castle

Worn very Shabby Chic chairs, These are still so lovely

Great Pieces Of Bespoke Furniture






Quirky furniture in a great setting

 I just love this piece of furniture

Bespoke

Take a Seat

Bespoke Furniture

Having waxed lyrical about wallpaper and paper in general, so as not to become typecast, I thought I would comment on furniture. If you have ever suffered from a very uncomfortable sofa (the less said about Ikea, the better) you will understand how important is to have a comfortable chair or sofa. In today’s frantic world we have very little time to sit down and relax, so it’s even more important when we do get the chance that we relax in comfort.

There are quite a few online and high street furniture shops, Although, I would never personally buy furniture on-line unless you have already tried this out previously.  The prices can range from hundreds to thousands of pounds.  But like most things you do get what you pay for, if you buy a cheaper item it will not last that long, which is fine if you are aiming to buy a different piece a year or so down the line. However as we (I do hope you are in agreement) are about quality, sustainability, and style, we are looking for something that lasts and endures. I think this is also more eco-friendly as we throw away far to much.

One of the best kept secrets in the world of upholstered furniture is George Smith. Their showroom is in London and everything is made in the north east, using traditional methods alongside the best of modern techniques. You will pay a bit more (Well a lot more to be honest) but you will have a beautiful piece of furniture made by a craftsman that you can pass on to your children or even re-sell if you fancy a change as these are always popular items and hold their value. Many of the top interior designers have used them for years and they have many celebrity clients although they are very low-key and discreet about this, which is very endearing and quite rare in a ‘Kiss and Tell’ world.

The big advantage is that you can be involved in making your furniture bespoke, which is the unique factor. So you can have adjustments made, sometimes with a small cost, but it is totally worth it to have exactly what you want, you also get great service and after-service. Sales take place three times a year and the website shows available stock, all year round.

George Smith has become synonymous with beautifully crafted furniture. Every sofa, chair, chaise and stool is lovingly made in our workshops in the North of England. George Smith, the early nineteenth century furniture maker, is still a strong influence in the way we make and design our furniture. Equally, we are driven to make contemporary pieces relevant for our lives today.

As we build each piece from the frame up we can offer a great amount of customisation and special detailing. Our commitment to quality and traditional techniques creates a look and feel individual to George Smith.  

www.georgesmith.co.uk

I have added images below for you. I do hope you enjoy looking at these.
More images can be found on pinterest.com/sarabrowndesigns/pins

Sara x



George Smith Chairs



Even More Stylish Rooms

Christine Maratus Design

Decorater- Jean louis Deniot from Elle Decor

Stylish- Room Sets

Simple but stylish

Designer Julie Moilner and photographer Heather Ross

Style- Kelly Hoppen





Kelly Hoppen Rooms

Style

Style- Is this a matter of taste?

I would imagine that most people would prefer to be regarded as stylish. To be thought of as having no style is generally thought of as a bit of an insult. But what actually is having ‘Great Style’? What would be considered as stylish to one person might be totally tasteless to someone else. Certain fashion and interior designers are acknowledged as being stylish and setting the bar for Good Taste. In my view, I would think of Kelly Hoppen or Ralph Lauren as been very stylish, (at a cost), but at the same time there is a style in aged and very simple items, one-off crafted items, found items, you get my drift…. Also I wonder whether it is more stylish to be different? Do you want your home and life to be exactly the same to everyone else’s?



Pantini- I love aged items is this stylish ?



Oddly enough, I don’t think that actually spending large amounts of money makes for a higher level of taste, just thinking about the excesses of Footballers wife’s, (with the exception of the very elegant Victoria Beckham) which is almost seen as a bit of a joke or at the very least a parody. Too much money and no taste, is a common saying. Certainly large amounts of money are spent in the pursuit of style.

The Devil wears Prada is one of my favourite films for all the right or wrong reasons, really shows the overspending/ over styling culture.

I have just been reading an article by India Knight called -Have Faith in Your Style

We fret too much over the question of whether we have it or not, and if we do, whether ours is good or bad. There is no such thing in my view- there’s only your taste which comprises of stuff you like- and if other people like or don’t like, well whatever,

So that’s India’s viewpoint on this question, I would agree with the sentiment of believing in your taste.

However the designer in me does tend to strive towards my stuff looking good together. My own taste is diverse but I do favour certain genres, and I don’t ever thing I will be a chrome or/ and minimal kind of girl.  I prefer the idea of a home and lifestyle involving organically. I never understand how people can have a complete home or wardrobe makeover and throw everything away.

I have posted below some of my own favourite stylish images; I do hope you like them, do let me know if you agree or disagree for that matter!

Take care

Sara x 

Yet More Paper Art

Su Blackwell- Artist

Su Blackwell’s background is in textiles and embroidery.  However she is a best known as a British artist who creates delicate, tranquil 3D sculptures from cutting up the pages of second-hand books. Su was initially inspired by a Chinese paper cutting book she received as a gift. Her creations have appeared in high-fashion window displays and exhibitions around the UK. Su makes artwork from everyday materials, experimenting with lots of different materials in sculpture and transforming non-art everyday objects into works of art.

My work crosses the boundaries of textiles, sculpture and jewelry and I use materials as diverse as paper, metal and fabric in order to convey my message. Whether I’m tying
together strands of cotton to produce a giant cobweb or folding pieces of paper to create a flock of a thousand birds, I often use repetitive labour intensive processes that reveal the hand at work.

I create one-off sculptural art pieces that appear to be intricate and delicate. Recently I have incorporated second-hand books, dresses, safety pins and mundane everyday objects in my work, deconstructing and then reconstructing them to create beautiful art forms. I often work with the imagery of birds and butterflies and am inspired by nature and legends.
My safety pin sculptures are rehearsed through careful drawings. The safety pins are welded together to form the shape of birds, fish or insects. I make robins, wrens, owls and penguins.
I am open to new commissions.

Su Blackwell

Taken from the artists own words. www.sublackwell.co.uk

Her work is always inspired by fairy tales and folklore books with titles like “The Last Unicorn,” “the Woodcutters Hut” and “The Girl in the Wood. Su has also worked with author Wendy Jones to produce a book, The Fairytale Princess. Su is represented in London by the Long and Ryle Gallery and further information is available on her website.

Till next time

Sara x

Paper Art

Jennifer Collier-Artist

I came across Jennifer’s work at a trade show several years ago and was just blown away by how lovely and individual it was and at the same time how very English.

I produce unusual paper ‘fabrics’, which are used to explore the ‘remaking’ of household objects. The papers are treated as if cloth, with the main technique employed being stitch; a contemporary twist on traditional textiles. The papers themselves serve as both the inspiration and the media for my work, with the narrative of the books and papers suggesting the forms. I tend to find items then investigate a way in which they can be reused and transformed; giving new life to things that would otherwise go unloved or be thrown away.

Taken from www.jennifercollier.co.uk

Since graduating in 1999 from a traditional Textiles course at Manchester Metropolitan University, Jennifer has been using her own experimental techniques to create her work. Taking old books, maps, found items and various papers these unique sewn paper sculptures give a total different meaning to everyday items. I totally love the paper tea pot, cups and shoes. These items are available to buy, can be commissioned and she also runs art workshops if you want to see first-hand how this is done. I am sure you will love it….

Products are available to buy from www.madebyhandonline.com

A Selection Of Work From Jennifer Collier

I have shown a selection of images for you and I also have a Pinterest board-paper art montage which shows a selection of other artists who use paper in interesting ways.

http://pinterest.com/sarabrowndesign/

Happy paper cutting!

Sara x

I Just Love These

 

Weathered Paper and Old Book

I just love old books and postcards and weathered paper in general. I used to think I was quite strange in this, until I discovered on Pinterest, judging on how many other people pin images of old books etc. on their boards, just how popular these are. I don’t really know why something aged and discoloured can be so beautiful in contrast to a newer shinier version, but somehow it just is. I use torn pages of my grandfather’s old books to make greeting cards and in my canvases and I like to think that this is giving an object a new life.  

There are many wonderful artists and craftspeople using aged papers from books in their work but I have a couple of personal favourites who really stand out with their stunning work; Jennifer Collier and Su Blackwell. To find out more read on….

Paper Art Using an Old Book

Images Of Wallpaper



I have selected images of wallpaper examples current and present time.



Design Your Own Wallpaper

Wallpaper- Part Two

Following on from my last post, I want to look at wallpaper bringing us up to the current time. I also have found where to learn to print your own bespoke wallpaper….

Still trading today, Cole and Son were founded in 1875 by John Perry. In the 18^th and 19^th centuries there were 190 hand-block printing companies working in the same area of London. (They are now one of the few companies still surviving). In the 19th century Cole & Son printed for all the large well-known companies of the time including Jeffrey & Co and Sanderson. In addition to high quality block printing, the company was renowned for supplying beautiful stripes.

They are credited with setting up one of the first ever screen printing studios in the late 1940s in Europe and produced printed designs for Lucienne Day for the 1951 Festival of Britain. This led to the bold wallpaper designs of the 1950s and 1960s. Famous artists and designers such as; Peggy Argus, John Drummond, Eduardo Paolozzi and Michael Clark produced designs that have now been re-launched. Today Cole & Son continues to produce innovative and beautiful designs, working with designers like Vivienne Westwood to produce contemporary wallpaper designs.
www.tangletree-interiors.co.uk/wallpaper/cole-and-son/vivienne-westwood/

The Cole & Son archive consists of 1,800 block print designs, 350 screen print designs and a huge quantity of original drawings and wallpapers, representing all the styles from the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries. Amongst these are some of the most important historic wallpaper designs in the world.  The traditional hand-printed process used is suitable for more exclusive papers. It requires immense skill and a long apprenticeship. The advantage of block printing is the availability of large repeat sizes, (up to 183cms / 72ins) bespoke colours and backgrounds are available www.cole-and-son.com

I have added a selection of images below but more wallpaper (past and present) images can be viewed on my Pinterest board,Decorated Wall. Cole and Son are following this board also, which is flattering indeed.

 http://pinterest.com/sarabrowndesign/pins/ 

If you would like to know how to produce your own bespoke wallpaper Hugh Dunford Wood, an artist and designer, runs bespoke handmade wallpaper workshops from his studio situated in the heart of Lyme Regis. Hugh learned his wallpaper technique by following the Arts and Crafts tradition pioneered by William Morris, and as an apprentice for Peggy Angus in the 1970s. 

Originally running a hand painted silk fashion business, working with Paul Smith, Joseph and Yoshi Yamomoto, his designs are contemporary classics. Hugh Dunford Wood has much in common with William Morris as he uses his observational drawings as a starting point for his designs, is a craftsman and believes in passing on these skills to others. Using Lino blocks each roll is printed by hand using specially created pigments which give unique colours. This wallpaper is truly a piece of bespoke art.

To view Dunford Wood Wallpapers or to look into attending courses please follow the link below. 

www.handmadewallpaper.co.uk

All the best   Sara x