Troll Beads- Your Unique Jewelry

I prefer to write about smaller design companies rather than high street brands but once in a while a larger brand can have a unique product. I have had some involvement with the Danish company Troll Beads. I do have to say I was surprised at both the quality and design content of their products, which does feature one-off unique beads.

Their story started in Denmark in 1976. The first bead, which later gave name to the Troll Beads collection, was a small bead decorated with six faces of trolls. It was designed by Søren Silversmith and sold from his father Svend's jewelry shop in central Copenhagen. The beads were created at a time where it was fashionable to have a silver bead hanging on a leather thong around the neck. But instead of letting the bead hang in an eyelet, Søren wanted to let the leather cord go through the bead. Later on, Søren's sister, Lise, began to put the beads on silver bracelets, one on each bracelet, customers then started to request extra beads. Until the year 2000 the family designed the full range. However, to increase the diversity of the collection, ten famous Danish jewelry designers were invited to make a signature Troll Bead and today many of these designers still continue to work with the company. In 2001 the first glass beads, made of Italian glass where featured and have since built up a huge following worldwide.

From this original starting point the collection has grown to include; bracelets, charms and beads, bangles, necklaces, rings and earrings. The concept of personalised jewelry where you can add your favorite beads to your jewelry pieces has continued and been copied by many other well-known retailers. Today Troll Beads are sold in more than thirty countries. The full collection features over 600 different beads designed by ninety internationally renowned designers in collaboration with the Nielsen/Aagaard family, who are still actively involved in production and the design process.

Many customers have become quite serious about their Troll Bead collections and have formed clubs and hold online forums. An annual design competition enabled customers to design a bead which is then put into production and sold in the collection.

Despite the growth of the business, they have stayed true to both the original conception and the needs and wishes of their customer base. Creativity and the chance to experiment and change your jewelry easily, is as true today as it was in 1976. I think this is something quite rare and to able to continue to produce a well-designed product with love is unique in today’s climate.

 Have fun creating….Sara x

Wonderful Home Accessories

Blue Bell Gray

For lovely cushions, rugs, bedding and scarves perfect for gifts for others or yourself!

Bluebellgray has quickly grown into one of Scotland’s most exciting new textile exports, leading the floral trend and being stocked worldwide in the best design boutiques and stores.

Started by Fi Douglas in 2009 a graduate of the Glasgow School of Art, Fi had a very clear vision and style in mind; her love of colour and all things floral combined with a desire to create unique painterly pieces. These vibrant, oversized water-colour blooms have become a brand signature and sit harmoniously alongside abstract pieces born from Fi’s natural painting process. Bluebellgray pieces are aimed at people looking for something unique and individual for their home, an antidote to mass production.

The design philosophy behind the brand adheres to the ‘eclectic mix’ school of thought, encouraging the designs to sit beside vintage finds and modern design alike. Living and breathing Bluebellgray, Fi’s own home is regularly featured in home magazines; her dreams of sun-drenched, floral-filled summers adorn her home in her designs.

With an emphasis on quality and integrity bluebellgray source the best materials and take pride that all our fabrics and cushions are made in the UK. Each design is painted by hand in the Glasgow studio before being printed onto natural cottons and linens using state of the art printing technology. The printing methods used enable every brushstroke and colour to be captured, enhancing the feel of the hand-painted design. The pieces have a sense of provenance and the designer behind the product, adding to the feeling of exclusivity. I just love the stunning colours and fluid prints, perfect for adding a splash of colour!

http://www.bluebellgray.com for details of stockists

All the best

Sara x

Global Crafts

 

In this post I wanted to look at global craftsmen rather than focusing on UK artisans. The traditional crafts inspire many current day craftspeople and in the developing countries many wonderful companies and individuals are aiding the continuation of these skills.

Stephanie Odegard seeks to preserve rare artistic traditions from around the world and has devoted her career to assisting artisans in developing countries promote and preserve their traditional crafts. Recognized as an international leader in contemporary design she has expanded from selling carpets to include finely crafted objects from regions outside Nepal and Tibet, and has focused on preserving the ancient traditions which flourished during the Mogul period.

Before starting her own business Stephanie consulted in craft sectors in different nations around the world for 15 years. She designs and develops textiles, furniture, accessories, carpets and architectural fixtures.

 Stephanie gets the most excitement and inspiration with working through new concepts using ancient traditional skills with designers in realizing their visions for interiors.

Artisans are commissioned in Nepal, India, Tibet and Italy to create modern pieces of furniture, lighting, textiles, and decorative accessories. Stephanie Odegard works to assure the survival of their traditional crafts and honour the communities in which they are made. Each unique piece is infused with a clear sense that the artist's hand has been at work. This is of such importance, particularly in raising the awareness of crafts and traditional skills.

www.stephanieodegard.com for more information further images see below.

http://pinterest.com/sarabrowndesign/primative http://pinterest.com/sarabrowndesign/kilim-tapestry-and-crewel/

Sara xx

Bohemian Pattern For Interiors

Surfacephilia

This is one of my favourite surface design brands. I love the sketchiness and uniqueness, this brand is instantly recognizable with a strong signature style. I feel that many surface decoration and design brands have become very similar.  It is really exciting to see a home grown brand becoming an international success in such a short space of time.



Surfacephilia is a UK based surface design brand that creates luxurious bohemian patterns for the interiors and homeware market. It was launched at the London Design Festival in 2011 by owner and designer Helen Stevens. After graduating in 2002 in Textiles and Surface Design, Helen went on to work in industry as a print designer for Red or Dead and as a college lecturer and is also involved in the Designer Marketplace.

Helen's hand rendered approach towards surface pattern and her bold and experimental designs are built up using layering of intricate and often repetitive drawings, paintings and textures that have been lifted directly from precious sketchbook pages.

Described in The Telegraph Magazine as 'One to watch' and as one of Glass Magazine's 'Top 5 designers to have in your home'. Surfacephilia’s debut collection Navajo, spans across a range of digitally printed wallpapers, luxury feather filled cushions, bone china and greeting cards and is all consciously manufactured in the UK.  Surfacephilia is sold in Liberty and through their website which is listed below.  Sara xx

www.surfacephilia.co.uk

Bespoke work by Helen Stevens

Bespoke Wallpapered Furniture

Suzanne Rose

I came across this lovely furniture online, I like the idea of taking a piece of furniture and giving it a new lease of life, and they also look great and really make a statement. A fashion stylist in the music industry, Suzanne has been responsible for some of the most iconic images of the 80’s and 90’s : Pepsi and Shirley, Nik Kershaw, Duran Duran, Sinitta, T-Pau, Bucks Fizz, Musical Youth, UB40 and many more chart-topping acts.

To describe this range in the designers own words;

I make beautiful wallpapered furniture. Each piece is individual, unique, practical and durable having been coated with a high gloss lacquer. My passion has always been interiors and creating beautiful ‘things’. The more ugly the item, the greater the transformation.

To contact Suzanne about a commissioned piece email- suzanne.langan@gmail.com