Art Meets Fashion

Hermes Limited-Edition Scarves by Hiroshi Sugimoto. 

I love the mixing of art, fashion and craftsmanship, the recent design collaboration of Japanese photographer Hiroshi Sugimoto with iconic fashion house Hermes, does just that. Famous for its beautiful, colourful scarves and exciting marketing campaigns Hermes is one of the leading luxury scarf brands in the world.

 
The ‘Couleurs de l’ombre’ range of limited-edition silk scarves is inspired by Polaroid’s of the artist’s ‘Colour of Shadow’ collection. In his ‘Colour of Shadow’ artworks, Sugimoto used a Polaroid camera to take long-exposure shots of cinema screens, light passing through prism, and extreme close-ups of colours to create vibrant and colourful photos.

Hermes selected some of Sugimoto’s Polaroid’s and printed them on silk scarves using ink jet printing. These stunning scarves are truly works of art.

http://editeur-en.hermes.com for more details

 

 

 

The Colourful World of Sisters Gulassa

I love colour and pattern and no-one does this with more flair than Sister Gulassa. They are crazy about pattern mixing and bright bold colours and their passion really shows in their unique work-style.

 

Sisters Gulassa is an international design studio. It was founded by two sisters, Lise who is based in California and Cyrille who is based in Vienna. This brand specializes in vibrant, vivacious prints and products for interior and fashion, creative direction, design development and branding. They work with many well-known clients such as; as Old Navy, The North Face, Carve Designs, Gap and Pottery Barn. Their work includes a unique line of wall runners, wall murals, floor flowers, paper products, fabric, and totes

“Both sisters design, research and create art. Their backgrounds started with art, fashion and advertising and while working together abroad in Romania, they realized their combined interests could result in a rather vibrant body of work.

They also produce stunning wall pieces in mixed media which can be purchased through Saatchi or Spoon flower.

I have posted a wonderful selection of work to brighten up your day!

 

 

 

 

 

For more information go to www.sistergulassa.com

 

Sara x

Made By Hands of Britain

 

I just wanted to let you all know about this wonderful online platform for craftspeople. It has been going through some changes at the current time, but I think that what they are trying to achieve is very worthwhile. Their aim is to select the best products and services that can be found and to bring them together on Made by Hands of Britain. The many products shown are items that not only make a statement but will also become treasured possessions and heirlooms of the future. British art and craftsmanship is one of our most well-known and important industries; they have always been and will always be associated with excellence.

Made by Hands of Britain is an online promotional and marketing platform, for British Craftsmen and Women, to showcase and sell their work to those of you who appreciate the application of skill and craftsmanship in the production of functional items as well as aesthetic pieces of art that just cannot be found anywhere else.

Products range from; ceramics, food, clothing, furniture, bags, art and skincare,  all products are of a high quality and handmade using raw materials sourced from and made within the British Isles.

Made by Hands of Britain, also actively seeks to support those social enterprises who help, disadvantaged and disaffected people by teaching them hand-making skills that will not help to reconnect them with themselves and what they want to achieve in life but with the rest of society as well.

To view the online shop and blog see below

http://www.madebyhandsofbritain.com 

Sara x

 

Jill Ford Ceramics

I have known Jill several years and have a couple of her beautiful porcelain candlesticks. Based in Yorkshire she started her business as a potter in 2002 and has become very successful in the crafts arena as a ceramic artist.

Her contemporary porcelain, which encompasses innovative textural wall pieces, vases and bowls thrown on the wheel and a range of candlesticks, is now sold in an impressive host of galleries and shops both in the UK and overseas, including New York. She has been a featured artist at the Hepworth in Wakefield.

Jill’s work mirrors the seasons, both in the processes she uses as well as the changing nature of her landscape. Her latest work tends towards a more abstract nature and draws heavily on the themes of ice and rock, particularly informing her wall pieces and Strata range of vessels. Her love of nature shows in the subtle, natural colours of blue, green, grey and taupe (copper oxide is used) and simple patterns of her work.

I love the fact that not only is Jill’s work unique, as well as been lovely, that she keeps the prices affordable, this makes her work accessible to a wide range of people and I am sure is one of the many factors of her growing success. I love the simple clean lines of the work and her ceramic wall pieces are delicate but strong and have a graceful style.

Jill is also an enthusiastic champion of craft lending her support to nationwide initiatives to raise its profile in the UK and is a member of Northern Potters Ass and East Riding Artists. Children’s and adults workshops are held regularly at Jill studio pottery near to Ellerton, if you want to have a go at learning to throw pottery yourself.

To buy Jill ford’s work or find out more information about her range of products or workshops visit http://jillford.co.uk

Bye for now

Sara x

Heather Alstead Design

 I am always looking out for new and interesting products and if these are made in Britain; all the better for it.  I have found this lovely company which is 100% British made with a wonderful sense of fun. Producing a range of cushions, book marks, stationery and mugs based on fairy stories. We all love fairy stories, great for adults and children alike…

All of the products in this extensive range are created by Heather and manufactured and assembled in Britain. The company is based in York, and offers a unique and original range of products, which are designed to enhance the world around us whilst also retaining a sense of humour.

Passionate about British design and ‘home-grown’ sourced materials, her work reflects her unique personal style, impeccable eye for detail and enthusiasm for quality materials and well-made products. Inspiration is taken from every aspect of her life, from classic British literature to subverting the well-known.

There is more to these products than first meets the eye, with hidden meanings and unique design details thoughtfully concealed throughout.

Heather Alstead Design products are split into three ranges; Fairy Tales, Goldilocks and the Three Bears and Nursery Rhymes & Stories.

For more details and stockists:

http://heatheralsteaddesign.com

We all love a happy ending

Bye for now.

Sara x

Wonderful Shops

THE IMAGINARIUM

Your imagination knows no limits

This wonderful shop opened in September 2013, just in time for Christmas.

Full of unusual finds, unique and one-off items, the striking black walls and unique display ideas make this a shop worth visiting if you are in the north of England. There is no website at the current time. But Facebook does give a great feel for the flavour of this shop. It’s also worth viewing the Handmade Yorkshire Soap company as this is a sister company.

For further details;

6 Blake Street

York

YO1 8QG

01904 466 642

Happy shopping…

Sara x

Ella Doran

January is a good time to look at updating our homes...

I love the use of art in a practical way and no one does this better than Ella Doran who specializes in the surface design of distinctive home accessories and furnishings.

Ella Doran is an award winning designer who has been running her own East-London based business since graduating from college in the early 90s. Her main focus is on creating photography-based images and patterns and she pioneered their application on functional everyday products when digital printing technologies were first developed. Ella makes seasonal collections of ready-to-buy home accessories, stationery products and gifts and works to commission for commercial, charitable and private clients. Because of her extensive experience in design, manufacturing and selling she is also a sought-after mentor, a role she has always been happy to take on. Ella is a fellow of the RSA.

Stimulated by an on-going collaboration with retailers and manufacturers, the Ella Doran product portfolio of modern home accessories has expanded to include; trays, ceramic tableware, cushions and umbrellas as well as paper products, such as diaries, greeting cards, calendars, gift wrap/bags and wallpapers.

State-of-the-art digital technologies and processes have meant a bespoke range of products has been introduced, such as; bespoke roller blinds that are scaled and cropped to a customer specification.  Ella Doran also works in collaboration with established British blinds manufacturer Eclectics.

Drawing inspiration from the world around her, at home or abroad, Ella Doran creates new designs every season for her portfolio of home accessories and furnishing. All of her designs are suffused by her passion for colour, texture and the effects of sunlight. Ella insists on using high-quality materials that enhance the meaning of her designs, which often play with cultural icons and associations.

I love the nostalgic feel of Ella’s work and her strong personal interests and love of art and photography which show in her collections.

For more information go to www.elladoran.co.uk

All the best

Sara X