NEW PRINTS - urban outs

before we start on the focus design show i just wanted to post a few new web finds, including my pick of the new prints in this month at urban outfitters.

LAMPSHADES - orla kiely

and lovely new drum lampshades just in at orla kiely - online & instore.

LONDON DESIGN WEEK - romo

more pictures today from the focus show at chelsea harbour, starting with 'romo' who were launching a new fabric & wallpaper collection. for me the autumn show is less exciting than the spring one, mainly because fabrics tend to be heavier for autumn winter and there are more wovens than prints :( and as you know im only really interested in print). still it was good for colour. key looks were black, charcoal grey and acid green (not lime, more yellowy).

LONDON DESIGN WEEK - cole & son

there was a new wallpaper collection at the show from cole & son called tamarisk, which included a striking bamboo (top) and an acid greeny/yellow blossom design.

LONDON DESIGN WEEK - dg

on monday i visited the london design week show 'focus' at chelsea harbour in london. the show takes place twice a year in spring and autumn, and is the place for all the big home textile companies to show off their new collections. i have taken quite a few pictures, and today im starting with designers guild. as the two pictures above show there is courtesy transport laid on that takes you on a 5 minute journey from the show over to the designers guild showrooms. tommorow i'll hopefully be able to upload pictures from cole & son and romo. for previous reports see here.

DESIGNERS GUILD - stationery

there were some lovely new notebooks in the designers guild store, and tricia guild's fabulous pattern book is still going strong.

DESIGNERS GUILD - kids

a few snaps from the designers guild 'kids' dept.

STORE REPORT - paperchase

im finally getting back into work after my holiday and have been uploading all the photographs ive taken lately. one thing im way behind on though is emails - so if you've written to me whilst i was away please dont think im ignoring you, im just playing catchup. todays pictures were all taken in one of my fave shops paperchase, and above is a really fun new floral design. so far ive seen it on a tea set, oil cloth book bag, and a badge set but im hoping it will come out on notebooks and gift wrap too. its such a strong design i think they should go for it. it looks fantastic on the white, but the black (below) is good too. scroll down for tons more paperchase eye candy.

MORE PAPERCHASE

more goodies snapped in paperchase, new photograph albums above and polyprop notebooks below.

below, fabric covered notebooks.

above and below, cute designs and badges.

below, little round coffee tables in a variety of prints.

paperchase's latest window display is for a back to college range.

100% DESIGN - lizzie allen

hi everybody - apologies for the delay in my posting. i had forgotten when i said i'd be back on the 24th that it was london design week's 'focus' event today. this is a show that takes place in chelsea where the big home furnishings companies launch their autumn collections. i will hopefully post some pics later in the week. the show runs until wednesday if you are in the london area. click here to see my previous focus reports. back to today and i just wanted to show these snaps taken on friday at 100% design ( another london show) of this new whimsical wallpaper from lizzie allen. lizzie was a finalist in the best new exhibitor category.

and also during this london design festival lizzie's work was also showing over at the royal festival hall shop.....

as was this beautiful design by krystal orphanides.

and these new notebooks featuring peter moro's festival hall signature design were fresh in.

LATE SUMMER HOLIDAY

im off now on a two week late summer break - so todays posts will be the last until sept 24th. thanks to everyone who reads and supports this blog - hopefully i will see you all back here in a fortnight as we get the autumn season well and truly underway. the first thing that i will try to report on when i get back is the launch of new textile prints at london design week. i thought i'd leave you with these cute new designs just up on etsy from inkjet. its a shame those zakka magnets were too late to be included in our japanese week. thanks again everyone - see you soon.

ILLUSTRATION - yanok

these are the lovely illustrations of jen & johnny yanok, a husband & wife illustrator team. they both do pattern work for a variety of consumer products in the US, and are both veterans of the big greeting card american greetings. you can view their portfolios here at artists of kolea.

ILLUSTRATION - sulina wang

whilst i was looking at artists of kolea i came across the work of suling wang.

DESIGN STUDIO - gibson & holt

i get many requests from students and graduates wanting to break into the world of freelance design, so i thought it would also be good to post about some of the agencies that are looking for designers. starting with gibson & holt who specialise in the development of greetings and giftware. since it was established they have worked with freelancers here in the UK and the states marketing their design work. mainly in everyday cards, wrap and christmas cards. they regularly send design work to their contacts in industry for consideration on new products and ranges. they also work with designers to create exciting new ideas which are included on a cd portfolio which can be requested at their site. so far they have had work produced and sold for whsmith, paperchase, and woolworths amongst others. gibson & holt are also always looking for designers who may want to join the portfolio or clients who may want to view their collection.

DESIGNER - crystal barlow

crystal barlow is a designer from minneapolis, and she has a fantastic portfolio of work online here. crystal works as a graphic designer but as you can see she has a diverse range of talents, i particularly loved the 'summa summa time' print above, and the wall below is great .plus she also loves to read print & pattern, so thanks crystal.

URBAN OUTFITTERS - new

my pick of the prints from new season arrivals at urban outfitters.

ILLUSTRATION - candeo

if you're interested in illustration then here is a new blog to check out; candeo. started by sophie dupasquier, caroline ayello wright, and karen hall, candeo is an illustration collective where you can view their latest works, find links to their individual sites, and see interesting projects like the one below where they have painted a car that runs on vegetable oil.

CERAMICS -jessica howard

fresh patterns and clean lines on ceramics from jessica howard. a trained illustrator jessica recently returned to new york, after working as a ceramics apprentice in boston. visit her website to see all the designs and colours available.

BOOK - craft inc

many of you will already have seen craft inc already, as its been of huge interest to all of us in blogland. but i wanted to mention not just its terrific written content, but its design too. i love the striking cover and bright optimistic colour scheme designed by sarah meyer. the inside layout too is visually stimulating as well as being incredibly informative, which is perfect for us design conscious readers. here are some pictures of sarah meyers illustrations for the book, the pin theme from the cover continues inside. written by meg mateo ilasco, a designer from san francisco this is the book to buy if you are setting up a design business and it features some great interviews with people who have done just that. see it in your local bookstore or here on amazon uk & usa, or visit my pattern bookshop UK or USA.

ETSY - skinny la minx

lovely new tea towels on etsy from heather at skinny la minx. the design, called 'spoons', comes in melamine green, enamel red, or stainless steel. see them all here on etsy.

STATIONERY - boy girl party

a parcel of goodies from boy girl party arrived yesterday. all the products are beautiful, hardly suprising as they are the work of top illustrator susie ghaharemani. susie recently exhibited her work in new york at her show 'teachers pets'. take a look at her online goodies here. thanks susie - i love everything what a great package.

FRENCH LINENS - mariette jonbaz

the new autumn winter catalogue from mariette jonbaz is online now. it features lots of pretty patterns on towels and features designs like these ceramics below. i also loved the opening page illustration above.

ETSY PRINTS - yumi yumi

gorgeous new prints up in aline's yumi yumi etsy shop. i still cant get enough of owl prints.

FABRICS - kirin & co

more good etsy news now from kirin & co. lara cameron has new designs appearing in her etsy shop this week. theres a stunning birch tree print and a great animal filled river landscape.

JAPANESE TREES - etsy set

'japanese trees' is a print from a stationery set by the satsuma press & kirinCo. the design is a result of a collaboration between lara cameron who produced the pattern and letterpressed by lynn russell. available here on etsy.

NEW DESIGNER - kimberley moey

kimberley moey has recently graduated from Winchester school of art and design in printed textiles. she hopes to set up doing freelance design and would be happy to take commissions. if you want to find out more about kimberley check out her blog here for contact details.

JAPANESE WEEK FINALE - deco tape

as last monday was a bank holiday here in the UK i have an extra day left of japanese week and a few posts to finish up, starting with some japanese deco tape, these examples were seen at a great site called 10x10.

JAPANESE WEEK FINALE - petit jam

here is another oh so cute brand from japan, all these little bits and pieces are from petit jam, a brand who along with bitz form part of the company F.O international.