Brilliant artist and designer Monika Forsberg has just launched a collaboration with top UK retailer John Lewis to create six mugs. I asked Monika how the project came about and she told me that was approached by Mclaggan Mugs who said that John Lewis buyers were keen to work with Monika. For the brief they asked for a William Morris vibe with lots of colours, although because the mugs were to be screenprinted pinks and oranges had to be kept to a minimum as they are difficult and expensive to print.. They sent Monika a couple of screen shots of her work that they really liked and to use as a base for the starting point of the collection. They were also keen on using Monika's handlettering for the inside of the mugs, so asked her to come up with inspirational words. They then worked back and forth on six designs for a few weeks until everyone was happy. You can see the full range of mugs online here and in John Lewis stores now.
Lisa Jane Dahr of Studio Noodles has released her second digital magazine, this time featuring the best Beauty products. Each page is illustrated with no photography at all. You can read the Studio Noodles 2020 beauty guide here and find out more on Studio Noodles designs here.
Sandie Gardiner dropped me a line to tell me about her latest work. Sandie is based in the Cotswolds where she works as a freelance designer for surface design and greetings.
Paper & Cloth will be a Surtex in booth #3685 with a wonderful new selection of illustration and print. Website / Instagram
Kate Aurelia and Kasey Free are a multi-disciplinary design duo who work both together and independently. They are excited to be returning to Surtex for a second time, exhibiting brand new patterns and art including lush botanicals, vintage florals, and vibrant abstracts perfect for a variety of markets. To see more of their work, visit kaseyfree.com and kateaurelia.com. or follow along @kaseyfreestudio and @kateaureliastudio. If you happen to be at Surtex swing by Booth #3681 to say hello!
Dot Dash Studio are exhibiting at Artful Rebels in New York at the weekend. Paula and Christa are very excited to share the teams new collection of work – which includes some lovely cute new characters as well as a brand new floral collection inspired by the arts and crafts era. Website / Instagram.
Designer for Hire member Megan Carter has a great mixture of things happening in her design career at the moment. One of the most exciting is her debut fabric collection 'Emilia' which will be released at the end of February with Cotton + Steel. Megan plans to focus more on Surface pattern this year and will release a fresh new lookbook for 2020. This has been her first year as a freelancer and Megan still likes to keep a hand in Greetings and Illustration, with a range of cards for sale on Wuzci and has just hooked up with the agency IBD to engage with a wider market. Megan's ideal for this year would be to find an agent, studio or collective to join forces with to gain a wider product client base for her pattern work!
Below : Megan has an online portfolio of designs with card retailer Wuzci where she has a collection of plant and floral themed greetings cards in a digitally created, block printed style. Further designs are on there way for Valentines!
