Wednesday, 29 September 2010

Silk from Spiders


Over one million spiders were used to make up this textile, made in Madagascar it took 4 years to complete. It was displayed in the in The American Museum of Natural History and the National Geographic site provides the full story.


Wednesday, 22 September 2010

Maxine Bristow


The austere, minimalist workings of Maxine Bristow make strong references to crafts within it's process of careful, meticulous, repetitive stitch.

Monday, 20 September 2010

Ismini Samanidou

Section of final piece
Work in production

This incredible large scale woven jacquard by Ismini Samanidou was shown at the Jerwood Contemporary Makers in 2009. The piece is quite beautiful with a strong sense of a historical narrative, as a weaver I was fascinated by it's production.

Australian Tapestry

David Noonan, Untitled, 2009. (230cm x 293 cm)

This is the latest piece created by the famous Australian Tapestry Workshop. Designed by David Noonan, it was then woven by 3 of the Studio's resident weavers. The image is incredibly complex and a testament to the skills of the makers.

Friday, 10 September 2010

Dierdre Nelson



The artworks and community projects of Dierdre Nelson centre in crafts and around issue's of sustainable craft.

How to make a Furoshiki.


A furoshiki traditional (and sustainable) wrapping process for a present - fully recyclable.

Sunday, 29 August 2010

Vera Neumann






The prints of Vera Neumann from the 1960's and 70's are classic and timeless.

Friday, 27 August 2010

Bee's make Bespoke Furniture...


A collaborative event between The Honeybees, Kevin Hill (industrial designer), Vanessa Harden (concept designer) and Ben Faga (artist). The bee's a building a form within the constaints as set by human interaction. This was featured in Designersblock but I have not found a direct link online about the project specifically - will continue with the search.

Bokja - patchwork textile furniture




Wonderful textiles - there are other companies / designers who do some similar works but I am quite drawn to the particular selections of fabrics for this work.

www.bokjadesign.com

Roche Bobois - high end furniture meets textiles




This great furniture design company collaborates with fashion designers to develop textiles that have impact. Kenzo / Jean Paul Gaultier.

Source: www.roche-bobois.com

Interior Textile Brands - a list

Major fabric brands include:

Abbot & Boyd, Allegra Hicks, Alma Leather, Altfield, Alton Brooke, Andrew du Dauphine, Andrew Martin, Andrew Muirhead, Anna Casa Interiors, Anna French, Apenn, Arc Collections, Ardecora, Art & Decor, Arte Fabrics, Avigdor

Baker London, Beacon Hill, Beaudesert, Beaumont & Fletcher, Belinda Coote Tapestries, Bennett Silks, Bennison, Bernard Thorp Design, Bises Novita, Borderline, Boussac, Brian Yates, British Trimmings, Bruno Triplet, Brunschwig & Fils, Busby & Busby, Byron and Byron

Carlucci di Chivasso, Casamance, Catherine Regehr Cushions, Cecchi and Cecchi Linens, Cesari, Cesaro, Chanee Ducrocq Deschemaker, Chase Erwin, Chelsea Textiles, Christian Fischbacher, Christophe Gullut Fabric and Wallcoverings, Christopher Moore Textiles, Claremont Textiles, Clarence House, Club Creation Niemann, Cole and Son, Colefax & Fowler, Colony, Color de Seda, Creation Baumann, Crowson Monkwell

Dedar, De la Cuona, De Gournay Wallcoverings, Designers Guild, Dominic Kieffer, Donati, Donghia, Dragons, Decortex, Duralee

Eclectics, Edelman Leather UK, Edmund Petit, Edward Harpley Poles, Elitis, Emily Todhunter, Etamine

Fadini Borghi, Farrow and Ball, Fibre Naturelle, Fired Earth, Fitzroy Fabrics, Fox Linton

Gainsborough Silk Weaving, Garin, Gaston Y Daniela, George Smith Sofas and Fabrics, George Spencer Designs, Gisbert Rentmeister, G P & J Baker, Groundworks

Handsome Trimmings, Hardy Fabrics, Harlequin, Harris Fabrics, Henry Bertrand, Hepple Furniture, Highland Court Fabrics, Hodsall McKenzie, Holland and Sherry

Ian Mankin, Ian Sanderson, Interdesign

Jab International, Jagtar, James Brindley, James Hare, Jane Churchill, Jean Monro, Jero, Jewel, J Pansu, J Robert Scott, Jane Churchill, Jason de Souza, Jim Thomson, John Boyd Textiles, John England Textiles, Julian Chichester

K & K Designs, Kandola, Kenzo, Kenzo Maison, Kinnasand Fabrics, Kirkby House, KLJM – Mulberry Home, Kothea, Kravet London, Kvaadrat

Larsen, Larson, Leejofa, Lelievre, Lewis & Wood, Libeco Linens, Liberty Fabrics, Lienzo de Los Gazules, Linwood, Lisio Fabrics, Lizzo Fabrics, Lorca, Loro Piana Furnishing Fabrics, Loui-Loui, Luigi Bevilacqua Fabrics

Malabar, Manuel Canovas, Marvic, Mastro Raphael, Metaphores, Misura Emme, Monkwell, Mulberry

Neisha Crosland, Nina Campbell, Nobilis Fontan, Northcroft Fabrics, Nouveau, Nursery Window, Nya Nordiska

Ochre Sofas and Chaise Longues, Osborne and Little

Parkertex, Pepe Penalver, Percheron, Pongees Silks, Porta Romana

Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren Home, Ramm Son and Crocker, Resina Designs, Reymonden Trimmings, Richard Fischer, Robert Allan, Robert Spurway Textiles, Roger Austin Interiors, Roger Oates Design, Romanex, Romo, Rubelli

Sabina Fay Braxton, Sahco Hesslein, Sandberg, Sanderson, Scalamandre Fabrics, Schumacher Fabrics, Sheila Coombes, Silent Gliss, Smith and Brighty Trimmings, Spina, Stark Carpet

Tassinari et Chatel, Tatiana Taifur, Tergal Voile, Thomas Dare, The Silk Gallery, The Isle Mill, Thibaut, Tillys Perspex Poles, Timney Fowler, Titley and Marr, Travers Fabrics, Troynorth, Turnell et Gigon

Ulf Moritz, Ultrasuede

Vaughan Lighting, Veraseta, Verel de Belval, Victoria Bain, Villa Nova, Voghi, Volga Linen, Voyage

Warner, Warwick Fabrics, Watts of Westminster, Wemyss, Wendy Cushing, Westbury Textiles, Wemyss Houles, William Robinson International, William Yeoward, Wilson Wilcox

Zimmer and Rohde Fabrics, Zoffany, Zuber

Refreshment Room


This interior was created before The Peacock Room but has clear similar influences. Designed by Philip Webb & William Morris, 1865-70. It seems to me that this room did have some inluence on Whistler for the Peacock Room.

Source: 28

Eastern influence & Peacocks




The Peacock Room was an interior created by the painter James McNeill Whistler. Originally created in a Kensington (London) residence it now is located in the Freer Gallery of Art, Washington. There is such a strong influence of east asian art and ornament within the interior. Created in 1876-77. The book titled The Peacock Lounge by Linda Merrill is beautifully illustrated and informative.

Source:28

Paola Lenti




Some cracking textiles at large scales from this italian company who specialise in rugs and seating furniture. They seem very experimental with materials and like to upscale techniques.

www.paulalenti.com

John Lindsten: Embroidered Chairs


John Lindsten is a sweedish furniture designer, in these pieces (spotted at Designersblock) he has utilised found embroideries for the back panels.

http://www.lindstenform.com/

Matthew Harris


Matthew is currently exhibiting in the Men of Cloth exhibition, Manchester. This piece feels particularly striking, quilting, collage, drawing, dying, painterly.


Thursday, 26 August 2010

Matisse




I have not checked out the rest of this blog but this article on Matisse is lovely:

maths & nature


Fibonacci Spiral

I have long been fascinated by the idea of Fibonacci since a graduate based her project on this, in a former life she had been an accountant but the maths application remained in her practice.

Symmetry is another aspect that is seen a lot in nature and textiles.

Latifa Echakhch


Latifa Echakhch

These images come from her solo exhibition in the US (Swiss Institute, NY). A site specific exhibition titled Plaintes is based on a system of measurements developed by Swiss architect Le Corbusier.

Butterfly Scales

3D flea - microscopic image.

Synchaeta (transparent predatory rotifer).
Under the microscope. This site has some cracking imagery: www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/

pattern / nature / pattern ....


Hairpin Banksia
Fern detailing.
Bright Feathers.Arctic Char (not sure what it is but looks good - will go and look it up)(up close it looks like fish scales)

This links to 30 amazing nature images:

Seeds and Negatives


Sir David Brewster, seated at Lacock Abbey next to Talbot's microscope
Calotype negative, July 1842

Two delicate plant fronds, photographic negative drawing, 1939.

From the letters of William Henry Fox Talbot, Photographic engraving: mid 1850's.

Pomme Chan




This work by designer Pomme Chan has a strong graphic but feminine feel. Her work includes car design, fashion, illustration, textiles.

www.pommepomme.com

trompe-l'oeil, architecture


This is an amazing facade for a building in the centre of Paris.

Tuesday, 24 August 2010

Bubble Gum wall



Apparently located in Post Alley under Pike Place Market (I think in Seattle) - multiples of different coloured bubble gum.

Monday, 23 August 2010

Basso & Brooke




Another textile exuberant fashion design team: Basso & Brooke. All things pattern, texture, scale, weights, material choice.