+ Kerry Cassill

Hello!

I hope the beginning of this week is treating you well so far... we are going to jump right in today - keen?

let's go!

Kerry Cassill

It has been bitterly cold here for the last wee while, and this morning, when the clouds all lifted, I could see snow (!!) on the hills in the distance - a good explanation for why it's been so cold! So today I am sitting at my desk, my to do list in hand, and a trusty heater pulled up close by, I'm wearing a scarf and layers of wool and I'm dreaming - dreaming about summer warmth, summer colours, and well, Kerry Cassill.

I am so, so fond of Indian fabrics and have recently fallen in love with Kerry's collection of "luxury weight Indian fabrics.." Oh my! all those glorious colours and patterns that seem to so effortlessly blend together - heaven! Bring on the ice tea and long warm days I say! It is only 92 days until the first day of spring after all! enjoy!

(images and quote from Kerry Cassill)

NOTES:
visit Kerry's website

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Have a wonderful day!

See you tomorrow! xxoo

+ Tas-ka

Hi!

I can't believe I haven't included the following goodies in the alphabet before - let's take a peek!

Tas-Ka

"Design studio Tas-ka is a young company by Jantien Baas en Hester Worst. After graduation from the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague, they started their own company in 2004 called Tas-ka."

Jantien and Hester produce their whole Tas-ka collection from two patterns that they screen print onto cotton and create into a number of fantastic products for the home.

Jantien and Hesters store 'Collected By Tas-Ka' has their own impressive collection sitting alongside some of their globally found favourites. The whole site oozes style and is definitely worth a peek! - enjoy!

(images and quote from Tas-ka)

NOTES:
visit Jantien and Hester's website
visit Jantien and Hester's store
read Jantien and Hester's blog

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I am nipping out the door on a school trip now... but hold tight, U will be along later : )

See you soon!
xxoo

I'm Smitten with...

Yesterday's post about Home Base Collections had me hankering for some more fabric goodness, so, I am pleased to start this 'I' Post with a lovely fabric based collection from Australia -


Ink and Spindle

Lara Cameron, Bianca van Meeuwen and Tegan Rose and the three Melbourne (Australia) based textiles designers behind Ink and Spindle.

What excites me about Ink and Spindle, and the work of Lara, Bianca and Teagan is the fact that they specialise in high quality textile printing for designers and independent labels. For someone like me who has always had a hankering for fabric design, this gets my creative juices flowing no end!

Along with this great printing service the Ink and Spindle gals also produce their own ranges of fabrics and textile based homewares, stationery, sewing kits and more...

(images from Ink and Spindle)

NOTES:
visit the Ink and Spindle website
visit the Ink and Spindle store
read the Ink and Spindle blog

Irregular Expressions

Ohlala! Freeform crochet and knitted goodness from etsy shop Irregular Expressions...

"Irregular Expressions is a family project.
Creations belong to the mother. She is inspired from nature, traditional Turkish arts, crafts and freeform fiber artists.
Daughter and son helps her with handling the shop.
We all love to be etsians and sharing our work with all art and craft lovers.
All our creations are unique, they will never be produced again."

I LOVE them!!!

(images and quote from Irregular Expressions)

NOTES:
visit the Irregular Expressions store


Isabella's Art

You may or may not know this, but I adore shadow puppets : ), and this collection from Isabella's Art is no exception. Isabella specialises in "portraying myths, legends, superstition, folk songs and all other things related to folklore."

Intricately laser cut, these puppets (pictured below) would be a wonderful addition to the story-telling and make-believe life of a small (or big for that matter) boy or girl.

Isabella's work doesn't stop at Shadow Puppets, check out her website for a full range of prints, paper goods and other handmade goodness...

(images from Isabella's Art)

NOTES:
visit Isabella's website
bookmark Isabella's store (opening again on June 1st)
read Isabella's blog


And there is I. Wow, this alphabet is skipping through fast! I hope you are enjoying it so far.
I look forward to you joining me here tomorrow...

see you then for J!

**feature**

Perfectly timed to coincide with the 'V' post is...

Vintage Inspired...

Just arrived in my inbox are pictures of Denyse Schmidt's newest vintage inspired home decor fabrics for FreeSpirit, 'Country Fair'. Country Fair evokes blue-ribbon pies, parlour dances, and fiddle music on the front porch.The collection has a gorgeous range of colours that mix together perfectly (would we really expect anything else??) - Have a look below:

NOTES:
read an interview with Denyse about this collection at Sew Mama Sew
view the collection

***

it all begins with 'A'...

Welcome to the first of our 'official' design alphabet posts - the letter 'A'!!

Lets Go!!

inspired by Amy Butler

From fabric, to sewing patterns, books to stationery, and more... is there anything this gal can't do??

It seems that the world is full of Amy Butler loving creatives. A quick look through flickr confirms that there are many, many, many cute little aprons, fabulous gum drop cushions and a myriad of chair re-upholstering projects happening throughout the globe. The 'Amy Butler' name is synonymous with contemporary vintage-inspired style, and her range oozes with goodies that are modern, bold and distinctive.

Amy started making small passport sized bags in the 80's, while living in Kansas City.

"I've never given a second thought to being an artist. It's really who I am, and what I enjoy. I'm inspired by my surroundings, my friends, my family, nature and the rich textures of everyday life. I was never much on following trends."

Amy's online store offers a product mix that is designed especially for the site, with new items being added all the time. Fabric and sewing patterns are available through one of the many retailers listed on her website.

Here are some piccys of Amy, and her studio... and some of her gorgeous fabrics and products ...

(images from Amy Butler)

NOTES:
- see the Design Alphabet Bookstore for a selection of Amy's Books
- be inspired (some more!).. Click HERE to see the Decor8 and Amy Butler Mood Board contest. (my "i heart nz" entry made the finals!)


i heart Areta Wilkinson

I first saw the work of Areta Wilkinson in a television documentary. I loved her work immediately. I was particularly drawn to her silhouette brooches that are housed under glass domes.

I am lucky that my boys love going to the gallery, and it was because of their love for gallery visits that I was able to see Areta's work at the City Gallery in Wellington.

The images of Areta's work that are found online (and above) only show a glimpse of it's beauty - when you view her work in the flesh it's intricate detail and exquisite workmanship is revealed unashamedly, as a true work of art.

(images from Anna Bibby Gallery)

NOTES:
- pictured above (Santa, if you are reading this, please can you put this in your sack for me!): Poi Girl III 2006 monel. 9ct gold pin. brass. glass. felt. 200 x 270 x 200.
- to purchase work by Areta Wilkinson please visit the Anna Bibby Gallery.

the goodness of Africa - Shweshwe

I have spent many a time browsing the Shweshwe online store. Next time I am Melbourne, their retails store is definitely on my 'must-do' list.

(Don't you just LOVE the wire coat rack pictured above?? It spells out the words "it's beautiful here").

"Shweshwe" means 'the sound the cloth makes when you walk' and is named after the fashionable wax coated fabric of Africa.

I love the eclectic mix of colour and forms that are shown throughout the Shweshwe collection, from the traditional and contemporary craft from South Africa, to the independent Zines or artisinal fashion from Cape Town.

(images from Shweshwe)

NOTES:
- Next time you are in Melbourne, make sure you visit the Shweswe Store located at 210 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia 3065. or shop online.

the goodness of Africa - Heather Moore..

..or Skinny Laminx as she is known to her 'Etisan' fans. Heather is an illustrator, writer and designer from Cape Town, South Africa. She produces a fantastic range of screen printed goodness... including these fabulous 'Spoons' Aprons and 'Eep' Tea Towels..

Heather also produces vinyl Wall Decals. I love the simplicity of this image below. It is of one of my favourite flowers / plants - the Protea.

The cleverness of this lady doesn't stop here...if you check out Heather's Blog you can find D.I.Y instructions for applying your own patterns to ceramics - so inspiring!!

(images from Heather Moore)

NOTES:
Visit Heather's Etsy Shop or her website for all this goodness and more.


Monday's Art Find

Introducing the first of our Monday's Art Find... Basically I can't wait for an artist's name to come up alphabetically, so I'm just going to post them as I find them every Monday!

I LOVE art. Looking through Galleries is one of my favourite pass times. I am constantly in awe of how clever people are, and how much they have such freedom of expression.


This Weeks Art Find: Chris Kenny

When I was over at Mein Inspiration the other day, I discovered the art of Chris Kenny. I ooohed and arhhhed over his work for ages...

"Chris Kenny produces an unexpected kind of poetry with his three- dimensional 'drawings' and constructions made from twigs, fragments of maps and strips of found text. Objects or phrases of the same type are mounted on pins and organised n a way that suggests an intention to rationalise the differences between them."

pictured from top:

Map Circle (Eureka) 2007 Construction with map pieces 24 x 24 x 3 inches.
Observatory 2007 Construction with map pieces 16 x 16 x 3 inches
Road Circle 2007 Construction with maps 20 x 20 x 3 inches
Map Circle (16 Typhoons) 2007 Collage Construction with maps 24 x 24 x 3 inches

(images from England Gallery)

NOTES:
To check out more of Chris's work, visit England and Co.

See you tomorrow for a whole heap of 'B's'!!