My faves...
And that is just a tiny taste of all the goodies on offer! Go on, have a look for yourself!
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Pedlars..new collection available now
Pedlars is an inspiration to me, chock full of vintage goodies and design-led items that are practical and beautiful all at the same time. Have a look at their newest items available online and instore now...
My faves...
And that is just a tiny taste of all the goodies on offer! Go on, have a look for yourself!
My faves...
And that is just a tiny taste of all the goodies on offer! Go on, have a look for yourself!
M is for Magazines
Like many of you I suspect, I have an addiction to magazines (particularly home decor and design magazines). I have an enormous collection of back issues of my favourite mags and can't bear to throw them out. I do use them for reference and inspiration for topics on my blog and besides, they are just so pretty. One of the single most frustrating things for me when I lived in the UK was that I could only buy the Martha Stewart Living magazine at hugely inflated prices and always about a month after each issue was published. How could I make Halloween themed decorations when I could only get that issue in November?
Of course now I have to pay over the odds for the British version of Country Living here in the States (why is the US version such a pale comparison?). Oh well, it is a small price to pay for a few hours of blissful browsing and many months of inspiration I suppose. I have a thing for foodie magazines too, and the demise of Gourmet was a black day for me. But Bon Appetit and Food & Wine will do just fine thank you.
The rise of online magazines is just too genius for words. I still cannot believe that I get to browse the most inspiring publications for free! These talented people create visual feasts each few months that rival the very best for their quality of photography, art direction and content. Here are my top three...
Lonny Magazine has been sent from above to fill the void that Domino Magazine left for those of us who live for stylish interiors, unique and beautiful design. It serves up the hottest trends, sneak peaks into gorgeous homes and insights into the world of design making each issue a source book that you keep going back to. And the best of all is that most items are directly linked to their source website, so no need to scribble down a reminder to look something up, just click!
(Images from the Aug/Sept 2010 issue of Lonny Magazine)
By Fryd, a Scandinavian lifestyle magazine beautifully photographed, arranged and curated by Jeanette Lunde and now available in an English version (although the images are literally so breathtakingly beautiful you really don't need to understand the writing).
(Images taken from issue 1 By Fryd)
Sweet Paul Magazine, a foodie mag that takes this genre to a whole new level, and is the brain child and labour of love of Paul Lowes, the supreme talent behind the hugely successful blog Sweet Paul.
(Images taken from the Spring issue of Sweet Paul magazine)
There are only two down sides to the online magazine market. 1. They don't publish them every month so I am left gasping for the next issue, 2. I have to admit that I like to sit and flick through a magazine, hold it in my hands, leave them lying in the bathroom, bedroom, kitchen etc for quick bursts of inspiration wherever I may be. I'll get over the last point eventually...
Of course now I have to pay over the odds for the British version of Country Living here in the States (why is the US version such a pale comparison?). Oh well, it is a small price to pay for a few hours of blissful browsing and many months of inspiration I suppose. I have a thing for foodie magazines too, and the demise of Gourmet was a black day for me. But Bon Appetit and Food & Wine will do just fine thank you.
The rise of online magazines is just too genius for words. I still cannot believe that I get to browse the most inspiring publications for free! These talented people create visual feasts each few months that rival the very best for their quality of photography, art direction and content. Here are my top three...
Lonny Magazine has been sent from above to fill the void that Domino Magazine left for those of us who live for stylish interiors, unique and beautiful design. It serves up the hottest trends, sneak peaks into gorgeous homes and insights into the world of design making each issue a source book that you keep going back to. And the best of all is that most items are directly linked to their source website, so no need to scribble down a reminder to look something up, just click!
(Images from the Aug/Sept 2010 issue of Lonny Magazine)By Fryd, a Scandinavian lifestyle magazine beautifully photographed, arranged and curated by Jeanette Lunde and now available in an English version (although the images are literally so breathtakingly beautiful you really don't need to understand the writing).
(Images taken from issue 1 By Fryd)Sweet Paul Magazine, a foodie mag that takes this genre to a whole new level, and is the brain child and labour of love of Paul Lowes, the supreme talent behind the hugely successful blog Sweet Paul.
(Images taken from the Spring issue of Sweet Paul magazine)There are only two down sides to the online magazine market. 1. They don't publish them every month so I am left gasping for the next issue, 2. I have to admit that I like to sit and flick through a magazine, hold it in my hands, leave them lying in the bathroom, bedroom, kitchen etc for quick bursts of inspiration wherever I may be. I'll get over the last point eventually...
Monday, August 30, 2010
L is for Liberty of London
As far as fabric design goes, Liberty sits at the top of my list of favourites. Delicate floral prints, bold paisleys, peacock feathers, a myriad of colours, classic and modern design, all with a distinctly British feel. You know by now that Liberty did a collection for Target, but their range and quality goes far beyond these few prints.
My favourites...
Wiltshire, S
My favourites...
Wiltshire, SWhen I was at school in Edinburgh (over 20 years ago now, where has the time gone?), we had a huge Liberty store and my pocket money went on collecting their range of fabric covered picture frames and accessories. It was my equivalent of going to a sweet shop. I still love them as much now as I did then.
To their immense credit, Liberty has consistently moved with the times through collaborations with notable contemporary designers (Mac, Nike).
I covet their Nike x Liberty Dunk sneakers (above) and Nike x Liberty Blazer sneakers (below), and own a fair bit of the Target line.
If you haven't had the pleasure of visiting the Liberty London store, you have to put it on your list. It is a veritable monument to design and the window displays are insane.
To their immense credit, Liberty has consistently moved with the times through collaborations with notable contemporary designers (Mac, Nike).
I covet their Nike x Liberty Dunk sneakers (above) and Nike x Liberty Blazer sneakers (below), and own a fair bit of the Target line.
If you haven't had the pleasure of visiting the Liberty London store, you have to put it on your list. It is a veritable monument to design and the window displays are insane.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
House Calls with Colleen from Dear Colleen
When I first discovered the work of Dear Colleen I felt this instant jolt of kinship with her work. Like someone had been reading my mind and decided to put together a body of work just for me! It just spoke to me on so many different levels...typographical prints? Check. Foxes? Check. Clever word play? Check. Lived in and loved my home town of Edinburgh? Check. As a result I have featured many Dear Colleen pieces on Apothecary Fox in the past. I seriously can't get enough of her work!
Anyway, it seems that many other people felt the same way, as Dear Colleen has the craft world all abuzz after being in business for just over 6 months, and I see the handiwork of Colleen (originally from Bristol, UK) everywhere I turn. So naturally I begged her to fit time into her insanely busy schedule to give more insight into the talent behind the title, and here it is....
"My name is Colleen and I’m the girl behind Dear Colleen a fairly new etsy shop selling a range of prints and items mostly based around word play. I live in Wellington New Zealand at the moment but am really a bit of a nomad at the moment as I left my job and home around a year ago to go see the world."
Describe the work that you do? "I’m trained in Graphic design and have been working in this area for a number of years now. When I stumbled across etsy I thought it would a good way to do graphic design work for myself rather than clients. Most of my work is built on the idea of sayings, either taking old ones and giving them a twist or making new ones."
What was the career/education path you took to get to this point? "School – College – Art College – Year out working then back to Art College for my Masters."
Where do you get your inspirations? "Life. I come up with lots of ideas when I walking in and out of work and when I talk with friend or colleagues."
Describe the creative process in designing and constructing a particular piece. "Ideas first, always, then I think about the best ways to make that idea a reality."
Where do you create your work? "I’m travelling at the moment so I work from my laptop most of the time and us printers to do my printing for me. I do spend a lot of time these days day-dreaming about having a workspace."
Would you share with us some of your favourite artisans whose work you most admire?
Gemma Correll...
Sensitive Boyfriend...
Dominic Wilcox...
Where can we get our hands on your work? Online: Etsy & Foxes (a New Zealand store with so many wonderful artists' work on offer).
What/who are the things you love most in your life? "Oh bad question for today I’ve just given up coffee and it’s the only thing on mind… I guess I should be saying spending time with friends and family but really I’d sell my granny right now for a cup of coffee."
What would you do “in your wildest dreams”, if there were no restrictions (like money, or responsibilities!)? "This, but from a nicer office with a few helpers."
What is your greatest professional achievement? "Quitting a job that made me unhappy and moving to the other side of the world… rather than being scared and not chasing my dream."
What is new with you and your work? "Tea towel and totes it’s great to get my work off of paper and onto fabric."
Do you have a motto for life? "Karma's only a bitch if you are."
I have so much admiration for Colleen's drive and determination to go it alone and follow her passion. She is so inspiring to me. Added to that, she is a charitable soul who has designed a tote bag to raise money for the Gulf Oil Spill recovery operation. Read more about it here. Keep up with Dear Colleen on her adventures by following her blog. I promise you that this is only just the beginning of a her stellar new career and I can't to see what happens next.
Anyway, it seems that many other people felt the same way, as Dear Colleen has the craft world all abuzz after being in business for just over 6 months, and I see the handiwork of Colleen (originally from Bristol, UK) everywhere I turn. So naturally I begged her to fit time into her insanely busy schedule to give more insight into the talent behind the title, and here it is....
"My name is Colleen and I’m the girl behind Dear Colleen a fairly new etsy shop selling a range of prints and items mostly based around word play. I live in Wellington New Zealand at the moment but am really a bit of a nomad at the moment as I left my job and home around a year ago to go see the world."
Describe the work that you do? "I’m trained in Graphic design and have been working in this area for a number of years now. When I stumbled across etsy I thought it would a good way to do graphic design work for myself rather than clients. Most of my work is built on the idea of sayings, either taking old ones and giving them a twist or making new ones."
What was the career/education path you took to get to this point? "School – College – Art College – Year out working then back to Art College for my Masters."
Where do you get your inspirations? "Life. I come up with lots of ideas when I walking in and out of work and when I talk with friend or colleagues."
Describe the creative process in designing and constructing a particular piece. "Ideas first, always, then I think about the best ways to make that idea a reality."
Where do you create your work? "I’m travelling at the moment so I work from my laptop most of the time and us printers to do my printing for me. I do spend a lot of time these days day-dreaming about having a workspace."
Would you share with us some of your favourite artisans whose work you most admire?
Gemma Correll...
Sensitive Boyfriend...
Dominic Wilcox...
Where can we get our hands on your work? Online: Etsy & Foxes (a New Zealand store with so many wonderful artists' work on offer).
What/who are the things you love most in your life? "Oh bad question for today I’ve just given up coffee and it’s the only thing on mind… I guess I should be saying spending time with friends and family but really I’d sell my granny right now for a cup of coffee."
What would you do “in your wildest dreams”, if there were no restrictions (like money, or responsibilities!)? "This, but from a nicer office with a few helpers."
What is your greatest professional achievement? "Quitting a job that made me unhappy and moving to the other side of the world… rather than being scared and not chasing my dream."
What is new with you and your work? "Tea towel and totes it’s great to get my work off of paper and onto fabric."
Do you have a motto for life? "Karma's only a bitch if you are."
I have so much admiration for Colleen's drive and determination to go it alone and follow her passion. She is so inspiring to me. Added to that, she is a charitable soul who has designed a tote bag to raise money for the Gulf Oil Spill recovery operation. Read more about it here. Keep up with Dear Colleen on her adventures by following her blog. I promise you that this is only just the beginning of a her stellar new career and I can't to see what happens next.
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