HEAL'S NEW RANGE OF DESIGNER'S PIECES

Wednesday 30 July 2014

Hello everybody, so far it continues to be hot and sunny in London, so all good, considering how bad our last Summer was. I am planning to get away at some point soon, I need to be by the seaside and get a break from work and London, as much as I enjoy my job and this city, I need to recharge batteries away from the big buzz...
A few weeks ago, I went to HEAL's launch of their AW2014 designer's pieces collections. It was a sunny and lovely day, so I was not in the mood for Winter colours or fabrics, etc…but for my surprise I was presented with a fresh and natural collection of furniture pieces, which included lots of light colour wood in the form of chairs, sofas and gorgeous tables, such as the JAC side table above by Gavin Coyle, together with very interesting lighting and accessories designs. I really enjoyed the different materials, and shapes, and most important the fact that these pieces didn't fit a Winter trend as we will all expect. 
I am not into trends, or seasons, my work does't reflect trends, but my own ideas and very personal taste, whether or not they fit into an specific trend is all together a different matter, of course we all look at the same things and end up getting inspired by what is around us.

That is why I found HEAL's furniture preview very refreshing and in tune with nature and  craftsman-ship. They support somehow the work of designers, and that, I value very much, whether or not it is profitable for us, independent designers to to work alongside big stores, that I keep for myself...
Photos via HEAL'S

ART PRINTS – LIMITED EDITION – BOTANICAL SERIES

Tuesday 22 July 2014

I have recently finished printing the NEW botanical series art prints at a local printing studio, Sonsoles Print Studio, in Peckham, 5 minutes away from my home/studio. I used to print at home, but since I spent quite a bit of money on a new bathroom with white tiles I decided that it wasn't a very good idea to continue the printing at my home based studio, (I cried every time is saw the splashes of black ink on the new tiles), plus my set up is not ideal, specially for big format prints. 

I have always enjoyed printmaking, specially the screen printing process, I love getting messy, mixing the inks and seeing the final results, not so much all the preparation, cleaning, washing off the screens, ink all over my hands, nails, arms and clothes...

The latests series is about botanicals, cactus, and related family of plants, I get inspirations from the gardens back home in Gran Canaria, Kew Gardens and the Barbican center in London, photos I see on internet, magazines, exhibitions, etc...I try to plan my work, but I seem to improvise lots to. I am not a very organised person when it comes to my ideas and creative process, I am in fact a bit all over the place, that is why my work can look so different at times, but somehow I bring cohesiveness into it, by using the same colours, applying the same techniques, using the same materials and finally styling the photos to bring them all together. 

MY FRIEND'S HOUSES – KATE CLARKE LONDON

Monday 21 July 2014

Hello Monday and everybody!! It is still very warm and sunny in London, so not complaining, although a trip to the beach wouldn't hurt with these temperatures...Since I am not having holidays this Summer, I am trying to take work easy and spend some days not doing much, but as much as I like the idea, I don't seem to manage to slow down, but to the contrary, keep working and working...When you run your own business, there are always things to do, plan for, etc...but there is time for meeting with friends, naps, going to the park, long walks, ballet, etc...too.

We recently had an afternoon tea at My dear friend Kate's cute flat, that she shares with boyfriend illustrator Nikalas. Apart from stuffing my face with different cakes, biscuits, and wash it all with plenty of tea, I took some photos of their colourful and cosy flat.

They both love children's books, graphics, colours, design, patterns, cute ceramics, etc...They got a great eye for mixing colours, with patterns and vintage pieces with more modern ones.
You can normally tell by someone's work how their home may be decorated, and that is the case with Kate's home-ware line, (pictured below). her work is full of colour, and gorgeous shapes, very Scandinavian and fresh, just like her home!

Photos by me

ADDING COLOUR TO YOUR INTERIORS

Sunday 13 July 2014

I am constantly changing the decor in my house, but I don't throw away things, as I am against the disposable consumerism idea of anything, specially when it comes to decorating a home). I instead, rearrange the furniture, move it to a different room, give it a different use, or give it to a friend who may need it. What I like is adding new pieces that complement my exciting ones, and I do it with colour. My house is pretty neutral, but has drops of colour, in the form of cushions, prints, kitchenware, knobs, hooks etc...It helps that I am a home-ware designer, so every time I launch a new product I add it to my home, plus I can't help it but I absolutely LOVE interiors, decorating, houses, products, design, you name it....
Here are some ideas to incorporate some colour into your house, beautiful pieces to create a relaxed and easy space. I am into fluro colours and natural wood right now, and of course black and white!
Family house in Amsterdam via remodelista

woonboek – a book about real interiors

Wednesday 9 July 2014

I have been browsing this beautiful book, have you seen it? that Kate brought back from her recent trip to Antwerpen. It is written in Belgian, so not much reading going on, but I can focus on the real interiors that fill the pages. My favorite house is from Zoe, I love the easy going and vintage feel of her space, with the neutral colours as background for the so many gorgeous pieces, from cushions, chairs, mirrors, etc...Going trough the pages felt like a welcoming to the different houses/spaces that the owners have created for themselves, very lived in, with pets, plants, etc..!!!Check the nice blog here.
The book has a section dedicated to shops and DIY projects, 
such as the MIAUW soft letters (shown below).

B&W botanical prints, and greens, to create a relaxed and fresh look

Monday 7 July 2014

Table styling, linen tea towels, ceramics
I like the natural and fresh look that decorating with simple and yet beautiful objects can be achieved. My house is painted in white, with the exception of a wall in black (living room), and another in blue (bedroom). I am not into minimalism, that is for sure, but I have tendency towards neutral colours, wood and B&W. 

I have just finished a limited edition of hand printed art prints, soon available in my shop. I have been drawings for years and have a vast collection of botanical motifs, mainly cactus, and related plants. The process of hand printing is tiring and time consuming, but so rewarding and enjoyable at the same time.  

I find botanical motifs very versatile when it comes to decorating, they combined very well with other styles, such as geometrics, and more abstracts shapes. I leave you with this mood board of handmade, practical homewares from different designers/shops. Good productive Monday!
wall art, geometric cushion, lamp