New illustrations

I really want to make the most of having a little extra time on my hands to do some more illustrations. These I reworked from some of my old sketches, but it made me really keen to do more in this style. Watch this space!

The little cats i did for My Sugar Cube were in store before Christmas.

Found my busy around town print at Sainsbury's. They used it in a sweet pack of 3 boys babysuits - perfect for my nephew!

Spotted some of my summery prints on the peacocks website, cheer up lounging about indoors in these bright colours away from the unsummery weather!

Boys Things!

It's been a long time since I posted anything here, almost exactly 1 year! But I haven't stopped working, just the opposite, i've been busy designing. Stacking up designs, some selling, some not but plenty to post here. A little bit like my squirrel stacking up nuts designed for Autumn/Winter 11, almost there so i think he'll be ok out in the ether just before he hits the shops in the US.

Pick Me Up

A few snaps from the Pick Me Up graphic arts exhibition at Somerset House a couple of weeks back. Starting from the top, is the illustration work of Patrick Gildersleeves. 2nd/3rd picture from top Rob Ryan who moved his studio to the exhibition space for some live paper cutting - exciting stuff! And last pic, on the left geometric inspiration from Melvin Galapon, and right, lettering by Alex Trochut.

Ready, Able

Pushing and squishing the boundaries with plasticine, Allison Schulnik's video for the Grizzly Bear track, Ready, Able is beautiful. More monsters and hobo clowns to be found appearing from Allison's primordial plasticine sludge on her website.

Contact !

A wicked little Japanese printing machine. This lo-fi piece of technology has a cult following with films dedicated to it and an internet campaign to keep it alive, although unfortunately manufacturing stopped in 2008. プリン トゴッコ Print Gocco is a self-contained battery operated screen printer that allows you press off mini-prints. Wiki says the print gocco name derives from the Japanese Gokko loosely translated as make-believe play. The film is from Koleo to a Bridgitte Bardot soundtrack, singing 'contact!'. And artwork on the left by print gocco fans Peskimo, and photo right from Lullatone.

The bookshelves were a photo from an event listed on the dazed digital newsletter about a series of talks on the influence of italian design taking place at the design museum in London. I saw it and just thought - wouldn't that look nice with a matching jumper! Which I quickly found on SupermarketSarah. I really shouldn't be so easily distracted, back to work.

I came very close to buying this lovely print by Roddy and Ginger at the kids modern fair yesterday. I'm still thinking about it, time to raid the piggy bank!

Acid House Rave 89 chandal

Just found this clip early in the morning on you tube, all these people having fun is pretty feel-good and set me up for the day i reckon!

Not long after I finally finished the lacey print I spotted these these tights from Bebaroque at Urban Outfitters, with a similar lace inspiration. The brand is run by 2 young scottish designers doing a great job with this line of bonnie leg wear.

I had to do some research for a 50's inspired print this afternoon and came across these cute little hankerchiefs, by 50's designer Tammis Keefe who mysteriously also went by the name Peg Thomas. Most of the photos are from Japanese site Fabric-things and the Tammis Keefe textile pool. It'd be a shame to add a design of your own by blowing your nose into one of these!

Every once in a while I do a print that's an absolute killer, it takes forever and sucks all my computer's memory. This is a detail from a print I never thought I'd see the end of. Thing is, once you notice it's taking far too long, it's too late to turn back because you've spent so much time on it already aargh.

Apparently my little giraffe is proving very popular and flying off the rails these past few weeks. Time to celebrate then, it's my turn to go off the rails!

Small interlude as i work on more of these new illustrations soon to be posted. In the meantime, as a temporary measure, here are my favorite posts from last year.

Pullens Yards, south London craft community

Last weekend i discovered a well kept treasure in my own back yard. It wasn't literally my back yard, but the Pullens yards across the road i lived on when i first moved down to London, Penton Place SE11 (behind the urban grot of Elephant and Castle and the Woolworth Road). And having never moved very far I couldn't believe that in all this time I hadn't come across the art and craft studios of the beautiful Pullens buildings. Built in 1870 the Yards were purpose built with craftspeople and small traders in mind and represent an original Victorian example of live/work space as, orginally, each ground or first-floor workshop opened into one of the 2 flats situated behind it.

Carol Mather pictured walking into her studio makes this stunning silverwork. I want one of those little dog necklaces.

The yards today include a couple of small publishers, including Can of Worms press who published the Borough Market Cookbook and Made in Southwark by photographer George Nicholson, who also has studios in the yard.

We weren't allowed to take pictures at the Chelsea degree show, so i have a picture of a knitting machine. And some moss growing on a roof, reminiscent of the woolly designs hung indoors.

London Underground Moquette

Transport for London has launched a fun competition to design a new seating moquette for the London Underground. The winning design, which will initially launch on the Piccadilly line, will then be adopted across the London Underground system. This is a chance to become part of the fabric of London design and transport history. I've yet to meet a textile designer who can resist the thought of their seat design caressing the behinds of London's 3 million daily tube users! The deadline is September 14th, for all the details see http://shop.tfl.gov.uk/moquette-competition.html

Most of these images were found on the London Transport Museum website.
As a nerdy textile designer i was very excited finding these archives and would be very tempted to travel all the London tube lines and bus journeys to put together a little moquette journal of my own. Maybe in the near future, as soon as I get that anorak for my winter wardrobe!!

Forget reading metro, why not think of a feature for the London Underground blog

Recycled materials - a great source of colour inspiration.Another installation by Martine Camilieri. And some shopping bags woven from shredded plastic by my friend Katell who has a range of fairtrade and recycled goods Art d'eco design that I've always admired her for.

Columbia Road

My first stop, the bunnies and cupcake display at Treacle.

A great bagel display. Inspirational and delicious!

Rob Ryan

Rob seems to be into printing on tiles at the moment, probably giving his fingers a rest from all that paper cutting. Thanks to girls in the Ryan town shop who let me take the photos.

Picture gallery

Elphick's art gallery has some prints by Jen Franklin which I'd originally come in search of. And I've just discovered that Sharon, who runs the gallery, has some nice work of her own on her website which I need to take a closer look at.

Beyond fabric

A new fabric shop Beyond Fabrics has just opened on Columbia Road run by Eduardo Hirschfeld and Silvana Brasil. And yes, they're from Brasil!