Judith's Blog

Original Talent always Shines

2010-02-15T19:16:00.026Z

Did anyone see the article in the Guardian about the twitter campaign against Paperchase for allegedly copying a design by Hidden Eloise?

I am pleased to see that attention has at last being brought to this issue as my designs have recently been copied by a publishing company supplying leading charities with greeting cards.

In my case the charity concerned ordered the offending cards to be immediately withdrawn from all their shops and gave me their assurance that they will never work with the culprit company again.

I have just returned from a few days at the NEC Stationery show at Birmingham and have seen countless Cath Kidson, Angie Lewin and Rob Ryan inspired designs. The good thing is that original talent always shines.

Shameful!

2009-11-01T08:00:00.006Z

Yes I know...this is a really shameful blog!

I have been thinking a lot about the point of my blog...who really wants to know in any case!

A good blog is also very hard work - they need a huge amount of care and attention and constant postings. The other small problem is getting them to look good...I don't find blogger.com that easy to use!

One blog that really interests and impresses me with wonderful photos and frequent short posts is www.ofspringandsummer.blogspot.com.

Take a look and see what a really good blog looks like.

The Best Toyshop!

2008-11-10T19:06:00.009Z

How about this for a toyshop window?

Well I know its a random pic but Christmas is coming up after all!

It was a tiny shop we came across while in Rouen this summer and I couldn't help imagining all the toys coming alive if I waited long enough.

TAKE A LOOK AT THIS!

2008-10-22T13:07:00.005+01:00

Instant art of the most gratifying, mesmerizing and addictive kind! If only it were this easy...

More Magic...

2008-10-14T19:02:00.010+01:00

Another magical designer is Angie Lewin. She is a printmaker working in linocut, wood engraving and collage and her designs can be found on notecards, limited edition prints, greetings cards and fabric.

I particularly love the subtlety of her restrained, slightly 50's colour palette and the way she draws her subject matter from the plants and landscape of North Norfolk. Take a look at her fabulous blog 'All things Considered' too.

MAGIC!

2008-09-03T18:58:00.008+01:00

Have you seen the fabulous designs by Rob Ryan?

I first came across his work last year when I bought his sweet little book 'This is For You' and was immediately captivated.

He works from his studio in East London and makes the most intricate paper-cuts that are full of wit and magic and extremely decorative. Words and language feature in everything he does and his designs are really poetic. He has just opened a shop to sell his work and I can't wait to get down there.

Getting a round tuit

2008-07-14T10:19:00.008+01:00

I'm afraid that I am a pretty poor blogger - now, many of the things that I have intended to talk about and show on my blog are already out of date so, moving swiftly on I don't want to miss telling you about the New Designers Show in Islington that took place over the last two weeks. It showcased the work of graduate designers from colleges all over the country and it was fantastic to see so much new talent, enthusiasm, and wonderful ideas emerging.

As always the things I loved most were either quirky, such as the wonderfully witty pieces by Lauren van Helmond or deceptively plain and understatedly beautiful like the exquisite porcelain bowls made by Rie Tsuruta and the lamps and paper shades by Dorit Raab.

I particularly loved the work of designer/makers Kelly Marklove and Zoe James and the surface designs created by Ashley Thomas and Jennifer Boulton.

Natural or recycled materials were again very much in the fore-front and product designer Fanny Chevet created a fabulous range of packaging made from compressed straw.

Not all of these young designers yet have websites where you can see their work but do look out for their names in the future.

HERE COMES THE SUN...

2008-06-19T11:40:00.005+01:00

I have just edited the pics I took at the Chelsea Flower Show in May. This one shows a detail from the garden 'From life to Life: a garden for George' designed by Yvonne Innes and Olivia Harrison to commemorate the life of George Harrison who loved gardening and created a wonderful garden himself.

'Here comes the Sun' would definitely be amongst my top ten desert Island discs!

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN...

2008-06-03T12:29:00.010+01:00

It was GREAT to see Paul McCartney in concert on the box at the weekend!

His songs have accompanied me since my youth and are so much part of my life that hearing them instantly transports me back to the time of their release and I can remember exactly how I felt, what I was doing and even what I was wearing!

'She was just seventeen' took me right back to the 60's when everything seemed possible and life was sooo exciting....

Thank you Beatles and thank you Sir Paul!

PHOTOS

2008-05-27T10:53:00.005+01:00

For those of you who may have difficulty viewing the movie here is a pic taken from an upstairs window on the day and another of Lily and Meghan who sold entrance tickets at the gate and were such GREAT helpers! Thank you both sooo much!

OPEN GARDEN SUNDAY

2008-05-27T10:15:00.003+01:00

I have made a little slideshow, previewed it, loaded it onto my blog and hope that it will somehow magically appear when this is published!

I apologise in advance if it doesn't show up and also for the bad quality if it does.

I really love all this computer stuff and once I have sorted out BLOG my next project is to teach myself FLASH as it is so hard to do anything related to websites without it. Having mastered Photoshop some years ago now I hope that the brain cells will be up to learning another programme!

NGS Garden Open Day

2008-05-27T09:34:00.002+01:00

Ahaa here is the slideshow! Sorry it's so unclear and so slow but it will give you an idea of the afternoon. Thank you to John Glover for the lovely 'Crazy Pages' song that accompanies the slides and to Bespoke Foods Ltd. for donating a wonderful selection of biscuits, chocolate snails and drinks towards the afternoon. Thanks also to Bunty Schraeger for her delicious homemade fudge and to all my kind and generous helpers especially Linnette, Ruth, Margo, Lily, Meghan and Wix.

230 people visited the garden and we raised a staggering £800.00 for the NGS whose main beneficiaries include among others Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie Cancer Care, Help the Hospices and Crossroads - Caring for Carers. What better way to justify the many happy but indulgent hours spent in the garden than through being able to share it with others for causes so close to my heart.

FINISHED!

2008-04-30T13:26:00.001+01:00

Brocante is finished and today I am checking the proof copies of the first dated products to be published with this design - a small handbag sized diary and an A4 organiser calendar.

Its great to see the proofs and I will be even more pleased when I see the finished products

in the autumn.

I'm often asked about my illustration technique...I was never 'taught' illustration, just worked out my own technique many years ago. I use Artists watercolours but instead of painting fluid 'washes' of colour with big soft brushes I build up each image gradually with hundreds of little overlapping individual strokes. I use very small Windsor and Newton Series 7 'Finest Sable' brushes that last for ages and often there are only a few hairs left before I finally throw them away. If I make a mistake I can sometimes remove the offending layer of paint without it showing but sometimes there is nothing that can be done to save it.

MY FIRST BLOG!

2008-01-15T10:37:00.001Z

Welcome to my first blog ~ this will make it easier for me to bring you 'instant' news and pictures which will be great.

The pic below shows a couple of illustrations from 'Brocante'. I am really enjoying creating imagery of people, faces and objects - a bit of a diversion from plants and flowers. Inspiration for the series comes from my affection for the imagery, typography and language of ephemera and at last my collection of faded postcards, photographs, vintage fabrics and china has found a voice - apart from cluttering up my house that is! Any of you who know my work may also recognize some of the floral repeat patterns that I have incorporated into the design. I hope that when it is all finished it will be a layering of memories, images and voices echoing mine and yours and those that went before us.