Original Talent always Shines

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In my case the charity concerned ordered the offending cards to be immediately withdrawn from all their shops and gave me their assurance that they will never work with the culprit company again.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

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!

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!

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

More Magic...

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!

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

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.