Roddy & Ginger

I've been a big fan of Roddy & Ginger's products and blog for a few years and these new log pile trays and chopping boards are a great addition to her products. I love her log pile pattern - so simple and striking. We already have a couple of log pile cushions but these are definitely going on my very long wish list.

'Gift Wrap: not just for wrapping presents anymore'

     

I really should have blogged about these months ago.
This is my new venture into gift wrap which I designed in Spring and launched at Pulse. It's taken me far too long to get around to publicising them properly. I can only say my excuse its moving house and the associated stresses and the sheer work load which I've had over summer.

Anyway - I suddenly realised that I've been blogging about other peoples work and beautiful patterns and haven't properly shown my own.

I've been thinking about designing and producing some high quality gift wrap for ages and was very picky about paper weight and print quality. I've gone for a lovely weighty 100gsm matt uncoated 100% recycled paper and it's great - it really feels like it's quality wrapping paper for special gifts. In fact when I was designing it I was very inspired by the line used as the title of this post - Gift wrap: not just for wrapping presents anymore (credit: the fabulous Egg Press). They have it so right. Gift wrap is much more than just a throwaway piece of paper which you wrap a gift in. I like to choose lovely papers and wrap gifts for people who will really appreciate some nice outer loveliness. Aside form wrapping gifts I wanted to design something which could line drawers & shelves, be used for making things, for decoration or even framing small bits. I keep all sorts of scraps of old beautiful gift wrap given to me.

Lastly my inspiration. Well - the blue one (which I'm calling Graphic Doodle) was an extension of all the lovely geometric doodlings I do and the various bunting/flag/pattern embellishments which my cards feature. I rolled them all into one big piece - literally. I couldn't work on a small piece of paper and fit it all together - that lost the original feel. So I worked to scale and inked it all out using my trusty 01 paint brush, Indian ink and pen. It gives it the hand drawn wobbliness which I so love.
The light charteuse green one (shapes) was taken from a quick hand painted pile of semi-circles which had been on my wall for a few years waiting for the right opportunity. I pieced a few together and was rather pleased with the simple but effective result.

So there you have it. It's been selling well and I have many more ideas in the pipeline. Now I've dipped my toe in the gift wrap world I want to do more!! Next time I'll be a little quicker at blogging about it!

I've just added both designs to my shop so you can now buy it by the sheet.

Kirath Ghundoo

The geometric patterns and exuberant colours of Kirath Ghundoo's wallpaper is simply stunning!
She graduated last year with an MA in textiles and has deservedly been nominated for an Elle Decoration British Design Award. And rightly so. Original, colourful and fantastically hap-hazard I think her work is so different to anything else in the interiors world right now. The idea of her 'Mix 'n' Match 11' collection embraces the notion of putting contrasting papers together to create an interesting mixed up look. A brilliant idea.

I'm busying away on a new word map at the moment and will post about it as soon as I can. Alongside this I've been tackling the 'C' word (Christmas). Designs were completed months ago (January) but marketing has got left somewhat - or rather I just haven't had the time. I am on with it and my lovely stockists will be receiving all my new designs for 2012 in their inboxes in the next 2 days.
Last week was a bit of a rubbish week of being ill and not being able to work so I'm really looking forward to getting back to normal and getting stuck into some work. I have to make a plan as I feel I'm getting a little muddled of late....

Lastly - if anyone was wondering - Wrap magazine (see last post) is a great read and lovely to look at to boot. The kind of magazine which you keep going back to again an again. I will certainly be getting the next issue and can recommend it.