Textile Tuesday: Blue & Red & John Robshaw

Pipal Indigo bedding set by John Robshaw Textiles

I cannot seem to get over this blue and red theme I have completely by accident with all our decor. Then I discovered John Robshaw Textiles. Now I think I'm lost to it. for some reason a lot of our artwork has blues and reds in it, and our couch is a chili pepper red leather. I've been looking for ways to add a light and airiness to this combo, because we've been pairing it with dark woods, and lots of ethnic touches, which can make it all seem very heavy. The lovely thing about John Robshaw Textiles is that they are ethnic, which I love, and block-printed with the daintiest designs. Can't you image a beautiful spring breeze blowing through the room?

1. Twine Light Indigo  2. Alahambre Coral  3. Algiers Lotus 4. Petra Cobalt
All block-printed by hand on linen by John Robshaw Textiles

I fully encourage you to read more about John's story, because he has traveled so many places and learned the various techniques you see in his shop. His description of block-printing is an obvious reflection of his passion for this art form:

"It's so simple and natural. You touch a woodblock to wet clay and then to the fabric. After the clay dries, you dip the cloth into the indigo vat and the clay stays on. One dip gives the fabric a sky-blue color, two dips and it deepens to cobalt, three dips and its a saturated midnight blue. Then the fabric is laid out to dry in the sun and later the clay is washed off. The dyer says the indigo vats are like a mistress because they need constant attention. I was completely fascinated by the dyeing and printing processes, as well as how the finished product is used. Textiles become intimate companions in daily life, whether as a pillow, bedcover or sarong." 

In addition to his block-printing, John Robshaw sells a collection of found objects, furniture, blankets, and pillows named "Souk". I absolutely adore this blanket, which is made from vintage fabrics collected from around the world.

Patched Coral Blanket & Euro by John Robshaw Textiles

It gets me in the mood to make some quilts of my own!

Textile Tuesday: Kaylee Hibbert

Textile designer Kaylee Hibbert does amazing things with thread and fabric! They satisfy my textile and thread fetish.

Bespoke, hand-stitched wallpapers, shown at Tent, London, September 2011

I love this work done with furniture:

See more of her work and drawings on her site.

Textile Tuesdays: Texprint 2011

I've always been amazed by those at the forefront of design. Especially in mediums that have been around for centuries, like textiles. Yesterday I checked out the Texprint 2011 designers. Texprint features 24 recently graduated textile designers with the hope of exposing them to the industry and, well, showing the world how phenomenal they are. Visit their site and their Flickr photostream to see more images of all these truly talented designers.

If you are looking for bling in a new way, then you will like Abigail Gardiner's work. Visit her site here for more of her beautiful work.

Winner of the Texprint 2011 Color Prize, Chloe Hamblin is another favorite of mine. I am blown away by the intricacy of weaving in her work. Visit the Chelsea Degree Show site for more amazing work.

 The fantastic imagination of Emma Shipley is evident in these textiles, all from original sketches of her own. So maybe Gorilla rib cages aren't your thing. Boy are you missing out! Emma has a fantastic site where she sells these designs on Pashminas, silk Georgette scarves, and silk twill scarves. She has won several awards for her work.

Lauren Bowker has developed a way to make clothes that change and live. For her recent project, PHNX, she used a technique she developed, where she uses thermal chromatic dyes. In her own words:

 "I have embarked upon a journey to visualize, control and construct a piece that constantly evolves, lives and dies in front of our eyes. Through the expansion of many types of ink, I have developed an original take on dynamic chromic imaging. using focused thermal beams, sequentially controlled through computer software to allow my pieces to take on lives of their own. "

To see this technique in real time, check out the video on her site, PHNX.

Finally, I loved the tribal designs of Marie Parsons. I cannot seem to find a site for her, but thank you to Amelia's Magazine, for the photo of her fantastic trunk. Again, Texprint is the best source for these images and more of her work.

Happy Textile Tuesday!

Creative Candy: Rosemary Milner

It's time to get a little romantic for a moment and talk about Rosemary Milner's beautiful embroidery, fabric, and wallpaper. Rosemary is an English printed textile designer, recently graduated with honors from the Leeds College of Art. You can visit her website to learn more about her approach.

Her embroidery takes me away to some windblown field in Victorian summer. But somehow her patterns have an updated feel that keeps them fresh and current. I love how she embroiders on vintage items, like doilies and handkerchiefs.

And her textile and wallpaper designs are just as amazing:

I am having a serious crush moment right now....sigh.