Mo(i)re for your money

I am fascinated by moire effects - whether they're unintended optical effects created by parallel grids or meshes, or beautifully considered like this piece in the Virgin book-in area at Heathrow airport. I love the way it moves as you walk past - turning like a propellor, and changing direction depending on your view-point.  

I had a great write up by Bill Hamilton in the Wall Street Journal last weekend -

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903327904576524370607914248.html?KEYWORDS=eleanor+pritchard

 it made me feel very grand!
.

Things in the Maine

We are just back from a trip to the States where I was showing my new blanket collection at the New York Gift Fair. I was thrilled with how well the new work was recieved - lots of orders and lots of press interest. There seems to be a real appetite for and understanding of textiles in the US.

We took a little trip up to Maine after the show to see friends there. We stayed  with Mary at her lovely wooden shingled summer place. She has some beautiful old Maine hooked rugs which really caught my eye. They remind me of tole-work - the painted patterns you get on old narrow boats. A lovely folk feel.

I particularly like the way that this rug has streakes in the ground colour. I wonder whether the rags have faded differently over time, or whether it was hooked like this.

Text - ile

I have just finished stitching a word for the upcoming 'Power of Making' exhibition at the V&A. The show will include a series of words make in different materials and techniques by a whole host of different designers and makers. Mine is stitched in reflective yarn - like the material you see on bicycle gear. It catches the light at particular angles in a very pleasing way.

What's cooking?

For the last few months, I have been doing lots of sampling in the studio, getting ready for winter 2011-12. 

Here are some of the designs on my loom. This is Scallop - an old favourite, now re-coloured in Lemon Drop. I love the fresh feel of the colours - like lemonade on a hot summer afternoon.

 And here is Westerly on the loom. I am very pleased with the sense of movement and balance in the design.

Barron and Larcher

I have long admired the block prints of Phyllis Barron and Dorothy Larcher. They ran a textile design and print studio from the 1920's through to the beginning of WW2. I really love the sense of movement and energy in their work - I think it still feels very fresh and contemporary today.

 Here they are on holiday in France. They really look the part in their sun hats.