Beautiful Yarn

We are just back from showing the blankets at Maison et Objet in Paris. The show is huge, with lots of beautiful things from all over the world. One of the things which really caught my eye though was actually in a little Japanese Bento restaurant in central Paris.

I love these lamp shades. They are very simple -  just coloured yarn wrapped around a wire frame. The result is beautiful - the light leaks through the fibres and the effect is like colouring with a felt-tip pen.

 The place is called Nanashi and is on the Rue de Paradis. They do good soba noodles too!

Matthew Hilton

A couple of months ago the celebrated furniture designer Matthew Hilton came to visit us at the studio. We were in complete chaos, in the midst of packing up orders... but clearly he could picture beyond the sea of cardboard boxes...

Matthew's furniture is effortlessly elegant... really strong contemporary design. Here is the Quail's Egg blanket looking at its most sophisticated, sitting on his beautiful Hepburn bed, with the Marker thrown over the gable wall.

And again, folded on the writing desk.  I love the confidence of the lines and the real affinity with the materials in all of Matthew's work -
http://matthewhilton.com/accessories/industry/#577

Inventory blanket

Over the last few months, we have been working on a number of different one-off projects. One of my favourites of these has been the bespoke blanket we have woven for Inventory Magazine. Here are a couple of quick shots I took in the studio before packing them up to ship out.

 

It was a very rewarding project and Owen at Inventory was great to work with. I am really pleased with the outcome - a lovely chunky deep blue blanket - perfect for those Canadian winters.

The magazine is a great read - with really interesting pieces exploring the process behind the featured work. In their own words:

"Inventory was created as an extension of the culture and lifestyle we're a part of. We value products and clothing for more than just their appearance, admiring how they're made, by whom, and why."

The images for the article about the blanket were taken by James Pearson-Howes - I hope to post a few of these in the coming weeks.

Inventory are doing a 'store within a store' at Vitsoe in New York from the 3rd - 10th November, so if you are in that neck of the woods do pop along. Or, if you are in London or Tokyo, they have a concession store at the Dover Street Market.

http://www.inventorymagazine.com/

Elle Deco - Sweden

Just back from showing the blankets at Maison et Objet in Paris. We were showing in Hall 8 - Now Design a Vivre, in very good company.  Amongst my favourites were 'All Lovely Stuff' with their amazing drawing machines. Very clever, simple, witty design.

http://www.alllovelystuff.com/

Here are the Quails' s Egg and Scallop blankets looking very rustic in Swedish Elle

Three Beautiful Patterns

Things which caught my eye in Antwerp

 

Orange + Green & White

To my great delight I find that my blankets are listed as number 13 in the July/ August Monacle feature on '50 Things to Improve your Life' - tucked between number 12 - A Private Island; and number 14 - Toasties and Lattes at Doutour!

To celebrate here are a couple of very pleasing colour-echoes...

... a lovely orange against the David Tremlett mural at Tate Britain...

...and again outside Central Saint Martins....

...and this very satisfying Dunlop green flash combination...

...and again, in the railway carriage cafe on Deptford High Street.