Fabric Friday - New Collections

I thought for the next three weeks I would look back at designers I have featured on Fabric Friday and take a look at their new collections. 

Birch Fabrics

Birch Fabrics launched their first collection, Circa 50 last spring and I first featured them nearly a year ago -

Fabric Friday - Birch Fabrics - March 2010

Circa 50

Circa 50

Since then Birch Fabrics have release two further collections, Marine by Dan Stiles and Circa 60 Beach Mod, which is another collaboration with Monaluna.

Marine

Marine

Circa 60

Circa 60

Birch Fabrics have another collection, Avalon by Jay-Cyn Designs, launching in April.

All Birch Fabrics collections are printed onto 100% organic cotton.

Monaluna

Monaluna collaborated with Birch Fabrics to produce both the Circa 50 and Circa 60 collections.  However I shared Monaluna's own collections, for Robert Kaufman, with you back in April last year.

Fabric Friday - Monaluna - April 2010

Urban Blooms

Flitter

Metro Market

Last Summer saw Monaluna launch their own collection, Monaco, which is printed onto organic cotton.

Monaluna will be launching two more collections, Anika and Marin, later this year.

Book Review - Sew by Cath Kidston

Having designed many fabulous collections of fabric it seemed like a natural progression for Cath Kidston to write a book all about sewing.  For several years we have used her fabrics to make cushions, pegbags and much more besides, but it is the recent trend to learn to sew that possibly led Cath Kidston to provide her fans with projects they can recreate themselves.

Sew by Cath Kidston is jam packed with projects for even a novice sewer, however I recommend that you trace the patterns from the sheet for each project.  Following on from the introduction where Cath Kidston explains that she wanted to create a book of projects for even a novice sewer that didn't resemble a sewing manual, the 'Sew Basics' section helps you plan for the projects and understand the different sewing terms.  This section is clear and concise helping you to choose a sewing machine, create a pattern, explaining the difference between a circular seam and a T-junction seam, to name a few. The Sew Basics section also teaches the finer points of applique and quilting.  Armed with these informative basics the book moves onto the projects.

When writing 'Sew', Cath Kidston explains that she set herself a challenge to design projects that were both practical and pretty and she certainly has accomplished this.  There are several cushion designs to make aswell as five bag patterns.  Other projects include aprons, oven gloves and a quilted hot water bottle cover.  there are also projects for the little ones in our lives, with a pattern for a cot quilt and a bird mobile.

Whether you are a die hard Cath Kidston fan or just looking for some well written sewing projects for your home, you will not be disappointed with 'Sew'.  With Mothers Day only a few weeks away I am sure you could gain some extra brownie points by making one of the projects in Sew for a gift, or even buy Sew as a gift this Mothers Day!

***GIVEAWAY***

I am thrilled to have a copy (the little book version) of Sew by Cath Kidston to giveaway to one of my lovely readers.  To enter please just leave me a comment on this post to let me know which is your favourite Cath Kidston design.  I will randomly select a winner on Monday 21st Febraury at 12 noon.  Good Luck xx

Business Wednesday - Product Photography

image from Etsy

Over the past few months I have looked at many photographs on Etsy, Folksy, NOTHS and peoples websites to use in various blog posts.  Good images make the difference between me featuring a product or not, which sometimes is a real shame as the product is great but the image is poor.  Whilst many of us know that poor lighting can effect the quality of our photos there are other things to consider too.  Props are great for creating an atmosphere or idea, when I made my clutch bags I wanted to evoke thoughts of old fashioned glamour so took shots of the bags with Martini glasses and leather gloves. Another example is if you are selling bunting make sure you take photos of the bunting in situ, whether this is outside on a tree or inside on a wall. Yet it is easy to over do it! Too many props and the potential customer will not be sure exactly what is for sale. Another important thing to consider is the surroundings, I am sure you don't really want people to see your washing drying on the airer! 

Etsy has some great tutorials and advice about taking good photographs, in their Guide to Photography.  To ensure your photos are at the correct size you can always resize them on Webresizer or Picnik.  I use Picnik alot and have now paid to use their premium services as I put together alot of photo collages, however you can use a good selection of their services for free.

Another option you may consider is having your products photographed by a professional photographer.  Whilst some of us are lucky enough to know a photographer, there are many of us that need to find a photgrapher to take professional images of our products.  Shot By Lucy is a great photography agency that will provide you with a product photo shoot without the expensive fees often associated with using an agency.  I have seen the results of their work and they are now the recommended photographers for Gift Wrapped & Gorgeous partners. 

So if you were thinking of giving your shops or websites a spring clean be sure to read Etsy's Guide to Photography or even consider professional images from Shot By Lucy or another photographer.

Wall Decals for Childrens Rooms

I thought I  would continue with the wall decor theme for childrens rooms today but look at a fairly new idea of wall decals (or stickers).  I love the idea of wall decals as they can change a room in an instant and provide a focal point in an otherwise plain room.  Wall decals are available to be used all over the house but today I will consider some that are perfect for younger childrens bedrooms or playrooms, then next week I will look at wall decals for older children as I know my sons outgrew pirates & dinosaurs a while ago!

from Surface Inspired

from Elmo Studio

from Janey Mac

from Munkydory

from Brighton Pod

from Spin Collective

from Planet Wall Art

Book Review - A Certain Style by Trica Guild

Tricia Guild founded Designers Guild in 1970 and has since designed many fabulous collections that adorn homes worldwide. These collections have included floral prints in many sizes, vibrant colour palettes through to shades of white and a mixture of plaids and stripes. Over the years Tricia has created designs that have become easily recognisable as Designers Guild collections and created a certain style, the perfect title for her latest book.

A Certain Style shows an eclectic mix of properties interspersing modern homes with decadent Parisian pied-a-terres or elegant English country manors. A mood is suggested in a single word before being greeted by each homes decor and design. Atmospheric, tranquillity, reflections and eccentric are just a few examples of the moods created by Tricia in this mixture of architecturally different homes.

From the moment that I took A Certain Style out of the packaging and saw the vibrant floral display on the front cover next to the monochrome striped spine, I knew this book would not disappoint. Tricia has used her own collections, with each of the fourteen homes being touched by the hand of the style queen and taking the reader on an international style journey. A Certain Style does not limit us to viewing just one room in each home but leads us through the rooms to help the reader understand how to effortlessly connect an interior space. Tricia shares little style secrets and advice throughout the book, teaching the reader to use pattern and print or a mix of bold plain textiles effectively in their home decor. In the 'Modern Country' location of an 18th century stone farmhouse Tricia explains that by limiting the palette to black and white makes it easier to layer florals with stripes, also offering a feeling of understated grandeur.

Whilst A Certain Style is full of fabulous printed textiles I was pleasantly surprised to find that Tricia had chosen bold blocks of plain colours in the modern decor choices, as seen in the 'Modern Coastal Retreat' and 'New York City Loft'. The 'English Manor House' lent itself perfectly to the fabulous jewel colours, however the dark wood proved a challenge as Tricia explains the use of light reflecting white and a sheen on the wallpaper to assist with making the room lighter and brighter. The 'French Chateau' requires decadence and of course Tricia does not disappoint, wonderful turquoise velvet sofas alongside raspberry pink silk damask floor to ceiling curtains, the opulence of gold printed on to bright bold colours, everything a stuffy manor house would avoid.

As a self confessed fabric addict and fan of Tricia Guild I am left in awe by A Certain Style and every time I open this book I am delighted by beautiful rooms and still see something new with every look. I am sure any fan of Designers Guild or anyone who has an interest in interior design will be equally delighted by A Certain Style.

My review was first featured on UK Handmade on 27 November 2010

Business Wednesday - Anti Copying in Design

There has been several issues with copycat designs recently and I think that it is appalling that people think they can steal and copy somebody elses designs. Nevermind the fact that they think nobody will notice and that they can continue producing these products as if they were their own idea.  Obviously there are times when similarities in designs occur yet there are times when you can tell that one 'designer' is trying to reproduce the work of another more talented designer.  In the past week alone I have heard of three issues of copycat designs and what angers me most is I know how hard these designers work and I admire their business ethics, creating local jobs and growing their businesses.

So what can a designer maker do? Can you protect your designs to avoid copycats taking credit for your designs and ideas? The answer is Yes.  ACID (Anti Copying in Design) are your voice in design theft, helping their members persue others who have stolen your 'intellectual property'.  With a team of lawyers to represent their members should there be cause for them to act they can prevent design fraud.  The ACID logo is synominous with  purveying their strict anti copying policies and acting as a deterrant when seen on a members website and business stationery.

By becoming a member of ACID you are helping them improve their power to improve the rights of the designers and manufacturers in the UK. This also helps you protect your 'sweat equity, your products and designs'.  ACID are there to help your business, no matter how big or small and offer low cost ways to protect your designs.  Annual rates do vary depending on the turnover of your business, but a small indendant with an annual turnover of less than £50k can expect to pay £180 for their first years membership.  A small price to pay perhaps to be able to bear the ACID logo on your website which will act as a deterent to any wannabe  copycats.

Just remember to be vigilant and I know designers maybe distrught and angry when you first tell them their designs may have been copied but I am sure they would appreciate being told.  Creative industries must work together to prevent design fraud and give the designers the credit they very much deserve.

Nursery Art

Tuesdays are going to be all about children and I plan to feature lots of things for the little ones in our lives, whether it's pattern and print for their bedrooms, playrooms or for them to wear.  I recently found out my little sister, well she's not so little really, is expecting her first baby.  So today I have put together a selection of art to adorn nursery walls.

Top Row {MooBaaCluck} {Galerie Anais}{Noisette Ilustration} {Dots and Spots}

2nd Row {Trendy Peas Decals} {Potato Patch} {Baby Byrds} {Galerie Anais}

3rd Row {Barking Bird Art} {Baby Byrds} {Ink Tree Press} {Galerie Anais}

Bottom Row {Dots and Spots} {Nicole Gelinas} {Ink Tree Press} {MooBaaCluck}