Curiouser and curiouser

These rather mysterious and whimsical ceramics from Anthropologie are adapted from the paintings of the talented New Orleans artist Rebecca Rebouche. I wonder if these would survive the long journey to Australia intact?

 The medallion shaped dinnerware collection is named Curious Deciduous, and I would love to see a few plates displayed on my kitchen wall.

To view more of Rebecca Rebouche's beautiful artwork you can visit:

Rebecca's Blog

Website

Etsy store

An amicable design for ceramics

I love the hand-drawn qualities and colouration of this dinnerware design by ceramicist Molly Hatch for Anthropologie. And I love the name of the design too - Amicable Aster. Very sweet!

Inky goodness

I haven't tended to use a lot of inks in my previous textile design work as I always found it a little tricky to keep the colours separate for screen engraving. Digital printing has put an end to such considerations, so here are a few favourite inky, blotchy, colour packed fabrics!

The beautiful floral designs from Scottish company Bluebellgray have made a big splash since their launch into the marketplace in 2009. Each design is hand painted by Fi Douglas in the Bluebellgray Studio, and then printed onto cotton and linen fabrics using state of the art technology, ensuring that each brushstroke is accurately defined.

Bluebellgray curtain panel

Fold Unfold is a digitally printed table cloth by designer Margrethe Odgaard. 

Margrethe has highlighted the folds a tablecloth may have after being stored in a cupboard.

A fabulous painterly scarf from the pattern mecca - Anthropologie.

Dawn to Dusk Scarf

And an eye-catching 1920's style painterly floral chair.

Blythe Chair from Anthropologie

This digitally printed floral scarf is from Liberty's Autumn Winter 11/12 collection.

The Silver Carnation Berry Garden scarf features carnations in magical colours on a silver silk ground.

And my favourite design from the Liberty collection - a beautiful botanical print in tones of blue set against a black background.

Blue Winter Floral print silk scarf by Liberty of London.

Tips for licensing your art from Creative Concepts design studio

If you, like me are new to the world of freelance design and licensing, be sure to spend some time browsing around Alex's inspiring blog The Moon from my Attic. Alex regularly interviews successful licensed designers who give insights into their working processes and the ins and outs of getting your designs and illustrations into the market place. Today there is a little post on my design work and techniques I like to use.

A big thank you to Alex!

Check out Alex's inspiring licensing blog here:

http://creativeconceptsdesignstudio.blogspot.com/

A marvellous menagerie

What fun (and patience!) the stylists at Anthropologie must have when creating the wonderful images found inside their always inspiring brochures? 

These gorgeous creatures and equally gorgeous products (I love that mint green 'Anais' bag) can be found starring in the Anthropologie November 2010 catalogue.

So Many Days

A lovely little book that recently caught my eye is 'So Many Days' , written by US author Alison McGhee and illustrated by Korean born, New York based Taeeun Yoo .

A little girl and her dog embark on a myriad of wonderful adventures, with a soothing rhythmic story reminding the reader that you are stronger, wilder and braver than you know, and capable of more than you could ever imagine.

Who will you be and where will you go?

And how will you know?

An inspiring bed-time tale!

Take a look at Taeeun Yoo's Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast interview here to get an insight into her beautiful illustrations and creative process.

From the Attic

Here are a few images of a beautiful patchwork quilt belonging to my boss Michele (who grew up in the United States). It was made in the 1940's by Michele's grandmother and looks as vibrant as the day it was finished. I love the brightly coloured tiny floral prints.

 The middle section of the quilt is made up of men's shirting fabrics in various shades of blue.

Butterfly love

Lovely reproductions of French textile designer Paule Marrot's modernist butterfly paintings inspired by the writings of Marcel Proust are now available from perennial favourite Anthropologie . Great relaxed styling in the room image too.

Inspired by Silhouettes

Silhouette - The Art of the Shadow by Emma Rutherford is a beautifully illustrated book tracing the fascinating social history and the visual charms of the silhouette.

Packed with examples of this enduringly popular art form from private, public and royal collections, this book details the origins of the silhouette, through to its hey day in the late 18th century, finishing with a chapter on contemporary practitioners of the technique including Kara Walker and Rob Ryan.

Silhouette - The Art of the Shadow is published by Rizzoli , 2009.