Don't forget...

We've just launched our new section of the blog...Product of the Week, which pretty much needs no explanation, but every Saturday we will be featuring one of our lovely products here with a big of additional blurb, more pictures added to the shop, and with it's very own discount code, it may entice you a little bit more in the ways of retail therapy!

Check in now for our first featured product from Lucinda Ireland...enjoy!

Pause for Thought...

What's lovely about researching and showcasing different designers, is discovering their inspirational connections, and how they translate them into their chosen specialism...

Today, that unexpected collaboration comes in the form of Liva Cabule and Emma Walker...

Liva, graduated this Summer from The University of Bedfordshire in Illustration. She has always had an interested in a variety of artist styles and genres, but her real passion lies in screen print and creating hand-made books.   

One such book, The Fairy and the Seed, takes inspiration from Jack and the Beanstalk to explore the moral tale that warns of the dangers of GM plants, which she displayed at the recent Emerge exhibition as part of London Design Festival. 

As well as creating her own books, Liva was awarded second prize at the Penguin Design Awards in the Puffin Children's Book Category, for her illustrated design of James and the Giant Peach...

Moving from one 2D specialism to another, Emma Walker's photography is a continual exploration into the relationship between the Human and the Natural World.

A recent graduate from Arts University College Bournemouth, Emma's work investigates the concepts of beauty that surrounds the subject of nature, with an edge of sublime and surrealism.

"...the beauty of nature is but only a small facet of this fascination...the diversity, the state of being unrestrained from thought...however subtly they may be visualised..." says Emma, about her inspiration.

We have a selection from both Liva and Emma's recent collections available...just hit Shop to explore some more...

Home is where the heart is..

The nights are drawing in so naturally we are wanting to spend more time indoors and snuggle with some trashy TV, (well, that's just us!) So to address the balance, we need those little homely touches, so why not indulge in something from one of today's featured designers, Sandy Powell and Rubyshoes Rocks...

Sandy is a recent graduate from London Metropolitan University, where she studied Textile Design for Interiors and Products. Her speciality is three-dimensional stitched textiles, which is certainly put to good use in her range of cushions, corsages and bag charms.

Her inspiration comes from structural aspects found in nature, and using them in repetition. What's lovely about her work is her use of accent colours in felt, taffeta and recycled leather, adding something special to an everyday product...

Now, you may be forgiven for thinking that bunting is something reserved for Summer Fetes in the country, surrounded by homemade cakes and preserves, but Rubyshoes Rocks is on a one woman mission to change all that!

Founded by Interior Designer Jo Ash, Rubyshoes Rocks started out at a little ol' homestead in South East London, making and creating bunting for friends, then for street parties, then for shops, cafes and festivals...

"My bunting isn't all about looking pretty. I'm determined to make bunting cool, and in disposable, something you don't just hang up for Summer tea parties. I hope my bunting is the sort of decoration you'll never, ever want to take down!" says Jo...

Need something to dress up your home? Find these lovely bits and bobs ...here...

...And all things nice...

Now, we don't think we're an authority on what's hot and what's not when it comes to fashion, but we do know what we like...

So today's featured designer is Holly Mansell, a fashion graduate from Essex College. We almost feel like old friends when we talk about Holly, as we've been following her progress since seeing her work at Free Range back in the Summer. Holly had one of the stand-out collections, and even more amazing to have seen it 'live' at her degree fashion show in all it's glory.

Holly's work has an antique appeal with touches of salvaged lace, vintage buttons and ribbon, which she has used in clusters on her hand-made bespoke ankle socks, which are available through our shop, of course, we couldn't resist them, so how can you?!

As well as featuring her hand-made fashion accessories, we also have her amazing fashion illustrations transformed into the cutest greetings cards, and a few personalised vintage gift tags to complete the set...be fashionably early with gifts for Christmas we say ...Click here to shop...

Oooh sparkly...

Today we feel like the need for something sparkly, so today's introduction is all about jewellery...

Nicola Reed and Emma MacLeod have very different styles, but we love their individual approach, as well as their passion for design, and both are recent graduates from the hot-bed of talent that is Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design at Dundee University.

Nicola has never wavered in her pursuit to create something unique. As well as experimental collections using vintage finds, freshwater pearls and sterling silver, she also collaborates with textile designer Sarah Nevey on the project entitled Re-Worked, which we featured a few months ago.

The collection we are lucky enough to be featuring on-line is Salvaged Bijoux, again, we gave you a sneak peek last month. She is also one of the designers featuring her work at the up-coming Made '11 in Brighton, with other recent graduates as part of the Vanilla Ink collective...

In stark contract, Emma's inspiration comes from the industrial back-drop of Dundee itself, and more specifically the docks. The cage-like structures are delicate in their inception, and the collection available shows a combination of sterling and oxidised silver.

Want to see more from Nicola and Emma? ...Click here...

Graphically speaking...

We hope you are all enjoying having a wander around the shop. We had an overwhelming response from day one with over 500 visitors, and already packing up our first orders as we speak!

One of the most important aspects of what we're working on, is getting well-deserved recognition for the designers contributing their work, so all this week we will introduce you to each designer, a bit about them, where they studied, the inspiration behind their work etc.

So in no particular order, today allow us to tell you a bit more about Kayleigh Hadley and Lucinda Ireland, two of our graphic/print designers...

Kayleigh, a recent graduate from Wolverhampton University caught our eye at this Summer's Free Range exhibition for her experimental hand-rendered approach to her designs.

The process of creating things by hand is what she enjoys about design, and why she decided to pursue design in the first place. Her approach is not about creating something perfect, it's about having the freedom to create without restrictions...

Part of her collection for Look Like Love surrounds a specific year in her life that she remembers fondly, and the music she was listening to. The sketchy style reflects the style of the songs, and the age she was when they were released...

Since graduating from Nottingham Trent University this Summer, Lucinda literally hasn't stopped. Fresh from winning the New Designers Hallmark Cards Award, she has also exhibited her work at the recent London Design Festival.

Thankfully, she did manage to make time to see us, and we are delighted that we have a selection of her work featuring in the shop...

Lucinda has always been interested in typography, and was lucky enough to learn the ropes at Grantham College before studying Graphic Design in Nottingham.
Her inspiration comes from pretty much anything around her, with a particular love of old signage, and typefaces, the craft of typography is very much at the forefront of her mind, an exciting prospect for a next generation typographer in an industry saturated by digital effects...

Want to see more of their work? ...Click Here... Or hit the Shop button on the right-hand side...

Time to Shop...

Well it feels like a long time coming, but we've made it, our little on-line shop has opened to the public!

We have a fantastic selection of products from a number of featured graduate designers from all across the UK, and we see this very much of a celebration of the incredible talent that does exist from all corners of the country.

Over the next few weeks we'll be adding more product images, we just didn't anticipate how long the shooting and editing would take, so bear with us as we embellish, and prettify the existing range, and hopefully add even more pieces too.

We'll be launching Product of the Week, with an individual feature on all our contributing designers, a bit about them, their inspirations, and what they see themselves doing over the next few years.

Fundamentally, we want support, nurture and promote emerging creative graduates and part-time designers, we need more small enterprises, and hopefully we will inspire more designers to take the decision to continue with their passion of being creative, and not simply shelve it once graduation is over...so it's time to shop...look, like and love it!

Watch This Space...

 

It's been a good few weeks since our last post, but if you've been following us, then you'll be aware that we are working non-stop to get the launch of our on-line store up and running.

As a mini-breakaway from all the madness, we wanted to re-introduce you to one of our first graduates, Feben Vemmenby, who featured in our post A Sneak Preview... back in May.

Feben has been extremely busy over the last few months, and has just launched her own website, showcasing her latest collection, Window Blues.

We are currently in conversation with Feben about featuring her work through the shop, which will be a fantastic opportunity to own a one-off/ limited edition piece from this talented, up-and-coming fashion designer, she's certainly one to watch...