Week 2 – Lilla Rogers MATS Class – Home Decor

Hi everyone. I’ve just finished Week 2 of Lilla Rogers MATS class. This week was Home Decor and the subject matter was Bromeliads. OK I’m going to be honest. I had never heard this word before. That wasn’t the problem – it was the sound of the word. Bromeliads. It made me go ‘yuck’! Strange reaction. I love words, some are just fantastic. Cinnamon, licorice – I love these words – they sound musical to me. But everytime I heard the word Bromeliad, it made my skin crawl!

Another thing that made me procrastinate this week was the subject. You will think I’m even more strange. I love flowers, love growing them, smelling them, love their names 😉 but I don’t really draw them.
I think I get frustrated with myself. I get overwhelmed with all the beautiful watercolours. People have been drawing flowers for centuries. I think of all the botanical notebooks and the fine drawings. I prefer to draw them from my head as little doodles. I don’t enjoy drawing them from life. Read more…

National Vegetarian Week – The Silkworm

Hi everyone. This week is National Vegetarian Week (20 – 26 May) and I’d like to highlight the plight of the humble silkworm.

Silk is such a beautiful, natural material but did you know that it is made with much cruelty?

Silk comes from the mulberry silkworm (bombyx mori caterpillar). These creatures are reared in captivity and cannot exist in the wild because they are so dependent on humans. Read more…

Plum Design Apron & Ovenglove

Hi everyone. I’d like to show you some photographs of my apron and ovenglove from my Plum Design collection. 

I hope you like the happy and quirky design!

Both are made by Envelop, a textile company in Belgium and the quality is just fabulous!

The cotton is really heavy and the colours are vibrant. I just want to make lots of stuff in the kitchen when I wear these!

This would make such a lovely Mother’s Day present! The apron is available here and the ovenglove here. ♡

Lifestyle Shots

Hi everyone. I have been taking lifestyle shots of some of my products. These won’t be permanent, as I’m getting professional shots taken of them. But for now, it’s a bit of fun and gives me an idea of how I want my products to look.  I took this photo of one of my bags, French Fairytale in my Mum’s garden. I loved the distressed look of the wall and the miniature roses. I hope you like it. ♡

Hearts on Lines Design Collection

Hi everyone. I hope you had a chance to look at my Envelop shop yesterday. If not I’d like to show you one of my Design Collections called Hearts on Lines. I would like to add more items to it, but if you like it, you can have a look at it here. Thanks for stopping by! ♡

 

My Envelop Shop Launched!

Hi everyone. First of all apologies for not posting Thursday or Friday last week. I had a lovely short break in Cork and had limited internet access.  But today I am officially launching my Envelop shop, selling tote bags and aprons, so far.  I will be adding cushions and other kitchenwares very soon.  I am very excited seeing some of my designs on items and I hope you like them too.

Please click here to see my shop. ♡

Tote Bag Design

Hi everyone. I have been researching manufacturing companies for my products and one I came across was Envelop. They manufacture good quality homewares at a reasonable price and offer free shipping. All their products are 100% cotton and eco-friendly. This was very attractive to me. I am waiting for my shop to open, but in the meantime, here is a selection of tote bags that will be on sale. I will be adding more designs and products. If there is any design of mine that you would like to see on a bag, don’t hesitate to contact me! ♡

 

 

Orla Kiely – A Weekly Design Diary

Hi everyone. Do you want to see how brilliant designer Orla Kiely spends her week? Check out the link below. Orla Kiely has really put surface pattern on the map. She’s probably the most well-known surface pattern designer out there. I am also very proud of the fact that she’s from Ireland. She was born in Dublin and now lives in London.

Surface Pattern is practically unknown in Ireland. Yes we’ve had great designers in other fields – Philip Treacy, Paul Costelloe, Lainey Keogh and Sybil Connolly in fashion design, Eileen Grey in architecture and furniture design, but mention surface pattern design to people here; even designers and you get a blank look.  I usually site Orla Kiely as an example, just to clarify! Anyway check out her diary here. ♡

P.S. Her book Pattern is a must-have for any designer. I bought the smaller version of the book. It’s so cute and dinky but filled with excellent advice and designer insights. ♡