Let’s just say I spent a LOT of time in Parisian cafes. Heaven.
I think this might just have been the best raspberry tartine in the world, ever.
More Paris posts here: Parisian markets / Paris story / Les papeteries / Paris details / Window shopping in Paris
I was in Paris researching The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design – join us for the next course starting in April!
Paris and paper are an intoxicating combination. One particular street in the 4th Arondissement, rue du Pont Louis-Phillippe, is home to Calligrane (I literally couldn’t speak this shop was so beautiful), Papier Plus and Melodies Graphiques. The handmade paper, precision and care of display, beauty and textures on every surface, ahhhhhh it was just perfect.
Take a look…
I also love Intaglio which has shops in both the North and South of Paris.
Take a look at this fab little video from Jamie Kripke/Visa which gives you a glimpse inside Melodies Graphiques.
More Paris posts here: Parisian markets / Paris story / Parisian cafes / Paris details / Window shopping in Paris
A feast for the eyes and stomach…
More Paris posts here: Parisian markets / Paris story / Les papeteries / Parisian cafes / Paris details / Window shopping in Paris
I was in Paris researching The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design – join us for the next course starting in April!
Stole away from my desk for a little trip to Paris a week ago, visiting my first ever trade show and trying out my new camera. It was just what I needed, even though it was for ‘work’. I also had the most wonderful crazy serdipitous happening occur, but more about that another day.
All this week I am going to share some photo stories of my wanderings. Forgive me for my lack of words this week – running, running, running – and anyway, Paris doesn’t need words…
More Paris posts here: Parisian markets / Paris story / Les papeteries / Parisian cafes / Paris details / Window shopping in Paris
I was in Paris researching The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design – join us for the next course starting in April!
Today’s Do What You Love interview is with Andrew Ooi, a Canadian ‘free folding artist’ who creates exquisite works from paper. I am slightly jealous of Andrew as he has exhibited at the ‘World Washi Summit’ which sounds like my idea of heaven! I delighted to be able to introduce his work to you, and get a glimpse into his life surrounded by paper.
Making notes with the help of Pia Jane Bijkerk’s lovely book ‘Paris: Made by Hand’
So excited to be heading off to Paris tomorrow with Rachael Taylor for my first ever design trade show. Love Paris. Cannot wait!
Any recommendations gladly received (especially of the papery or wine-related variety!)
I’ll admit it, I am a little bit exhausted these days. Believe me I am not complaining – I chose this path and I am so grateful that I am truly doing what I love. I am just making a note to myself that I need to take it a little easier in the coming months, and plan some slow time, not always be running at this crazy pace.
Just as I was in the middle of everything, trying to answer the phone, deal with a technical issue, get on top of my emails and arrange for some new doors for our house before we move in a few weeks, there was a knock at the door. I opened it to find a huge bunch of beautiful white flowers, with a note from my family encouraging me to keep going with it all. Ah my precious family. They could not have timed it better. It was the little lift I needed to bring my energy back up but also to remind me to stop for a moment and literally smell the flowers. Thanks Mum!
I have always been someone who commits 100% and works at 100 miles an hour – which means I have also always been someone who has always found it really hard to take my foot off the pedal and practice gentle self care. So now I have committed to myself that I am going to slow down this year.
Once we have moved to Japan at the end of March I am going to take it easy. For months now it has felt like I have been standing at the door telling the whole queue of ideas waiting outside that they can’t come in yet. I’m not ready. So come the Spring I am going to be ready. I may need to continue at this same crazy pace for a few more weeks but I have cleared my diary from April and I am going to focus on soaking up the sweetness of life in Japan and let new ideas emerge and develop.
I cannot wait.
I have always been a bit scared of drawing formally (still lifes etc) but I hugely admire people who can whip out a fantastic sketch in seconds and would love to be able to do that one day. I do love peeking into other people’s sketchbooks though, and have many books which either display incredible talent or try to help me draw better myself. Here are a few of them…
(PS With ‘Weekend Book Club’ I share a different theme each weekend and archive them on the sparkly new Weekend Book Club page here.)
Written and stunningly illustrated by the founder of Bloom Cosmetics, this is actually a beauty book but never fails to inspire me.
Having lived in Tokyo for three years I love the memories this book recalls for me. There is incredible detail in the hand-drawn observations, and it makes me want to put a pack of coloured pencils in my handbag and go out right now.
This brilliant book shows you how to draw people graffiti-style
I love fashion illustration and no-one does it quite like shoe-designer extraordinaire Manolo Blahnik, edited by Anna Wintour of US Vogue
And if you want to learn how to do it yourself, this is a fantastic guide to fashion illustration
This is a delightful book of handdrawn sketches done by a Japanese girl while out and about shopping
A great book for building your sketching confidence
A beautifully illustrated guide to the Catskill Mountains of New York State, which I picked up on a recent trip there.
The classic book on how to draw – and it really works.
Previous ‘Weekend Book Club’ posts here: Paper / Pattern. More inspiring books over here!
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The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design Module 1 starts tomorrow! Still time to register if you are quick!
For a while I have been meaning to share some of my favourite books with you. I literally have hundreds, kept in every room in the house. I have decided to split them into themes, and share a different theme each weekend, to share some of the delicious papery works of genius and inspiration I have discovered. I will archive there on the sparkly new Weekend Book Club page here.
To begin with for this week, one of my favourite topics: PAPER…
Features stunning art works crafted from paper. Love the tactile cover…
A beautiful collection of unique papery objects for the home, along with features on the makers.
Inspired ideas for crafting with delicious washi tape
Lots of fun ideas for crafting with paper yarn.
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Only a couple of weeks to go before The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design kicks off!
Have you secured your place yet? Register here.
(Image via KnitJapan)
Do you remember the thrill of that moment when your acceptance letter for a new school, or university dropped through the letterbox? Well these days it’s by email, but I got the same feeling this morning when I opened up the mail that said I have been accepted* into the Kawashima Textile School in Kyoto for a delicious month studying traditional Japanese textiles, during my time in Japan next year. (*There isn’t actually an entrance exam or anything, but it’s always nice to be accepted!)
KTS is somewhere I have wanted to study for a long time. Besides the alluring fact that the school is nestled in a village in the mountains north of Kyoto, its courses have always drawn me in. I must have read and reread their website 50 times over the last few years, always trying to work out how I could squeeze in the time to go. But now I am going to be living down the road for several months, so it is perfect.
(Image via KnitJapan)
The school – one of the oldest textile academies in Asia – has been teaching textile studies since 1973, and has substantial facilities for dyeing and weaving, including a variety of looms. They teach traditional techniques and culture, alongside modern textile practices. One of the courses will be in English and one in Japanese, so I’d better get learning some textile-related vocabulary before then! The school was founded by Kawashima Textile Manufacturers Ltd and students have the chance to see the company’s specialised textile processes up close. I cannot wait.
So much for my plans to have no plans while in Kyoto next year…
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If you have ever dreamt of seeing your designs on stationery, fabric, homewares or other products, sharing your art through pattern, and monetising your designs this groundbreaking course is for you! ‘The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design featuring Rachael Taylor’ is the definitive guide to becoming a surface pattern designer. Find out more here.