Tammis Keefe I

Tammi S Keefe (1913-1960) designed textiles in the 1940s and 1950s, so her wonderful illustrations were mainly applied to household linens such as T-towels and handkerchiefs. 

Enid Marx I

Yesterday was my last day in London and as ever when leaving or arriving in London Kings Cross, it is a great opportunity to visit 'The House of Illustration', this tiny gem of a gallery never disappoints.

Currently they have an exhibition of Enid Marx (1902-1998) a textile designer, printmaker and illustrator. Famous for her mid century design, her work on London underground upholstery fabrics and the stamps for Queen Elizabeth II's coronation stamps.

However for my first post on Enid's life and work I am going to focus on her love of cats and her woodcuts, as I found the woodcut below particularly striking, you can see in the foliage and other elements of this print, Enid's skills at creating pattern as well as her subtle use of contrasting colours.

Above: 'Tiger Tiger' Linocut, printed in colour, published by Curwen Press, 1958

Enid loved cats and the 'Two Cats' print below is based on her own cats 'Sam and Arry', these cats were also to be immortalised in one of her children's books.

Woodcut was the perfect medium for Enid and for textile design with the colour separation it requires. It was this technique which really defined the aesthetic of mid century design in Britain.

Poppy Tuckley

Wonderful sketches from Poppy Tuckley who has just graduated in textile design from Glasgow School of Art, with her illustrated textile designs.

Megan Hughes

Megan Hughes is another graduate of textiles at Dundee's Duncan of Jordanstone art college. This department always impresses me with the quality of the research, sketch books and development work that the students undertake. Megan's insect legs and insects are just fantastic full of character and humour and great as a springboard for unique design.

"I visited the D’arcy Thomson Museum to collect visual information on bugs and other insects, this drew me to engage with tiny things with weird characteristics. It was a rare occasion which gave me the chance to be able to examine lives which are smaller than a penny yet hold such rich visual information. These creatures are limited edition living jewels. Having the chance to photograph and observe these microscopic characters allowed me to become aware of their impacting sensitivity and a wide spectrum of colours within their textured shells. I was mainly drawn to the strange shapes which make up their alien bodies and abstract textures on their hard backs. I dissected the images of them to understand motifs and textures, these tiny details helped me build back up an image of strangeness through irregular compositions. As a print and surface designer, my aim is to capture the sensitivity shown in my mark making and really put an emphasis on the quality of developing manually, to keep the tradition of hand techniques." Megan Hughes

Rosa Howie

A favourite of mine from this years Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, Degree show was the work of textile designer Rosa Howie. Rosa's sketchbooks were just wonderful a rich aquarium of lovely fish rendered in many different ways and media. Above are some works from her sketchbooks and below the finished textiles embellished with wonderful metallic print and embroidered eyes and fins.

Tomomi Irago I

Today I need these lovely, calm illustrations by Japanese illustrator and woodworker Tomomi Irago, they have a tranquil beauty.

Melinda Paino メリンダ・パイノ

  

 

 

Melinda Paino メリンダ・パイノ is an illustrator who's work has wonderful combinations of blocks of colour and line work.

Charlene Mullen

It has been over a year since Charlene Mullen's black work was featured here, these cats are some of 'Ralph's extended family', just wonderful.

Mija Louekari

Pattern, colour and zing today from the fantastic designer and illustrator Mija Louekari who's designs I have featured before, but this one has languished for a while waiting for the right time, Today!

Love Potion or message

Above, On Calico ready to stitch.

Sketches, above and below

Love potion, message in a bottle, shipwrecked pirate...

Lu Summers

I found this wonderful work earlier today, lost it and found it Phew ! These do it yourself (colour) posters are by Lu Summers who also screen prints wonderful fabrics and other wonders.

Nithikul Nimkulrat

These sculpture are constructs of paper string and wire, Nithikul Nimkulrat's portfolio has blown me away this evening, its is extremely inspiring, please visit her website.

Soft Spot for Sausage Dogs

Last of today's Donna Wilson collection is two of her creatures, I do love a sausage dog.

http://www.donnawilson.com/

Donna Wilson's Foxes

Donna Wilson's lovely fox scarfs, from her strange and wonderful collection of objects and designs. http://www.donnawilson.com/

Amy Schimler

Above: Birds on the Line,Below Forest Friends both surface designs.

Amy Schimlers is an illustrator and surface designer, her fabric called 'Forest friends' is available here; http://www.fabricworm.etsy.com/

http://www.amyschimler.com/index.html and this is Amy's web site where you will also find her wonderful blog, stockists ect.

Lizzy House

Lizzy's House Ugly Duckling fabric at Fabricworm etsy, here is Lizzy's blog; http://lizzyhouse.typepad.com/ Just loving all these fabrics please humour me on my wee deviation from the usual designed 'randomness' of my blog.

Jennifer Moore

I have spent the whole evening exploring the wonderful 'fabricworm' at etsy here are two fabrics that she is selling by Jennifer Moore http://www.monaluna.com/Templates/index.html .