Open Studios

Just checking in- my Open Studios is going great; I have had loads of really great feedback so thanks to those of you I have spoken to! I have had requests for rugs, wall-hangings, cushions and chair covers so it's going to be a very busy Christmas for me this year. Please do keep checking back on here or drop me an email as I will be sorting out my somewhat mysterious online presence in the coming weeks, with the addition of an Etsy page, a new website and social network profiles. I am also in discussions with an interiors website about the inclusion of my work so basically... WATCH THIS SPACE!

Sustainability Editorial

Just seen that I have been featured on WGSN's sister site that's geared towards interiors, here is the link: 

http://wgsn-hbl.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/mood-2013-technology-and-upcycling.html

If you take a moment to look at some of the other designs featured at the 'Meet Only Original Design' (MoOD) festival in Brussels it's exciting to see how many designers are looking to make ever-more sustainable materials. Papilio used industrial outer tubes (presumably salvaged from old print runs or similar) to create a rug that is suitable for outdoor use. In the same way as my designs are all different, each rug will be different because it depends what outer tubes/rollers they recycle that week.

Monofilament Pockets

This is a range of materials that I designed for my final collection. The beauty of the collection is that each piece of material is totally unique and has a different colour palette, owing to the stuffing of the 'pockets' being done with waste yarns. I collected waste yarns from the knitting and sewing machines at Chelsea and St Martins College and then stuffed them into clear pockets created on an industrial knit machine. The material is thus sustainable and often the results of the different textures and colours of yarn are stunning. 

Furniture Designs

I am moving my blog over to a new website shortly but I thought I should include some of my furniture designs just for reference temporarily. I designed materials based on furniture I recovered from junk shops and auctions; these pieces are all made with lambswool that has been felted, thus created a heavily textural surface. My initial inspiration was coral and the colour palette comes from the objects I collected from the River Thames.

Great Pacific Garbage Patch

Just a quick update on what I'm doing, more to come later. I'm fishing round the Thames for rubbish, literally. Doing a project on recycled plastics based on the devastating Great Pacific Garbage Patch. I didn't find Bob in the Thames, he's just helping me out.