TOP SIX: Children’s Cushions
KAREN HILTON’S CUSHIONS (left and below right) aren’t meant for kids. “I’m sure they would rather be playing than thinking about home furnishings!” says she, making a very good point. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t perfect for children’s rooms. Their combination of quirky and humorous (plus quintessentially English - all those super bright hues and British motifs are inspired by pop art and punk), with simple cut out shapes and brilliant colours, means they will bring any rather dull child’s room to life.
Younger ones may or may not get the slightly subversive air of the Queen’s profile or the Union Jack in anti-establishment colours (”I hate red and royal blue together, which is why I changed its colours,” explains Karen, who originally studied model making at Bournemouth. “When I did I realised I liked the flag design as a pattern on its own merit.”), but they’re likely to appreciate the joie de vivre of Karen’s handmade cotton and felt designs. Pictured cost from US$68 at Karen’s Etsy store.
JEWELLERY: …. And Old Lace
WE COULDN’T HELP but fall for French stylist Emma Cassi’s intricate, textile-based jewellery. For us (as seen on London-based Emma’s webshop - we are especially hankering after her gold lace bow corsages, and bead embroidered lace and silk ribbon necklaces), and her first collection for them (sold at Little Circus shop), from 35-50 Euros. Emma made her first piece for tiny ones when creating a christening bracelet for her goddaughter two years ago. She continued making wooden bead necklaces, like the one pictured left, until she finally formalised an entire collection for babies and girls earlier this year.
So if your little girl is going to wear jewellery, you can now make it the real deal in vintage lace embroidered with silver thread (on the bracelets for babies), glass or wooden beads, antique sequins, and vintage fabrics, all fastened with tiny mother of pearl buttons. Parfait.
*www.emmacassi.com. **See Emma’s son Anton’s bedroom here…
Posted 3 November 2008 in Textiles
Organic PJs: Gossypium
FINDING NON-CARTOONY, non-itchy, non-nylon-y pyjamas is one of this writer’s holy grails. Once kids grow out of cutesy babygrows, they’re nigh on impossible to find. Certainly Nula Shearing of Noolibird, the Lewes-based textiles design company, whose mother Anne Kennedy originally founded the famous Clothkits DIY clothing brand in the 1970s, Read the rest of this article
Posted 8 October 2008 in Textiles
BLANKET COVERAGE: ROAM
“WE LOVE the idea of blankets,” says Sonia Ambrosano, one half of deluxe textile outfit, Roam. “Our small terraced cottage dates back to the late 1700s and as such is a little bit draughty in the middle of winter. Come to think of it, probably summer too - we live in Scotland! And so it’s a very comforting and natural feeling to be wrapped up in a super soft and warm blanket.”
But Sonia and her partner in life and business, Lachlan Munro, hadn’t been able to find anything that “we would prefer: bold, decorative patterns that would be an easy way to add character to rooms when needed.”
Posted 2 September 2008 in Textiles
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