Happy Photos

 

This beautiful vintage effect print was taken by New Zealander Hilary Upton,  in Whangamatashe, NZ. She sells original fine art photographs from her Etsy shop. Her nostalgic style photos are so lovely.

 

On my travels to the beautiful land of the white cloud of new Zealand I took some photos and this is my favourite below, of a jetty on lake Rotoiti, Nelson Lakes National Park on the South Island. I would so love to be back there now!

The Genius of Design

You should see this new BBC TV series, The Genius of Design, the first episode was on Friday 7th of May that I will be following. The series looks at the history and beauty of design and how it has shaped our world, from handmade to the industrial. Have you ever thought why your toothbrush or teapot is shaped the way it is? In the first episode it also looks at the iconic work of William Morris and Co, and how the great Victorian pattern designer influenced textiles.

Book by Penny Sparke that follows the series

 

William Morris & Co 'Artichoke' design  from Collection

INCA

Inca inspired collage.
I have seen a lot of colourful Latin America influenced prints in S/S10 collections recently, and thought I'd blog some of photos from my travels to Peru and designs I have seen on the high-street..
Clockwise from left, Peruvican lady in Cusco carying her baby wrapped in a blanket; textile weaving; Dress from Acessorize  
Machu Picchu after a 4-day trek!; Flip flops, Accessorize ; Weaving at The Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco ; Girls dressed in traditional peruvian costume, Cusco; Textiles for sale

Teal and vintage gold cushion

blue and gold cushion (front)
Originally uploaded by Heulwen Lewis
This is a recent opulent cushion I designed. Hand-screen printed, the foliage pattern was discharge/extract printed onto reactive 100% natural cotton dyed fabric.

Discharge printing has the ability to create bright, opaque colours on dark fabrics. Years ago the idea of opaque colours on dark fabrics and light on dark printing couldn't co-exist!

Measurements: (50cm x 30cm) envelope cushion and is for sale at my Folksy shop

Evergreen

Green, Gwyrdd, Verde.

Photographs taken in the Great Glasshouse at the Botanical Gardens in Wales. Exotic and endangered plants in a beautiful Welsh landscape.

'Delicate Balance' - Carol Kingsbury Gwizdack

I went to the Botanical Gardens of Wales today and the contemporary jeweller Carol Gwizdack is exhibiting her latest work there that focuses on current ecological issues. She works with media that challenges the concept of jewellery and draws attention to our idea of what is precious.

Pre.cious adj 1. worth a great deal of money 2. highly valued, much loved, or considered to be of great importance 3. rare or unique and therefore to be used wisely or sparingly or treated with care.
(Encarta 1999) 

The artist received the Gold Medal Award for Craft and Design at The National Eisteddfod of Wales in 2006.

The exhibition will run at the Botanical Gardens until the 25th of May

Little devil cupcakes

At the Penllergaer Local Produce market today Little Devil Cupcakes launched her fabulous stall selling these naughty but nice cupcakes! yuuummmy!! For more information contact Nicole on 07973 939 352