Feature Fabric Friday: Cotton Prints from Ashley Wilde

This week we're bringing you a really lovely collection of cotton prints from Ashley Wilde including some great usable dittys and graphic designs - great for children's rooms or family areas - speak to us today about seeing the sampling!

esdesign Textile Design Award 2015 - Elise Brimer

This years' esdesign textile design award recipient is the super talented Elise Brimer at Massey University.We think it is so important to nurture and support the budding talent in New Zealand's design industry across all formats, so this esdesign prize is just one way that we feel we can congratulate awesome work like Elise's!

Here's a little about her collection, 'Common Thread' ;

In this collection, I wanted to encapsulate the energetic unity between the people of various cultures who call New Zealand home. New Zealand’s demographic is compiled of people from all areas of the world. Whether we are a citizen by birth or have migrated here - as equals we share the commonality of having a New Zealand identity. To communicate this I explored textile processes that are habitual to the five most numerous ethnicities that make up New Zealand’s ethnic demographic - Maori, Chinese, Samoan, Indian and New Zealand European. I experimented with Maori flax weaving, Chinese embroidery, Samoan tapa cloth processes, Indian block printing and French tapestry weaving and identified motifs which became key visual resources. These motifs were abstracted to avoid developing imagery that could offend people to whom these motifs have great cultural significance to. I have titled my collection Common Thread to infer the commonalities we share as New Zealanders whilst referencing my exploration and incorporation of motifs from textile processes primarily involving cloth and thread.

Cushions Fit for a Nursery

How sweet are these cushions that have just been finished off for a client's nursery?!

The face fabrics are 'Honeycomb' kelp by Villa Nova, and 'Fleur' mimosa by Charles Parsons, backed in a lovely soft, blue velvet also from Charles Parsons, called Zegna.

Feature Fabric Friday: Italian Gardens Collection

Fresh and new this month from Charles Parsons is the Italian Gardens Collection. It's a divine range of traditional prints for drapery and accessory use, with a great Sanderson like feel to it but without the price-tag, so a really affordable way to get a gorgeous, classic, long lasting botanical look for your character home.

See something you like? Speak to us today!

Bed Linen for the Kids - Love from Friday

If you're like me and struggle with the lack of options for kids' bed linen that don't involve a Disney cartoon character or cheesy animal print etc, then check out the sweet ranges available through Wellington based company Love from Friday, all designed and made by clever creator, Jane.

With gorgeous co-ordinating dittys and prints for girls, boys or both - you are bound to find a classic duvet or cot set here that can fit into your kiddies' bedroom schemes, no trouble. Thank goodness!

Hello Again, Native Agent

From the early days of esdesign we've always had a wee love affair with kiwi designers Native Agent.

When we first set up in Marion Street about 8 years ago, we stocked their gorgeous (and hugely popular) cushions, specified their bed runners as part of our work at Ohtel in Wellington, and commissioned an amazing massive scale wall hanging for a Wellington apartment (how I wish we had a photo of that one!).

Studio Home recently posted about their latest art prints and it felt like coming full circle and falling in love with their wares all over again! Head to their website to see more and be inspired by others who are inspired by our beautiful country and kiwi culture.

Mae Engelgeer's Beautiful Textile Designs

We love these pretty textile designs by Mae Engelgeer. This Dutch designer based in Amsterdam likes to design colorful and eye catching products which are like a piece of art in any interior. 

Vintage Textile Transformations by Mr. Finch

The self-taught artist Mr. Finch is part hunter, part gatherer and fully genius. Obsessed with the rolling hills and mossy woods near his home in Yorkshire, Finch goes gathering for inspiration. "Flowers, insects and birds really fascinate me with their amazing life cycles and extraordinary nests and behavior", says the artist. He then goes hunting for vintage textiles; velvet curtains from old hotels, a threadbare wedding dress or a vintage apron and transforms them into all sorts of beasts and toadstools. The aged feel creates a sense of authenticity, or mystery as if each piece has an incredible story to tell.

The Bolt Bench

Do you have stacks of fabric at home or at work that needs some natty storage? Then the Bolt Bench from Canadian creative duo Dear Human could be the solution for you! The removable poles in the chair's back can slide on and off when you want to get a hold of your textiles, or just feel the need to re-arrange patterns. 

Gunjan Aylawadi - Intricate Paper Crafting

Sydney based artist Gunjan Aylawadi creates these intricate, colorful sculptures that appear to resemble woven textiles. However, upon closer observation, her work—inspired by patterns and motifs in Islamic art—are made entirely from curled paper. The process, long and intricate, can cost the artist months on a single artwork. And not just any old paper will do. For example, “Against the Wind” is made from hand-cut strips of paper from old music books, which are then individually hand rolled and assembled. 

Before and After: A Tub Chair

This tired tub chair had new life injected into it last week with reupholstery in this great two tone fabric called 'Seddon' reef. Totally revived and ready for another ten years plus of love!

Seven Gauge Studios

Check out the goodness from Seven Gauge Studios - made by the creative knitting talent of UK based Joy Bates.

She takes inspiration from vintage textiles and mid century elements to create her divine knitted wares - so bright, fun and contemporary!