Photographic Inspiration from a Surface Pattern Designer
These pictures were taken on holiday in Northumberland a few months ago. A compilation of shapes, shadows, lines and textures occurring from the elements. Next I will experiment with isolating shapes, and explore how they relate and contrast to one another. This will form the basis of a new surface pattern collection.
Whimsical Daisies By Anjali Walton
Welcome to Edge of the Meadow’s blog.
Here we feature, what we are up to, what inspires us and, beautiful images to inspire you!
Edge of the Meadow is a design label specialising in printed patterns for fabrics & accessories. You can view our products at http://www.edgeofthemeadow.co.uk
Why Made in Britain?
I design unique surface pattern prints for gifts and homewares and part of my criteria is that all my products are made in Britain. Here is why:
Photo by Chris Lawton
When working with suppliers in the UK it really does feel like a collaboration. I can talk directly with the person who will oversee the manufacturing process and be assured that we are working as a team to create a high quality unique item. The manufacturers have an understanding of what is aesthetically pleasing and the importance of a fine finish.
Multicoloured Cotton chiffon scarf collection
Communication is easy, Our silk wraps and cotton scarves are digitally printed and each one is different. They are hemmed by a skilled seamstress, who takes the initiative to decide which colour thread will work best with a multicoloured print. I can also enquire about which fabrics are suitable, and be informed about what may or may not work.
Photo by Fleur Treurniet
Pollution and fuel costs are significantly reduced by designing and manufacturing in Britain. It justifies producing limited edition products with low minimums so that we can create interesting, unique designs, avoiding mass production and stock wastage.
Photo By Evie Shaffer
Why Made in Britain?
I design unique surface pattern prints for gifts and homewares and part of my criteria is that all my products are made in Britain. Here is why:
Photo by Chris Lawton
When working with suppliers in the UK it really does feel like a collaboration. I can talk directly with the person who will oversee the manufacturing process and be assured that we are working as a team to create a high quality unique item. The manufacturers have an understanding of what is aesthetically pleasing and the importance of a fine finish.
Multicoloured Cotton chiffon scarf collection
Communication is easy, Our silk wraps and cotton scarves are digitally printed and each one is different. They are hemmed by a skilled seamstress, who takes the initiative to decide which colour thread will work best with a multicoloured print. I can also enquire about which fabrics are suitable, and be informed about what may or may not work.
Photo by Fleur Treurniet
Pollution and fuel costs are significantly reduced by designing and manufacturing in Britain. It justifies producing limited edition products with low minimums so that we can create interesting, unique designs, avoiding mass production and stock wastage.
Photo By Evie Shaffer
Edge of the Meadow is proud to be exhibiting at Thread Festival in Farnham on Saturday 30th June 2018.
Here you can view our collection amongst a vibrant community of wonderful artists and makers in the textile industry. There will be creative workshops too.
If you love all things textiles, this is definitely a date for your diary!
@threadfestival
See more info here…Thread Festival 2018
If I were to say to you, go ahead mix up red and blue, florals and geometrics, retro and vintage and it will all come together, would you relish the challenge?
Whilst designing this Red Teasel collection ( which also has hints of cool blue hues to offset to rich warm tones) I wanted to break away from an obvious genre and create something completely unique.
Retro, vintage, contemporary, edgy, classic, I love them all, and selecting one kind would be like taking a sibling away from its family. I found the solution is to try mixing up patterns in a way that would be harmonious and make a room feel complete. The pictures below show a use of delicate branch patterns put together with bold abstract teasels arranged in a retro style geometric pattern. The contemporary vivid colour palette punctuated with pops of neutral browns and whites is the thread that holds the collection together.
My message is to be positive about mixing things styles and genres and see what happens.
Innovative ideas are born when we persistently question what if?
Juxtaposed shapes to play with.
Tonal greys highlighted with with a shot of bright yellow.
Repeating patterns with subtle changes in scale and form.
Free flowing branches soften bold hard edges.
Perspective guided by thick and fine lines.
Glass reflecting light and shadow highlighting contrasts.
Inspiration can be hard to find when you actively set out to go and find it. Have you ever experienced seeing an everyday object in a completely new way? Well that happened to me this morning and instead of thinking “well that’s nice” I picked up a pen and sketchbook and began to draw…
As I started to wash up in the kitchen this morning, the stopper on the soap bottle caught my eye. I noticed a beautiful textural pattern. I began to draw the linear texture. The drawing process unveiled why it caught my eye. Whilst drawing I noticed how the texture was sometimes linear, sometimes pointed at the end or curved. The lines varied in thickness and length, the rhythms were craftily interrupted by delicate shafts of light. This stopper holds a wealth of inspiration for a whole series of new geometric patterns. My designs are created using photography, but aided by drawing. Drawing unveils the inspiration on how to create exciting patterns.
Source: Edge of the Meadow & Contrado
London based Contrado, are a company that custom print and make high quality products on demand. Recently they came up with a fantastic idea, to create a platform for hand picked artists and designers to print their work onto a huge range of beautiful hand made products. Artists can focus on creating designs and artwork, whilst Contrado take care of production and distribution. Surely this is teamwork at it’s most efficient and a pragmatic approach to design and retail.
All products are made in the UK and most are ready in 1-2 days
Browse through our new collection here!
As Pantone have named green the colour of the year for 2017 I am posting a gloriously green blog about our quest for wild garlic pesto! Every Spring we venture to the blue bell woods to collect the leaves of young wild garlic flowers to make this delicious pasta pesto treat…
Here is glimpse into our morning, followed by a delicious lunch!
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