Every afternoon I really enjoy my daily email from Where the Lovely Things Are by Mallory McInnis. The images are strung together with a singular vision that’s beautifully curated. Yesterday’s feature introduced me to the UK artist, Pat Bradbury. Bradbury is a student and is producing wonderful and imaginative work. Incorporating texture, movement and manipulation his designs rife with humor and expression. Check out his made up shapes and Mondrian rocket.
Inspiration comes from every pocket of life- from the worn path on your weekend hike to the makeup counter on your lunch hour errand run. Sometimes the parallels are crystal clear, though oftentimes it’s easy to miss the touch points. Today’s post highlights how close natural and manufactured patterns can be and how taking note of your surroundings can expand your creative palette. This geometric print at the Sephora counter is timeless, popular and a staple for many designers. While it’s common to see this pattern in concrete and urban architecture, it’s refreshing to see a man-made path. What natural paths have you found to be inspiring?
When you’re a designer, nothing’s off limits. Anything can inspire the next great idea. Today’s post features a mood board for bedding design. When you consider all of the accessories that accompany a standard duvet, it’s mind boggling. Everything from the assorted pillows to the ruffle skirt to the throw must coordinate in a cohesive manner. Here are six examples of how fashion’s color and detail direction can translate into simpler commercial textures:
Back in September we interviewed Juanita Cardenas on her Polychromatico! line of clothing. This time around, we’re taking note of her chameleon-like sketchbook. Brought to our attention by Lauren Epstein, a good friend and avid PP supporter, it’s hard not to be glued to every page once you start scrolling through. The vibrant textures and raw experiments are evidence of a creative deep dive and prove our point that mood boards are the way to go when you’re in the concept-phase of a project. Take a look and tell us how you concept. What’s your favorite way to tackle a brief?
Every creative person knows the value of having a mood board. Regardless of the project, post or concept, tangible collages can kickstart any brainstorm. Over the past year, I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect board. I’ve rummaged through nearly every home goods site, though nothing’s been the right fit, style or price. So, recently, I decided to embark upon making my own board, fit-to-size above my desk. I figured I’m not the only one who’s contemplated tackling this feat, so why not share my step-by-step with Pattern Pulp’s audience. Here goes…
1. Any thin piece of plywood will do. Luckily I live near Prince Lumber, so they were willing to cut my plank to size. Since mood boards are usually on the smaller side, you can probably find a piece of scrap wood at a lumber yard or hardwood store that’s free or next to nothing.
2. I purchased cork squares at Aronson’s Flooring on 17th St.
3. Use any wood glue, (this one doubled as heavy duty rubber cement) and paint two generous coats on every surface that will be affixed. Make sure to wait until the first coat has dried before repeating. It’s a good idea to do this project outside, as the smell can be overwhelming (I learned the hard way).
4. Once the glue has dried, piece everything together then secure with a weight. I put a few wooden benches on my board to stop any warping and secure the adhesive process.
5. Pick any fabric you like to cover your board. Keep in mind that the tacks will leave holes and a bit of stretch is a good thing, so you might be better off choosing a linen. I went with a beige and polka dot fabric from Mood.
6. Once the plywood and cork have dried and are a single unit, it’s time to affix the cloth to the cork side of the board. Cut to size and be sure to leave a few inches for wrap around. I used the same glue to secure the fabric- make sure you smooth out any air bubbles while you’re staple gunning your cloth down. Anyone who’s made their own canvas will be familiar with this stretching process.
7. Decoration! I bought a thin red ribbon to jazz up the final product. The grid’s also a practical addition, as it keeps paper suspended without needing a tack.
8. Wa la! You can hang your board with wire and nails or simply rest it on a desk. If anyone else tackles this process, I’d love to see what you come up with!
I’m very pleased to announce the start of a new series we’re launching: The Pattern Pulp Global Tour.
In today’s digital travel age, we’re all familiar with the endless to-do tips found on sites like the New York Times, Trip Advisor and Gridskipper. While more traditional recommendations are always welcome, the notion of self-discovery should not be forgotten. With each neighborhood exploration, we hope to take our readers off the beaten path to uncover the overlooked elements of city living, be it decals on an office building or graffiti in a bathroom stall. Some of what we feature may be gone by the time you arrive, others, such as buildings and landmarks will certainly find their place along the chain, but either way, our goal is to provide the groundwork for a visual stream of consciousness.
Today, we’re featuring Dumbo, a creative and industrial gem that is located just over (and under) the Brooklyn Bridge. Have a look, take the walking tour and let us know what you think!
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1. Hallway: 147 Front St.
2. Workshop Loves You, glass decals: 147 Front St.
3. Dumbo Arts Center, 30 Washington St.
4. Exterior building details, Water St. at Old Dock St.
5. Cafe Baco pattern napkins: 71 Jay St.
6. Cafe Baco metal signage: 71 Jay St.
7. Graffiti portraiture on cement steps: 70 Jay St.
8. Brooklyn Bridge Flea Market, metal tiles: 22 Water St.
9. St. Ann’s Warehouse, Playhouse: 38 Water St.
10. Pastel floral door, 128 Front St.
11. Brooklyn Bridge
12. Womens bathroom graffiti: 147 Front St.
The full set of photos can be viewed here.
