While browsing Studio Four’s designer groupings, I came across the work of Quercus and Co. Based in Australia, this home goods company boasts a collection of beautiful and delicate geometric repeats. Founded by Adam Jones, the designs are all hand-painted or drawn and printed on sustainable papers and fabrics. Click here to see his full offering – it’s a stunning collection of wallpapers, fabrics and home accessories.
Bringing a drawing to life takes a lot of work. The sky’s the limit when you take pen to paper, but achieving the desired results requires patience and expertise. I found these before and after watercolors from Maiyet to be beautiful realizations of product development. The crochet polo and hand beaded venus clutch are part of their Spring/Summer 15 line and have timeless appeal.
New Yorkers are exposed to cool, minimalist, witty graphics on a daily basis. Whimsey isn’t always a part of the repertoire. That is, unless we’re wandering into a French bistro, a clothing store – or onto Catherine Cordasco’s illustration site.
Cordasco is based in France, and has a soft whimsical style that feels in-line with her local contemporaries. Her illustrations are loose and fluid with playful directives. Her animals are set in everyday situations in fully patterned regalia, parading as stylish city dwellers with an otherworldly casual vibe. The drawings are beautiful and delicate with purposeful gesture and negative space. While I’m new to Cordasco’s work, I’m very much a fan, and would love to see product collaborations with these adorable characters. What do you think?
Earlier this summer, I had the good fortune of meeting and dining with one of my favorite floral textile designers, Helen Dealtry. Over cous cous and vegetables, we talked pattern collaborations, industry politics, and where to do aerobic yoga here in New York. She casually mentioned working with Of a Kind (another favorite)…and I’m excited to finally share the release. Unsurprisingly, it’s a beautiful scarf (styled on our friend Chelsa Skees…to the left). There are only 25 – so nab yours before they disappear!
Abstract watercolors have been in the illustration spotlight since geometrics took a back seat. Proving their weight in gold in the female homegoods market, the notion of luxury, individuality and beautiful imperfection has been a refreshing turn from the preppy rigidness of gridded patterns. Mara-Mi is a line of stationary, table decor and desk accessories that gets this. Their surface patterns are made in-house and speak to the creative, high-spending, free-spirit (hello ABC Carpet, Rifle Paper Co, and Ampersand Design Studio). Their foil-stamped envelope inserts add an interesting accent of luxury to mirror the time investment of writing a note. We’re big fans.
Today, I keep coming across beautiful watercolors. Buy Some Damn Art, a favorite art buying site of mine run by Kate Singleton, just launched this week’s sale, and it’s a special one. You can purchase Yao Cheng‘s original works for $375 a piece, or if you’re a company, perhaps you can reach out for a branded collaboration. Cheng’s roots are in textile design (quite obviously) and her layouts are uniquely detailed, delicate and special.