My New Year’s resolution was to get in the groove of a daily pattern habit. The rule is that every morning before I start work, I fill a page of my pattern journal with some kind of pattern. I spend 15-20 minutes using the grid lines in my notebook to work through what a simple motif can do. Then, …
More-
Start a pattern habit
-
Who looks for treasure in the same place twice?
Nobody looks in the same place for treasure twice, right? Well, it depends on how you define ‘treasure’, I guess. For designers, like me, creative thoughts & fresh ideas are hugely valuable. This is the ‘treasure’ I look for, and I definitely need to look more than once to find it. Here’s what I mean: …
More -
How to Look Better – tips for seeing treasures every day
I’m a good looker. I don’t mean I’d win a beauty contest, just that LOOKING is part of my creative toolbox as a designer, and I’m good at it. I’m in the habit of using my eyes in an enquiring way that helps me make the creative connections and leaps that are needed for new …
More -
La Fonda de Sol
Have you been known to hoard things like paper napkins? I wouldn’t think I would, but actually, since 2016 I’ve had four unopened packets of Alexander Girard paper napkins in my cupboard – unused souvenirs from my visit to Vitra Design Museum in 2016 when I got to see the Alexander Girard retrospective, A Designer’s …
More -
Sunshine baskets
Has it ever occurred to you that a lot of African basket designs look like sunshines? Well, it occurred to me, so I made a selection of fine specimens found in our friend Binky’s shop Design Afrika, and took this gorgeous sunshiney snap. Find these, and other beautiful African baskets from Design Afrika in the …
More -
Thinking Pink
Looking for a sweetly feminine selection of Skinny laMinx goods? We’ve put some ideas together in our Gift Guide this week, and more here too: Breeze Coasters I’langa Chair in Flower Fields Table Runner in Ovals Soft Buckets in Orla and Flower Fields Tray in Tall Protea Change Purse in Orla Teatowel in Borrowed Spoons Table Mountain …
More -
Colour Yum: Concrete & Sage
It’s that time of year again when you’ve got to get your gift-shopping game on again. All the people you know – the Hip Mama, the Design Bloke, the Weekend Chef, your Best Friend, the Kids Who Have Everything – they all need a gift this Festive season. Well, we know these people too, cos we see …
More -
“Ferro forjado” is wrought iron in Portuguese
Something that really caught my eye while in Portugal was the amazingly expressive and varied ferro forjado (portuguese for wrought iron, y’know) on doors, windows and balconies
More