Bluebellgray

Forget window-boxes: these cushions by Bluebellgray are so much more chic than those postage stamp sized urban gardens that perch unhappily on your window sill, unloved and unwatered.

Bluebellgray is a Scottish textile design company established by Fiona Douglas. Each design is painted by hand before it is printed onto natural cottons and linens using modern printing technologies which allow the painterly quality of Fiona's designs to be captured.  Designs are produced in a limited number, and numbered and signed on the back - so you are buying a work of art.

As well as cushions, Fiona designs wallhangings and lampshades, and a fabric collection will be available soon.

Selvedge Spring Fair - some highlights (part 1)

I went to the Selvedge Spring Fair today at St Augustine's church hall on Archway Road - it was fantastic! a great selection of UK designer-makers: some that I already knew such as Noolibird, and some new ones like Bojo Childrenwear and Folk at Home.

First, some pics of St Augustine's church hall: all decked out in purple alliums for the Fair

Here are some high lights of the designer-makers (part 1)...

Blodwen - this company sells products made in Wales by a variety of designer-makers.  They are 'committed to the preservation and revival of traditional rural skills and the promotion of artisans...Blodwen aims to bring about real regeneration, contributing to rural communities as they maintain their way of life and livelihood'.

Blodwen zip purse and clasp purse

 quilts and blankets (Carthenni)

Magmu's Wild Rose organic lotions and creams

And Papa Stour - a company that sells Scottish made items: 'Papa Stour embraces Scottish art, craftsmanship and design in its purest form'.

hotwater bottle cover  by Kate
and some yellow dolly birds by Clare

merino wool blanket and cushion cover knitted by Kate
(with Fairisle knitted lavender heart perched on top)

Ysolda Teague - knitwear designer extraordinaire

As per usual, my post 'in tray' is full to bursting with magazines several months old, still encased in their plastic wrappers.  In my most recent trawl of its depths, I happened upon my copy of Winter 2011 'Edit', Edinburgh University's twice yearly magazine.  I flicked through the magazine quickly in case researchers at my alma mater had come any closer to understanding the Meaning of Life, and found something that was better than that: a great little article about Ysolda Teague, a Scottish knitwear designer (full article here p21).

Ysolda designs a great line in berets, hats, capes and shawls, all of which are extremely wearable (and necessary in these nearly sub-zero conditions we have had lately) as they are pretty, practical and have great attention to detail with ribbing, scalloping and so on (I am running out of knitting terminology) - particularly favourite designs are:

The Ishbel shawl - edged with a vine pattern and finished with a scalloped edge:

The Peaks Island Hood - just brilliant - a scarf that can be worn with the hood up or down, with one end of the scarf is longer than the other which can be wrapped round the neck and fastened with buttons:

The Icing Swirl hat - which looks like exactly the top of a Peek Freans iced gem biscuit (these favourite mini biscuits of my youth are actually now made by Jacobs which doesn't have quite the same ring to it, and remind me of the unfortunate Cream Cracker which they also make):

Ysolda also designs cute creatures such as this Mousie!

The only problem is that I'm going to have to learn to knit before I can enjoy any of Ysolda's beautiful creations because Ysolda only sells patterns, not actual knitwear **sigh**  

Available for pre-order now is Ysolda's book (I quote: part pattern collection, part resource book) called 'Little Red in the City' - I am very keen for someone I know to purchase this book, and knit me 'Melia', a hooded cape-like cardigan which looks like it has been designed for me.

Jo Gordon knitwear

Jo Gordon's Scottish handmade knitted hats, gloves, scarves and shawls are delicious (and cosy warm), featuring bright colours, stripes and pompoms.  I particularly like the pocket scarves, such as this Fisherman rib scarf. Would make a good Valentine's Day pressie... And what luck, the sale is now on!

Primrose Hill Designer Fair

On Saturday I popped along to the Primrose Hill Designer Fair - lots of great Christmas present buying opportunities. Clara Francis was there with her beaded butterflies and other creatures. I particularly love this necklace with butterflies, flowers and hummingbird, pictured here with a silver bee necklace.

More necklaces...and some of her classic butterfly and moth necklaces.

Quniton & Chadwick, scarves and hats made in Scotland, was also there.  This one is wool and angora, super cosy.