Remedy Magazine blog

I'm really looking forward to the new year and to start on a high note I'm delighted to have been invited to join the writing team at Remedy Magazine. The mag covers fashion, design, art, photography, illustration and ethics. I'll be a regular contributor to the Remedy blog.  My first posting is here. Happy New Year everyone!

Christmas Fair this weekend

The Angel Christmas Fair is this weekend at the Candid Arts Galleries behind Angel tube.  There'll be mulled wine and mince pies. Alongside Betty's Revenge bags I'll be exhibiting a new range of printed and/or recycled purses, flamenco themed Christmas cards (10% will go to Help the Aged) plus limited edition watches.

New Ashgate Gallery blog

e-Creative directory 2010

The usb for the e-Creative directory 2010 is available here. I'm thrilled to be featured on it and there are many talented designers so it's well worth checking out. 35 profiles were shortlisted from over 5,000 graduates so the hard work's been done for you! (This year's directory was launched on Carnaby Street at the London Design Festival during London Fashion Week.)

Angel Christmas Fair

Betty's Revenge bags will be for sale at the Angel Christmas Fair at the Candid Arts Galleries.  Unique printed Christmas cards based on flamenco will also be for sale along with a new range of printed purses (digital and screen printed) plus recycled purses.  The fair is admission free and open Saturday and Sunday 11th and 12th December from 12pm - 6pm. All are welcome!

Betty's Revenge bags for sale from today at New Ashgate Gallery

The Winter Contemporary Textiles exhibition starts today!  A selection from the Izniks Abroad collection of oversize purses will be exhibited at the New Ashgate Gallery in Farnham today until 22nd January 2011.  

Junky Styling on The Apprentice

I volunteered in the sewing room at Junky Styling (based at the Truman Brewery off Brick Lane) a few years ago. Their designs are high end fashion using recycled materials. Junky Styling consists of a small lovely team who are extremely creative and talented. They were on The Apprentice which I love watching so have to share the youtube link!

Virginia Graham

I adored Virginia's ceramics at the Tea Potty? exhibition at the SDC Gallery on Rivington Street last September.

Unfortunately the gallery is currently closed but I'm hoping it will re-open soon... Virginia Graham exhibited at Origin in September this year and seeing an image in the Guardian recently, I was reminded how just looking at her work is pure eye candy. I find them beautiful and quirky and love that she incorporates found objects. I never tire of the above images!

Winter Contemporary Textiles 2010

I'll be taking part in the above exhibition at the New Ashgate Gallery from 19th November to 22nd January - in Farnham, Surrey. Exhibited and available for sale will be a selection from my Izniks Abroad collection.

Preview - Thursday

Hello, I've been very busy making bags for the forthcoming exhibition this weekend at the Candid Arts Centre in Islington. I'll be exhibiting and selling a new recycled collection, new digital designs and screen printed bags (images to follow soon!).

Craftivism and Embroidery

I'm looking forward to meeting the Craftivist Collective members on Thursday. I've been meaning to go for a while and couldn't resist a talk at the Fine Cell Works HQ ("social enterprise that teaches needlework to prison inmates and sells their products").

Meanwhile I'm getting fabric printed and cutting up my screen printed fabrics. While delving into the depths of my donated recycled pile I unearthed a box of vintage stitched/embroidered fabrics so I'm very excited about creating my new recycled bags...

Islington Contemporary Art & Design Fair

I shall be exhibiting at the Islington Contemporary Art & Design Fair 15-17th October. It's at the Candid Arts Trust Galleries near Angel tube. The preview is Thursday 14th October. I'll be exhibiting more digitally printed bags along with screen printed bags and recycled bags and laptop covers. They will be available for sale too :)

Betty's Purse is going to the New Designers Exhibition

My new purse (and accompanying Iznik bag collection) will be exhibited at the New Designers exhibition in Islington this week, 1st - 4th July.  I'll also be showing some flamenco screen prints, 50s digital prints and some Islamic/50s screen printed wooden flooring!  For those who are keen my sketchbooks will also be available along with my portfolio.


If you're interested in coming to visit do book in advance as it's much cheaper. I will be in the London College of Communication section on the mezzanine level.

Iznik bag collection

Betty - 1m high x 1 m wide

Betty on a shopper

Sketchy (digital print on canvas)

Iznik pattern (digital print on cotton satin)

Iznik Boat (digital print on cotton satin)

Rhodos (digital print on canvas)

Above are pictures of my recently exhibited new bag collection, including a giant size purse (top two images) that also functions as a suitcase!!  The purse is approximately 1m high.  The metal frame was made by Wendy Welder.

Shoe box!

and here is a shoe box I designed to display a shoe under the flooring - primarily designed for a boutique but could be quite a good storage system... the perspex window can be lifted easily so that the newest favourite shoe can be replaced as and when!

Hand painted flooring

Attached are 50s floral images painted directly on to wooden flooring and laminate floor panels...

Laser cuts on flooring

Along with the piece posted below I also created laser cut designs and hand painted flooring.  The designs were aimed at a boutique but could be used in any home too!  

Screen printed wooden flooring

It's been a while since I posted as I've been preparing for my graduate show which is this week!  I'll be launching a new collection of digitally printed bags and a surprise show piece... it will be at the London College of Communication 16 - 20th June.


Meanwhile here are some images of flooring I did recently. This is part of a screen print based on a combination of 50s and Islamic design.

Arts Fair - University of Arts London

Funky bags, cushions and clothes by designers Izzy Jaffer, Rukia Begum and Ruweyda Dool are for sale tomorrow at the Arts Market, Upper Street Gallery at the London College of Communication, University of Arts London - Elephant and Castle. I definitely recommend a visit! It's open to the public from 11.00am to 9.00pm.

Beware of Embroidery

I'll be heading to Beware of Embroidery in Ealing at some point before it finishes (ends 27th February). The exhibition will feature a few artists who have a very contemporary take on what can be seen as quite old fashioned and I'm curious... 

While Naomi Ryder creates beautiful images of everyday scenes, artists such as Tilleke Schwarz and Laura Splan use embroidery to communicate political ideas or poetical visions that they passionately believe in.  Orly Cogan is not featured in the exhibition but I'll be commenting on her soon!  Tilleke Schwarz mixes up folk art samplers with pop art. She combines the use of intricate cross stitch with graffiti style images entirely by hand.  Laura Splan machine embroiders facial peels or viruses such as SARS and creates pretty doillies or floaty negligee!

Naomi Ryder

Naomi's illustrated embroideries are so lively and fresh. An age old traditional technique has been used and yet they look modern and original. I really love it when artists and/or designers use everyday activities or scenes for their images. Naomi's favourite artist is Alex Katz and you can see her creative spin on what are anything but mundane illustrations! I did a workshop with Naomi at the Fashion and Textiles Museum last year, creating embroidered silk paintings based on Bill Gibb. I'm always tempted to go back and do another and have visited her studio and website several times!

Bags featured in Remedy Magazine

Just a quick note to say that my bags have been featured in the latest issue of Remedy Magazine (p8 - 13). Farhana Jaffer, the creator and editor of the magazine also took the gorgeous pictures :)

Cora

From the same scarf that produced the Darlene bag, Cora is made from the reverse (golden side) with a deep plum lining and brass clasp. It has a real vintage feel to it. Slightly smaller and with a longer chain it's ideal for parties!

Bella (laptop cover)

Needing a laptop cover made me realise the lack of attractive bags that are available. So rather than traipsing the high street or net I made a recycled one using a gorgeous red rose print on yellow background from a free Waterstones bag I received a few years ago. It's padded with an unused travel towel and the fastening is from a pocket from a bag that collapsed recently! The response has been overwhelming so I may well develop a range of laptop covers! Denim, cord and tweed as well as prints seem popular :)

New year new bags and prints

Hi there, am in the final year of my Surface Design degree so apols for lack of postings! Despite juggling my course and two jobs I'm still loving it. I'm very pleased to report that Linda Florence won Surface Designer of the Year at the end of last year and that the flooring I helped work on with her over the summer was exhibited in China, Japan and Central St Martins! I'll put a couple of new bags up shortly and images of my new flamenco inspired prints and ceramics when I can... Meanwhile a groovy online magazine on new designers worth checking out is Remedy Magazine x