Japanese tea

So often in design the simple things are the most appealing and I think this is true of the ceramics of Takemoto . Drawing from nature and incorporating many of the plants and flowers indigenous to her native Japan, Takemoto produces bright, vibrant kitchenwares that have a sturdy, homely look. I find the solidity of the look and its' straightforward cheerfulness really charming!

Growing it slow

Now that the weather in Paris is finally reaching gorgeous summer temperatures, it's time to take a look at the great outdoors! Few of us in the city are lucky enough to have gardens, but if you look up, there are a fair few terraces and balconies with great views and endless possibilities for decoration. I recently came across the French group Slow Garden , who are essentailly "exterior designers" specialising in creating fabulous patios and outdoor spaces. Below are a few examples of their work, but for more info see their site. I like their use of rich, sunny colours and the attention to original detail that gives each space a quirky, individual feel. Just wish I had a large enough space myselft o experiment with!

Yukari Sweeney

I totally love these wallpapers and lampshades by Yukari Sweeney. There's a kind of nostalgia for the drawing room chintz that is nonetheless contemporary in colour scheme and execution. I think they're really beautiful and love the warm, soft tones that she prefers.A new favourite to add to my ever-lengthening list of wallpaper designers!

Never felt so good!

So, the Poppy Club Club has been up and running for several months now - enough time to observe that there is one material increasingly used in all areas of interior design : felt. From tea-cosies to fake plants - passing through wall dividers, cushions and carpets - designers love the stuff and are hugely inventive in its use.
Made from matting and compressing woollen fibres, felt has traditionally been used in Central Asia in the making of tents, slippers and rugs but today it can be found in almost any place in almost any form! Below is a selection of a few pieces that celebrate the versatility and beauty of this fine man-made fabric :

Featured a few months back on the The Poppy Club, (see blog post of May : "Stars of the Silver Screen")Selina Rose has to be my heroine when it comes to felt. Cutting away delicate patterns that let the light through, her cushions, wall panels, throws and rugs are all refined and elegant - exquisite to look at and sure to be the focal point of any room. Divine.

In Finland,  Sirkka Kannusmaki makes a whole range of plants and flowers totally out of felt. They are great for those of us with decidely un-green fingers or for those with allergies. I actually think they are a lovely item in their own right and love the craftsmanship involved in their creation.

Mixko is a design studio set up by Alex Garnett and Nahoko Koyama

who design a variety of accessories and homewares including these gorgeous felt lampshades which come in a whole host of tantalising colours!

In Canada, Felt Studio describes itself as a "laboratory" led by Kathryn Walter, who works exclusively in felt, producing both large-scale artworks as well as smaller functional pieces such as this "Pearl" lampshade.

And above an Etsy find by atelierpompadour in Italy. Several cute designs for cushions can be found here including the "Swallows on a line" and "Rush Hour" pieces  featured above.

This one's also an Etsy find, this time from Regansbrain in Minneapolis, USA. There are heaps of fun combinations on offer and all are made to order. The felt used is in fact "eco-fi" made from 100% re-cycled plastic bottles and is appliqued onto a background fabric. I love the use of a garish backdrop against a monotone felt silhouette!

Devoted to "sustainable living", branch sell several felt items manufactured to a high degree from factory excess wool. I have a soft spot for the "Rosebud" bowl above...

Karen Hilton Designs in England, use felt to celebrate "Britannia", producing cushions that sport some of the best known emblems of "Britishness" : the Queen's Head, the Crown and the Union Jack. Favouring a Pop-Art type style that relies heavily on sihouette and striking colours, she also tips her hat at the USA, paying tribute to that emblem of all emblems, the Stars and Stripes.




And to finish, Canada's Argyle St,  who are amongst the master tea-cosy makers of the bloggosphere.

Chakra Pennywhistle - returning July 5th

In a similar vein to the decals of the French company Harmonie-interieure (see blog post of Feb 19th: From French Industry to American Friezes) Chakra Pennywhistle design cushions that use the motifs of trade and industry to produce original and unusual furnishings. Using natural materials and recycling older fabrics to produce something new, Rikkiane chooses to work for a sustainable future and follows a consciously green ethic in her work. Alongside the federal reserve sack cloth pillows there are designs from nature including simple florals and block-print birds.
The Etsy store has been closed for several months due to a relocation but the good news is that it's re-opening on July 5th!

Where East meets West - ceramics with a hint of the Oriental

For lovers of Moroccan Zillij mosaics, and admirers of Islamic design in general, the vases of ceramist Jill Rosenwald have a wonderfully Eastern resonance. Although not in themselves produced using the mosaic technique, the geometry of the motif and bright background colours makes for a distinctly Oriental look that brings in the sun and will surely spice up a dreary North European winter day!

I also love this lamp that was apparently the result of a self-confessed "happy accident" - let's hope there are more as the effect is fabulous!