Cockpit Arts Open Studios

Last Friday my lovely friend Lorna Syson invited me over to her new studio space where she has been for two weeks.  This lovely new studio is based at the very well known Cockpit Arts in Deptford, where they were also having an Open Studio weekend.  A perfect way for Lorna to promote she's just moved in!

Lorna Syson is well known for creating three dimensional textile flowers which are designed to be hung on walls.  They are a great alternative to wallpaper and for filling an empty space.  Each petal is stitched into a floral formation by hand, and come in a variety of sizes and colours.

Lorna also creates digital print patterns consisting of her bird series of Blue Tits and Bullfinches as well as her Bradbury design which is inspired by triangle formations.  Both designs are available as lampshades and cushions and are available in a variety of sizes.  The Bradbury design is also available to purchase as fabric by the meter and wallpaper.

 

Whilst walking around Cockpit Arts Open Studios I got to see some familiar designers, including a couple I featured on the previous blog post; Thornback & Peel, and Timea Sido.  I also discovered some new talent which I've never seen before...funnily enough they are all ceramics based, I think my subconscious is trying to tell me something...

 

Rose Ellen Cobb

 

Katharine Morling

 

Billy Lloyd

Cockpit Arts have studios based in Holborn and Deptford.  Their studios are open to the public twice a year and are definitely worth a look around to discover new talent, get some inspiration, or to buy lovely handmade presents.  Find out more here.

Best Wishes,

Laura Felicity

Pulse Faves

In keeping with this year's Pulse Trade Show for this week's blogs, I thought I'd share a few of my favourite designers who were exhibiting alongside me in Launchpad. 

Some of them you may recognise, and others may be new to you, in which case I hope you grow to love them as much as I do!

First up keeping it in the family - Textiles/Print;
 

 

Abigail*Ryan

 

Charlotte Macey 

  

Chocolate Creative

Thornback & Peel

Zeena

Surprisingly I am not just a lover for print and textiles, but also for ceramics.  I did a lot of ceramics in my first couple of years at uni, and so I have a special love for this discipline.  Seeing gorgeous ceramics around at Pulse gives me the urge to take it up again...

Abby Monroe

Haidee Drew

Jill Shaddock

Jo Davies Ceramics

Timea Sido

I hope you like my selection of designers. Let me know what you think, plus take a look at their websites (link to is on each designer's name).

Best Wishes,

Laura Felicity

Onto the next step...

Hello!

I've been a little neglecting of the blog over the past week; I had the Pulse Trade Show from Sunday until Tuesday last week, and then I took it upon myself to take three days off after the show.  It was my first few days off where I had nothing to do in six months, and boy was it brilliant! 

It makes you realise how important it is for your mind and body to recover after a very long stint of work. whether it be relaxing or even socialising. 
Either or both are very necessary to include in your work routine.

Having a few days off to re charge has obviously worked as today I'm feeling all refreshed and raring to go with my next step for Laura Felicity, and thought I'd treat you all to a new blog post...

As you have read I've been going on these past weeks that I was to take part in the Pulse Trade Show where I was to launch my new Interior Accessories range. 

 Pulse 2012

I don't know where the past six months have gone, but it was so good to finally have these products on show and let buyers have the first glimpse (in person) at the range I have been keeping locked up in my studio for the past few months.
...And the response I got was very satisfactory.

Pulse 2012

I was pleased with how the stand turned out.  I realised whilst I was setting up I do have a lot of new products, and I was a little panicked that it wouldn't all fit.  But after a lot of re-jigging bits around it worked out well...thankfully.

 Pulse 2012

Now the next step is to put my head down and follow up orders and contacts as well as trying to release my products onto my own website so you lovely people have the chance to buy them! I will let you know it due course when they have launched.

Pulse 2012

Plus, call me mad but my next Trade Show is not too far away.  Tent will at the Old Truman's Brewery in Brick Lane at the end of September where I'll be showing off my Bespoke wallpapers.  Follow the blog to see how I get on with making some of the Bespoke wallpapers for the very first time!

To summarise; It's still madness over here at Laura Felicity HQ, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Best Wishes,

Laura Felicity

Hooray!..Final Product Release

With Pulse Trade Show literally days away (where has the time gone!) I am up to my eye balls in work; getting price lists ready, making sure the website is looking good with its new make over, planning and buying for the stand, getting the new product range ready and packed up to show off to buyers, etc.

However, amongst the madness I wanted to share with you one last product, but by no means least, which I will be releasing at Pulse.  With my lampshade obsession well and truly obsessive I had to make up a sister lampshade to match Pretty Flower.

Please welcome the Dotty Bird Lampshade...

Dotty Bird Lampshade, 9inch (h) x 9 inch (dia), Cream & Plum Purple

The new Dotty Bird Lampshades have been screen printed in the familiar Dotty Bird colour range; Cream & Plum Purple, Rose Pink & Charleston Grey, Summer Green & Teal.  

An additional bonus to this delightful two layered screen print is the machine embroidered cotton and glitter stitching over three of the printed blossoms, similar to the Dotty Bird Cushion, to create extra depth and texture to the product.

Dotty Bird Lampshade, 9inch (h) x 9 inch (dia), Rose Pink & Charleston Grey

The additional stitching overlay onto the Dotty Bird Lampshade collection has been influenced by my one of my Bespoke Wallpaper Designs, which also carries over into the detail of my Embroidered Blossom Art Print. 

If you like the look of them now in natural light, imagine what they look like with the printed layers and embroidery once they have been lit up.

 

 

Dotty Bird Lampshade, 9inch (h) x 9 inch (dia), Summer Green & Teal

The lampshades are available in one size; 9 inch height x 9 inch diameter, the perfect size for a bed side table lamp or a side lamp in the Living Room.

The Dotty Bird design has been screen printed onto 100% linen fabric, and lined with 100% PVC lining which is fire retardant, making it a perfectly safe lampshade to use.

These lampshades are pattern perfect to cheer up any tired looking room with a subtle sense of chirpiness about them...they also look fabulous against the matching wallpaper!

The Dotty Bird Lampshades and other new products you have seen here over the past few weeks will be available to buy on my website in mid June.

Best Wishes,

Laura Felicity

*New Lampshade Range*

For a while now I have been dreaming about designing a range of Lampshades to compliment my Wallpaper and Homeware Collection.

Finally I have got round to doing exactly that and I'm so excited to share the unveiling with you. 
Please welcome lampshade design number one; Pretty Flower... 

As Pretty Flower was my first wallpaper design for Laura Felicity I think it's fitting to start off with this vintage classic; but I haven't stopped there, I also wanted to treat you to additional screen printed extras.

Pretty Flower Lampshade, 9inch (h) x 9 inch (dia), Vintage Pink & Gold

 

In true Laura Felicity style I can't just stop at a one layered screen print if I can help it, and the Pretty Flower Lampshade is no exception.

I have screen printed the first layer in my familiar Pretty Flower wallpaper (and now cushion!) colour range; Vintage Pink, Antique Cream & Duck Egg Blue.  

I have also worked back into the first layer with green printed flowers and cream/pink printed butterflies.  

Then to give each Lampshade the 'Pièce de Résistance' I had to add the classical yet beautiful gold and silver foil printed butterflies.

Pretty Flower Lampshade, 9inch (h) x 9 inch (dia), Antique Cream & Silver 

 

The additional layering of colours and metallic foils is influenced by one of my Bespoke Wallpaper Designs, which works fantastically well with the lampshades as to gives them that extra depth and sparkle when in different lighting.

I think this is a beautiful addition to the Laura Felicity Interior Accessories range, and looks stunning in both natural and low lighted atmospheres.
 

 

Pretty Flower Lampshade, 9inch (h) x 9 inch (dia), Duck Egg Blue & Gold 

The lampshades are available in one size; 9 inch height x 9 inch diameter, the perfect size for a bed side table lamp or a side lamp in the Living Room.

The Pretty Flower design has been screen printed onto 100% cotton fabric, and lined with 100% PVC lining which is fire retardant, making it a perfectly safe lampshade to use over and over again. 

These lampshades are pattern perfect for an added feature to any room with a subtle sense of elegance about them...they also look very pretty against the matching wallpaper!

The Pretty Flower Lampshades and other new products you have seen here over the past few weeks will be available to buy on my website in mid June.

Best Wishes,

Laura Felicity

Yay! Group Photo Time...

Before  write tomorrow's post about another new product coming your way in June, I wanted to share this lovely group photo of the Craft Central Showcase Group. 
We had a lovely time together throughout last week, and I've made some lovely friends out of it...This is one of the reasons I love taking part in shows.

Group from Left to Right;
Laura Felicity (me), Lucie Pritchard, Byung (Design K), Lok Ming Fung, Haidee Drew, Jo Davies

Made In Clerkenwell Showcase

As you would have read on the blog early last week, I took part in the 'Handmade For Home' Showcase which opened for Clerkenwell Design Week, and carried on into Craft Central's Made In Clerkenwell.

Despite our fantastic heat wave we have had over the past week, it did not stop people from day one coming in and browsing our Showcase Collection.

We had very good foot fall through our doors throughout the week, and we hope everyone liked the Showcase and their purchases.

If you weren't able to make it down here are some lovely photos of the Showcase...

 The Showcase

The Foyer

During the week Craft Central put together the idea for their advertising window to act as a 'Studio of the Maker', for passers by to get an slight insight to the 'Makers Making'.

Different Designer-Makers from a range of disciplines took it in turns to make or put the finishing touches onto their handmade products.

...and yes, I had the chance of being apart of the live window, where I was putting together some of my Lavender Bags.  

However with the sun glaring through the window, and the heat from outside I could only stay in there for 45 minutes as it was like a sauna!

Great idea though!

I can't believe how quickly last week went!

If you were able prize yourself away from the sun to made it down, I hope you enjoyed the show.

Best Wishes,

Laura Felicity