Unique embroidery

“There is something about Charlene Mullens embroidery. It could be the quirky humour of her Drawings range, or the pleasingly simple shapes of her Geometric designs, or the clever way she has updated traditional embroidery and folk motifs. Whatever it is, it speaks to people.”

 Jennifer Goulding, House & Garden.

After an established career in the fashion industry, she has successfully turned her talents to designing luxury embroidered homewares. Since the launch of the studio in September 2008 at 100% Design where she made the best newcomer list, she has won international acclaim having work shown in London, Paris, Milan and New York as well as being featured in leading interior design publications worldwide. Charlene creates unique embroidered textiles mixing traditional techniques with modern design. Drawing on a wide range of inspiration she makes cushions, blankets and lampshades suitable for residential and commercial projects. The studio is committed to original design and making quality products. In addition to the collection Charlene provides a commissioning service working with private clients, interior designers and architects to create bespoke projects both in the U.K. and worldwide.

To read more go to: Charlene Mullen

(images & text taken from: http://www.charlenemullen.com/)

Fornasetti wit

Piero Fornasetti was a Milanese painter, sculptor, interior decorator, engraver of books and a creator of more than 11,000 products. In terms of variety of decoration, Fornasetti’s production of objects and furniture is one of the largest of the 20th century.

Fornasetti is celebrated as being among the most original creative talents of the twentieth century. During his career he created a visual vocabulary that is instantly recognisable and unceasingly engaging. Fornasetti designed a magical world, saturated in image and colour and filled with whimsy and wit.

The Fornasetti Atelier in Milan is an outpost of careful and accomplished craft production. Here skilled craftsmen and women use the same rigorous handcrafted techniques as were employed on the very first Fornasetti products. Colour is applied by hand and the original paper patterns are still followed. Maintaining the quality of these methods of making is an important aspect of the Fornasetti legacy.

to read more go to : Piero Fornasetti

(images & text taken from :http://www.fornasetti.com/en/)

The Collector´s choice: TOMITAdesign

Utsukusi to be beautiful in Japanese is supposed to mean originally to introduce something strange in emptiness.

Now the universe is not quite empty, so that it doesn’t seem so easy to find/create something really new & beautiful.

On the other hand, our ordinary life is changing in every single moment, which could be a fantastic design source by pinpointing a “hole”.

For example, world-wide information network has been Spreads all over the planet, however many of local production centers with traditional materials & techniques seem vanishing from our history since they can not make good contact with the rest f the World, seem vanishing from our history. As far as these intelligent methods have been developed over hundreds of years, there must remain certain universality or power to have a second debut in the future life style.

Be global; be universal & special at the same time.

Tomitadesign´s experience in Italy makes it possible to look at both worlds between Japan& Europe, East & West, then to design more in balance of everything.

Of course it is quite possible for us to combine the objective process with emotional and inspirational designing.

to read more go to :Tomita design

(images & text © http://www.tomitadesign.com/)

About Patricia Urquiola and her unique taste.

Patricia Urquiola was born in Oviedo, Spain in 1961 and now lives and works in Milan. She attended the faculty of architecture of the Madrid Polytechnic and the Milan Politechnic where she graduated in 1989 having completed her thesis with Achille Castiglioni. From 1990 to 1992 she was assistant lecturer to both Achille Castiglioni and Eugenio Bettinelli at the Milan Polytechnic and E.N.S.C.I. in Paris.
Between 1990 and 1996 she was responsible for the new product development office of De Padova and signs with Vico Magistretti the products: ‘Flower’, ‘Loom Sofa’, and ‘Chaise Longue’. From 1993 to 1996 she had an associate practice with architects de Renzio and Ramerino and was engaged in architectural design of showrooms, restaurants and franchising. In 1996 she became head of the Lissoni Associati design group, working for Antares-Flos, Cappellini, Cassina and others.
In 2001 she opened her own Studio working on product design, architecture, installations and concept creation.She designs for Agape, Alessi, Artelano, Axor, B&B Italia, Bart Design, Biscazza, Bosa, De Padova, De Vecchi, Driade, Fasem, Foscarini, Gandia Blasco, Gallotti & Radice, Kartell, Kettal, Liv’it, MDF Italia, Moroso, Molteni, Paola Lenti, Rosenthal, San Lorenzo, Tronconi, Viccarbe.

“Log” armchair – Natural beech frame, back and seat covered in Mongolian lamb fur // Artelano

Scriba/// Molteni

Tropicalia///Moroso

To read more go to :Patricia Urquiola

(text taken from:http://www.kezu.com.au/index.cfm?page=products&DesignerID=5183)

The collector´s choice :Donata Paruccini

bowl 2.003

button 2.003

Packaging per l’aceto balsamico, Emilio Mazzoli, 2003.

Monoblocco, 2003

Catch all, ENO 2007

to read more go to :Donata Paruccini

(Images taken from :http://www.donataparuccini.it/index.html)

Nodus: Using the rug as a canvas

Nodus is a craft workshop with a cultural plan: the oldest traditions and knowledge in the art of carpet design are reinterpreted using the vision of the most innovating Designers and Architects, producing only unique pieces, promoting through events and publications in order to spread the knowledge to all about the new shapes and forms of a piece that has accompanied man since antiquity.

Il piccolo has selected from the best producers in six countries of the world (Nepal, Pakistan, India, Turkmenistan, China and Turkey) visiting them one by one, verifying materials, techniques, expert craftsmen and ethical production.
Each carpet from Nodus will be a unique piece, entirely made by hand, even including the packaging.

Designers, Architects and Artists: Even before beginning, Nodus had gathered the enthusiasm and support from some of the biggest Italian and foreign brand names. Among them: Bartoli Design, Fabio Bortolani, Italo Rota and Alessandro Pedretti, Alberto Artesani, Matteo Thun e Antonio Rodriguez, Luca Nichetto, Massimo Gardone, Palomba and Serafini Associati, Donata Paruccini, Antonella Negri, Massimo Iosa Ghini, Matilde Alessandra , Pietro De Rossi, Enrico Franzolini, Francesco Lucchese, Gianfranco Fenizia, Peter Rankin, Smanks Design and James Irvine.
The result is a collection of 60 carpets that outlines a new horizon of shapes and colours, a collection that unhinges borders and goes beyond the hand of reason.
The spirit of the carpets is captured in dynamic and organic forms, like putting together a puzzle, assumes irregular profiles or takes inspiration from contemporary and everyday products such as fabrics, tablecloths, books and maps.
All the rules are torn up, except one: The hand weaving, knot by knot.
These unique works of art on which to walk when entering the spaces of daily life and highly valued by families are displayed in the Il Piccolo showroom, in the centre of Milan.

Carpet ARLECCHINO by Donata Paruccini

Carpet CIRCUS by Studio Campana

Carpet COMPLEMENTARE by Fabio Bortolani

Carpet COMPLEMENTARE by Fabio Bortolani

Carpet CORIANDOLO GREEN by Donata Paruccini

To read more  go to :Nodus rug

(images :Jacopo Grassi &  Nodus text taken from : http://www.nodusrug.it/en/nodus_project.php)