Preparation, preparation, preparation…..

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Since discovering my design was selected for the hoarding covering Anthropologie‘s new Edinburgh George Street store, I’ve been making sure my original 40 centimetre long artwork can be translated on to the giant 10 meter long space!

I’ve been very busy preparing huge stencils; choosing new delicious especially mixed colours; and laying out the design along my studio corridor to check the scale and visualise the surface I will be decorating.  I love seeing my work in different contexts!


I’m very excited about creating the artwork and a wee bit nervous as Scottish film maker David Council is going to be documenting me through the process.

Fingers crossed for sunny weather in Edinburgh from this Thursday onwards!

Big scale news!

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Anthropologie Edinburgh Store

I’m very excited to reveal that I’ll be covering Anthropologie‘s brand new Edinburgh store on George Street with my colourful marks! Anthropolgie are an incredible brand with a fantastic mix of women’s fashion, accessories and homeware – the Edinburgh store will be the first in Scotland!

I saw this great opportunity through incredible creative networkers – Central Station, so big thanks to them… It will be amazing to see my work on such a large scale – I can’t wait and am totally up for the challenge.

I don’t want to reveal the final 10m wide design just yet but you can see me live in action at the big blank space, near Lakeland from Thurs 19th May – so please pop past and say hello!

My work will be on show until the official store opening on 15th June, when it will be turned into take-away art for guests at the opening!

Flying the nest…

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Here are some of my recent paper designs created during my time through the Crafts Bursary in conjunction with Creative Scotland and DJCAD.

Louise Kirby 8

Louise Kirby 4

Louise Kirby 6

Reluctantly I’ve cleared and moved out of my space in ‘the room’ in the textile department.  I’ve finished my time there and have taken my wings to fly to pastures new. I’ve found the experience so valuable to take time to consider my crafts practice, looking at all the strands I have with workshops, making products, designing surface pattern.  I’m going to reposition myself to being a surface pattern designer who creates patterns and illustrations for all surfaces from stationery, fashion, furnishings, ceramics and architecture…

During my time I had a chance to try new things, learn new skills, reconsider my business model, have mentor support and meet lots of other creative people, such a great vibe at DJCAD.  I highly recommend the opportunity.

Collections looking for good home!

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I’ve been gutting out my studio, having bit of a spring clean and getting ready for the Meadow Mill Wasps refurbishment.  I’ve been sorting lots of copyright designs back into collections – geometrics, florals, paisleys, menswear shirting, patchwork and embelishment.

From August 1999 to 2007 I worked freelance as a commercial textile designer creating fabric samples following current trends and selling the copyright of my designs to fashion houses and fabric convertors worldwide through agents (David Lee Design Ltd and Lewis and Lewis). Fashion houses such as Debenhams, Etro, East, Nougat and John Kaldor have used my designs as part of their collections.

I love generating ideas and working to briefs.  The collections I still have, I own the copyright and they available for sale, please email me if interested: hello@louisekirby.com

Collections fo applique, embellishment and hand painted designs

Collections of geometric designs by Louise Kirby

Collections of floral designs by Louise Kirby

Challenge

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challengeAs part of the Crafts Bursary we are encouraged to take risks to push our practice.  On Thursday 17th Feb, myself Louise Kirby (surface pattern designer), Gilly Langton (jewellery) and Fiona Thompson (ceramicist) were briefed from Prof Georgina Follett and Dr Louise Valentine in the board room at DJCAD.  We had till 9pm to come up with a product in collaboration with each other using our specialist skills.  From this experience it taught us that we have strong creative skills as well as the other roles we work well in. Louise Kirby (designer, project manager and positive encourager), Gilly Langton (designer, summariser, marketing and pitcher), Fiona Thomson (artist and thinker).  I throughly enjoyed being part of a collaboration and work well with others in an enthusiastic, positive manner and see this as one of the ways forward for my business.

Woodland Walks

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wellies in the woodlands

I’m happiest when I’m walking in the woodlands with my Cath Kidson wellies on squelching in the mud.  I’m so happy when I’m outdoors in the countryside and inspired by the colours and textures of the woods.  Saturday was a day trip in Airlie Estate from Cortachy Castle to Airlie Monument and Sunday was a trip to Kinshaldy Beach at Tentsmuir where the woodland merges into the sand.  These trips are key to my wellbeing and inspire the new work I am developing within the  ‘crafts bursary’ time at Duncan of Jordanstone.

Not in a straight line

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mood board

As a designer I never seem to go in a straight line, my thinking and ideas sparking off all over the place going off in tangents.  I’ve been doing some sampling with different materials and surfaces.  Today was pulling it all together to create a coherent story.  Always great to have my mentoring session, they are so valuable! After my session with Josie I created mood boards to bring everything together.