Lets go on a journey together…

Posted on June 1, 2013 by Louise

I was lucky to be selected to take part in the coaching with Cultural Enterprise Office with Lynn O’Neill. I really enjoyed the bespoke personal service and allowing myself the time to develop. I was encourage to think BIG, so I wanted to showcase my patterned artworks on a product that would dispel the myth that my artwork was only for scarves. So I started an self initiated project, for my all time favourite car the Land Rover Defender.

I think the brand really matched the essence of what I’m about and my love of the great outdoors. I wanted to use my patterned artwork and signature style of delicious colours, patterns, and expressive mark making with a rhythmic flow capturing the essence wilderness of the landscape to create sophisticated, natural and beautiful designs suitable for Land Rover Defender.

land rover section by louise kirby

So I set about creating some hand painted paper designs using imagery of the landscape, fields of pattern and animals. My visualisation was that I see the Land Rover Defenders as something that can go anywhere with no obstacle and I wanted to capture this in my artworks by merging and blending a variety of terrains into one another to give the feeling that Land Rovers can go anywhere, with spontaneous marks the emphasise the thrill, and adventure of the Land Rover Experience through the rugged British countryside.

I could imagine my patterned artworks on – exterior bodywork, spare wheel covers, interior upholstery, promotional leaflets, collectable toys, and water bottles to hoods.

From there I needed to visualise the artwork on a product, so without getting my hands on the real thing I tried putting my designs on simple line drawings. Here are some of my samples.

I searched for the biggest model I could afford and got this lovely toy and set about applying my design idea on the product. I also made a hand printed silk wheel cover too! I loved the little model so took it to the park to do a wee photo shoot. Here are some of the photos from that day.

I hope you like my creation; do you imagine driving about with my design on it?

I’d love to go on an adventure with Land Rover where I bring the creativity and they bring the wheels!

wheel commission louise kirby web

Drawing with Stitch in St Andrews Museum

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Louise

I spent a lovely morning in sunny St Andrews at the St Andrews Museum running a Drawing with Stitch workshop to go with the Botany Cultivating Collections exhibition. We had an inspiring wander round the gallery looking for shapes and images we would want to use in our own hand stitched drawstring bags. I was taken by an enlarged model of a pea in the pod. Here’s my wee sample below.

There was a lovely mix of images, painting and objects to choose from. Everyone was taken by something different for their design from seaweed, still life painting by Peploe, daisies to the table cloth in the activity room. We used a mix of stitches from running, daisy, chain and embellished with buttons or added applique in a relaxed atmosphere. Here are a few samples.

The exhibition finishes this Sunday 12th May so pop along if you can. This exhibition was set up by the Museum and Gallery Students from St Andrews University. The proceeds of the participants fees went to the St Andrews Botanical gardens and there’s a donation box in the gallery too.

Drawing with Stitch workshop for 11-16 year olds at the DCA

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Louise

I’m running a 4 week block of Drawing with Stitch for 11-16 year olds at the DCA. Where we will create cool tote bags. The course runs from the 25th April from 6pm – 8pm for 4 consecutive weeks. I’ve designed this to learn some basic hand sewing skills and also to encourage participants own creativity creating unique outcomes. Looking forward to meeting all the budding new designers and seeing their creative results. Block needs to be booked directly through the DCA box office and more info here.

Being a textiles and surface pattern designer I’m always using lots of ways of markmaking and stitch adds a lovely quality of line. I love decorating surfaces in images, patterns and words.

Here’s some some of my stitch samples below

Here are some of the young peoples creations, they worked so hard over the 4 evenings learning new stitches and creating a tote bag

Cultivating Collections Stitch Workshop

Posted on March 14, 2013 by Louise

I will be doing a stitch workshop at St Andrews Museum on the 4th of May from 10.30am – 12.30pm, inspired by the Cultivating Collections Exhibition. Participants will decorate a wee bag using stitch and embelishment. No experience necessary it will be a relaxed and creative session. All proceeds will go to St Andrews Botanic Gardens. Please contact the venue directly for booking – 01334 659380..

St Andrews is a lovely place to spend the day! I think I’ll have to check out Joules and Bibis when I’m there too!

New year and new products – cushions, cards, art prints and canvases

Posted on January 4, 2013 by Louise

Stripy Fields Framed Art I’ve signed up to Society 6 that allows designers to have a range of products. I have 3 of my designs Fields of Pattern, Stripy Fields and Spotty Fields on this website producing cushions, cards, art prints and canvases for me.

Cushions come in 3 sizes 16″ x 16″, 18″ x 18″, 20″ x 20″ and you can choose to have the cushion pad included or not, available in all 3 designs. Please click on the cushion and you will be taken to the website.

Cards come in a pack of 3 of the same design and are available in all 3 designs. Please click on the card to be directed to the website.

Art Prints come Framed or Unframed and in various sizes in all 3 designs. Please click on the card to be directed to the website.

Canvases in various sizes on white canvas using the latest Epson archival inks, are also available please click here to see.

All products are available directly through Society6, the website is in dollars and it ships to the UK for a small fee. Enjoy shopping! Part of my mission to cover the world in my patterns!

for your tootsies, hoofs, trotters, paws or feet

Posted on November 27, 2012 by Louise

I’ve moved to the countryside allowing me to be surrounded by my inspiration of Scottish wilderness and thousand of pheasants! After days out exploring the area I would come home with muddy welllies or walking boots, so I decided to make myself a doormat to keep my house nice and clean! Here’s some examples of my hand painted doormats.

Hand Printed Doormat

Indoor use only

Helping to keep your home clean

Each one unique

Material – Coir Mat, PVC backed.

Introductory offer of £25, only available for collection from my studio, please email me if you would like one hello@louisekirby.com

I also had a little play with some other silhouettes and patterns I like!

Sneak + Peek

Posted on November 27, 2012 by Louise

I’ve been creating some one-off, hand printed scarves in my studio. The Sneak + Peek collection is inspired by the pheasants hiding amongst the fields. Where I live there are thousands of pheasants but it’s not till you come close that they reveal themselves with their distinctive call warning all there pheasant friends to look out. The mono printing technique that allows me to capture the textures of the fields and no two scarves are the same. Each scarf is reversible to allow you to change your look and get two scarves for the price of one!

Material – 100% Silk Crepe de Shine

Dimensions – 32cm x 180cm (aprox)

Price – £120

Scarves are available to buy directly from me, please email me hello@louisekirby.com I will include free postage and packaging to any UK address.

Lovely Day Stitching in Anthropologie Edinburgh Store

Posted on November 19, 2012 by Louise

I’ve spend Saturday in the Anthropologie Edinburgh store doing a Stitch Workshops for Anthropologie customers. We were located in the lovely garden area downstairs, with lovely plants, paper tree trunks from the window display and surrounded by lovely Anthropologie products- perfect!

My workshop uses stitch and embellishment to decorate little bags. I brought along some stencils of things I use in my work – trees, leaves, pheasants, words and a wee Christmas pudding for a bit of festive cheer. I made some samples in advance to give people the idea of what to do and we used a range of wool, buttons, beads and ribbons….

I love it the window display at he moment! Pop along to see the giant paper owl!

Lots of passing people watching us from the windows and shoppers interested in us doing crafty stuff.

It was also great to be in store where my artwork is being used on Anthropologie wool scarves, with one of the style now half price – you’ll need to be fast to get one! And I’ve got such a connection with the store with originally doing the temporary storefront which is now being featured in store on the stairs area and I’ve also created collections of hand printed scarves for them.

Lots of happy makers with their finished bags!

We had lots of great finished products – cute elephant, button trees, dashing dog, leaves, christmas pudding and festive cat…… to name a few.

All the money raised is going to The Woodlands Trust Scotland (once I know the amount I’ll update you!) Thanks to all that came along and enjoyed the workshops!

Christmas Craft in Edinburgh Anthropologie Store

Posted on November 9, 2012 by Louise

I’m going to be in the Anthropologie Edinburgh store on the 17th November doing a Christmas Craft workshop. Using Drawing with Stitch and embelishment, where you can create you very own little cotton bag. I’m sure there will be a pheasant or two sneaking and peeking amongst the stitches and some woodland inspiration and of course some christmas cheer!

This event is for Charity and all the proceedings will go to The Woodlands Trust Scotland. I wanted to pick a charity that fitted with my work and thought they fitted perfectly.

This event must be pre-booked in advance, see above flyer.

Looking forward to it!

All Wrapped up…..

Posted on November 9, 2012 by Louise

It’s that season, the leaves are changing colour and their is a chill in the air!

I just wanted to let you know about my artwork being used on 2 Anthropologie scarves called Wings of Braemar. They are only available through Anthropologie stores and online.

They are a lovely quality of wool and I love wearing mine! I’m really proud that my logo features on the edge and sold in their stores all over Europe and USA and online. It’s great having my work reaching a wider audience and with such a high profile that I really admire.

I hope you like them!

Thanks for reading my blog!

Louise Kirby

creative process and projects of Louise Kirby