London Design Festival :: 14 - 23 September 2012

This year marks the 10th London Design Festival. One of the events we hope to visit is 'Enter the Imaginerium' which is a workshop space located within the Fabrications gallery/shop.

Fabrications is a shop/gallery and studio space located in Hackney, East London that is dedicated to upcycling and eco design. It has helped to promote and sell the work of over 200 local artists as well as held crafty workshops. As part of London Design 2012 they will be holding various workshops as well as inviting everyone to visit their space. Some of the upcycled creations on offer include:

Upcycled Shirt and Tie made into cushions:

Also their popular Rethink Rubbish kits. These kits are full of carefully selected materials and instructions to create such awesomeness as knitted mobile phone cases (made from plastic bags), fascinators, sustainable gift wrapping and these beautiful brooches!

For more information check out their online shop here.

Before and After projects I am loving....

All via Design*Sponge

Old becomes fresh and new.....

I am obsessed with interior design blogs and am not afraid to admit it. A great way to end the day for me involves sitting back with a cuppa and flicking through pages and pages of pictures and articles dedicated to our living spaces.  I love seeing what others do with their spaces.  Its so interesting to see that with even the smallest bit of attention you can transform a cold or bland room to warm and inviting space.   One of my favourite parts of these blogs is seeing what people do with an old pieces of furniture or findings.  I love seeing old things become new and fresh and given a new lease on life.    Take for example some of the cool ideas I saw this week:

All photos including the "How To's" for the projects can be  found here

So after seeing all this I am really inspired to have a go at more re-upholstery /re-purposing.  Our little apartment will be 1 year old this week (since we moved in to it)  so a good opportunity to give it a little spruce up.

from Martino's studio.....

Here are some pics of what is going on over by his side of our shared art space....

fabric: linen
project: chair

Freshness from the net....September

When not creating, I spend probably more time than I really should on the net. Its my time where I get to indulge in a nice cuppa and also the various design and crafty blogs, websites and online stores I have book marked.   I am a big fan of the Internet.  I love that I can be sitting in our little apartment in Sydney and reading about a great new sustainable home being built in Northern Spain or view photos of the opening night of an art exhibition in Chelsea NYC.   Even more exciting is the fact that once you subscribe to a newsletter of your favourite site, the information comes to you instantly. A great way to keep up to date and inspired.  Art in its many forms is being created all around the world every minute of the day.  With the Internet it all comes to you, whilst you sip your favourite drink!

Here are a couple of interesting finds from my subscriptions:

From Fresh Home.  Artist Mike Stilkey  .  An American artist who with the use of pencils, paint, pens and lacquer creates these beautiful works of art on books.

From Apartment Therapy - a sweet chair before and after - and all for $20!!

A little felted gold fish from Asher Jasper's Etsy shop.

  

From Design* Sponge -  A market bag DIY makeover.  Take one ordinary looking shopping tote.  Add some fabric, buttons and other embellishments and tadaaaa - a funky, one of a kind bag a girl would be proud to show off!