Croupie blanket

My first blanket is here!

For a long while I've collected blankets of every sort - you could say it's a bit of an obsession. Blankets made of mohair and lambswool sit alongside cotton comforters and vintage Welsh woollens in my flat. I think blankets are far superior to duvets in every way : )

So, it made sense for me to design a blanket of my very own...

Made of the very softest Scottish lambswool and knitted in the Borders, my blanket is truly special, and one that's perfect as a gift to last a lifetime. It's cosy and soft and the perfect size for sofa snuggling and generally beating the winter chills (140cm x 130cm approx).

It will get it's first outing at the Fruitmarket Gallery in Edinburgh on Thursday, the 8th of December (6.30-9.30pm), where I'll have a stall. Hope to see you there.

I have a few blankets in stock, but as they'll be made to order, email me if you'd like more info.

Croupie Blanket

Lucienne and Company teatowels

Earlier this year I created a chorus line of ladies, inspired by the ceramic designs of a Finnish artist called Birger Kaipiainen. They were a big hit on my blog, so I've decided to add a few more figures to the collection and put them on to teatowel, just in time for Christmas. The title 'Lucienne and Company' is in honour of one of my favourite textiles designers, Lucienne Day.

Now that I've started my residency at Edinburgh College of Art, I've been able to start screenprinting again. These girls were my first mini-project. I'd forgotten just how much of a labour of love printing by hand is, and how many variables are involved... Two pulls or three pulls with the squeegee and with how much pressure? Pointed squeegee or one with a rounded edge? Blast the screen between prints or just wash it out? Wellies (to keep my feet dry in the washing bays) or trainers (for the very sore feet )? : ) Every print has turned out slightly differently, which makes each one unique in it's own way. And it makes the process exciting and terrifying by turns!

I'll be putting proper photos on my website in the next week or so and you'll be able to order from there (£12.50 on a lovely linen union teatowel with hanging tab), available in either mussel-shell blue or brick red). However, as I'll be making to order, you can also drop me an email to let me know you're interested...

You can also order a print on fabric suitable for framing if you were so inclined. 

My screen after printing...

My test print (called a strike off) to check if the screen works

A nice sharp test print in black on cotton

One of the finished teatowels (mussel-shell blue) hanging up to dry

MŌDH magazine launch

Last night I went to the launch of Textiles Scotland's new interiors and fashion mag, which are published under the title of MŌDH. My Elie collection is featured, and I have to say it all looks rather lovely. The venue was the conference suite at the Point Hotel in Edinburgh and it was all very swish. The venue looks out on to the castle and the city and Edinburgh was at her beautiful autumnal best. : ) Check it the mag in Issuu, in all its glory!

Open publication - Free publishing - More cashmere

Elie... Indian Summer

Elie is my favourite place. Here are some photos taken on the beach there during this brief and very beautiful Indian Summer we're having right now.

Musica people...

Getting back into research drawing can be tricky, so I decided to head over to the refurbished Royal Museum on Chambers Street for some inspiration. I love the museum and it's a place where I can always find something interesting to peer at. These little guys are gold "votive offering figures, tunjos" and were made by the Musica people of Columbia between the 10th and 16th centuries. Well, it's good to learn something new every day : )

New stockist - Eati Boutiquie, Glasgow

Stockist update! You can now find my mugs in Eati Boutique, Berkeley Street, in Glasgow's West End. A veritable treasure trove of lovely vintage finds and with a fab cafe to boot, it's a great place to visit.

Croupie Solid and Croupie Line mugs

New stockist - Dallas and Dallas, Glasgow

An update for all you west coast design lovers... you can now find my Elie collection products in Dallas and Dallas, Glasgow. It's a gorgeous shop in the city's Merchant City - spacious and light-filled, which sets off all their lovely products beautifully. I'm delighted to be stocked by them as it's a shop I've admired for a long time. My 'Anster' and 'Croupie' mugs are already there, as are two of my cushions. The rest of the collection will follow when I get the other items back in stock, which should be in the next few weeks.

Here's an iPhone pic of my 'Anster' cushion on one of the store's amazing sofas. It looks at home I think ; )

Ladybird ladybird... continued

Things are getting kinda bugly round here today. I think they need some greenery behind them, so they don't look so exposed (and sort of scary).

Ladybird ladybird...

There's a good chance I'll be dreaming about these little chaps tonight!

Design dog

If I were to design a dog, I'd take this little westie as my inspiration. Hamish Burton is mischevious but well behaved, curious and lively - what more could you want from a canine pal? And of course, he looks very stylish in his monochrome coat! And he's a fan of beaches : )

Hamish Burton

Rabbit distractions

Some days I just want to make a repeat and see what happens - sometimes it just doesn't work, and other times something nice happens. This little rabbit creature just might find his way on to some fabric some time very soon! Colour palette from Elie research once again.

St Monans pics

Whitewashed walls beside the harbour, a blue sky with high cirrus clouds, my bike, camera and sketchbook. Happy day : )

New stockist for Elie Collection

You can now find my mugs, cushions, cards and fabrics in Inhouse, Howe Street, Edinburgh! I'm also getting together my very first fabric book, which will hopefully come together in a couple of weeks : )

Anster mug in situ...

One of my very first customers liked her 'Anster' mug so much, she took a pic and sent it to me! It looks very happy in that very neat cupboard - I'm glad it's found a lovely home : )

First stockist for new collection

First new collection delivery has been made... to the fab Red Door Gallery on Edinburgh's Victoria Street. You'll be able to have a look at all three Elie mugs and the 'Anster' and 'Lundar' cards and cushions. Exciting times...

And of course, all of my mugs and cushions are available from my new website... http://sharonpringle.co.uk

'Anster' mug

DesignMarket pics

What a great weekend at the DesignMarket... I had a great time chatting to lots of people about my new collection and mingling with the other designers there - fun! Here are some pics of my stall.

Latest mugs delivery!

These are my latest mugs, which match my 'Anster' fabric. They are £12 each and will be available on my new website next week.

Elie collection pics

I'll be showing off my new interiors collection at the Fruitmarket Gallery this weekend (15-17 July) - hope you can make it. I'm working on a new website where I'll have lots of new pics and lovely things available to purchase, but until then, here is a sneaky peek at my new designs. I took my inspiration from one of my favourite places - Elie in the East Neuk of Fife. Okay, so it's not very exotic and far-flung, but to me it's beautiful : ) Happy times.

'Anster' cushion

'Croupie' cushion

'Kilspindie' cushion

'Lundar' cushion

'Lundar' fabric on rocker

'Neuk' cushion

'Toft' cushion

'Croupie' mugs

Elie and Earlsferry beach

DesignMarket at the Fruitmarket, Edinburgh, 15-17 July

I'll be there with my new collection, including mugs, cards and cushions. I'll also have my new fabrics book to show off my range of designs, which will be available to order by the metre. Come along and have a look!

Miss Bun of West Dulwich, London

I don't think Miss Bun liked me very much as she didn't want to pose. She preferred instead to give me the cold shoulder and look out the window.

Cogdat

It was meant to be a cat, but it sort of looks a bit like a dog, hence cogdat.

Sunny day + bike + camera + cherry blossom = all is good in the world

Is there anything more lovely than cherry blossom? I don't think so...

'The Next Big Thing', BBC2

In February 2010, Wendy and I travelled to London to attend Liberty's Open Call event, where new designers have the chance to pitch to their team of buyers. Our pitch was filmed for a new BBC2 series called 'The Next Big Thing' which started last night. Unfortunately our scarves weren't selected for the store, but it was a great experience, albeit a majorly stressful one: it felt like the most important job interview of my life, and to have it recorded for TV made it all the more intense! It was funny watching us pitch, and it reminded me of just how much I love textiles and designing : )

Sneak peek at my new collection

Here are a couple of pics of my new collection fabrics. I've named the collection 'Seawards' because of the inspiration for the colour palette - my trip to Elie last September! At the moment I'm busy getting a fabric sample book together and getting some professional photos taken of them... All of them will be available by the metre next month - email me for details! Mugs and professionally made cushions are also in process. Watch this space : )

Right: 'Max Connected'. Left: 'Connected'

From right: 'Tiny Dancers', 'Lilypad', 'Max Connected', 'Seashapes', 'Kisscross', 'Connected'

Sketch repeat