new blog

Just in case any followers think I have disappeared off the face of the earth I have a new blog attached to my website at www.rowenaardern.com
Up and coming exhibitions include an exhibition at Trebah Gardens in Cornwall near Falmouth in September . www.trebahgardens.co.uk

Rowena Ardern - 'Natural Interiors'

Monday 12th September - Sunday 2nd October

Rowena is inspired by the fragility and beauty of the natural world, working from drawings and photographs to capture the essence of a place. Key elements of her work include her passion for vibrant colour, print and embroidery. Drawing from her inspiration at Trebah, many of her designs featured in this exhibition, are applied to fabrics, furniture and ceramics, combining the latest technologies with traditional hand techniques. She uses sustainable and up cycled materials whenever possible.

She recently completed in 2009 an MA Design (Textiles) at University College Falmouth, where she developed a body of work entitled 'Flora and Fauna: the Cornwall Collection'.

Also you can buy my work at the one day sale at Craft Central in London :

30-35 St Johns Square

EC1M4DS

www.craftcentral.org.uk

Pick up distinctive interior products and
accessories from contemporary designers
to make your home the envy of the street.
Meeting the designers makes shopping a real
treat. With work on sale at a value un-matched
in the shops, this event is not to be missed!
Monday 19 Sept 2011
12 noon – 7pm
Admission Free

More cushions

Two new cushions hand made with embroidered details .
Magnolia and Glendurgan Fox had an outing to the Pergola Garden in Golders Green for an out door photoshoot . Digitally printed onto silk viscose satin for Magnolia and linen union for Glendurgan Fox .

Swans and Blackthorn cushions

Front view Back view

Using my digitally printed Swans and Blackthorn Fabric I have made some beautiful cushions . Each one is individually embroidered and has a flap opening .The front shows the original fabric print on linen union, the back is embroidered ticking with a vintage fan design fabric that complements the design . At 46cms square and with a duck down filled cushion pad these will retail at £86 . If you are interested in these please contact me at rowenaardern@googlemail.com .

Back on track

After a long absence from my blog its high time I started sharing some of the adventures ,interesting discoveries and new work that is happening for me now.

I moved to London just before Christmas and am now in my rented studio flat in Golders Green and on an Immersion Course at Central St Martins about getting the work out there!!

I wont try and catch up on the numerous things I have been up to so this is starting now !
I am looking to update my website soon and so looking at other people I admire who have the same philosophy as me .

Selvedge is such an inspiration .

In this months copy so far I have seen Haven workroom who are showing at the Mid-Century Modern Show at Dulwich College on Sunday( and may be useful as a future event for my own work ) and Ellie Evans a graduate from my old college MMU and such a sweet girl . So glad things are going well for her .
Check out the Papered Parlour in Clapham as an interesting website and classes .

MA Final Show

Images from the final show .




The Cornwall Collection

Spring/Summer






















Autumn /Winter






























The Cornwall Collection includes a range of interior products from textiles and ceramics through to a full size oak routed screeen from designs inspired by the beautiful Cornish gardens and coastal paths . There is a mixture of upcycling alongside contemporary pieces .

Sampling for backgrounds

Having realised that I needed a more subtle fabric length than the Glendurgan or the Magnolia for the Spring Summer part of the MA Show I have been sampling backgrounds for the Map and Hydrangea Turquoise fabric in digital print so that it fits in with the other fabrics on the stool and chair . Having sampled several colours I have finally found the one and have printed a length on linen jupiter,

Hanging shade

The new lamp and shade have arrived in the nick of time and look good . The lamp design is not completely cylindrical but was never going to be given the vertical lines running through the design but surprisingly hold the shape much better as a hanging shade . The manufacturer this time put a much lighter base on which works better . I havent had the time to photograph them but have the shade from the last delivery.I do love the shadows / shapes cast by the shades.