Leaves and twigs

We have joined Twitter!

2012-01-25T12:01:00.000-08:00

Just so you all know, you can follow us... our twitter name is @donnawilsonltd

so find out what's happening with us please follow us!

My Dream Bed and Breakfast

2012-01-25T11:55:00.000-08:00

Last week we were asked to take part in the Interiors show at Birmingham as part of the Design Village with Designersblock. Erin and I caught the train (- my first time to Birmingham) to find an empty pod..... we preceded to transform into a paper and paint woodland scene.

We cut out large paper leaves which gave the space lots of texture and colour.

then sat 'Big Ted and Wilbur under layers of cosy blankets... I will post some better images when we get them. They were very happy!

The finished B&B!

Thanks www.verydesignersblock.com

Job opportunities at Donna Wilson

2012-01-06T03:00:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone we are looking for two new people to join out team-

1. machinist and 2. book keeper and admin person- to find out more go to our web site.
http://www.donnawilson.com/cms.php?id_cms=20
pass it on to anyone you think may be interested!
thanks

Christmas Shelf

2011-12-21T06:17:00.000-08:00

I love displaying little objects on shelves so I'm sharing my Christmas selection with you.
A couple of the lovely Julie Arkel paper mache dolls, my favorite is the little sitting down figure with a brown knitted hat. This year I bought quite a few of my presents from Shelf- I was so sad when it closed on Cheshire street, and stumbled upon a pop up 'Shelf' in Shoreditch, if you can't make it there have a look on their web site: www.helpyourshelf.co.uk
I got this fantastic 'around the world' puzzle, with illustrations of little people that hold hands.... I think I'm going to keep present for myself.
a beautiful yellow ceramic tile by Lubna Chowdhary www.lubnachowdhary.co.uk
and some rows of robins picked up from a Christmas market.
happy Christmas everyone!

.

a little catch up...

2011-12-20T10:15:00.000-08:00

Well, it's been a busy few months, and I have fallen a bit behind with my blog posts, so here's a brief update as to what's been happening!

Endangered Species solo show

We had wonderful opening at Yorkshire Sculpture park, where the amazing Freddie Robins opened the show, and they served Parmesan clouds and mog cat mini cakes!
The show is on right through to the end of February so make sure you go and see it! www.ysp.co.uk

Sample sale madness
We had our yearly sample sale where we sold off seconds and samples and had some Christmas mulled Wine... THANK YOU to everyone who made it here especially if you had to queue on the Thursday Evening.

Sophie travelling home with an addition to her family!

The Fantastic Erin, Kate and Imogen, who are all part of the Donna Wilson Team..

Elle Deco British Design Awards

Also, as you all know, I proudly won the Elle Decoration Designer of the year Award last year!, so this year it was my job to make the awards I my own style for the new winners!

www.thebritishdesignawards.com/

and to finish off, We have two members of staff leaving- Imogen and Kristina (pictured above!) our Web and Press manager is leaving at the end of the year..... Thank you both so so much for all your hard work throughout the year, I have loved every minute of working with you....

HERE'S TO A EXCITING NEW YEAR FOR EVERYONE!

Merry Christmas Fenton Style

2011-12-20T09:27:00.000-08:00

This year I designed a Christmas card for the Design Museum, which 'Large Blue' have animated... Fenton Style.

If you don't know who Fenton is, check him out on you Tube first!

Merry Christmas everyone.... http://designmuseum.org/fenton

SAMPLE SALE!!! tell your friends

2011-11-24T07:56:00.000-08:00

Join us for Mulled Wine and a cosy evening of shopping at our studio Sample Sale!

We are selling slight seconds of ceramics, cushions, scarves, melamine trays and creatures and bargain prices!!

This once-a-year event will take place on 1st December at 6pm until Sunday 4th December at 4pm (or until everything runs out!)

1st Dec Thursday 6-9 (expect queues)

2nd Dec Friday 11-6

3rd Dec Saturday 11-5

4th Dec Sunday 11-4

You can find us at:

Unit 12

10-14 Hollybush Gardens

London

E2 9QP 

We are just off of bethnal Green road and around the corner from Bethnal Green tube station. 

We look forward to meeting you!

Lula's Monster Party

2011-11-16T09:19:00.000-08:00

The birthday Girl

Last Weekend Imogen taught a monster making workshop for for Lula and her friends. Here are a few snaps of the monsters and their makers, looks like a lot of fun! Thanks girls x

The monster line up!

We sell make your own monster kits on the website, or for if your interested in monster workshops please contact us: info@donnawilson.com

And the winner is....

2011-11-14T12:09:00.000-08:00

Hello all, thanks so much for ALL the fantastic comments for the rainy day scarf giveaway!! we had over 100 comments and it's been so nice reading them all, and I'm sorry we only have 10 scarves to give away!

so chosen at random- here they are:
KatSandBerg
Hiarylight@gmail.com
Arctic Mum
Anki
Kangan Arora Design
Severien
Photo_Jenny
Rosie
Woo
KP

please can you all contact kristina@donnawilson.com with your addresses and we will send your scarf out before it gets too cold!

thanks again- happy winter!

New collection of limited edition prints!

2011-11-13T13:49:00.000-08:00

I am very proud to launch a collection of limited edition prints, which we have commissioned especially for sale on our website. As you all know we have a wonderful team that all work very hard for the company, and on top of that everyone is super super talented.

Together we have produced a small collection of beautiful screen prints and giclee prints and I'm so exited to show you all!

These beautiful delicate prints of watercolours are by Kate Beckett, there are three in the collection, and they are giclee printed on the finest watercolour paper. Each one is signed and an edition of 100.

We are selling them unframed for £45.00

... and these screen printed illustrations in black and white are the fantastic hand drawings of Erin McIntyre. Again, editions of only 100 in A3 size. Everyone must know someone that they could give this one to:

I absolutely love them all, hope you do too. xx

http://www.donnawilson.com/category.php?id_category=30

Time to buy your gloves, mitts and arm warmers!

2011-11-06T06:30:00.000-08:00

I love this shot of our colourful collection of cosy arm/hand accessories!
... thanks to Gareth Hacker - our photographer, and Erin and Kristina for hand modelling!!
http://www.donnawilson.com/category.php?id_category=25
Here's a behind the scenes pic!

Circus arm warmers- yes you can still use your iphone whilst keeping your hands and arms cosy!

Graph mittens - available in 4 different colour ways.

Crafts magazine cover girl!

2011-11-06T06:04:00.000-08:00

yes, believe it or not I'm on the cover of November/December's Crafts magazine!!

With a in depth interview by Teleri Lloyd-Jones about the business, inspiration, past and future projects.

http://www.craftscouncil.org.uk/crafts-magazine/latest-issue/

Rainy day Give away!

2011-10-22T07:22:00.000-07:00

It's getting colder here in London, so to help keep you snug and cosy we are giving away a scarf to TEN of you lucky people! All you have to do is tell us what you like about October. We'll pick 10 people at random and announce the winners on the blog in a couple of weeks. so keep checking back!
good luck!

share the scarf love!

Donna x

make a play house!

2011-10-22T01:25:00.000-07:00

Just in.....We have a new lambswool throw, available in three colours- green/ grey as you see here, also mustard /grey, and pink/grey.

Perfect for throwing over your bed, or sofa AND making a play den with!

size 190cm x 140cm

100% softest lambswool

woven in Scotland

and fully reversible.

I love them!

http://www.donnawilson.com/product.php?id_product=271

We have a ipad app of our new catalogue.

2011-10-21T09:50:00.000-07:00

To all you techies with iPads, we have a brand new iPad app!

so you can browse our brochure until your heart is content. Download it from apple for free and see some click on some of the fab features such as a link to all our stockists, and more.

enjoy flipping through!

http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/donna-wilson/id473512345?mt=8

We're in wrap!

2011-10-16T05:58:00.000-07:00

If you haven't seen Wrap, it's new magazine which, when you have finished reading all the lovely articles on design, you can use the specially illustrated the pages as fabulous wrapping paper!- Genius!

In this issue there is a big feature on us...and to celebrate you can have 10% off of your copy.

go to www.thewrappaper.com and input this discount code:
WELOVEWRAP3

we love wrap!

50% off COSY BED SOCKS

2011-10-09T02:56:00.000-07:00

Autumn is here, it's my favourite season. I love the freshness in the air, and the colours changing in the trees.

It's getting a bit colder though so we thought we'd cheer you up with some soft lambswool bed socks to keep your toes cosy this October.

Use this discount code and get 50% off when you reach the checkout:

COSY BED SOCKS DISC

http://donnawilson.com/category.php?id_category=19

The make great Christmas prezzies too, and are now £18 instead of £36.00!! go on treat yourselves!

Please note offer only on for the next week- until 16th of October.

Brand New Donna Wilson and Noodoll stationary set

2011-09-30T14:28:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone. Bring back snail mail! Enjoy writing letters to your loved ones with these creature notecards and have fun decorating them with the stickers provided.

A collaboration with Noodoll who also does lots of cute products.

The pack includes: 8 Notecards, 2 Sheets of stickers, 2 Envelopes and 2 Bookmarks.

20cm x 15cm

now in stock!http://www.donnawilson.com/product.php?id_product=270

only £10.00

Work in progress for Yorkshire Sculpture Park

2011-09-21T09:25:00.000-07:00

This November I am having a show at Yorkshire sculpture park, (it's opening on the 19th of November)

I've been asked to design some limited edition prints for the show, as well as a collection of original drawings.

I thought I'd show you all a sneak preview of what I'm working on.....

A bear with a hairy chest.

Birds and Squirrels

Polar bear in fairsle jumpers.

Lovely lady

Birds nests

More creatures in Fairsles

Foxes with long tails

Peeping Tom

Plants in pyjams

and a bunny in pj's

These peices will all be framed and for sale throughout the space, as well as a knitted tree installation, creatures and lots of work in the shop.

It's a new thing for me, as I normally do these type of drawings before I make a creature, but never normally show people them!

hope you like them.

for more information about the show please visit:

http://www.ysp.co.uk/exhibitions/donna-wilson

sneak preview of design department store

2011-09-18T11:10:00.000-07:00

This week, it's London design festival, and SCP are creating a design department store in their Curtain Road shop, East London.

I set up last week - couldn't have done it without the fantastic merchandising skills of lovely Michael Beard who was over from New York. Thanks Michael!

stop by if your in London! www.scp.co.uk

Photos of Show at La Fabrika

2011-09-17T08:51:00.000-07:00

I have just returned from the opening of my show in Brussels. Thanks to everyone who came last night, it was really nice meeting you all, and drinking the very strong Belgian beer!

Kelly Claessens has had some beautiful photos of the shop taken, so I wanted to show you all. Made me want to open a shop too!

The show is on for the next couple of weeks until the 30th of September, so please pop by if your in the neighborhood.

Monday - Saturday 11 am - 6.30 pm

Rue A. Dansaertstraat 182 - Brussels

info@lafabrika.be

+32 2 502 33 25

www.lafabrika.be

machinist needed!

2011-09-14T07:44:00.000-07:00

We are urgently looking for a machinist, preferably with their own sewing machine, and someone that can do a bit of hand sewing for us from home. It's coming into our busy spell now, and have to make lots and lots of swan scarves! (and other things) so if anyone knows of a very good person with these skills, please let us know! email info@donnawilson.com many thanks!

Our show at La Fabrika, Brussels

2011-09-06T13:05:00.000-07:00

Please come and join us on Friday the 16th of September at contemporary design shop, La Fabrika in Brussels.

We are showing pieces from our new collection, Furniture collaborations with SCP as well as one off wrapped Ercol pieces.

here's a sneak preview if you aren't in the Brussels area!

cosy wrap stacking chair

rainbow twist windsor chair

basket weave love seat

yarn and bute studio couch

www.lafabrika.be

Donna Wilson at Design Department Store for LDF

2011-09-06T11:21:00.001-07:00

We are excited to be taking part in SCP's Design Department Store during London Design Festival.

We are launching our brand new collection in it's entirety and showing along side Michael Marriott, Gubi, Rich Brilliant Willing and London Design Guide 2012–13.

To find out more about each of the designers involved they have a fantastic blog site here:

http://www.designdepartmentstore.com

Times and dates:
17-25 September 2011

Weekdays 09.30–20.00
Saturday 09.30–18.00
Sunday 11.00–17.00

Press launch:
Monday 19th September
12.00

Launch party:
Tuesday 20th September
18.30–21.00

SCP East London
135 Curtain Road
London, EC2A 3BX

www.scp.co.uk
shopeast@scp.co.uk
+44 (0) 207 7391869

hope to see you there!

crabs legs and rosy apples

2011-09-03T11:09:00.000-07:00

I have just returned from a trade shoe in New York, where we had to buy our lunches at Wholefoods, Whole foods is the most beautiful supermarket I have ever seen!

Everything was displayed so well, a feast for the eyes!.... and they even play music! why don't they do this in the UK?

The Brett House, I want to live here!

2011-08-29T13:02:00.000-07:00

I was fortunate enough to have a second visit to Fogo Island, just off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada. I'm so inspired when I'm there, it's so remote and far away from the hustle and bustle of my normal urban surroundings in East London! These are some snaps of the Brett house, which is now a museum, freezing everything in time- it's so beautiful I'd like to live there now.

The kitchen, with the red babies chair and matching sink!

The floors are a patchwork of mad contrasting patterned linoleum , I love it!

bathroom with the chamber pot in the corner.

bedroom with a hatch down to the kitchen to let the heat from the stove down below rise up.

more fantastic linoleum!

and a washing line of dishcloths waving goodbye.

here's a link to a tiny bit of history about the house.
http://www.fogoisland.net/brett_house.htm

New York International Gift Fair

2011-08-10T03:49:00.000-07:00

Hello all,
we will be showing our new collection next week at:
New York International Gift Fair in August

Jacob. K Javits Convention Centre

655 West 34th Street

New York City, USA

Dates: 14-18th August 2011

Stand Number: 3854 Accent on Design

If you don't have a shop, don't worry, you can also preview our new catalogue on our website:

http://www.donnawilson.com/_downloads/catalogue.pdf

We're really excited about the new products, hope you like them too.

and the winners are....

2011-08-10T03:36:00.000-07:00

Thank you so much for all your lovely suggestions for our June and July giveaway. So much fun to read them all, I wish I could give everything something for taking part, but we have to choose 2 winners only-

These were chosen at random, so please get in touch by email and we'll send you the prize-

Flora who said...

"I love to sail in all kind of weathers, 

The fresh salty breeze a-ruffling my feathers"

and Louisa Elise who said...

'Please, don't eat me! I'm not as tasty as you think I am!'

also still trying to get in touch with Julia Hausfrau, who won the last givaway!

contact Krisitna on Kristina@donnawilson.com.

thanks again! and August's give away will be coming up at the end of the month.

July and Junes double give away... sail away

2011-07-29T04:15:00.000-07:00

Hello friends,

I hope you are having a lovely summer.

I don't know if anyone noticed but I've fallen behind with my monthly giveaways, so this time I'm going to do a double one! TWO of you lucky people will win a brand new....not even in the shops yet....hot off the press 'Owl and Pussy cat' cushion. These are part of our 2011/12 autumn winter collection which will be available in shops this winter.

Soft lambswool, circular with polyester stuffing, 46cm x 36cm three colourways.

All you have to do is give me a short sentence about what you imagine the owl to be saying to the pussycat!

thanks!!

Please Like us on our Facebook page.

2011-07-18T16:25:00.000-07:00

There are so many ways to keep up with people and things you like now, blogs, facebook, and being a bit of a late starter I haven't even tried twitter yet. But if you'd like to keep up to date with what we are doing, and see press, or new products please 'like' us!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Donna-Wilson/162673370414516

Ps, here's one of our new images which will be appearing in our new catalogue very soon. O.K it's a bit wintery, but we have been having a LOT of rain recently here. ( an I like the image!)

Koala has been named Wilbur

2011-07-05T04:49:00.000-07:00

Thank you all so so much for sending in your names for Wilbur. I really enjoyed reading them all and the little ideas for his likes and dislikes. We chose Wilbur as I really think it suits him. So congratulations Julia Hausfrau, we'll be sending you a Wilbur as soon as we have your address.

By the way, Wilbur likes pink apples, and dislikes french fries.

I have been a little hectic this last month and haven't done a June giveaway which is terrible, so bear with me and I'll do a double on for July!

Thanks again to everyone who sent in suggestions, I really appreciate it.

x

Monster Madness at the Design Museum

2011-06-28T23:59:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, we held a workshop for kids in the fantastic Venue of the Design Museum, London. It was the hottest day of the year, but I think everyone enjoyed coming in from the sun to design their very own monster.

Here are some photos of the day.

Everyone had to design a weird monster using three words that they were given to describe it's personality!

Then we made a communal giant monster together.

The monster on the left was made of xboxes, wi's and computers!

Mr toothpaste

A lot of fun, had by all! Thanks to everyone that participated, it was fantastic to see how imaginative kids can be, it's very inspiring! And a big thanks to all the staff at the Design Museum, especially Sarah Sheerman-Chase who is the Family Learning Coordinator, and my Studio Manager Erin who helped so much on the day.

For more information about what's on go to www.designmuseum.org

Family day at the Design museum, London this sunday!

2011-06-23T01:29:00.000-07:00

The Design museum are hosting a family day where I will be doing a little talk about my creatures and how they are designed and made, then kids will get the chance to design their own monsters in the 'Donna Wilson' style!

To find out what else is on go to: http://designmuseum.org/family-day

when: Sunday 26 June 2011

11am – 4pm

The details:

The Design Museum Family Day has something for everyone with a selection of funny activities

including drop-in design and make workshops, family exhibition trails, ‘Meet the Designer’ sessions, and children friendly exhibition tours.

Get creative with our hands on workshops,

enter our competition to nominate your Designer of the Year, take a family friendly gallery tour,

plus meet the creative Designer Donna Wilson and discover how she creates her knitted funny creatures.

All Family Day activities are suitable for 5 – 11 year olds, admission is free

to children under 12. General admission: £10 adults, £9 concessions, £6

students under 12s Free.

Tickets can be booked in advance.

Family day activities:

Meet the Designer: Donna Wilson

Meet designer Donna Wilson and discover her menagerie of strange and beautiful creatures. Then draw one of your own to take home!

beautiful decay

2011-06-02T13:29:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I had a little adventure back to my homeland! Looking round a derelict space it struck me how beautiful the decay was. I love this old rusty switch, which to me looks like a face.

Peeling off paint makes a fantastic texture

in the most beautiful colours, pinks and mustards and creams

Nature reclaiming the man made, strange to see wallpaper in a domestic space but plants growing where the carpets should be. Quite eerie.

one of the reasons why we do what we do!

2011-05-22T05:19:00.000-07:00

"With all the technology, all the activities that happen in the virtual world, you can lose contact with real things. I think that's where we come in. Things that aren't mass-produced have a character of their own, and the imperfections are part of it."

I read this really nice article about Labour and Wait , a lovely hardware shop. http://labourandwait.co.uk/

have a read:

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/house-and-home/interiors/back-to-basics-labour-and-wait-is-leading-the-way-with-the-latest-trend-for-oldfashioned-kit-2286694.html

The photo is of a pile of fox scarves in the studio ready to be packaged up, they have just had their eyes sewn on. Last year we underestimated the amount of fox scarves we'd need to get us through Christmas, so Erin has made it her mission to be very prepared this year!

Bob knits the lambswool fabric, we wash and dry it and then Kate and Imogen and Kristina do the laying out and the sewing, followed by turning inside out, sewing up and labeling. Then they each get their eyes and noses hand stitched on, and like most of our creatures the eyes give the piece their own unique character. Each one is slightly different and that's what makes them special, you just wouldn't get that from a massproduced item made in a big factory far away.

Just thought you'd like to know some of the processes we use.

x

Friday Fish and chips anyone?

2011-05-20T10:59:00.000-07:00

Had a wander along the Thames and the Southbank last night, it's like a trip to the seaside!

http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/

Brand new Koala with no name....May giveaway!

2011-05-13T09:57:00.000-07:00

Hi, I am new to the Donna Wilson range, but I still have no name and no personality! :(
Suggestions welcome. I am grey ad white, and only 25 cm tall.
Please give me a name, and one like and one thing I dislike, and the one we choose to use will win one. :)

Hebridean huts and houses

2011-05-03T11:46:00.000-07:00

Just got back from a lovely holiday in the Scottish Hebrides. I wanted to share with you some of the little huts that are sparingly sprinkled around the remote islands. Most of them would have been used as weavers huts, as nearly all of the crofters would weave Harris Tweed in any spare time they had.

Some of the huts are now quite run down and derelict, but that made them even more intriguing to me. The little tin roofs and painted windows, look almost like tired little faces, with cracks as their wrinkles!

I love the little tin baths inside this one

what an amazing colour!

some were so small against the fantastic backdrop of the hills

Jonathon Meades did a fantastic documentary on the isle of Lewis called Isle of rust for BBC4 showing abandoned vehicles rusting away in the middle of the peat bogs.

I love the contrast of the net curtains against the corrugated iron. Hope you like these. I think you will be seeing some of these themes creeping into my work soon!

Odd Objets found on the remote island of South Harris

2011-05-03T09:57:00.000-07:00

and of course I have to show you my work at the Milan Furniture Fair

2011-04-18T15:19:00.000-07:00

I am very proud to show my work in such a beautiful space, thank you SCP.

for more information about any of the products go to www.scp.co.uk

More from Milan through my textile eyes but this time in white.

2011-04-18T14:44:00.000-07:00

Milan Furniture Fair though my textile eyes

2011-04-18T14:05:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share some textures and colours from last weeks Milan furniture fair. It's always so inspiring.

This lady was waring a beautiful shirt which was the same colour as what she was looking at.

Beautiful mottled textures on rugs by HAY

landscape rugs found in Rosanna Orlandi, an insprational shop make in an old tie factory.

anything made from giant pom poms is a winner for me!

more HAY rugs, they are like paintings, beautiful

a few familiar faces at the Elle decoration show

I want to live here!

Royal Blues!

something very satisfying about this sandwich of brown and pink cord

a landscape of luscious green worn rugs

delicately folded

Talking Textiles show

Danish Crafts Show

Slightly dirty but still beautifula

esther's kitchen

2011-04-09T11:42:00.000-07:00

My friend Esther has the most beautiful Kitchen I have ever seen! Her husband Joost made it.

I love Esther's house and her wonderful work. ( more of that to come)

The units are made of reclaimed wood.

I love the colours she uses everywhere.

I have just had a really nice catch up chat with her and she told me that this tray ( http://www.donnawilson.com/product.php?id_product=62 ) completed her kitchen! thanks Esther.

April giveaway .....and March's winner is......

2011-04-08T09:26:00.000-07:00

And for this month's giveaway we're giving one lucky reader a bone china egg cup, with our Mog cat's face on it....so you have somewhere purrrfect to place our easter your ! (sorry I couldn't resist)

....all you have to do is send one line on how you would decorate your egg and we'll pick a winner at random, go on it's worth a go!

Here are a few ideas from last year

also congratulations to March's winner, who won a spring folk flower cushion. Jemibook, please get in touch with us to claim your cusion. laura@donnawilson.com

this is what Jemibook 's idea of spring... sounds lovely!

Jemibook said...

Spring is all about Sangria, and picnics with little bento boxes filled with fresh berries and dark chocolate, crackers and fancy cheese. Flying kites, star gazing with a lover. Barbecue's with corn on the cob. Jumping on trampoline's, getting caught in a sun-shower and swinging on swings. Picking flowers to put in your hair or give to a friend, getting out of work and smiling at the fact that there is still some daylight left. Easter egg hunts [even if you are not religious it is a must] pastel-flavored dresses that are just begging for a 50s dance party, and early shows that you enjoy on patio's or rooftops while sipping on a mojitio made with fresh mint. Spring is when everything and everyone comes alive, and you forget about all of the dreariness of the winter and find hope in every little thing that you see on the street and you smile way too much!

Have fun decorating those eggs!

Milan furniture Fair

2011-04-06T09:41:00.000-07:00

Next week is the start of Milan Furniture Fair, and I'm excited to be showing here with SCP. Along with SCP's fantastic collection, we are launching a 3 seater chesterfield sofa, a range of knitted pouffes, rugs, and turned wooden stools, see some images below.

Here is their press release, if your around please come and say hello.

SCP
Spazio Botta
Porta Romana
via Botta 8
20135, Milano

A proud, innovative and diverse British manufacturer, SCP create lovingly made upholstery, furniture, accessories, lighting, textiles and rugs. At a specially organised British manufacturing mecca in Milan, Spazio Botta in Porta Romana, SCP present their 2011 collection.
On show are new product designs by Terence Woodgate, Matthew Hilton, Donna Wilson, Lee Kirkbride, PearsonLloyd, Kay+Stemmer, Gareth Neal, Rich Brilliant Willing and Silvain Willenz. Also previewing is SCP’s latest collaboration with Donna Wilson, a new range of Welsh woven textiles entitled Bora Da, alongside an expanded Rug Collection that features new hand-loomed designs and colourways.
In Milan, SCP also launch their second publication, SCP Issue Number
Two, a thirty-page newspaper designed by Farrow Design, featuring newly commissioned photography by John Ross and Pelle Crépin, with styling by Despina Curtis.
SCP are a complex and diverse British manufacturer who work with
wonderfully talented craftsmen and woman from all across Britain, Europe and now also in India. SCP blend talent and tradition to produce elegant pieces that live well, and live long.
SCP, 25 years in the making.

For more information please contact:
SCP Press Office
135–139 Curtain Road
London EC2A 3BX
T +44 (0) 20 7749 7393
F +44 (0) 20 7729 4224
press@scp.co.uk
www.scp.co.uk

on my shelf (2)

2011-04-05T14:44:00.000-07:00

This morning I took a snap for you of my windowsill, I've been collecting little wooden things for a while. Don't really know what to do with them except line them up. I love multiples of things!

Ok, left to right:
1.Funny chipmunk babushka which I bought last summer in India.
2.Tall doll, which was turned on a lathe by a man outside Glasgow, and painted by me for an exhibition. I wanted to find a small company to make them, but still can't find anyone.
3.Traditional babushka, which I think I picked up years ago in Prague. They are such beautiful things, and you can use them to put little secret keep sakes in.
4.Little carved wood tree, bought from Thorsten van Elten (thorstenvanelten.com)when he had a shop on Warren street.
5.Tiny green tree babushka, can't remember fort he life of me where I got these three trees from.
8.9.more little traditional babushkas, I love the tinniest one, it's like a miniature skittle.
10.Rocking horse, bought in Orkney strangely enough! actually I think that's where I got those dark green trees, a tiny christmas shop in Stromness!

Ok the other side now:
11.after another chipmunk a (12.)turned bird also painted by me for the same show.
13. Large carved tree, which are made in Erzgebirgische Germany where they also make those amazing nut crackers!
14.M15.ore babushkas
16.A dala horse which I got in copenhagen, although they are originally from sweden, fid out about their history here: dalahorse.com/dala_horse_history.html
17.Little tree I made and painted and wrapped with wool, still really want to do something with these wooden pieces, so watch this space.
Collections of the same type of things always look really nice don't you thing?

Organic web site?!

2011-03-29T09:36:00.001-07:00

Just in case some of you haven't visited our web site for a while, it's turning organic and changing it's look every now and again!

Let me know what you think.

www.donnawilson.com

on my shelf

2011-03-27T06:11:00.000-07:00

New feature for you where I will take a snap of what's on my shelf from time to time... every objects tells a little story.

ok from left to right.

.Flocked polystyrene ball necklace I got in New york from Kiosk, was wearing a drab grey dress , this neacklace really did the trick!! The colours are so vibrant, 3 shades of greens, yum!

.I miss your face card which I commissioned from Erin McIntyre, wanted to give it to a freind I haven't seen for ages, but I can't part with it. she does beautiful drawings.

.Yellow canary on a branch ornament, very cheap from a brickabrack sale, but I love it's colour.

.Beautiful 'holy' magazine by Henny van Nistelroy the holes look like shells and appear on the pages in strange positions throughout the magazine, genius.

.Old selotape tin that my grandma had kept art materials in, I love the fact she wrote in her destinctive hand writing what was inside, on everything!

.Vintage twins, with beautiful 2 colour packaging

.Kiehls salve, am addicted to everything kiehls.

Post card from hitherto, which sadly is no longer there, used to be my favourite shop in Glasgow, and was run by Krista Blake who was always so chatty and lovely.

.Look into my eyes faces by Bruno Munari

Small brown wren ornament, which belonged to my grandma- my favorite person :)

.Little book of photos 350 miles of an essex journey , nice pictures of the sea and buildings

.Found record sleeve, your really quite a catch, I like the title and the drawing!

.More Kiehls! very guilty pleasure of mine

and a beautiful hand made tile by Lubna Chowdhary, I wish I could time a whole room in these, they all unique with different .patterns and colours.

That's is, let me know if you need any more info I'll do another one in a little while.

bye for now x

sneak peak from our spring photo shoot

2011-03-27T03:49:00.000-07:00

Happy easter! last year Erin, our fantastic Studio manager, and her partner Rob came round and we painted eggs and made little wigs and hats for them to sit in the meg and mog egg cups! I'll see if I can find a pic to show you later.

I love this shot, so spring like! daffodil tea, maybe we should try it!

Olive is one of my favorite colours! poor little gingerbread man!!

Thank you Laura, and Gareth Hacker for the fantastic photography

www.garethhacker.com

I love working with Gareth!

We have more shots which we are going to use in our new catalogue later on this year, but if any press are interested please contact laura@donnawilson.com

We sailed away on a winters day.

2011-03-21T16:38:00.000-07:00

Okay, instead of me always writing about me me me, I thought I'd share some nice things I've seen recently. Not really work related but I hope some of you will find these inspiring in some way as I have.

The theme for this post is boats, and I'm designing lots of nautical related things now.

here are some images I find interesting, please excuse the quality- all taken on my phone.

all aboard

no martini's allowed, my favorite drink!!

a cods ear believe it or not

empty waiting rooms, strangely silently sinister

follow the moon

a tall ship spotted at the Thames Barrier

Spring is in the air, March giveaway!

2011-03-17T05:42:00.000-07:00

Printed on cotton in this beautiful peacock colour this cushion is a beautiful spring edition to you home. I love the papercut leaves and the folky feel of it. I would like to give one of these to one of you, all you have to do is give a couple lines about what you like about spring. ...Winner will be announced in a couple of weeks.

For me it's the lighter evenings which means you can go on bike rides, and having fresh daffodils and flowers in the house . mmmmm

thanks, and happy spring. x

Joy of Living' at Somerset House from 15-21st March

2011-03-16T05:12:00.000-07:00

I am proud to be a small part of the 'Joy of Living' at Somerset House from 15-21st March. 'Joy of Living 'http://www.londondesignguide.com/joyofliving/ is a charity project organised by Max Fraser. Over 100 designers are taking part to support Maggies Cancer Caring Centre. All the exhibits are for sale at the price of £250 each – until you buy one, you don't know who's work it will be. The aim is to raise £20,000 for the Maggies Cancer Charity, so a very worth while cause. http://www.maggiescentres.org/

15 – 21 March 2011, 10am – 6pm. Great Arch Lobby at Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 1LA

Wilson Windows at SCP

2011-02-25T10:37:00.000-08:00

If your popping to East London this weekend, be sure to pay a visit to SCP, where they are displaying some new collection pieces including the Munro chesterfield sofa, which is covered in peacock fabric woven in Wales, and our new Mountain spot rugs, which will be in stock very soon. Thanks SCP!

we will be launching this and a three seater version at Milan Furniture fair in April.

This is the grey colourway of the mountain spot kilom, I love this colourways, I think it feels quite Japanese!

see more at www.scp.co.uk

and the winner of the fox scarf is.....

2011-02-25T06:19:00.000-08:00

'Sebastien' who was suggested by Woo, Woo, please get in touch with your address, so we can send you your prize. (you can email laura@donnawilson.com)

we liked her story: woo said...

There's an urban fox that lives near my boyfriend's flat. All winter, even through the harshest snow we would see him scurrying around looking for food. My boyfriend started leaving apples outside for him but it transpires foxes don't have much of a taste for apples as they were still there when the ice thawed. 

It was a particularly cold Scottish winter and I would worry about old foxy in the sub zero temperatures, and took to singing belle and sebastien's 'fox in the snow' whilst peering out the window, hoping to see him. My boyfriend still thinks I made this wee ditty up myself, so, as an apology to the band, and an homage to the Footdee Fox, I suggest 'Sebastien'!

Congratulations.

Keep posted for our March giveaway in the next couple of weeks.... can't believe it's nearly March.

X

Little House Interiors

2011-02-23T08:06:00.000-08:00

A selection of interiors from the houses on Fogo Island, I love the scale of them and the painted colour combinations.

lot of mix and match pattens with different wall papers

pink and yellow!

I dream of living by the sea!

a quick look outside too!

peeping through the window!

Photos from the far off island of Fogo

2011-02-23T06:18:00.000-08:00

After travelling for nearly 24 hours from London to Gander, the ferry opened it's jaws and we sailed to the little island of Fogo, just off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada.

Nina Tolstrup, Me and 1/3 of Ineke Hans

The island is magical, with lots of tiny houses and boat sheds. The houses are all built out of wood and on stilts so they can be moved!, So when you buy a house, you don't buy the land it's on, and you can float your house round the island on the sea! I'd love to see a floating house.

Pink Fire station

I found my boat!

Moose and caribou alert! unfortunately we didn't manage to spot any while we were there.

The houses are all painted beautifully, and framed by a contrasting colour.

the little dots on the shed doors are a guide so that if you walk down the 'stage' in straight line you shouldn't fall in!

This is one of the most stunning artisits studios on the edge of a cliff.

Punts outside Petes house, which are used for a boat race from Fogo to Chage island every year, there is a fantastic documentary on this called Crankie here's the trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzhNxaab_PQ

lots of snow, my feet were like ice blocks!

Children used to (and probably still do) jump along thse fragments of frozen ice in the harbours, not sure if I'd be brave enough!

We even got a ride on a skidoo, that's how most people get around, as there are only roads around the edge of the island with forrest in the middle.

I will post some more interior shots too, as they were so quaint and homely.

Nos Da blankets in stock!

2011-02-15T07:03:00.000-08:00

Just to let you know we have got in some 'Nos da' for the website. There are throws and large blankets, in beautiful and unexpected colours. This range is produced together with SCP- www.scp.co.uk

(above is the throw- with a tiny bit of the reverse on show)

(above is the full size blanket)

The wool for this collection is specially spun and dyed in England and then woven in Wales by a traditional Mill that has been in the same family for over a century. They have a dray, old fashioned feel, like the traditional Welsh blankets you still sometimes find.

This colourways is called Moss which is my favourite!

The Frank Pouffe is made by hand stuffing Calico bags and upholstering them with the woven panels, reminiscent of segments of an orange. They are so handy in a living room, I use mine as a spare seat/coffee table/footstool! Available in two sizes.

http://www.donnawilson.com/category.php?id_category=18

February Fox ...scarf give away!

2011-02-13T12:38:00.000-08:00

fancy a fox to keep you cosy in february or what's left of it. made especially for those animal lovers out there.

.....all you have to do is think of a name for this fox and we will choose a winner at random.

100% Lambswool, Knitted in Scotland.

Approximately 118cm long x 10cm wide

http://www.donnawilson.com/product.php?id_product=103

The sweetest thing

2011-02-11T04:31:00.000-08:00

Thank you Vicky & Jude for sending this beautiful picture of 1 year old Mia and her fox scarf that they bought from SCP last year.

Also I wanted to congratulate Thomas as our winner of Januarys givaway, hope the cosy socks cheer you up.

February give away coming soon keep you posted.

January's giveaway

2011-01-31T13:22:00.000-08:00

On the last day of January (it wasn't such a bad month was it?) I'm just in time to do a giveaway my plan was to do one a month.

...because it's so cold I'm giving away a lovely pair of lambswool bed socks AND a pair of right wrong gloves to one lucky person.

guaranteed to keep your toes cosy, we wear these in the studio when it's really cold!

and these should keep you right.. or wrong.... (no offence meant to left handers)

all you have to do is sum up your January in three things and we'll choose a winner at random.

my January would be... New York, new flat, old friends.

we'll announce the winner in a couple of weeks.

Publish Post

keep cosy x

Photos from Maison et Objet Jan 2011

2011-01-28T11:25:00.000-08:00

We had a really successful show this year, thanks to all the shops who visited us and placed orders. To anyone who didn't make it here a couple of images of our cosy little booth! We will doing another post of all our new products when we get the stock in, so will keep you posted.

One of the things I like about showing at the fair, is that we get an opportunity to meet our stockists face to face... and make some new friends.

This is Eliot and Jerome, who have adopted Woolfie and Cyril squirrel fox.... and below a very happy little girl!

Also to keep our energy levels up, we managed to eat quite well too!

We spent a lot of time with Sheridan and Paul from SCP who were also showing there, here are a few pictures from their stand, where we launched a new collection of Blankets, Bora da, and rugs and even a chesterfield sofa called Munroe. These pieces were designed by myself and will be availabe from SCP.co.uk in the next month or so.

Maison et Objet, Paris 21st to 25th January 2011

2011-01-19T09:17:00.000-08:00

Sorry for my lack of posts in January, we have been busy preparing for our trade show.

If any of you have shops, please come and say Hello!, we're in Hall 8, Now section stand L20.

Here is a sneak preview of a few of our new items, which will be in stock mid February.

Ogilvy screen printed cushion, available in two colour ways

Wolfie and Mog cusihons in cotton, both with their tails on the back!

Beautifully knitted 'tree cloud' cushions in soft lambswool (these are available now on the website)

two new plates, Baby to go with , Meg and Beardy Bob click here to see them:

http://donnawilson.com/category.php?id_category=20

I'm very excited as we have done two new dinner plates: Kaliescope dinner plate, 10.5 inch diameter, bone china made in Stoke on tent UK

and bird foot dinner plate, and finally...Wolfie is a favorite here at the studio, so we have made a Wolfie beaker which can be used for tea, or juice, or just a pen pot!

Well put everything up on the website the minute the stock comes in, so keep an eye out!

xx
let me know what you think!

Happy 2011 with plenty snow on top... and congratulations!!

2011-01-07T13:29:00.000-08:00

Hope you all had a lovely Christmas, I had a wonderful break in very snowy Scotland, even managed to find a very happy model for some scarves! Look how beautiful my homeland is!

I wanted to wish you all a happy new year and a big thank you for ALL your suggestions for the £100 giveaway. what a fantastic response, and some really fun ideas. The winner is Monica Hajek, who suggested some donnawilson rubber stamp set with little shapes to stamp on everything, so watch this space!

I'm also planning lots of new products this year, we are launching a couple of bone china dinner plates, and side plates, some new cushions and creatures too so I will keep you posted with that shortly.

So well done Monica and for everyone else I'll be doing a January giveaway soon too so don't worry there's still a change to win a goodie or two!

Merry Christmas and thank you all!

2010-12-15T05:47:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone , I just wanted to say a big thank you to you all for all your support over the past year. We have had such a great response to the give away, from wall paper to hairbrushes! some of your suggestions are already in the pipeline so keep an eye out in the new year. We will announce the winner at the end of December so keep them coming!

A couple of the suggestions have been done already! so I wanted to show you a couple of things you can get on the website, or check the stockists details for a shop near you.

Very cosy bed socks, they are knitted in double thickness lambswool, made in Scotland, and I can personally vouch for these, they are sooooo cosy! I wear them in my boots to keep my toes warm in the studio.

Also, I have a book that you can find lots of pattens to knit your very own creatures. You need to have a little exerience in knitting, but the patterns very from simple to more advanced.

It's called the knitted odd-bod bunch, and we have some on the web site, but you can also buy it at any good book stores.

This is one of my favorite patterns as you can knit your very own draft excluder.

Published by Cico books, available in the UK and the USA.

well all that leaves me to say is HAVE A LOVELY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

ps. we're not at wok from the 22nd of December until the 4th of January,

so see you in 2011!

December give away!!! £100 to spend on the web site

2010-12-08T14:49:00.000-08:00

Ok, finish off the year in style I would like to offer one lucky person a £100 gift voucher to redeem on the website.

This voucher could have your name on it........all you have to do is add a comment to this posting suggesting something you would like to see us produce next year!
The winner will be chosen at random at the end of December. I'm excited to see what you'll come up with.

xx

Knitted Wedding

2010-12-08T14:27:00.000-08:00

Back in 2005 I was lucky enough to be part of this Knitted Wedding! Organised by Rachel Mathews of Cast-Off knitting club, (and prick your finger knitting shop) for Freddie Robins and Ben Coode-Adams.
As you can see EVERYTHING was knitted.........

even the minister's dog collar

......the guest's cameras

the flowers and decorations and the cakes and sandwiches!

...the train, which I knitted on my machine was 30 meters long!

....and the confetti was made from 1000's of pom poms!

It was the best wedding ever! to find out more and see more pics, go to http://www.castoff.info/

Then we had a knitted disco!!

(not so) christmas cards .... Brand new!

2010-12-06T12:08:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone, feeling Christmassy yet?
Well with the snow here and the smell of mulled wine in the studio (left over from the weekends sample sale) WE ARE!!
and just in time, unless you are super organized we have added some new Christmas cards to our range.

Beautifully printed on thick card these are special cards to send to your loved ones. Not just for Christmas as they are blank inside for your own personal message. Each pack contains 5 different cards - Oh deer, Use my beard to keep you cosy, Eskimo Girl, Wolfie and Olive Owl.

size A5 21cm x 15cm

They are £12.00 for the pack of 5 and you can get them exclusively on our website.

follow this link:

http://www.donnawilson.com/product.php?id_product=205

Happy Christmas!!

Donna Wilson article in the Guardian Saturday 4th December

2010-12-05T11:31:00.000-08:00

I've been very lucky to have had lots of press at the moment, here's one I'm really proud of.

Article by Hannah Booth.

Homespun is cool

Her folksy designs are tapping into the zeitgeist.
But can Donna Wilson stay cool while making it big?

Wilson produces most of her work from a cramped workshop in east London. Photograph: Daniel Stier

At times, a designer can be so "of the moment" it seems daft for anyone else to bother. In the late 90s, Cath Kidston's 1950s florals swept everything before them, but despite jaw-dropping profitability her cutesy chintz began to take on the tinge of over-exposure. A few years later, Orla Kiely designed a much-desired graphic flower that has become so ubiquitous it's now decorating radios and casserole dishes.

This, though, is Donna Wilson's moment. The Scottish designer, 33, iseverywhere: her knitted, animal-shaped cushions are best-sellers at John Lewis and Heal's; her patterned sofas, armchairs and pouffes are one of furniture retailer SCP's most popular products; and her cutesy-scary stuffed creatures are the biggest thing in Japan since sushi. Her work sells in 25 countries.

As with other success stories, it's part luck, talent and timing. Wilson, who grew up on a farm in the Scottish countryside, is purveyor of a kind of naive craftwork — all Nordic patterns, cosy knits and owls. Her products, including blankets, ceramics, scarves, gloves, hats and, from January,rugs, are warm, comforting and nostalgic, perfect for a Britain gripped by swingeing cuts.

Wilson produces most of her work from a cramped workshop in east London, employing two full-time staff. All her smaller pieces, such as toys and scarves, are knitted on a machine – "I'm such a slow hand-knitter," she says. Larger blankets and cushions are knitted by a small, family-run business in Galashiels on the Scottish border. When I visit, the workshop is littered with cushion covers pegged on to lines to dry, and smells strongly of wet sheep. "I could have gone down the factory route, but I wanted to keep as much control as possible," she says.

She studied at the Royal College of Art and knew from the off that she wanted start her own business. While still a student, she knocked on the door of west London design store, Couverture, showed them her knitted dolls – a college project – and they bought six on the spot. From then on, they ordered 20 a month. "They were £20 each, so they paid my rent through college." Wilson graduated in 2003.

Her first big market was Japan. She took part in a design show there after graduation, and by the time she'd got home, there were large orders for her animal scarves and knitted creatures, particularly the weirder-looking ones. "I thought, oh my God I need help," recalls Wilson, who then hired her first employee.

By the time SCP had spotted her, buying first her creatures, then cushions and blankets, Wilson's flat, which was doubling as her studio, had grown too small. So she took on a studio space with a friend. "It felt like a huge risk at the time."

The high street came calling two years ago when Heal's approached her to design a cushion. John Lewis contacted her soon after. "I never thought my work would sell there," she says. Why? "It's so huge, I always assumed I'd just end up in small design shops."

Does she feel her rise has been meteoric? "It feels more slow and steady," she says. "But things have really taken off in the past two years. I was worried about the recession, but that's because we're a small company. We've always been really resourceful, and luckily it doesn't seem to have affected us – we're still growing and it's going really well."

How about her status as the next big thing (the day after we meet, she emails me to tell me she's just been awarded Elle Decoration's British Designer of the Year)? Does she worry about exhausting the Donna Wilson brand – and that her faux naive designs will end up on laptop cases?

"I'm not doing any conscious brand-building," she says. "I am an admirer of the likes of Orla Kiely, but I like being slightly more niche. I like being hands-on, it's the part of my job I enjoy the most. I still feel more comfortable with a needle and thread as opposed to a calculator."

Wilson hasn't taken a holiday this year. "I don't mind working hard when it's my own business, but I get homesick for Scotland. I miss the countryside," she says. Her parents, both farmers, are hugely proud of her success. "But it wasn't until I was featured in The Press and Journal when they really said, ooh, she's made it."

studio sample sale extravaganza !

2010-11-26T07:54:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone, we're having our sample sale next weekend. lots of bargains and goodies for Christmas. Cushions, scarves, little unwanted creatures, and lots more!

here's the info:

FESTIVE STUDIO SAMPLE SALE

opening times:
Thursday 2nd December: 18.00 - 21.00
Friday 3rd December: 12.00 - 18.30
Saturday 4th December: 10.00 - 18.00
Sunday 5th December: 10.00 -15.00

address:
Unit 12, 10-14 Hollybush Gardens, London, E2 9QP.
less than 1 minute from Bethnal Green underground on central line. Our studio neighbour Thorsten van Elten will also be opening his warehouse, which will be packed with bargains too! Go to: www.thorstenvanelten.com or www.theo-theo.com to have a look at what may be on offer there.

Donna's House at the Future Perfect New York

2010-11-16T01:29:00.000-08:00

Hello! wanted to tell you about my first show in the USA, in their two shops in New York. The fantastic Future Perfect have built me a wooden house and filled it with knitted goodies. Everything in the show is for sale, so perfect for your Christmas shopping! Exclusively for the show there are four very tall knitted people who will be watching you as you wonder around the magical, colourful knitted wonderland!

Here are the details:

Come visit Donna Wilson's house loaded with creatures, pillows, poufs, china, mittens, scarves, furniture, trays, porcelain and specially created one-of-a-kind pieces at The Future Perfect. At both shops and runs through the holiday season.

Her "HOUSE" is at:
The Future Perfect Manhattan
55 Great Jones Street
New York, NY 10012
(bleecker 6 stop)

And there's a brand new selection of items at:
The Future Perfect Brooklyn
115 North 6th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11211
(bedford L stop)

Donna Wilson wins the British designer of the year - Elle Decoration

2010-11-12T05:05:00.000-08:00

A couple of months ago I found out that my Mog plate was shortlisted for the Elle Decoration design awards, unfortunately Mog didn't win, but I just found out that I won the designer of the year!

So thank you to all my lovely customers for all their support, and of course my fantastic Staff as without them I wouldn't be able to do what I do: Erin, Laura, Kate, Kristina and Imogen who all work so hard (especially over the last couple of months) (sounds like I've won an oscar!

Also thanks so much to Elle Decoration and http://www.thebritishdesignawards.com

The article is in Decembers Elle deco out now.

Designer of the Year

Donna Wilson

There’s no-one quite like textiles queen Donna Wilson. Her fabulous products include colourful cushions, tea-time accessories, playful ceramics and, of course, the starting point for the whole shebang — her collection of curious knitted creatures. In 2010, three new additions to the creature family have won our hearts: bashful ‘Wolfie’, who collects spoons; ‘Peanut’, who needs coaxing out of his shell; and ‘Puddle Man’, who likes to whistle when it rains. Imaginative, quirky, cool. Need we say more?

donnawilson.com