here's the info:
studio sample sale extravaganza !
Friday, 26 November 2010
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!
Donna's House at the Future Perfect New York
Tuesday, 16 November 2010
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
Friday, 12 November 2010
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?
Donna Wilson article in the NYTimes
Thursday, 28 October 2010
Donna Wilson has become the Tim Burton of London’s knitting circle. Back when the designer was a student at the Royal College of Art, she began crafting dolls out of old ‘‘jumpers,’’ the British word for sweaters. The leggy dolls without noses or mouths were picked up by Couverture, a chic lifestyle shop. Today, Wilson’s quirky menagerie includes 30-odd creatures, like the charming hybrid Cyril Squirrel-Fox and Puddle Man (essentially a pool of water with a face), all of which are made from knitted lamb’s wool in Wilson’s East End workshop, not to mention cushions, throws, ottomans, sofas and rugs. Many of these are commissions from and collaborations with SCP, the British home furnishings manufacturer.
The daughter of farmers, Wilson grew up in Banff in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and recalled an idyllic childhood playing in the fields. ‘‘It
was inside me but also encouraged by my grandma,’’ Wilson said of her urge to make things. When she taught herself machine knitting, she discovered that she could ‘‘replicate textures found in nature,’’ and her memories filtered into her art in the form of natural landscapes and textures like moss, bark and stone. ‘‘It still amazes me that you can create a fabric from a bit of yarn,’’ she said.
was inside me but also encouraged by my grandma,’’ Wilson said of her urge to make things. When she taught herself machine knitting, she discovered that she could ‘‘replicate textures found in nature,’’ and her memories filtered into her art in the form of natural landscapes and textures like moss, bark and stone. ‘‘It still amazes me that you can create a fabric from a bit of yarn,’’ she said.
At the R.C.A. she was tutored by the artist Freddie Robins, whose freehand method of knitting fascinated her. She ended up participating in Robins’s wedding, a six-month performance project that involved knitting every detail of the celebration, including the flowers, cake, confetti, sandwiches and patchwork wedding gown, for which Wilson contributed the 98-foot train.
Wilson’s homespun aesthetic is a patchwork as well. ‘‘She has an instinctive understanding of color and design, plus this strong knowledge of materials,’’ said Sheridan Coakley, SCP’s founder. An early commission from SCP was the Motley, a rainbow-colored Chesterfield ottoman. Recent collaborations include Nos Da (Welsh for ‘‘good night’’), a collection of throws, blankets and pillows — in brilliant hues and hyper-geometric patterns — that is manufactured in Wales using a heavy Yorkshire yarn that exploits the traditional Welsh dobby weave. And a series of Sundara rugs woven in Bikaner, in Northern India, has oversize patterns reminiscent of brightly colored Fair Isle sweaters, a signature knitting style from Wilson’s native land.
This month, the Future Perfect will present a selection of Wilson’s new work at its Brooklyn and Manhattan stores. ‘‘At first glance, Donna’s work is childlike, but when you get to know her, you see that there’s really nothing childish about it,’’ said David Alhadeff, the Future Perfect’s owner. ‘‘There’s something about knitting that’s very familiar, simple and comfortable.’’ Indeed, even Wilson’s weirdest creatures are not without their comforts. ‘‘They’re odd,’’ she said. ‘‘But you want to look after them.
Article written by Melissa Feldman
Article written by Melissa Feldman
Go to: http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/25/knit-witty/ to see more pictures.
Thanks Melissa!
Otto's monster
Wednesday, 27 October 2010
I had a visit to the studio today by Otto who is 10. He is making his own monsters with bits of felt, he hand stitches them and fills them with rice. He told me that he attaches plastic bags onto them and when they're thrown up in the air, the plastic back becomes a parachute. He showed me his amazing sketch book which was full of sketches of monsters he's going to make and sell to his friends. Reminded me of my sketchbooks that I used to do when I was young, I used to sell things made of Fimo to friends and family too. (lucky them!)
Here's a page from his book with pictures of my creatures as inspiration, but I think I was the one who was most impressed! well done Otto!
Our knitted banks in Isetan windows Tokyo
Thursday, 21 October 2010
Piggy banks at Isetan
Thursday, 14 October 2010
I was asked by Isetan, the Japanese department store to design design a piggy bank, and naturally thought of the ceramic variety, but they wanted me to knit them!
Here's a sneak preview of the different characters. If you squeeze their mouths together they open up so you can stash your cash in them!
The show will be on at Piggy banks collection at Shinjuku Isetan
from 10/27-11/9 2010
At stage 5 on 5th floor
Donna Wilson biscuits and sweets!
Tuesday, 5 October 2010
I've been working with my Japanese distributor Trico recently, designing buscuits and chocolates for Japanese department store Isetan. Here are a few pictures, They are fantastic!
This is an image from their catalogue. They have made them so delicate and beautiful!
some images from Isetan http://www.isetan.co.jp/
so if you are in Tokyo please go and have a look and get some cookies- they are only on sale there for a limited time! I am getting some sent over so I will let you know how they taste!!
London Design Week
Thursday, 16 September 2010
Can't believe it's London Design week again, time is passing so quickly!
We have a few exciting things to tell you about this year.
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SCP
We are having a London Launch of all our new Rugs upstairs at SCP 135 Curtain Road, East London.
The Sundara Rug collection is a range of 5 designs using different techniques such as hand tufting, weaving and braiding. They are wonderfully textural and of course a feast of pattern and colour!
So come along and see them in the flesh(or wool!)
18th till the 26th of September
Also at SCP 'All lovely stuff' are launching their range of unique household products. can't wait to see that!
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British furniture company Ercol are exbiting at Tent London
I am delighted to collaborate with Ercol on a special peice for the show at Tent. No images to show yet as we're still working on it, but we have created a giant knitted cover for the studio couch. It's beautiful, hand made, soft and textural! The studio couch is one of my favourite peices from the Ercol collection originally designed in the 1950's. and proud to say they are still being produced in their fantastic Buckinghamshire factory.
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I also have joined an exhibition called what's mine is yours, which has been kindly organized by Richard Shed.
What’s mine is yours is a collection of furniture, product and graphic works which explore the shared domestic space between children and adults.
Venue: 270 Hackney Road, London, E2 7SJ
Dates: 23_09_2010 to 26_09_2010
Open: 10:00 to 19:00
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so enjoy design week, and for those of you that can't make it I will update my blog with images next week!
... over and out
Mog has been shortlisted for the British design awards!
We are excited to announce that our Mog plate has been shortlisted for the British design Awards 2010!
Featured in this months Elle decoration, this is what it says:
"Since Donna Wilson started out seven years ago making curious knitted creatures for her Royal College of Art graduation show, she's carved out a unique niche with her playful textiles and ceramics. This graphic bone china plate is mischevious yet minimal. £20 (donnawilson.com)"
.....Thanks Elle Deco!
to vote and see what else has been shortlisted go to www.thebritishdesignawards.com
(voting closes on the 13th of October)
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