I’m very excited to announce my first international stockist – Netti&Gee in Auckland, New Zealand. Owner Chris, saw my wallpaper during 100% Design back in September, and they’re now available via their website, or in-store where there is also a sample book to have a nosey through.

I travelled down to Birmingham Interiors 2010 to see my Tube Chair collaboration with Plant&Moss. It was really nice to see my pattern in the flesh, and has got me thinking about what other surfaces I could pattern up…

Designer duo Plant&Moss (both called James, too) contacted me before Christmas about a brief they were running to co-inside with the launch of their Tube Chair.  The chair, which explores the posibilities of delivering a chair through the post, will be commercially launched at Birmingham Interiors 2010 (my home town!) in collaberation with Designers Block.

The guys offered up the opportunity for illustrators, designers and artists to come up with their own customisation of the Tube Chair. I wanted my design to add a ‘classic’ look to an innovative piece of furniture, adding a hand drawn, vintage inspired pattern to an interior product that would be used in a modern setting. I got the call yesterday that my ’Carnation’ design was one of three lucky winners!

The three limited edition designs will now go into production, and be exhibited at Birmingham Interiors 2010.

Read the Designers Block story about the Tube Chair competition here.

I’d been on the hunt to get some professional photographs of my wallpapers done for some time… I met up with a few photographers in London, deciding to go with Laura Edwards. I loved the use of natural light in her food shots I had seen, and the minimal fussing with afterwards. Laura also assured me she had plenty of props, and original wooden floors which I thought would really work well with my papers…

On arrival to the shoot I wasn’t let down! We had a full day cutting, sticking, gaffer taping and playing around with all of Laura’s lovely ornaments and antique furniture. I’m over the moon with the results – watch this space for the next shoot!

During my London visit, I swung by 100% Design at Earls Court to pay the &Then Design lads a visit. I’d posted them a roll of Lady Green wallpaper, and was excited to see it up on their stand – it was really nice to see it with more than one drop up alongside their gorgeous furniture.

I’ve spent the last few weeks down in London preparing things for London Design Festival. After having the disaster of being caught up in a downpour, and my bag filled with wallpaper clashing with someone elses and spilling into the gutter (only me), I got to Kingly Court in one piece and began preparing the place for the grand opening on the Thursday.

A group of us including Giles, the Claire’s and Giles’ lovely intern Charli, all got together and with the help of others transformed the room into haven of interior goodies.

Special thanks to Giles for all of his hard work and asking me to be involved in the project, and also Claire Lovett for supplying me with the photos.

With the clocks going back soon and the days getting darker earlier by the day, I thought I would take a couple of last snaps of those still in full, if not a little wilted, colour.

Here are a few of my favourite pieces from Liberty’s current Prints Charming exhibition. With all sorts of things scattered about on the 4th floor, it was tough to decide what I liked best… I really liked the wall piece with all of the different Liberty fabrics pinned onto it, as well as the printed framework of the bicycle and the cute little teapots… There was also some beautiful Cacharel printed summer dresses, which I guess will have to wait until next summer now since ours never actually happened. Oh well…

Last week I scooted down to London for the evening for the launch of Charlotte Abrahams’ book The Ultimate Guide to Wallpaper. The party was held at the Cole & Son factory, where we were treated to seeing the factory in full printing action. My highlight was Ron, who in his 49th year of service showed us how flocked paper was made the traditional way- using a sieve that had been there since 1925. Amazing.
Thank you to Charlotte Abrahams for putting together such a great book, and all those at Quadrille Publishing. Finally not forgetting all of those at Cole & Son for working overtime to let us see them in action, although I heard they got Friday off so maybe it wasn’t such a bad thing.

 October’s Elle Decoration magazine has a lovely feature on The British Design Awards, showing all shortlisted work for both British Design of the Year and British Surface Design of the Year. Go to www.thebritishdesignawards.com and get clicking.

I had a very exciting and out of the blue phonecall the other day for the guys at Elle Decoration magazine. After sending a collection of my wallpapers in for them to see, they told me they had chosen my Polka Polka wallpaper to be shortlisted for the British Surface Design of the Year 2009 award.
You can view the other shortlisted designs at www.thebritishdesignawards.com, and it will take 2 minutes to vote for your favourite. Results will be announced at an awards evening in London in early November. Your votes would be greatly appreciated, thank you !

Another London Design Festival update. The lovely lads of &Then Design have very kindly asked to use my Lady Green wallpaper as a backdrop on their stand at 100% Design this year, where they will be exhibiting all sorts of gorgeous furniture from their new collection.
After exhibiting alongside them a year ago at New Designers Selection, we met again at One Year On in July, where they told me their exciting news of having a stand at 100% Design, where they will be unveiling new products from their ‘& again…’ collection. Click here to read more about &Then Design’s 100% Design adventure.

Some news on London Design Festival which will be upon us very soon. Furniture and interior designer Giles Miller very kindly got in touch with me asking whether he could use some of my wallpapers to furnish his pop-up shop – of course I said yes.
Giles will be taking up residency in Kingly Court, W1 just off Carnaby Street, which will see the launch of a series of new as well as re-launch of his own products. I’m one of a series of young designers Giles is recruiting to create a luxury brand of interior products. Other designers include ceramicists Claire Lovett and Julian Bond.

Giles Miller @ Kingly Court be open daily 10am – 6pm and will run until 26th September, with the open evening taking place on 17th September at 6pm.

I recently had a (very rare) week off, which I spent in the unbearable climate of Egypt. I tried not to let the 50+ degrees temperatures and fact that it hasn’t rained there for 4 years put me off though, and had a very relaxing week.

Of course most of my photographs were of the surrounding gardens and roadside shrubberys (taken whilst dodging the crazed camels which came running down the middle of the roads sidewards). There was a lot of the usual holiday bouganville floating about, along with these lovely little orange flowers which were so tiny and intricate… if anybody knows what they are called I’d love to know.

After a very long, tiring week down in London, I’d say New Designers: One Year On was a great success. Once everyones plots has been decided, we began assembling the room over a couple of days ready for the hoards of visitors that awaited us later that week. Press, buyers, bloggers, students, parents, potential stockists.. they were all there and made for a very fun week – who knew so many strangers could be so nice about your work?

A big well done to Thorsten and Marc for all of their hard work and thank you to Louisa and the rest of the ND clan for making it such a successful week.

I’m very happy to announce that Liberty of London are the first major stockists of my wallpapers. My debut collection Peonies, Lilies and Other Pretties is now available instore, so if you’re in town why not pop in and dig my sample book out for a gander…

There are a lot of tiring 14+ hour days going on at the moment, with One Year On in just over a weeks time. Come and find me in the One Year On section upstairs for my wallpaper launch and a peek at some new stuff I’ve been working on…

Many thanks to David Nicholls for featuring my wallpapers in his Design Notebook in today’s Telegraph Magazine.

Thought I would post a few quick pictures of the garden at the moment… Thankfully the hayfever hasn’t reared it’s ugly head this year, so lots of drawing has been done while the garden is in full bloom.
We also have some mystery flowers sprouting up around the garden, which were very kindly deposited by the local feathered community. It’s quite exciting not knowing what they’re going to bloom into… Gosh pass me the biscuit tin and some slippers now.

 A quick mention about a forthcoming book that will be a must-have for all wallpaper lovers. Fashion and design journalist Charlotte Abrahams has put together ‘Wallpaper: The Ultimate Guide’, where she will give her expert advice on the three main styles and areas of design – pasted pictures, fabulous florals and architectural illusions. My ‘Polka Polka’ design is to be featured in the book, so keep your peepers peeled.
You will be able to get your hands on the book in October from Quadrille Publishing.