Inspiration

You are currently browsing the archive for the Inspiration category.

Burnt Proteas

March 17, 2010 in Inspiration by wendren | 2 comments

This last weekend Jeremy and I decided, spontaneously, to go to Beaverlac for a break. On our way up a friend phoned to let us know that there had just been a huge fire there and he wasn’t sure if the camp site was open. Determined to go on a weekend away Jeremy and I decided to take a chance.

There had been a huge fire two days before (on the Tuesday) and it had striped the mountains of any green and everything was black and ash. However, I think that the silhouettes of burnt proteas are almost as beautiful as when they are full of colour.

I have no idea what type of protea bush these burnt flower heads are from but this was my favourite silhouette. It is like a star covered in cotton wool surrounded by blackened petals and stems. The contrast of texture is wonderful.

Share and Enjoy:

Door Hinges

January 25, 2010 in Inspiration by wendren | No comments

Door Hinge

In and around Switzerland there were loads of little things that you would only notice walking around. I loved these door hinges and plan to use them as inspiration for a new Coffee Clutch Set design.

Door Latch

Share and Enjoy:

Bridge Patterns

January 19, 2010 in Inspiration by wendren | 2 comments

Walk way patterns

Walking over one of the bridges (on one of the few half sunny days) the railing cast a gorgeous shadow. Coming from a textile design background I could not just walk over this pattern.

Walkway shadow pattern I love how the pattern (as the shadow) is distorted and how the geometric lines meet and divide the flowing shapes.

Shadow patterns

Share and Enjoy:

Gauze Poetry

November 26, 2009 in Events, Featured, Inspiration by wendren | 4 comments

Hesere Gildenhuys ‘Gauze Poetry’ was the highlight of the CPUT exhibition for me. She is a B.TEch Surface Design student that I feel produced something truly beautiful, interesting, engaging and strong with meaning.

Hesere Gauze Poetry 1

To give you some insight into the art pieces I will drop few key words: phenomenology

Three torsos

embodiment

Body blisters

perception and representation

Gauze Poetry NEck

self reflection

They are inspired by traditional body adornment of African women in tribes such as the Kaleri, Ga’anda, Nuba, Maro, Mbaye and Zaire. Geisha’s from the Japanese culture with their blank white faces and painted red lips were also very inspirational. Overall, I think Hesere has produced something very special.

Share and Enjoy:

Design Exhibition Collage: Surface

November 25, 2009 in Events, Inspiration by wendren | 2 comments

The Surface Design Department really pulled out all stops. Every surface imaginable had been reflected upon. It was a visual and tactile wonderland.

Surface Design Collage

Photographs taken at the CPUT Design Exhibition 2009.

Share and Enjoy:

Design Exhibition Collage: Graphics

November 25, 2009 in Events, Inspiration by wendren | 1 comment

Graphic Design

The Graphic Design floor always makes one smile, laugh and reflect on some very serious issues. I smiled and laughed at the poster above about Lorieres and Boeries (for those of you who are not familiar with the Lourie Awards click here and for those of you who do not know what a Boerie is, click here).

The third year students presented themselves and their work in the form of one large poster. Some of my favourites are below.

Graphic Design Posters

On a more serious note, this poster and carry bag (see below) really made an impact on me.

Gaphic Design Packed and Sold

The illustration work always bowls me over. I wish I create characters and draw stories.

Graphic Design Illustration

Photographs taken at the CPUT Design Exhibition 2009.

Share and Enjoy:

Design Exhibition Collage: Industrial

November 25, 2009 in Events, Inspiration by wendren | 2 comments

The CPUT Design Exhibition was a huge success. There was, as always is, so much to absorb you never really can take it all in at once. I snapped away with my camera hoping to take inspiration home to reflect on it. This collage is of work on the Industrial Design floor. I adore the lime green dog light.

Industrail Design Exhbition 2009

Share and Enjoy:

Wouldn’t it be wonderful …

November 12, 2009 in Inspiration by wendren | 12 comments

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to take a year’s break? Or even just two months a year where you devote everyday to developing, learning and creating without any purpose other than growing. Wouldn’t it be wonderful…

Share and Enjoy:

Spring Fling

September 22, 2009 in Inspiration by wendren | 2 comments

Lime Leaves Big Town Bag 1

It’s spring time and finally the sun has decided to show and the wind has decided to blow (as it does in summer). But undoubtedly my favourite thing about spring is how nature erupts into colour. To see some select Wren items paired with spring inspiration photographs visit Sibling Mine’s Spring Fling.
And I have updated my shop with some new ’springy’ products such as the gorgeous lime Hibiscus Big Town Bag above (paired with a close up photo of a white lily).

Share and Enjoy:

Pebbles and twigs

September 21, 2009 in Inspiration by wendren | 3 comments

Recently I discovered a wonderful flickr group called ‘Organised Collections‘. Inspired to put my own collection together I combined my linens (which are now filled with pattern piece markings) and my pebble and twig collection.

Each pebble and twig is special to me. To remember them, I have written where and when I picked it up on each one. The first twig I collected was on my first day of high school. Somehow I did not have a hair elastic and whilst sitting in register I reached for a stick, rolled my hair into a bun and carefully slid it through holding my hair in place for the rest of the day. I still have this stick and I love running my fingers over its now smooth surface.

Share and Enjoy:

Paint*ing

September 18, 2009 in Inspiration by wendren | 1 comment

“What did I learn at art school? I learned that art is painting, not painted.’
Harvey Fierstein, quotes in the exhibition ‘A Bamily Album: Brooklyn Collects’ at Brooklyn Museum of Art, April 2001.

Share and Enjoy:

Bicycle Cycle

August 26, 2009 in Inspiration, Interesting Finds by wendren | No comments

The Smiths Stop Me If You Think

Is it just me or are bicycles becoming the new must-have accessory? All sizes and all forms but the older the better it seems (for once). This music clip posted by astulabee hit home with it’s mix of 80’s music and bicycle love.

Here are some bicycle etsy finds:

1. ‘We are so good together’ linocut print by PerlaAnne 2. ‘Super bicycle diagram’ print by SweetRide 3. ‘Address stamp -olivia’ by RubberStampPress’s shop 4. ‘looking good’ photographic print by SweetRide 5. ‘Giraffe on two-high-bike black shirt‘ by darkcycleclothing 6. ‘Bicycle Cameo – Illustrated Bicycle Brooch‘ by craftyfolk’s shop 7. ‘Bring It‘ photographic print by SweetRide

Share and Enjoy:

linen love

August 20, 2009 in Inspiration, Wren by wendren | 6 comments

Linens

I have been playing with different linens for a new bag design. Laid side-by-side they make a lovely natural colour palette and the textures are not only beautiful to feel but also to look at. I’m in-love.

Medium Linen 2

I cant wait to transform these fabrics it into a bag that I can ‘feel’ all day long.

Coarse linen

Share and Enjoy:

Quilt’ed with love

July 10, 2009 in Inspiration by wendren | 3 comments

Quilt Shack by Malka Dubrawsky / Stitchindye

Quilts are something special. Whether you have made them or received them, the time that is put into one never goes unnoticed or unappreciated.

My quilt was made by my Aunt (my mom’s sister) and sadly it has completely faded from years of washing and general use. The only part recognizable is the embroidered ‘W.M’.

My Quilt

Quilts can be used in so many different ways. I used to use it as a blanket, then I used it as a sofa throw and now its back to being a blanket (that is hidden in the closet most of the time). However, I love how Syrie (first below) and Laurraine (second below) have used theirs. Syrie has upholstered a beautiful decorative lounging chair in a soft quilt and Laurraine has covered a tea pot in a mini quilt.

Quilt Upholestered by Sunshine Syrie / Sunshinesyrie

Quilted Teapot & Lavender Teabags by Laurraine Yuyama / Patchwork Pottery's

…and this picture by Riana I had to include becuase it is so beautiful. The photograph is a quilt of interesting things that all come together into a beautiful composition.

Wedding Quilt by Riana Lagarde / These Days in French Life

My favourite thing about quilts is that they hold love. If I wrap myself up with mine, no matter how old and faded it is, I feel wrapped in love. That is something that the sun or washing powder can never take away.

Share and Enjoy:

A beautiful awakening

July 8, 2009 in Inspiration by wendren | 4 comments

Sunrise with cat silhouette

The sunrise this morning was absolutely breath taking. Winter is definitely one of the most beautiful times of the year. I am so grateful that my new home has a view of the sunrise becuase it would definitely be something I would miss terribly. My gran and my mom phoned to check if that I was watching – they both know it is my favourite time of the day and I ask, how can it not be?

Share and Enjoy:

« Older entries

Inspiration

Burnt Proteas

Door Hinges

Bridge Patterns

Gauze Poetry

Design Exhibition Collage: Surface

Design Exhibition Collage: Graphics

Design Exhibition Collage: Industrial

Wouldn’t it be wonderful …

Spring Fling

Pebbles and twigs

Paint*ing

Bicycle Cycle

linen love

Quilt’ed with love

A beautiful awakening

Wren SHOP:

Categories

Archives