As the world gets ready to usher in a new year, I always take a bit of time to reflect on the year that has past. 2013 treated me pretty well, there were many hectic, happy, exciting moments. 2013 marked my first year producing two seasonal collections for Book of Deer, I exhibited at my first ever tradeshow, designed a jewellery collection and relocated myself to London. Most importantly, I am a touch more confident about running this little business of mine. I feel a slight apprehension that 2014 is upon us already. It still sounds far off into the future and I feel somehow not quite modern enough for it. As I am exposed and connected to more makers, bloggers and artists on the internet and on my travels, I have an increasing appreciation for the slower-paced creatives out there. The laboured love behind hand-painted pottery, colour pencil portraits and street art reminds me to keep my focus on why I started Book of Deer. Book of Deer was borne from my love of illustration, story-telling and fantasy. In the galloping speed of garment production cycles I have sometimes forgotten to savour and enjoy the time I take to draw Book of Deer's prints. So my resolution for 2014 is to draw more... even for the heck of it... and for the love of it. I shall enjoy drawing again like I used to, not set time schedules on each doodle or only draw within the constraints of Book of Deer's seasonal themes. I think this resolution will be easier to keep than my usual '"sleep before 12am, keep a sunnier outlook on life" (though I will take a stab at those too!) Happy 2014 to one and all... I hope this year brings you all wonderful new experiences and adventures! Thank you for supporting and following Book of Deer's development throughout 2013. Lots of love to you wherever you are x

Christmas is just around the corner and all I want to do is watch telly!

 

Rebecca of the Clothes Horse featured two pieces from our AW13 collection Sea and Selkie in two delightful outfit posts. What made these posts even more special was that Rebecca shot them whilst on holiday in Ireland. I can't think of a better setting to evoke the legends and mystique of the sea that inspired this collection.

Source: http://theclothes.blogspot.hk/2013/10/message-in-bottle.htmlhttp://theclothes.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/smooth-seas-do-not-make-for-skillful.html

  I love that Rebecca mentioned the origins of the Seafarer print in her post:

"This Book of Deer Seafarer kilt arrived right before I left and instantly went from it's mailing package into my suitcase with barely a breath of PA air inbetween. The painting on it was originally painted on a pillowcase by a fellow sailor on the designer's Grandfather's ship. Is that so interesting? I feel as if sailors and soldiers are often depicted as these rough, manly men, but there's actually a wealth of art that has come from ships. Have you seen aSailor's Valentine (which were probably not made by the sailors, but it is still secretly my dream to receive one of these one day)? There's a wealth of other examples of detailed artwork historically coming from sailors--from knots to intricately carved pipes and pieces of bone. The pillowcase-now-skirt feels almost like a piece of history and depicts a ship on a stormy sea and the weather certainly echoed that image on our day--perhaps it even summoned it. Winds and rain had kept us inland most of my visit to Northern Ireland, but we braved the weather on this day for a drive down to a cute coastal town in Ireland. These pictures were taken quickly on a small beach between rain showers--you can see the mountains of Northern Ireland on the other side of the water." Rebecca of The Clothes Horse 

Big thank you to Rebecca for spreading the story of Book of Deer and giving our designs such a wonderful platform. 

Greetings from London! I have been here a week and feeling quite at home already. My first weekend was spent doing what I do best in cold countries, waddling around in a thick coat and stuffing my face. I figure hearty roast dinners are the best way to acclimatise myself.

Over the weekend we stumbled across Craft Central, a bi-annual open studio event. We were walking down Clerkenwell Road and I spotted this little goldfish in a window.

Turned out we were peering into the studio of Sarah Perry, an artist specialising in Trompe L'oeil, Fresco and Mural painting. Sarah's studio was just one of a whole building of studios open to the public over the weekend. We paid a small entrance fee, picked up some mulled wine and spent the next hour wandering around the variety of craft studios in 21 Clerkenwell Green. I was really taken with Sarah's intricate paintings. As you can see, they combine two of my favourite elements in illustration... teeny detail and natural fantasy. Up one floor, I fell in love with jewellery maker Jessica de Lotz's studio. It was a world within itself. Outfitted like a curiosity shop, every surface was covered with bric-a-brac and Jessica's antique inspired creations. I was too shy to take pictures but I'm sure Jessica's jewellery below will give you an idea of the olde worldly opulence her creations evoke. Her signature is wax seal inspired jewellery with a steam-punk edge. I love how her pieces are at once romantic, humorous and feminine. Sarah and Jessica's work was just a small sample of what we saw. I loved getting a sneak peek at the processes behind such highly skilled work. I immediately felt invigorated to return to my own sketchbook and begin working on a print I had been procrastinating over. To witness that all art/craft/design is a labor of love no matter what level you are working at, is a humbling reminder to keep honing my craft. My first weekend in London reinforced for me the best things about living here-- That there is always something to do, that the weather may be harsh but is always beautiful, that art is so accessible.

It's good to be back!