Friday 14 March 2014

Birds and Buttons

I've had so many lovely comments about our new Homewares range, and one thing that I've been asked is whether I designed the items myself, or collaborated with a Designer. 

Well, we could have gone down that route, but having used  design skills in my ceramics work, I didn't see why this new project should be that different.  I think most craftspeople, whether it's needlework, quilting, pottery, knitting, whatever, have a good eye for design even if they don't realise it.

Summer Winds apron and teatowel
I've always had an interest in folk-art motifs and I knew from the start that I would be incorporating lots of birdies into the mix, especially into this range - a bird flying on Summer Winds just seemed so right.
 
Ceramic Birdy Buttons from Catherine Daniel Ceramics
I've been making birdy buttons in the pottery too and the odd one or two that haven't gone to galleries have been popped in with some of the homewares orders with our compliments - a little Freebird!

Summer Winds Teatowel  - Birdhouse detail

Of course, once I had popped a bird into the design, he had to have a little birdhouse to live in.  Birdhouses have also been a favourite in the ceramics studio for a long long time.

Ceramic hanging decorations - birdhouses in the foreground


I didn't quite realise this cross-over was happening until after we'd got the new items from the manufacturers, and I suddenly saw all my favourite things in them.

Summer Winds coaster

Quick Reminder! One more week to enter the Giveaway.  Winners announced on Saturday 22nd March.   Please take the picture if you wish.


As a crafts-person, what are your favourite design motifs;  those that you keep using over and over?

x Cathy




19 comments:

  1. How did that happen? How did I miss the launch of the tea towels and aprons? I hadn't realised you had a NEW BLOG until now!! Grrr! Anyway, loadsa luck with it all and hope the new venture is a real success. Lxxxx

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  2. Thanks for visiting my blog and giving me the opportunity to see your beautiful work. I love the feel of ceramic items and of course, aprons are something in which I truly have an interest. Being a quilter, your designs draw me in. Much success to you!

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  3. I saw your post on Alyson's blog (New England Living) and decided to pitch up and see your blog.....what an amazing place you have here :-)

    I'm off to explore all these wonderful pics of yours....after I've 'followed' you and added you to my own blog-roll, of course! ;-p

    SueH at The Knitting Assassin!
    and I refuse to go quietly!


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  4. Leaves! But then, you knew that!x

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  5. This is wonderful! Best of luck on this adventure.
    Vines and leaves.

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  6. Trees, sea/beach items seem to crop up a lot!!
    Love your patchwork themed homewares - can't decide what to get for my quilting-mad friend...
    Pam

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  7. I wish to be included in your giveaway draw. I just found your website today and just love what I saw.
    Myra, from Winnipeg, Canada, where we are still in the throes of winter with temps of minus 25C today.

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  8. You've done a wonderful job with these designs. I hadn't noticed the birdhouses, thanks for pointing them out. Your bird buttons are so cute! A motif I come back to is the simple circle, and flowers.

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  9. Such pretty things Cathy! My favourite design feature is flowers & leaves. I often use that as a quilting motif as well as in applique. And I love floral fabrics.

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  10. You've moved! I'm a bit behind with my blogging lately but glad to have found you again. I like the new ranges.. A Native American feel to some of the designs.

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  11. Such lovely things, I especially love those birdy buttons. I'm going to go and have a nose in your shop now.

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  12. I think it's great that you hung on to creative control, I wouldn't have expected any less.

    Stylized foliage is a recurring motif with me, or it was, I haven't done much designing of anything the last few years.

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  13. So glad you left me a comment, so now I can pop over to see you.
    For me it's the traditional old quilting blocks like the Ohio Star, and Jacob's Ladder...and roses, I love to do in Silk Ribbon embroidery.

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  14. I love the bird buttons and bird houses, got a thing about birds myself atm, maybe it is the spring. Thank you for visiting my blog off for a tour of your shop

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  15. Your designs are lovely Cathy, i do like the little birds and bird houses.
    I seem to use simple hearts and flowers a lot, hardly unique! For me its always about giving new life to something old, using a few scraps of vintage linen to make something new, hopefully both useful and beautiful - like the theme in your last post, I too have always used William Morris's words as the basis of all I make and how decorate my home.
    Loving all your goodies!
    Gill xx

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  16. What wonderful buttons! And thanks for your comment about my own MoP buttons, and my Lent post too. In answer to your craft motif pattern, I think my MoP buttons are my repeated 'signature'. l don't have much time to craft right now but I still find time to change plastic buttons for MoP ones when I buy clothes.

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  17. So this is where you're hiding! :0D
    Such cute little birdy buttons and the little hanging ornaments are so cheerful. I like your new homeware range, it's going to keep you busy! I keep going back to little houses in my crafty stuff.

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  18. How wonderful that your favourite things snuck into so many designs!

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  19. Hi Cathy,
    Wow, you have some really neat pottery here. All very pretty.
    We used to have cousin who made pottery, and it was pretty
    but nothing as nice as this.......

    Again thanks for coming by,
    Blessings, Nellie

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