"Look to the weeds . . ."

Weeds are clever. As a gardener, I strongly suspect that some weeds pop up close to purposely planted foliage and flowers in order to impersonate them and make it harder for humans to discern which is the weed and which is not. I admire weeds because they are so determined. They decide where they live and they are resolved to settle and stay put, no matter how forcefully humans try to discourage them.

One of the reasons that I’m so fascinated by weeds and foliage is the idea of their secret worlds that offer endless discoveries. What could be more untold than the secret life of weeds and in particular seaweed? Seaweed can be both elegant and creepy at the same time. Its forms are ever-changing, confusing, and peculiar.

I liked the messy, form-changing qualities idea of seaweed in its natural habitat but wondered how I could capture this idea. Using the techniques and materials of disperse ink for dye sublimation printing, shibori dye, and screen printing in combination was what is giving me results that I’m happy with.

“When life is not coming up roses — look to the weeds and find the beauty hidden within them.”
― L.F.Young

A selection of my hand-printed onto linen from the 1 year in Textiles course at Spike Print, Bristol

New drawings

For the last 12+ months, I’ve been drawing house plants and collections of flowers and foliage in pots. This has lead many new designs, some of which I’ve put on to cards — a fun and inexpensive way for artwork to see the light of day. Here are 7 out of 24 new printed designs.

Swanky Hankies

For as long as I’ve been making illustrations and designs I have had two particular products that I wanted to make but they both eluded me for a long time. This because I seem to excel at finding reasons not to make them as I always try to make something that is better than what is already available. My intention is never to make anything that would not be wanted and used but to accomplish this I need to make items that are ethical, beautiful, purposeful, practical, and of good value. Another project like this is my wrapping paper, which is mentioned below but the items I’m talking about today involve my recent ’nosedive’ into hankies or “Swanky Hankies” as named today by Amanda White from Gift Frippery.

I looked into the digital printing method but I couldn’t imagine blowing my schnozzola on something that had any amount of existing stiffness to it. Screen printing them myself has been the answer. These hankies are works in progress but they are a delight to print, cure, and package.

I’ve never been a fan of tissues, in fact, I despise them. They are the very definition of waste. However, ladies handkerchiefs/handkerchieves/nose rags and other far less nice terms* often seem twee and fussy. Men’s handkerchiefs on the other hand are often available in bold designs and vivid colours. I wanted to make something that was small but eye-catching and could be used as a tissue over and over and over again.

These are a similar size to a disposable tissue but instead of a single use and into the bin they go, these handkerchiefs are far more environmentally responsible.

*’Muckender’ — late Middle English term for a handkerchief / handkerchiefs. Very unpleasant but descriptive!

NOW AVAILABLE IN THE shop / emporium / store / salon / HERE

Images LEFT to RIGHT: 30cm green check seaweed hand printed hankie. Smaller 23cm orange and pink hankie. Set of 4 23cm hankies (£16 inc delivery) Top right — lovely photo by Amanda White of Gift Fripery.

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Louise Lewis wrapping collaboration

I recently sent a fat tube of Urban & Wild’s distinctive wrapping paper to Louise Lewis. Louise has been creating some beautiful and stylish ‘wrappings’ with my paper. It is so interesting seeing what other people create from what I have created.

Louise runs her own business of corporate wrapping and runs wrapping courses. Louis has gift wrapped for Carnival UK, the Banking Circle & many private clients. Find more of Louise’s creations on Instagram: @louislewisuk

Louise does a weekly podcast all about gift wrapping and also runs online wrapping courses: https://louiselewis.co.uk/gift-wrapping-class/

NOW AVAILABLE IN THE shop / emporium / store / salon / HERE

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Gift Frippery & Urban & Wild collaboration

See how Amanda White from Gift Frippery used Urban & Wild's righteous wrapping paper to craft new creations . . .

Amanda says: “I love Joanna’s gift wrap. There’s always a story behind how she dreamt up the unusual designs and that makes it extra special. I only work with eco paper for my workshops and wrapping service, so collaborating with Joanna is a dream. Her paper is good quality and moves well around corners without tearing and I’d recommend it.”

Last year Amanda White from Gift Frippery was wrapping with and posting on Instagram about Urban & Wild’s 100% recycled and recyclable wrapping paper. Amanda is a creative gift wrapper and runs gift wrapping workshops and offers corporate wrapping services. Here are some of the lovely decorative paper cover-up jobs Amanda has pulled off . . .

Gift wrapping by Gift Frippery. Urban & Wild’s 100% recycled and ‘Foliage Variety’ recyclable wrapping paper. Photo by Amanda White from Gift Frippery

Amanda made this tactile beachcomber style Christmas cracker from my 100% recycled and ‘Twilight Snowfall’ recyclable wrapping paper. Photo by Amanda White from Gift Frippery

From the Urban & Wild’s ‘Blue Sky, Floating Blooms’ paper — Amanda wrapped this this beautifully presented gift. I think she did a great job on choosing the colours of the decorations. I wish those were my scissors!

Amanda wrapped this elegant package with Urban & Wild’s ‘Painted Ornaments’ paper.

NOW AVAILABLE IN THE shop / emporium / store / salon / HERE