Thanks Pip Christmas!

The West Australian ran a special today in its Style section called “HOMEGROWN – We celebrate WA’s Fashion Designers” and Pip Christmas the wonderful editor has written a beautiful article on Ashe as part of this story. Pip writes “…Ashe has cut an individual figure in the local design world, staying true to an aesthetic of timeless, flattering dresses, evening gowns, tops and skirts with an oriental feel that has seen a devoted clientele build up around the label… thanks Pip for the lovely write up! I will scan the article into my news and media section of my website so you can all read the article…

Jungle dress ON SALE

Ashe Jungle Dresses are now on the sale rack at half price! Its a strapless number – great for the beach or a summer stroll…I admit there aren’t many left – A handful of Green, red and blue ones…don’t miss out on this wonderful bargain as they wont be there for long!

Eat… Pray… Love

This book isn’t really design inspiration – but it certainly is inspirational. “Eat, Pray, Love” by Elizabeth Gilbert is a wonderful book – its half travel novel and half a story of a quest to find spirituality in a world where we also want to find a good pizza. It talks about finding the balance that so many of us women seek – a meaningful existence amoungst our careers, families and crazy lives – it is possible! From Months in an Ashram in India, to the porch of a medicine man in Bali to the heady pleasure of Rome…this is such an entertaining novel – check it out ladies!

Chitral Pakistan, Embroidery for Ashe

In 2006 I was lucky enough to be a part of a textile project which resulted in my hand drawn designs to be embroidered by Muslim women in Chitral Pakistan. Cara Ratajczak (with whom I used to have the label MAKE years ago) headed the programme which meant travelling through the dangerous mountains of Pakistan to work with these beautiful gentle and talented ladies. The hand embroidered “Phoenix” print pictured here is just a detail from one of many embroidered panels I have in my studio which occasionally make their way into precious one-off ashe pieces which I sell in my shop. It’s such a delight to work with textiles which are so sumptuous. I will post more images from the Chitral project – as they are just too beautiful to keep hidden….

Sibella Court’s new book – etc.

If you are a reader of interior design magazines like me – then it’s is likely you have heard of Sibella Court – interior Stylist, paint colour designer, shop owner. Sibella has just released her first book “etc.” and it is truly a divine read. Sibella’s soft touch aesthetic and bower-bird like collections make for subtle and contemporary arrangements in interiors which have an absolute authenticity…no department store like styling here…everything she touches has a worn patina and a shabby chic appearance. Her studies in history are reflected in her love of antique and flea market finds which she effortlessly brings up to date by pinning, taping and layering pieces into beautiful arrangements. Sibella was also a judge in the recent Australian TV Series HomeMADE.

Brunschwig & Fils Chair

Don’t you just love this chair! Truly Ribbeting! It’s called the Lester chair with “Nymphaea” Cotton print of lotus leaves, lily pads and dragon flies…So Dynamic! To me this is Art. I would put it in a corner of a room and just watch it. I will post more of my favourite upholstery fabrics soon….

Ashe Window – Coral Chairs

In Store now we have not only the exquisite ashe garments – but we are also now selling beautiful homewares and designer furniture. In the Ashe window right now you can see our “Coral” Chairs.

They are fantastic as a statement piece in the corner of your bedroom or bathroom in white lacquered wood and studded upholstery – they are very lovely!! I really would like to take one home…but I must control myself! You can contact the shop for more details….

Moroccan Tea Glasses

I love to drink tea from Moroccan tea glasses – it gives me a little of the exotic in my everyday life! Peppermint tea is my favourite…or good old green tea of course we all love! Ashe has a huge range of assorted Tea glasses large and small…in many colours…come and see for yourself…!

Shady Corner dreaming…

Hmmmn this is the Shady Tropical corner I am dreaming of for summer in my back yard…A whole bunch of Art books, A Moroccan Mint tea, probably my phone, a snack and some sunscreen…Blllisssssssssss. The image is from an Interiors magazine…but it will stay firmly on my office pinboard until I can manifest it into my own reality!!!

Vixen

One of my Favourite Australian Fashion designers are VIXEN. Based in Melbourne, the label features exclusively hand printed and hand designed fabrics by textile designer Georgia Chapman. I can truly understand what goes into this label – as we hand print everything at Ashe as well! Vixen is available at Love in Tokyo which is just about half a block from Ashe in High Street Fremantle. I have managed to collect for myself a few Vixen pieces and they really are works of art – painstakingly printed and carefully handled by so many before it makes it to me – the customer…Just beautiful!