Well School holidays are over, my son is back at school and I’m home with my darling daughter who is now 10 weeks old! All that baby sleeping time has me back in the studio…getting inspired to create a new range, getting a little bit more organised and also a getting in a bit of PhD research too…I love the lifestyle of the Designer/Maker; I’m a lucky girl!

Digitally printed textiles….

Wow, it is countdown time to the Ashe Store is finally on-line! We are busy in the studio…getting ready for our homewares photoshoot and preparing beautiful samples of cushions and lampshades, napiery and other accessories. Very exciting times!

The integrity factor

Why do I feel so guilty about going digital? Because I have always had an artisan product…because there is something so palpably lush about the real hand printed product…because it’s just what I’ve always done…Well I have good reasons for changing to digital printing and they are….

Ashe homewares line development

And another one I’m playing around with on my print table at the moment, the “Temple” piece, for the Homewares range, which features pieces from various temple, pagoda or church inspired prints I’ve made over the years…again in Linens, raw silk and cottons, yummy!

Playing my favourite game…

And life goes back to normal….working in the studio…designing, playing, cutting, printing. I’m working on a homewares range (have been for sooooo long now….trying to find the time!) but it is still happening…I promise!!

Work in Progress…In the Ashe Studio

A work in progress shot! It’s nice to document studio work…this is a shot of my “Antipodean Orientalism” print (sometime called “Paradise Lost”) in the process of being hand printed with metallic inks…Yummy!

Update on progress…..

Hi Everyone, Sorry I haven’t blogged in a while -I am very busy wrapping up my Masters degree! I’m really enjoying creating this new body of work, this print here is called “FishMask”and it’s a satirical comment on polluted waterways, but also a reference to traditional Japanese textile design…I think it’s going to look great on tank tops for this Summer…Ok, well I better get back to designing!

The Studio Nest

The nest of inspiration….I love getting lost in my studio….surrounded by books, sketch books, pin ups, music, incense, coffee, coffee, coffee….!

Ashe design journals

My trusty journal’s are full of ideas, sketches, schemes, plots and pictures…A quick sketch can capture the seed of a great idea…to quickly put it down in black and white so that I can return to the idea later and continue developing the threads….the initial sketch for the “waratah” image is here..along with cut outs and other scribbles…

My little Studio helper

Working Mums know how much fun(!) it can be to juggle small children and getting that list of things to do complete…Today in my studio, my Son colour co-ordinated with my new stock, and discovered the joys of self reflection….let the good times roll!