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Rachel Lopez, a journalist in Mumbai, has taken time to record her many rides in taxis with their colorful and kitschy ceilings. Under the Insta handle of @thegreaterbombay, you can savor all the delectable patterns that she captures. The wonderful contrast of her scarves and red-framed glasses with the ceilings just adds that extra vibrancy of mixed patterns that I love. Take the colorful ride with her and enjoy the sights.
I'm obsessed with Temperly London's Summer 2017 Collection. It's so incredibly dreamy. Watch the runway show to see the dresses in action. Just when you think you've chosen a favorite, another incredible piece floats around the corner. Watch here
So exciting! The final cut of my Minted vignette is done. Take a peek inside my apartment, studio, and see where I get some of my creative inspiration.
Also hear what what Minted means to me, and about how rewarding it was working with them.
Click through to watch on Vimeo.
I am thrilled to be chosen by Artfully Walls to join their great group of artists. Take a look at the latest artwork available for your walls—wonderfully curated by their team.
As stated on their site:
Our collection of beautifully styled walls showcases the art prints sold on our site, and provides looks that can be easily recreated by users on their own walls...Prints sold on our site are museum quality fine-art prints made with archival inks and premium paper and canvas, resulting in vivid and stunning pieces. Additionally, with our app for iPhones, that utilizes advanced augmented reality algorithms, users can view how entire styled walls or individual pieces of art will look on their own walls before actually placing a purchase. All it takes is a click of the "Try on Wall" Button. Once users install and sign into the app, they can view how the selected works look on their own wall.
Click through to my shop!
I see lots of great things on Instagram and I follow tons of people, but Melbourne-based artist Vanessa Amisano's work really caught my eye. Her distinct style is vibrant and full of pattern which is of course, my jam.
I especially love her 100 girls project. I like how clean and simple her girls are yet also colorful and dynamic—each with a distinct style and personality. And their outfits! Don't you want to own these clothes?
Connecting with creative Instagram friends around the world is a wonderful thing that feeds my soul. Follow Vanessa's Instagram here. And check out her site for more in the coming weeks.
All images used with permission of the artist. © 2017 Vanessa Amisano
© 2017 Vanessa Amisano
My mural for Minted has finally begun! I am having a blast helping the muralists paint my strange bird. I hope you'll stay tuned to see more in the next few weeks including a stop-motion video of the whole process. I feel so honored and excited to have a wall with my art on such a large scale in the city I love.
Me painting my corner
In progress
Chiara on the bird
Morgan Bricca on the lift
My inspiration this week are the designs of Celia Birtwell and Ossi Clark. Although these designs are from the 60s-70s, there's something about them that feels so relevant today. I absolutely love the graphic yet delicate and very feminine nature of their work.
A lot of things inspire my designs. Being outside and walking around town or in nature are big sources of inspiration. But on days when I'm stuck inside or just enjoying some TV time all cozy on the couch, I still can't stop myself from noticing patterns wherever I look. I have even saved a few images over the years on my Instagram feed #tvtextiles.
I love the series The Durells in Corfu (PBS Masterpiece Theater). It's set in 1935 and I am so in love with the fashion that is depicted on the show. I can't help but take snapshots of special patterns I notice as I watch. Afterward, I will look through the images and make little sketches to see a theme arise. Attached are (blurry) examples of my captures and the sketchbook entry, then design, that followed. Inspiration has no boundaries! What's your secret source of inspiration?
One of my inspired design
Here are just a few I enjoyed, out of hundreds of vendors. Click through to see more from the designers.
Smart, and bright too? I see lots of pastels out there, but I say energize your nursery or kid's room by integrating bold patterns and art. Contact me with queries about buying or licensing my designs, or to collaborate on a custom project. Keep on keeping it bright!
I have really been terrible about keeping up with posts lately and it's mainly because I took a break from everything while I recovered from hip replacement surgery. That's right, I am now bionic! I feel much too young to have gone through this, but it's a genetic thing and I've been needing a new one for a while. I'm excited to see what a pain-free life can bring me now. I love to walk outside for inspiration and I was greatly limited for a long while, but I will be back in action again very soon. In the meantime, I can post about a trip to a museum I made before the surgery.
I went to the teamLab interactive exhibit at the PACE Gallery in Menlo Park. It runs through December 18th of this year and is absolutely worth a trip if you are in the Bay Area. As stated on their website:
"teamLab, the renowned Japanese art collective, recognized for challenging and expanding the digital art making practice, and Pace Art + Technology will present Living Digital Space and Future Parks. The large-scale installation will invite participants of all ages to immerse themselves in the multi-room environments spanning 20,000ft² and showcasing 20 digital works."
It is pretty incredible and I could have stayed for hours. Take a look at these videos for a peek at what's in store if you can make it.
Here's a nice interview that Sessions College did with me. Click on image below to have a read.
Sessions College for Professional Design (sessions.edu) is an online school of visual arts. Sessions College offers accredited online degree and certificate programs in Graphic Design, Web Design, Digital Media, Illustration, Digital Photography, and more.
I've always had a love of needlecraft. At a young age, my German Oma and my Mom both taught me to knit, sew and embroider and I am totally amazed at the new modern twists I see everywhere now. Whether it's quilting a bold colorblocked dress, weaving fabric scraps to make a shirt, or embroidering on a photograph, it's pretty astounding how creative people are.
About ten years ago I took my own turn at a twist on classical embroidery and created things like cityscapes and birds on wires—here are several examples. I had a few shows back in the day, but my love of pattern design took over. I don't spend much time with thread or needles anymore but I still love to get inspired by what's out there now. You can see more on my Pinterest board Stitch Knit Weave.
(I still have stitched items for sale, feel free to email me if interested in seeing more of my private collection).
© Katja Ollendorff
Images Below Row 1: Emily Parkinson, Celeste Tesoriero, Chilise Patternson, Row 2: Gintare Pasakarnyte, Karen Barbe, Viktor & Rolf, Row 3: Gemma Beech, Kustaa Saksi, Laerke Bagger, Row 4: Liz L Payne, Marloes Duyjer, Maryanne Moodie, Row 5: Mina Perhonen, Sharish Shafiq, Hasta Mostly
I love seeing art out in public spaces and especially when it is a creation by L.A. artist Bunnie Reiss. I discovered her vibrant art recently and right away had to have a piece of my very own (see gloves below). It makes me so happy to see them on my wall, as her artwork has all the elements I love, and some of which I incorporate in my own work. Decorative folk elements, check. Bright colors, check. Strange birds, check.
She not only paints amazing wallscapes, but also works with textiles, odd materials, creates installations, illustrations and more. See more of her work here on her site.
Images were obtained courtesy of artist. All images © 2016 Bunnie Reiss.
My very own pair of Animal Gloves! Sigh.
How cute are these dolls, by Özge Akarsu, that showcase my patterns. Vivense had these made and sent out to celebrities, bloggers and press to announce their new fabric lines. There definitely are a few outfits I would wear in there—I just love them!
All dolls were made by artist Özge Akarsu. Photos courtesy of Vivense.
And another great surprise was a VIP lounge that they sponsored during a big concert series in Istanbul. Look who's patterns are on the pillows and tuffets!
My design on the catalog cover
Hey everyone, I'm excited to let you know that I have added some more prints for sale right here on my site! There's something for everyone and every room. They make great gifts too! Click here or the SHOP tab above to see them all.
Hi friends. Come join a fun evening at the Minted pop-up shop at 222 Grant Street in SF. I'll be there along with a few other Minted artists making and selling art "live" on the scene. This is a two hour event from 5:30-7:30PM and it's a perfect stop after work. Have a glass of wine and a nibble and get to meet and support a few local Minted artists. Click image for more info and I hope to see you there!
With the Perseid meteor shower in full effect, everyone is seeing stars. Whether fashion takes it's cue from the skies or Hedy Lamar's 1941 Zeigfield Girl, stars appear on the runways and streets galore. The galaxy is not so far away. See July 18th post below for more stars.
From top left: Jenny Packham, Saint Laurent, Richard Nylon, Street style bomber, Valentino, Saint Laurent, Sydney Fashion Week, Street style, Realisation dress, Gucci, Hedy Lamar in Zeigfield Girl, McQueen
So very exciting to see my designs on both furniture and fabric for Vivense Home & Living. They are a wonderful modern furniture and lifestyle brand based in Istanbul, Turkey. It was a joy working with them to select these vibrant designs for their new home collections, which are now available on their website as well as in their showrooms. Here are just a few items available in store now.
I am happy to announce that I have a whole slew of new products for sale on my site. Visit the SHOP tab to see what's in. I'm currently adding to my list of kitchen items which include coffee mugs, coasters and travel cups. Aprons, oven mitts and tea towels are soon to come.
Next up will be some great new accessories for the home including fabric, pillows and ready to hang artwork. So stayed tuned - there will be plenty available in time for the holidays. Wait what! Holidays? Well, it's never too soon.
11 oz. and 15 oz. coffee mugs © Katja Ollendorff
Travel cups and tumblers © Katja Ollendorff
© Katja Ollendorff
Coordinating set of coasters © Katja Ollendorff
