Down to earth drawing by artist Natasha Clutterbuck

While at Yeo Valley this summer I picked up a leaflet advertisting workshops run by Somerset artist Natasha Clutterbuck, who uses charcoal, mud, rocks and tea to create fantastically expressive drawings of just-picked vegetables. I loved the idea of trying my hand at a natural pigment drawing of my own but was sadly too slow off the mark to snag a place on the course. I put the leaflet to one side, hoping there might be another chance next year.

Anyway, last week I was looking for something completely different when I stumbled across Natasha once again, this time the beautiful photographs Andrew Montgomery took in her studio for Gardens Illustrated. It reminded me of the raw, natural quality I’d loved about her work and it was a real treat to see inside her workspace.

{Andrew Montgomery}

{Andrew Montgomery}

{Natasha Clutterbuck}

{Andrew Montgomery}

{Andrew Montgomery}

{Natasha Clutterbuck}

{Andrew Montgomery}

{Andrew Montgomery}

{Natasha Clutterbuck}

I love discovering new local artists and Andrew’s photographs really bring Natasha’s work to life… he really is one of the most fantastic photographers around in my eyes. I’m embracing the natural beauty of autumn right now and these drawings perfectly capture the colourful bounty we should be enjoying and preserving for when the nights draw in!

If you like what you see here, click to see more of Andrew Montgomery‘s stunning portfolio and more of Natasha Clutterbuck‘s drawings.

The Makers Project: meet Brooklyn’s beautiful creatives

I’m fascinated by photo projects and am always intrigued by the niche subjects people choose. Kinfolk magazine (my new obsession) led me to The Makers Project by Brooklyn-based photographer Jennifer Causey. Jennifer has made it her mission to capture the creative goings-on on her doorstep. From painters and florists to perfumers and distillers, she’s recorded the relaxed beauty of the people, their products and places of work.

It was a struggle to pick one maker to showcase here because each photo story has its own beauty and charm, but I loved the simplicity of this profile of woodworker Ariele Alasko. She started off studying sculpture and now works full time crafting headboards, tables and breadboards from salvaged wood gathered from buildings being pulled down in her neighbourhood.

In between stints in her workshop Ariele also manages to write the very lovely Brooklyn to West blog (check out the about page for a sneak peek of her apartment), fit out an extremely cool restaurant and sell her wares.

{all Jennifer Causey / The Makers}

The Makers Project website is a pretty addictive so I strongly suggest you while away an hour or two flipping through Jennifer’s photo stories. You can read more about why she started the project in Kinfolk volume five which I’ve recently discovered is available through this trusty online outlet. Kinfolk fans of the UK rejoice!

Shot in the dark

I love these deep, atmospheric images styled by Hans Blomquist – the watery light and inky blues set the perfect mood for autumn.

{Styling Hans Blomquist via Agent Bauer}

I’ve written before about my recent conversion to blue interiors – these just about seal the deal. Blue so often feels like a cool or fresh colour but these rich slate shades seem so soft and cosy to me.

Would you decorate with blue in your home?

Playful pattern by Jessica Hogarth

It’s always great when young designers are proactive enough to promote their work, so when Jessica Hogarth emailed me she immediately grabbed my attention. At just 24 she’s just exhibited at New Designers: One Year On and opened a NOTHS shop to boot. I really love her playful designs inspired by daily life in Paris and in Robin Hood’s Bay, where Jessica grew up.

{all Jessica Hogarth Designs}

Jessica was asked to design her bright textile collection Velocity for American quilting company P&B textiles… she doesn’t have a UK stockist for them yet but I expect it won’t be long before they’re are snapped up over here. I’m predicting a bright future for this bright young designer!

In the meantime, you can buy her Coastal Cottages wallpaper (£120/roll), screenprints and home accessories through Jessica Hogarth Designs at NOTHS and visit her website for more details.

Write more handwritten letters

Remember the sentiment of this Pinterest A-Z post? Last week I came across this appropriate print by Mary Kate McDevitt and have really enjoyed browsing her work. She’s one designer who definitely practices what she preaches!

I’ve always enjoyed messing around with my handwriting… adding my own little loops and twirls to the regulation joined-up writing we were taught at school was about as rebellious as I got during my early years! I love the idea that someone can build a career around a passion for writing and have the title ‘Illustrator and Letterer’ on their CV.

Mary Kate McDevitt lives in Portland, Oregon and mixes creating prints and cards for her Etsy shop with commissions for magazines, shops, restaurants and designing posters for events.

I often toy with the idea of making a blackboard wall / door / panel somewhere in Le Flat… I reckon I’d be much more inclined to go ahead if I could write like this!

{all Mary Kate McDevitt}

There are lots more examples of Mary Kate’s illustrations on her website and a selection of designs are for sale here on Etsy.

Intricate illustrations by Claire Scully

I have a habit of leaving my computer logged into Decorator’s Notebook so I usually miss the thumbnail links on the WordPress Freshly Pressed page. Today though, my laptop took it upon itself to log me out of it’s own accord… fortuitously as it happened as I discovered these.

One click took me to The Flood, an interesting digital art magazine and from there to British illustrator, Claire Scully. There are a few different styles of work in her portfolio but it was her Bejewelled series that caught my eye.

Each illustration is an intricate web of geometric shapes – to me they look almost like lacework or crochet. You can tell that a huge amount of patience and concentration went into making them.

There’s a slightly folkloric edge to the way the animals and birds are drawn – I think it’s the blend of the graphic design and pretty detailing that appeals to me.

{all Claire Scully}

See more in Claire Scully’s portfolio… while you’re there click on the Nature Drawings category too. Her feather and tree root drawings are lovely.

Tweet tweet!

Just a quick note to let you know I’m going to be making more effort with the whole social media thing, so I wanted to remind you that you can follow Decorator’s Notebook on Twitter. Be warned, there will probably be some wittering on about grey paint!

{Fleurografie at Etsy}

By way of illustration, I spotted this beautiful bird etching on Etsy – if you love it too you can find it (and other gorgeous prints by Fleurografie) here.

Elegantly faded: photographer Idha Lindhag

Swedish photographer Idha Lindhag‘s portfolio is a thing of beauty. I love the relaxed yet atmospheric mood of her pictures – I feel like a want to pick up a mug of tea or a glass of still lemonade (depending on the season) and step right in…

{all Idha Lindhag}

There’s lots more loveliness to be found on Idha’s website. Be warned, once you’ve been drawn in you might not want to leave!

Really?!

I don’t usually post on Saturdays but Decorator’s Notebook has been a busier place than usual this weekend so I thought I’d drop in and say ‘welcome’ to everyone heading over from… (wait for it)… The Telegraph!

{both Decorator’s Notebook}

A puzzling spike on my stats graph led me to the flattering discovery that I’ve been listed as one of the top 10 interiors websites in The Telegraph’s weekend Property supplement and also online here. I can’t believe that my little spare time blog has been picked to rub shoulders with the likes of Design*Sponge, Apartment Therapy and a huge picture of Mr Phil Spencer!

So, if you’ve stumbled across Decorator’s Notebook for the first time I hope you’ve enjoyed your visit and thanks to writer Paul Clements for making my weekend!

PS: If you’d like to read the posts mentioned in the article you’ll find all the Room Debates here and the Decorating Trends post here.

The only good thing to do with lino

Thanks to the lovely Lynne of Tea for Joy for the tip-off on this one: Sheffield-based printmaker James Green. By James’s own admission the subject matter of his work is slightly random (check out his Folksy shop for urban landscapes, a psychedelic Victorian maid, and customers outside a Llandudno chip shop amongst other things). However it was his linocuts of British animals and birds that caught my eye.

{Prints from £12, all James Green}

You can take the girl out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the girl! Which one would you pick?