Merry xmas everyone!

Elle deco approved

Our stand at tent London

The talented writer Katie Garner has also written a piece about our stand at the show, and I loved what she had to say...so here it is! 

Sarah-Jayne Guest Splashes Tent London with her Signature Style

Unveiling the much anticipated new ‘Wasp’ cushion design, Sarah shows London a life of colour and dreams in textiles By Katie Garner

As the home place for innovative, fashionable and global talent, splashed across an array of textiles, furniture, ceramics, accessories and materials, it was only natural that British designer Sarah-Jayne Guest showcased her varied wares at Tent London last weekend (20^th to 23^rd September) as part of the massively inspirational London Design Festival 2012.

SjGuest Designs stand at Tent 2012

With her usual aplomb of eclectic colours and imagery, Sarah’s stand was a vivid rainbow-like streak amidst the white barriers of the stands and concrete surroundings. Her fabulously popular collection of cushions, made from 100% cotton, was proudly on display on different height shelves, including her latest patterns – the ‘Wasps’. Large luridly yellow wasps hover on backgrounds of hot pink and off white making the usually antagonistic insects strangely appealing.

Elle Deco approved award

Sarah used inspiration from her popular and  ‘Elle Decoration Approved’ ‘Pigeon’ cushion to create her latest animal-themed design, firstly by working out what appealed so much in the ‘Pigeon’ cushion. Not only did they hit three fashionable trends – mustard colourings, bird motif, patriotic British – but they also delved into a more unusual source of inspiration. “Pigeons are considered a pest, rodents, so it got me thinking to other animals like this and it got me thinking about wasps. Quirky, yet beautiful,” Sarah-Jayne explains. No doubt this is also the reasoning behind her ‘Frog’ cushions too. 

Grey wasp cushion £49.00

It’s not all about the wildlife though as Sarah’s designs also widely incorporate bold, oversized florals that demand attention in loud shades of yellow, blue, purple, green, red and pink, with accents of grey. They are often cunningly mixed with the mundane, for example you may spy a teapot nestling against a goose or a clock face propped against an enhanced petal. For something maybe more classic, Sarah’s geometric patterns of zig zags or checks in clean lines were also present, again in her signature shades.

Green wasp cushion £49

Sarah shows how uniquely versatile she is with her newest venture – her stone collection, which uses sandblasting to create patterns and designs on different coloured stone. It takes the polish off the glossy stone to leave shapes, in very much the same process as writing on headstones. Coloured stones in purple, reds and blacks etched with individually placed petals would create stunning splash backs or kitchen work tops as well as quirky floor or wall tiles. They have already attracted the attention of Italian restaurant chain Zizzi who have used Sarah’s stone designs on their table tops.

Zizzi can’t get enough of the talented designer as she has also worked on numerous location themed wall murals for their various restaurants, letting her bold illustrations liven up blank white walls. Tying in the connections with the local area provides an interesting twist, for example, the Shrewsbury branch is covered with Tudor buildings and flowers often seen in their famous flower festival. Durham on the other hand is drenched in imagery of its main emblem, the cathedral.

Sarah Guest and Katie Garner at Tent

As a sneak peek into the creative workings behind the uniquely different prints, Sarah’s stand at Tent was a perfect taster of the punchy and character-stuffed style of her ‘Imagination’ collection that would surely inject life and colour into whatever home they resided in. 

A review of Tent London

So Design week has finally come to an end, although it was brilliant, amazing, filled with talent it was exhausting!-but of course worth it. The show gave me a chance to spend some time with the very talented Katie Garner! Katie is a writer based in Essex and she so very kindly has offered to write a few posts for the blog to sum up some of the highlights during design week. I hope her thoughts will give those of you who couldn't make it a taste for the festival! 
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Welcome to Tent London 2012

Feeling like a kid in a candy store, grab inspiration from varied colour palettes, a kaleidoscope of shapes and a multitude of fingertip textures – all on display at London’s forerunning design exhibition  By Katie Garner

It was the return of London’s top design trade show this weekend, as Tent London invaded Brick Lane to add its individualistic and stylish stamp on the annual London Design Festival, running between the 20^th and 23^rd September. With over 200 international exhibitors showcasing furniture, lighting, ceramics, textiles, materials and accessories, there was definitely something for every one of the 19,000 visitors.

In its sixth year at trendy Old Truman Brewery, Tent London - hailed as the most cutting-edge and progressive trade exhibition- also offered an insight into the world of design with numerous talks by experts such as Ian Hunter, and CEO of Ginger and Jagger, Paula Sousa.

Stark concrete rooms had been transformed into a real rabbit warren of discovery that is a pure assault on the senses. You are bombarded with eye-catching splashes of colour, a multitude of textures and a feast of shapes, which leaves your head constantly spinning in owl-like movements as you try to absorb the sights in this unlikely Aladdin’s Cave. 

Here are our top five stands from the show…

Zoe Murphy

Clean, sleek rectangular shapes, paired with pretty pastels, fun etchings and geometric lines make these interior drawers and accessories a must-have for your home. Taking furniture basics and adding a dollop of playfulness makes Zoe’s signature style extremely eye-catching with this mix of classic and contemporary. 

Claire-Anne O’Brien

What is more snuggly, homely and cosy than a comfortable chunky knit? Claire-Anne takes this to the next level by adopting a fashion favourite and transporting into your homeware, with these unbelievably alluring chairs in soft shades of cream, green and blue that is the ideal combination of old-fashioned toastiness with modern finishing touches.

Endesigns

You can’t get more fun that these metal work pieces by Endesigns, that use the novel idea of imprints to create really individualistic and quirky pieces for your home.  Whether it’s dinosaur prints stomping next to your magazines, or a custard cream forever embedded next to your tea, or even heavy boot foot prints across the hall way, these unique works can’t help but make you smile.

Surfacephilia

For that magical etherial quality, then look no further, as fluttering feathers and mysterious dream catchers provide the inspiration behind these muted soft-stroked designs splayed across wallpaper, prints, plates and cushions. With dominant browns, blues and dusty reds on an off-white background , these gentle patterns create a lovely touchable effect.

Prooff

Modern and boxy but also effcient and useful, these chairs by Prooff provide sleek style and soft shades in a masculine square shape that offers privacy and a handy spot to place your laptop, iPad or tea – whatever you fancy. Very clean and sharp these chairs can’t help but catch the eye.

Find me at Tent London this year!

New collection launching at 100% design

To find out more about this collection check out my latest press release here

some flower from the garden

Today the sun was shining so I went out in the garden (in between actual work of course) with my new digital SLR and took some pics for some much needed inspiration.

Zizzi Durham

I was recently commissioned to do a bespoke fabric for Zizzi restaurant in Durham based on the local area and the famous cathedral. It was great fun and I also was lucky enough to get to visit the beautiful city too. They also commissioned a range of stone tables, using a new process I have been working with, which etches images onto the surface of stones such as granite and quartz through sandblasting. Anyway...I hope you like....

Dont forget to come and see something blue

Later this month 'Something blue,' a London based pop up shop- of all things blue designed by myself, Lorna Syson textiles, Ellen Calvert and Emma Britton will take place in celebration of the Royal Wedding...something old something new..come and see our something blue!

I will be posting some preview images later with a preview of some of the exciting work each designer will be bringing to the Pop up Shop.

From Tues 26th April- Sun 1st May

Craft Central

21 Clerkenwell Green

EC1R ODX

Tues High tea opening from 3pm-late

Wed 10am-6pm

Thur 10am-9pm

Fri 10am-9pm

Sat 10am-6pm

Sun 10am-4pm

something for spring

Hello everyone, interenet has been a nightmare today but finally managed to get my spring mailer finished... check it out here

in stock @ Selfridges!

So...at the end of last week I decided to have a pop along to Selfridges to to see my cushions in the store....and there they were on the 4th floor of Oxford st London....a few pics here! if your passing go take a look! Loads of wicked stuff going on in store at the moment including a supermarket Sarah feature- which I desperately tried to find, but after being sent on a wild goose chase by staff eventually had to give up...so if anyone can give me accurate directions that would be fabulous! I will be back for another chance to take a look!

How cute is this!

Been meaning to share this cute picture with you for ages, this is Joseph, whose mummy Eve recently ordered a 'leaf' style chair.....he is soooo gorgeous and apparently 'adores the chair,' and has even decided the chair is his....and wont let daddy sit on it any more! oh dear : S So nice to see him enjoying it! Thank you for the picture Eve, it made me day!

Good Housekeeping!

Here is a nice little 'get the look' feature in this months Good Housekeeping (januarys issue). Feeling pretty pleased with that..... : )

let it snow...

actaully perhaps the snow would stop now, lovely as it is enough is enough!

Oh xmas tree oh xmas tree how lovely are your branches!

No I haven't gone crazy, or abandoned the traditional green xmas tree forever, and no this isn't a rescue tree. Initially it was meant to save space, and although, in retrospect it probably doesn't literally save space, it certainly doesn't close in my small lounge like a regular tree. I am somewhat worried the tree will be controversial... but it was cheap.....straight from the garden...and you should also know that no trees were hurt in the making of this! I like it, and although open to hear anyones opinion of my tree, my opinion will not be changed. I stole the idea from a feature in homes and gardens....and although theres perhaps looks better...if they think its cool..then it is!

Photoshoot....

So today I have been playing around with shots of the cushions, updating the website, organizing a stand at Top Drawer for January.....and making a mess! Best get cleaning up! But thought I would post some images for you to see before I nip of to the shops for some butternut squash for for the risotto I shall attempt to make for dinner!- well that and this is much more fun than tidying!