Embroidery

Hawthorne & Heaney for Dior Perfumes

January 16, 2020 by Natasha Searls-Punter

2019 was a very busy Christmas period for us, because along with all the Ugg events we were doing, amongst other brands, we also did a series of event for Dior Perfumes.

During this machine embroidery event, we were offering personalisation of the gift bags that came with the perfume purchase. Guest could choose from 3 designs or lettering onto their bags.

The bees proved to be particulally popular as you can see!

All in gold, of course to match the stunning stands we were house in.

If you have an event in mind that you would like to get us involved with, drop us an email to info@embroidery.london to discuss what we can do for you.

Hawthorne & Heaney for Watts and Co

January 10, 2020 by Natasha Searls-Punter

Last year, we had the pleasure of making this banner embroidery for legendary company, Watts and Co. It is for the Church of the Incarnation, Highlands, NC. The church’s emblem has been embroidered onto exclusive Watts Blue Bellini silk damask, finished with silk bullion fringe. ⁠⠀

We included lots of raisings and textures in this piece to make it look as rich and luxurious as possible. We are particulally pleased with the fish and the cross’s halo, what’s your favourite bit?

Hawthorne & Heaney on Sketchy Machine Embroidery

January 2, 2020 by Natasha Searls-Punter

We thought we would share with you, an exciting project we worked on at the end of last year that we were really pleased with the result of.We had a client that wanted to give a sketchy feel to their anatomical artworks of the heart and liver, encorportating loose threads into the stitching.

We thought the results were really good fun, if a little scary in the end! It has got us thinking where else we might be able to use this idea again…

Hawthorne & Heaney for Miss World

December 19, 2019 by Natasha Searls-Punter

Saturday was the big night of the year for beauty pagentry as it was the final of 2019’s Miss World competition, held in London’s Excel center. This year’s winner, Toni-Ann Singh from Jamaica was crowned this year’s winner, beutifully modelling Hawthorne & Heaney made winner’s sash.

Image Credit @missworld

Singh wowed the judges with her ambition to become a medical doctor when she finishes her current studies in Women’s studies and Psychology at Florida State University and her classical opera singing skills.

Image Credit @mrworld.official

Here Singh poses with the current Mr World, Jack Heslewood aslo wearing his Hawthorne & Heaney made scarf.

We were particulally pleased with the addition of the glitter lettering which, under the lights of the stage, really came into its own.

Hawthorne & Heaney: Christmas 2019

December 16, 2019 by Natasha Searls-Punter

It’s that time of year again. How time flys!

The studio will be closed for Christmas from 1.30pm on Friday 20th Dec 2019 until Friday 3rd Jan 2020. Therfore any orders placed from now onwards on our standard 5 working days service for machine, or standard 10 working days for hand embroidery will be fulfilled in the new year.

See you in 2020!

Hawthorne & Heaney for Modular by Mensah

November 27, 2019 by Natasha Searls-Punter

Kusheda Mensah with her Furtiture (labels just seen)

Image: @modularbymensah @olivialrhodes ⠀⠀

We just love it when we get to see a great project all come together, event better when we have been priviliged enough to be a part of it. One such project was earlier this year when we are approached by Kusheda Mensah from Modular by Mensah to produce some embroidered labels for her latest project, in conjuction with Adidas.

Embroidered labels

Having graduated from LCC, British born Ghanaian designer Mensah produces pieces in her signature playful but functional style. Seeks to bring people together and promoting better social behaviours, her furniture has values as well as purpose. This collection with Adidas also demonstrates the kinds of beautiful furniture that can be made sustainable and recycled materials.

Revive 1 0754
@kvadrattextiles ⠀⠀
Image: @modularbymensah @olivialrhodes

”Inspired by playfulness, these modular shapes seek to redefine the idea of sustainable social well-being. Made from recycled foam and post-consumer recycled PET fabrics.”

@modularbymensah x @adidas ⠀⠀
Caught waste, 2019
Image: @modularbymensah @olivialrhodes

The very small text and sheer fabrics provided some technical challenges for the embroidery but with some creative thinking, they came out very smart.

Embroidered label

We can’t wait to see what this exciting designer does next!

Embroidered label

Hawthorne & Heaney visits Bridget Riley at the Hayward

November 20, 2019 by Natasha Searls-Punter

On Thursday we were lucky enough to visit the eagerly anticipated exhibition of Bridget Riley’s most comprehensive body of work (spanning an incredible 70 years), on display at the Haywood Gallery.

It was quite a unique experience in the way that the concept behind the paintings made you really think about the theory behind colour, art is about looking; and this exhibition really brings that to your attention. It was also unique in the physical way that the paintings made your eyes and brain hurt – (but in a good way of course!)

The following images are from my favorite series of works:

Stripes and Diagonals. “At the core of colour is a paradox. It is simultaneously one thing and several things – you can never see colour by itself, it is always affected by other colours.” (Bridget Riley, 2009).

Bridget Riley, Chant 2, 1967

Finding that colour is unstable and tangible, Riley used stripes and to bring about powerful colour interactions – pairing or grouping colours along horizontal or vertical stripes, mixing and creating an illusion of hues.

This was one of my favorite series as the work is simple, in the form of perfect clean lines of pigment, but the mixture of colours really make your eyes work and see colours that aren’t there. It isn’t until you go close up to the painting that you can really see what colours the paintings really possess.

Curves “When colours are twisted along the rise and fall of a curve their juxtapositions change continually” (Bridget Riley, 2009).

This series really made my head go in a spin – I think that even from the photos that I took, you can see the illusion of the waves moving and swirling. It is amazing to think that the paint is static, yet with the application of line and colour, there is so much movement.

Bridget Riley, Drift 2, 1966

Studies “The working process is one of discovery and it is worth remembering that the word discovery implies an uncovering of that which is hidden.” (Bridgit Riley, 2019). – I love this quote – it complies the meaning of creative experimentation perfectly.
I found this part of the exhibition fascinating as it showed us the ideas and some of the mathematical and theoretical workings behind the pieces. They were in themselves, very much pieces of art – intricately applied and thought out. It also made you really appreciate just how much thought and time goes into creating the final pieces of work.

Riley produces full-scale preparatory drawings, from which studio assistants under her assistance complete the final work. This gives her the time to solely work on the theory and studies behind the paintings.

Black-and-White “The basis of my paintings is this: that in each of them a particular situation is stated. Certain elements within that situation remain constant. Others precipitate the destruction of themselves by themselves.”(Bridget Riley, 1965).

Bridget Riley, Fall, 1963

Bridget Riley, Blaze 1, 1962

Even with the absolute basic level – simply black and white paint, the illusion is arguably even stronger. Maybe it’s the contrast or the simplicity that draws it back in but it was an amazing way to end the exhibition.

Overall I was really impressed by the exhibition, I thought it was well laid out and portrayed a real story. The surroundings didn’t take away from the paintings but added something to them – they really made you focus in on the work and allowed space for reflection.

“The eye roams and the brain roams with it. You think you get it, and then you don’t”.

(Guardian, 2019)

The exhibition is on until 26th Jan 2020 and I highly recommend a visit if you get the chance.

Hawthorne & Heaney visits ‘Wonderful Things’ at the V & A Museum

November 6, 2019 by Natasha Searls-Punter

‘Tim Walker: Wonderful Things’ is the new exhibition on at the V& A Museum this winter. Looking at the works of fashion photographer, Tim Walker; expect to be amazed and delighted by the fantastical worlds he creates for his photographs and the stunning presentation of them by world leading design museum, The Victoria and Albert Museum.

Chances are, you have probably come across Tim Walker’s work before, whether you knew it or not. He has been working for publications such as Vogue from the the start of his career and over the last 30 or so years, he has come to produce a great number of works. The first room is a celebration of this as many well know pieces are displayed here so you can bounce from one catagory to the next with pangs of recognition.

The Dress-Lamp Tree, Tim Walker, 2002, England

After you are introduced to Walker and given some context about the exhibition, that’s when things get really interesting. For this exhibiton, Walker has produced several series of new works, inspired by the items in the V&A’s own collections as inspiration.

It is always lovely to see a maker’s process, so the addition of sketchbooks to the exhibition is a welcome insight into their minds.

Along with the props, the sets that Walker builds are rich and diverse, providing much interest in themselves alone even without a moving subject in them.

In typical Walker style, there are oversized props which give a fantastical element to both the photos and the exhibition.

I particularly enjoyed the section inspired by a 400 year old embroidery box and chamberlain’s key. Partially because, as an embroiderer, I am pleased to see any uses of embroidery that raise its profile and highlight it’s beauty but also for the resulting series.

The exhibition acts as a masterclass in spring boarding inspiration from existing artworks and creating entirely new pieces from them. If you would like to see all the pieces in person, get down to the museum to experience their true magnitude.

”Tim Walker: Wonderful Things” will be on at the Victoria and Albert Museum until the 8th March 2020. Tickets from £15.00, free for members.