I N T O   A   M A G I C A L   W O R L D  

Text : Hina Nitesh

                                              Onthedesignboat today is a collage artist - Caroline Rose.

Simple forms cut from paper stuck on coloured canvas

Simplicity and  innocence are the two emotions that overwhelm me as I look at Caroline Rose's works. Her collages are beautiful and mesmerizing and to me they signify fun. The fun part is not just for a child but for adults as well.

The colours are vibrant - appealing to the child in you

I came upon her site accidentally courtesy a friend who had liked her page on Facebook. But once I started browsing through her portfolio, I just couldn't stop myself. Each image was more attractive and beautiful than the previous one. I had such a tough time deciding which ones to showcase for this post.

It is indeed the world of fairies and pixies 

Caroline Rose has a background in fine arts and interior design. She has even worked as an interior designer. Her love for art and creativity have always been a part of her and her work. She worked as an interior designer for sometime but took a break to raise her family. She never went back to the same work instead she decided to stay at home with her children and focused her energies on creating these miniature works of art.  

Attention to detail brings out the real image

Travel back to childhood with all the magic the collage offers

She grew up in the foothills of mountains in Victoria, Australia and the place contributed a big way in shaping her imagination. Later she moved to Nottingham in the UK and revisited these ideas in the form of collages. She finds inspiration all around her children' stories, songs, words, nature around her etc.

Representation of a real city - Salzburg

Caroline Rose's art work can be distinguished by the trademark bright and vibrant colours. I was hooked and I wished I could be a child once again. 

Collage on the cover of a notebook

Neat and tidy - all the tiny cutting and pasting executed with perfection

The collages are not mere illustrations, they tell a story by themselves. One look at them and you will feel compelled to get to know more about the characters you see.

Calling out to the child in you to join in the magical adventure

What makes her collages stand out is the skill. All the pieces are entirely handmade. Right from deciding what colors, shapes and patterns, to cutting out the tiniest of the details to sticking them so they all come together in a harmonious manner - is done by her with scissors and cutter.

An arc that has become unforgettable

She pays a lot of attention to details - the wisp of a hair, the tiny eyes of the flitting bee, the patterns on the clothes worn by the characters - all contribute in a big way to her collage. 

Whimsical and funny - sure to bring a smile

There seems to be no scope for any mistakes and nothing betrays the fact that all the pieces are entirely hand made. What might seem unbelievable at times is the fact that all the pieces are cut by hand and later pasted together in a very neat fashion.

Now art that you can wear - Collage in a pendant

To enjoy her artworks, you need to begin to associate yourself with this world - one which you might have dreamt of in childhood - of fairies and pixies and all the magic.

These art works are available in her shop on etsy and folksy.

All images: Copyright Caroline Rose

Text & creative layout copyrights: On the Design Boat   

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E C H O E  S  of  O U R   L I V E S

by

Hina Nitesh

After a few years of being stay at home moms, we both decided to DO something (we were already doing a lot as moms and wives). but we wanted to DO something more - something for ourselves. Over the years we had become more moms than the architect-designer we were trained to be so our first thought was of course about children...and as things turned out we decided to make clothes for little people and we are still taking baby steps in our clothing line for kids. 

You can view our designs here.

I am telling you about all this because it really is inspiring to see people are like us who have succeeded in making a mark for themselves. This post is about Almirah and MUNY both brands for little people (though MUNY has stuff for women as well).

A L M I R A H

Simple lines make elegant clothes for little people

The brain child of a Divya and Aditi - mother daughter duo (what fun to work like this) the brand caters for children in the age group of 0-12 years. Their range of products for children includes clothes, bedding, toys, accessories etc. They use organic cotton, soft mulmul, linen and wool for their entire line. 

Quirky motifs embroidered on the garments for the Indian touch

What stands out for me is the way it conveys 'Indian'. The brand does justice to the rich fabric which is block printed with contemporary and at times quirky motifs like cow, parrot, Indian truck, taxi, Vespa, etc all bringing out the essential link. Whether it is quilted or embroidered or has patchwork on it, you will be able to identify it with India.

Quilted in the traditonal manner these are soft and therefore ideal for the baby

The Indian market for kids clothing is flooded with run of the mill clothes which lack an Indian identity. We have a rich heritage as far as textile and crafts is concerned but it is sad that the same has not translated into regular clothes for children. The 'Indianess' seems to be reserved for ethnic clothes for the likes of weddings and festivals. Almirah is one brand that fills this void. the range of product in Almirah's portfolio reflects the traditional heritage while still being everyday clothes.

Sensitively designed accessories for baby care

The clothes as well as the embroidery patterns on them are designed by Aditi while Divya looks after the production aspect. Simple lines and comfortable to be in are two aspects that characterize these clothes. They are easy to wear as well as maintain.  Both the embroidery and block printing patterns retain their childlike qualities. Soft cloth and pastel shades make these clothes a must have for children. 

Let the toys also wear the same clothes...

I had a tough time deciding on my favourite in their collection but I absolutely love their teddy bears which are dressed in the same quirky block prints.

Almirah has retail outlets in Delhi, Mumbai and Bengluru and an online shop.

MUNY

Celebrating the rich Indian textile tradition

Let me begin by saying that if someone has lived in India, they cannot go untouched by the variety of weaves and sheer brilliance of colours, patterns and texture of Indian textiles. Keep this in mind when I tell you about MUNY(moo nee) - a children clothing brand based in Brooklyn. 

A contemporary touch to handloom fabric

An acronym of Mumbai New York, Muny's founder Samara Mahendru is an architect with masters in communication design. Though she had practiced architecture for 14 years, when she stepped into cloth and fabric it was totally uncharted territory. This is where the opening statement becomes relevant. Inspired by Indian traditional techniques like weaving and block printing, MUNY has a range of clothing for children, clothing for women and accessories. These products are unique in themselves for they are influenced by the designer's cultural background as well as the environment which she is living in at the moment.

Stylizing to give a new definition

The story of making of these clothes spans half the world - they are designed by Samara in Brooklyn and manufactured by craftsmen in Rajasthan in India. Block printed cottons, khadi and ikat are the fabrics  that are used for making these clothes. The designs add the contemporary touch whether in the form of the whimsical block print or in the style of the garment itself. The entire range for children is designed around being comfortable. They also have quilts, blankets and pillows for children made with the same fabric. One look and you will surely be bowled over by their softness which is successfully conveyed through pictures.

Snuggle into the softness

Apart from children, MUNY has designs on women as well which include dresses, skirts, tops, scarves etc. 

Blending the modern with traditional

To know more about MUNY and its range of products do stop by at its online store.

All images: Copyright  Almirah and MUNY

Text & creative layout copyrights: On the Design Boat   

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T H A T   L I T T L E  C U R L Y  L I N E ...

Better known as a Squiggle is also the brand name chosen by designer Niyatee Sharma for her line of accessories for children. What sets Squiggle apart is the back to basics approach. Unlike the run-of-the-mill products for children that are synonymous with cartoon characters, bright colors, push button music and light, these are sensitively designed with materials close to nature.

The brand was born when Niyatee went looking for products for her son but could not find anything that appealed to her design sensibilities. This was also the time when she became aware of how the mass manufactured toys have replaced the handcrafted traditional wooden toys. She then decided to create a range for kids on her own. One thing led to the other and in no time Squiggle had made inroads in the world of children.

Made with material like wood, cloth etc, the products are designed to touch a special chord with the children. Simple lines, basic forms and soothing colors are a hallmark of Squiggle products. The rounded edges, the foam padding and load testing is the designer's way of ensuring that the products are also safe for children.

While growing up a toddler needs to explore the world around and make decisions and discover things for himself. Niyatee's products are aimed at just this - they ignite the child's curiosity while he plays with or uses these products. A fine balance has been created to ensure that the products neither spoon feed the child that he gets bored of them nor are they too complicated that he gives up on them.

Creativity and imagination being the buzz words in the world today. A rocking horse is what everyone is aware of. Think out of the box and you can have a rocking sheep or elephant or just about anything.

Squiggle is an option for design conscious parents who do not want something 'different' but but something that can 'make a difference' in their little ones' world. 

Check out Squiggle on facebook or on the blog.

All images: Squiggle, Niyatee Sharma

Text & creative layout copyrights: Onthedesignboat   

  

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P L A Y F U L N E S S    P E R S O N I F I E D

Text: Hina Nitesh

If I said crochet and playgrounds in the same breath, I would probably get a blank expression from you. 

But just keep this is mind while I take you back to the time in design school when one of the creativity exercises involved magnifying and minimizing elements around us in order to find a hidden pattern and then applying it to a practical product. The results were amazing and till date I feel it is the best way to find a design solution. It is a great way to nurture the left side of the brain. 

Image - www.mnm.com

Image - www.crochetconcupiscence.com

Now coming back to my opening sentence and linking it with the design exercise and I have for you a craft form that had been adopted similarly in a very ingenious way. Crochet is a knitting process that involves a small hook like needle that helps in knotting the thread to make a mesh pattern.

Image - www.mnm.com

Toshiko Horiuchi MacAdam, a Japanese textile designer knots the threads but only to end in creating play areas for children. It all started with a sculpture that she had knitted and exhibited in an art gallery. This attracted the children and they started playing in it – after all it all about perception and perspectives.

 

Image - www.huffingtonpost.com

From here on there was no looking back. Toshiko had always looked at ways in which her work could add value and these children had helped her discover that. She started knitting large crochet structures to be used as play spaces for children.

Image - www.play-scapes.com

Toshiko along with her husband Charles MacAdam established Interplay Design and Manufacturing Inc in Canada to develop and manufacture these crochet sculptures for play areas. These brightly coloured structures are a big hit with the children. 

Image - www.crochetconcupiscence.com

Complete with voids, loops and gently curving surfaces these structures do not have a fixed algorithm for playing. It is probably because of the encouragement that children get to discover their own way of playing and also bring their imagination into play. 

 

Image - www.afflante.com

To add to this is the fact that these structures are absolutely safe – the fibres stretch and are strong enough to accommodate a large gang of kids. Norihide Imagawa, a prominent structural designer from Japan engineers each project ensuring the safety of the sculpture.

Image - www.afflante.com

 

Image - www.babyology.com

Toshiko has come a long way since her first project in 1979 but the concept continues to enthrall children even today.

Image - www.afflante.com

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