Stephen Jones

I am working on a fashion illustration for a client and have been looking at lots of hat pictures for research, and just had to post these Stephen Jones' hats. I know everyone knows about him, but looking through his website there are so many striking beautiful pieces I had to do a post. The above hat is called Pericolo.

Very witty. This 'Limo' hat is so Marlene Dietrich.

I could just imagine Audrey Hepburn in this 'Shalimar' piece.

The Dharma - it wouldn't suit me, but I love it!

And finally the 'Seagull'. See more of his hats here

Modern patchwork

When I designed the Anzu Patchwork range of cards and Cosy candle, aside from being inspired by Indian chintzes, embroidered Chinese silks, Chantilly lace and this picture of Truman Capote below, there were also a couple of companies that really influenced me.

Squint and Bokja both produce modern versions of patchwork. Squint is an English company based in East London, that covers furniture with a mix of English damasks, Japanese kimono silks, and 19th century French trimmings to create a modern twist on patchwork.

They produce chairs, chaise longues, lighting and cushions. Click here to view their website.

Another inspiration was Bokja designs. Bokja is a Lebanese company based in Beirut that uses rich embroidery and sumptuous fabrics from across the region to create truly individual pieces.

Click here to visit their website.

Shocking pink

The days are so dull at the moment, I thought I'd add a colourful post and brighten a grey day with some shocking pink. You could buy a vintage Schiaperelli dress (the designer famous for making hot pink so fashionable),

send our Anzu fifties style dress card or hot pink Patent card,

add touches to your house, as in this interior with the signature Schiaperelli pink hat boxes,

lounge on a Salvador Dali sofa (based on the lips of Mae West),

step out on the town in this Lanvin dress

or join India's Pink gang. As Diana Vreeland said 'Shocking pink is the navy blue of India'. The Pink gang, or Gulabi gang have hijacked trucks laden with food for the poor which were being waylaid by corrupt officials and stopped child marriages. In India they have become folk heroes! Read more on www.worldproutassembly.org

Traveling in time

I love this Japanese website that ages photos. Above is the anzu office circa 1910, and me lighting an anzu candle circa 1932?

To age your own photos, simply click here, choose the file/photograph you'd like to age and then click on the blue button. It's all in Japanese but actually simple to use.

Pret-a-Portea goes stateside!

Finally I can reveal the design that I have been working on. Pret-a-Portea has gone over the Atlantic for NY Fashion week. I painted the above illustration for the event, which features Manhattan and London skylines, delicious cakes and Louboutin sparkly heels.

The event is being hosted by Bergdorf Goodman in the stunning BG restaurant, with a menu of bespoke cookies, cakes and other sweet indulgences all inspired by the Spring 2009 collections. Everyone has been involved in the tea from Michael Kors to Christian Louboutin to Chanel.

The tea starts today, and continues until February 20th, from three until five thirty daily. I think there is a chance it is fully booked, but call (001) 212 872 8977 if you would like to attend, or for more details (and a better image of my illustration) go to http://www.the-berkeley.co.uk/Bergdorf_Goodman.aspx

Tips please!

I am quite new to blogging, so any tips on what you would like to see or read on this blog would be great! Leave a comment here, or email me at info@anzu.co.uk

Have a great weekend!

A festive summer

The sun has been shining for most of the week, everyone is wearing pretty summer dresses, the air is full of butterflies and birds and I am busy painting Christmas cards and trying to get into the wintery feel of things! Buyers start wanting to see the new Christmas cards around this time, so I usually paint them now. When I finish I'll be sure to give you a preview here! Above is our Snowflake bag card from the current collection.

Pulse photographs

Here are some photographs of our new stand at Pulse. Thanks for everyone that visited us - it was a really great show!

Pulse trade show starts today!

The Pulse show starts today and we have been so busy all week preparing for it and the new look stand. We customized these trunks found in a cheap hardware shop (they were a very nasty shade of brown before), gilded tons of frames, and worked from morning until bedtime.

Below, Jasmine amongst the daisies in "Operation Goldfinger"

We still had time for some treats though! If you would like to visit our stand, you can find us at stand number, F28

Progressive Greetings

Delighted to see that we are in Progressive Greetings this May, in their article on Retail Therapy. I've been in that kind of therapy for years now, and would like to say a big thank you to the magazine for featuring us!

National Stationery show

A big thank you to everyone that made it to the Stationery show and for making it a success! Hope to see you in Atlanta too - lots of new cards in the pipeline.

Above: My Mum and Colleen in a relatively serious moment on the stand

National Stationery show!

BOOTH NO 2646

National Stationery Show

Jacob Javits Centre (or center for US readers!)

New York

18th - 21st May, 2008

Please come and pay us a visit!!

Above image: our cherry blossom gift enclosure card