artist::jorey hurley

I've been meaning to do a post on print and textile artist, Jorey Hurley for quite sometime. She's sort of a design super hero to me.

A little digression, and personal sharing: when I was a freshman in college, and was enrolled in Design 101, the first few weeks, we were given the assignment of drawing several, 4 x6 boxes and then placing 24 dots within the space. As the weeks progressed, we were allowed to add color. I didn't 'get' the whole assignment and,  found it tedious, slow moving and a waste of time. What I didn't 'get' back then, but understood much later, was that this was an exercise in composition, using the simplest elements. 

Over the years, I've recalled this assignment and quietly thanked, Professor, Eleanor DuQuoin who put up with my eye rolling and questioning of the task (as I saw it to be).  Because, as elementary as it seemed at the time, the importance of learning how to place anything in a given space is essential to all good design. And you know what? It's not that easy to create, 'simple design'.

Jorey Hurely has the ability to see pattern in design everywhere she looks and then, breaks it down into the perfect composition. Her colors are always clear and sharp adding to the overall happiness these prints evoke. 

 

Jorey was on the design team for 5 years of one of my favorite textile houses, Hable Construction and has worked on surface design projects for their clients, including Procter + Gamble, Garnet Hill, and Barney’s New York.  

And if that's not enough, she had her own bag line that sold to boutiques in SF. Oh wait, you want more?  She studied art at Princeton and surface/textile design at FIT and then, three years of law school. See? She's kind of a stud.

She sells prints as well, which you can buy here: Jorey Hurley @ etsy 

perfect beach house textiles

with all of their beachy, sun faded, fruit stripe gum colored palettes, these textile inspirations have had my wheels turning all week....

Kathryn Ireland's new line would be such a refreshing approach for a beach house, grand or diminutive:

and while we're at it, the rugs at Loom would be the perfect under footing paired, with any of these fabrics:

when heaven meets earth- The Crux Blanket

It's the Birkin bag of blankets, really. Beautifully made, a classic, works with any room/outfit, too much for me to reasonably talk myself into buying....and you've got to take a number and stand in line if you want one.

home of designer::Frederic Mechiche

and I'm not sure that I will ever stop wanting one . Behold the beloved, Crux Blanket by Pia Wallén:

photo:: inside out photo credit:: pia ullin

Of Impeccable craftsmanship and quality, it's made using traditional Scandinavian methods { by a small family owned company in Sweden } and the finest wool.

home of designer:: Orla Kieley

Every year, a new color is added.

Also, the price is over $700.00 per. So there's that small detail.

photo:: hus and hem photo:: Chris Stubbs for Skandium

Which brings me to wonder, why hasn't West Elm knocked this off? I mean, Pottery Barn had no problem knocking off Madeline Weinrib a few years back.

Why not crank out some version of this? Hell, sell it on Canal Street in a crinkly plastic bag. But you'd have to be ok with bad proportion/color/material and draping yourself in someone else's bad ju-ju.

But, would you buy it? Honestly?

photographer:: Alexander Crispin for Scandinavian Style

In Swedish folkart tradition, the cross is a strong symbol for hope, a meeting point of heaven and earth. I wish I could say that made all the difference for me.

photo credti:: hus and hem

But really, it's just about the great design and artisan quality that goes into each one. And I really, really want one. big time.

in orange.