Market Day

A morning sourcing fabric in Shepherd's Bush Market, to replace some cushion covers that are looking a bit weary. Didn't go for these beautiful brocades - but the shimmering florals clearly made their mark, as I bought this vintage dress (£4!) from Roman Road Market on my way home.

 

January Collage

Fabric

 More fabric and sewing related endeavours... spent a few days in Shepherd's Bush recently, getting the step count up incredibly high pacing up and down the market. My favourite place! 

Shepherd's Bush

A trip to Shepherd's Bush market last week, where I have spent many happy hours.

New fabric for a potential cushion

 

Amazing embellished offerings

Gold vine

 And discovered a new Ethiopian cafe in the railway arches which was full of amazing furnishings

Muted Neons

Love the brightness of this clashing green and pink sari, and the printed fabrics either side... Bethnal Green road is always inspiring

Patchwork

 A morning spent sifting through my sewing bag over the weekend and gathering bundles of fabric together for potential quilts. I collect fabric at any opportunity - which makes for quite a mixed selection of print and colour. Charity shops often have brilliant scraps of vintage fabric, but of course Shepherd's Bush market (the motherland) is hard to beat. Two quilt options below.

Whitechapel

As the Nation's windows fill with rainbows drawn by children for NHS workers - in Whitechapel saris' have been used to create an alternative version.

I love Whitechapel, normally so lively and bustling! Yesterday I walked down a very quiet Mile End Road, noticing lots of buildings and shops for the first time. Like the rainbows, all over London messages of positivity are popping up.

From houses and flats to billboards and graffiti, it's great to see street art of one form or another being used to buoy each other along.

Love these pictures from an editorial shot by Sam Rock for Double Magazine issue 37.

Makes me want to jump on a plane immediately.

New Work

New Year, New Work

Loved styling this Woodland story - really let the imagination run wild!

Full story here: www.josie-harris.com

Anni Albers

Textile inspiration at the Tate Modern...

Mme Moitessier

Portrait of Mme Moitessier, Ingres

1844-1856

Took him 12 years to get all that opulence right - he did the frame too

Dance

New personal project

Shot by Jonny Mallen

Styled by me

Hot Fabric

Fabric swaying in Inca's hot breeze

Majorca, September 2016

Frills in Majorca, Sept 2016

 

In stitches

Have been trying out some new embroidery stitches recently, and got inspired by what I was wearing....

George Shaw

Slightly dark but interesting paintings by George Shaw at the National Gallery at the moment

Friday's Colour

A recent trip to Shepherd's Bush, vibrant as ever - and offered a new handbag!

Hot Weather

 Keeping the heat out in St Marks Square, Venice

Test Shoot Fabric #2

I've just got some photos back from a test shoot I did a couple of weeks ago. The vibe was flowing fabric - particularly as we were simultaneously creating a video (watch this space) - and texture. Lots of fun sourcing fabric from the market.

 

I'm really pleased with how they've turned out. I particularly like the first picture, as the maroon netting that I got for the shot was a great balance of light but structured and created some really beautiful shadow.

Photographer: Jonny Mallen

Make Up: Linda Johansson

Shot at Spring Studios

Africa

I went to the British Museum last weekend (to see an exhibition that opens in March...whoops), and came across a room of African textiles - 'Social Fabric: African Textiles Today'.

So many beautifully printed fabrics - and a few great slogans too. Really liked this bicycle print with girl power tagline:

 

Hung side by side by a mango print piece:

 But my favourite were probably the fabrics decorated by the faces of Barak Obama and Michael Jackson

Definitely worth a visit if you are in the area. 

Click on the poster images below for more details:

Which, coincidentally, reminds me of a song I have listened to over a million times and has an amazing video: