NYC Day 8: Visit with Lourdes Sanchez


Friday morning I was off on the R train to the Gowanus neighbourhood in Brooklyn to visit and interview textile designer Lourdes Sanchez .
I first discovered Lourdes' work through her collaboration with West Elm.

Here is one of her gorgeous duvet designs.

This is one of my current favourites: Her very colourful Bull's eye rug. So juicy!

Lourdes has been working for over 20 years in the industry and has amassed an impressive client list including Clinique, Kate Spade, Vera Wang Home, and Pottery Barn.

As suspected the minute I entered her fantastic apt my eyes were darting back + forth taking in all the juicy details!


Lourdes (aka Luli!) in her studio. Check out that turquoise wall!

Textile samples hung from the walls, art books were piled high in every room, and a cacophony of images + colour co-mingled on her inspiration board. It was a feast for the eyes.

A close up of her inspiration board

Beautiful Fabric inks

We had a fantastic visit and as is the case with most very talented people I've met - she was extremely modest + more interested in discussing her inspirations rather than her own work!

One of MANY stacks of books

From her huge collection of art books Lourdes pointed out some influential favourites which included Ad Reinhardt, Yayoi Kusama, Philip Taaffe, Morris Lewis, Vincent Van Gogh and Chris Johnson.


Here she is showing me a watercolour piece reminiscent of the one used for the Bull's Eye rug


A drawer full of fabric samples with her logo attached


Off to lunch with Moonpie: Lourdes' beloved Havanese doggie

Burritos - Yum!

Back home goofing around

Lourdes' studio, work and philosophies on art + life were all extremely inspirational. You'll be able to read my full interview with her in the August issue of uppercase magazine.
Thanks for the great visit Lourdes. xo

NYC Day 6

A bit more NYC clothes shopping...

Found this top at Brooklyn Industries.
Nice unique details and thought the fabric looked like an abacus. :-)


At Uniqlo I found this dress in their J+ section: a new clothing line designed by Jil Sander. Lots of beautiful minimalist stuff.
The german woman shopping beside me said "It looks very dutch" and I said "In that case I'll take it! " (in black)

Later on met up with lovely Artscape neighbour Jen Tindall + friends at the New York Public library.

We went to the Celebrating 100 Years Exhibit which contained 250 interesting items from the NYPL’s huge collection including: the first Gutenberg Bible, a note from Groucho Marx to Harold Ross, and the set model to the original stage version of Sunday in the Park with George. See above. (My all time fave musical)

Quick trip to Bryant Park.
Free lending library in park = Civilization at it's finest. :-)


Perfect ending to day: a trip to the historic Algonquin Hotel at 59 West 44th Street for a cocktail.

Jen and Rick at the Algoniquin with their 19.oo martinis!

NYC Day 5: Meeting at Penguin Books


So today was the day I finally met Paul Buckley at Penguin Books.


When I met him my first instinct was to break into the song from Yentl "There are moments you wait for all your life"... but I refrained!

A quick review: Paul is Executive VP Creative Director of Penguin.
He recently edited + designed the book Penguin 75 below which I loved. It contains his hilarious introduction which made me know I'd really like him.

Paul has designed many fab books. You can see his greatest hits here.


Recently he has been working on this stunning Penguin Threads series with embroidery by Jillian Tamaki.
Fall down beautiful methinks. No?


Wow.

Here is Paul holding up the print he chose. (The very 'off register' one!)

I also had the pleasure of meeting another of my fave designers: Roseanne Serra.
Here she is holding up my Lime slipper chair print.

Roseanne art directed the stunning series with Ruben Toledo above amongst many others.

I also very briefly met Helen Yentus: another absolute fave book designer.

Helen designed the now famous Eat Pray Love cover above amongst many other beauties.


For an extra treat Paul showed me the original embroideries by Jillian Tamaki.
Incredible to see. (!!)


He then hung up my print in the doorway of his office. Yay.
A perfect visit. Thanks so much Paul + co.
xo