Spring Print Trends: Whinnie shares her inspiration behind Food Babies and reveals the Storks' secret!
It’s finally spring and the sight of blossom trees in bloom makes us want to bring the outside in, and fill our homes with florals. One of the biggest trends that we’re excited to see this season is Chinoiserie. Deriving from the word “chinois,” the French word for “Chinese”, and often seen adorning walls, vases and porcelain objects, the style has become characterised by its romantic, theatrical and playful perceptions of life in the Far East.
As you know, we love to add our signature twist to classic designs which is often so subtle you might miss it. Here, Whinnie shares how she reimagined this pretty print to create Food Babies, and reveals the secret each stork is hiding…
“It was a visit to Brighton’s Royal Pavilion that inspired the Food Babies collection. It’s a treasure trove of Chinese artwork and exotic bamboo furnishings set against a vibrant pink and blue floral backdrop. Everything looks and feels so beautiful and delicate. I was absolutely blown away.
Images: Early 19th Century Chinese Hand Painted Panel. The kitchen at Tureholm Castle, Sweden. Whinnie’s original hand-embroidered design.
Normally, at the start of a new collection, I draw or paint each design, however this was different. I wanted to replicate some of the textures I’d seen at the Pavilion and so for the first time, I hand-embroidered onto silk.
"As I stitched each stork, I was reminded of the classic folklore story and the birds delivering babies. I loved the idea of adding a touch of humour by featuring my favourite food takeaways and so if you look closely you’ll see each bundle of joy carrying a different delivery!"
Food Babies is available as wallpaper, fabric and our best-selling Bolster Cushions in 4 different colourways: Blossom, Ivory, Lagoon and Camel.