Hull Traders –

Open for business from 1957 – 1980 Hull Traders (as I’ve learned this evening) was a British textile company that plumbed the talents of a wide range of artists to create graphic, colorful patterns epitomizing a ’60s-era visual aesthetic.  The pattern above was designed by two Hull contributing artists, Ivon and John Hitchens.

A traveling exhibition on Hull Traders and its artistic directer Shirley Craven is currently underway in England; to read more about the company and the show click here.

– And for a really wonderful website featuring post-war British textiles from the 1940’s – 1970’s visit the gallery of Francesca Galloway, here. I’ll definitely be exploring her site more thoroughly in coming days.

Julie Krakowski –

Julie Krakowski’s “Coffee and Cigarettes” linens turn the dreaded cigarette burn and coffee stain into things of whimsy and beauty. Her work is especially fun to discover in the holiday season, where everything can easily become too precious and tidy.

I came upon Krakowski’s work via the very informative site Beloved Linens.

Finn Style –

Since I haven’t done a Marimekko post in over a year I don’t feel I’m repeating myself by adding the deliciously vibrant pattern above, available by the yard at Finn Style.

Helen Louise Allen Textile Collection –

The blog Each Little World pointed me to a great resource this weekend: the University of Wisconsin’s online database of the Helen Louise Allen Textile Collection. It’s an amazing source of textile images and information, named in honor of Allen (1927-1968) who was both the genesis of the physical collection and a former professor at the University. One outcome of my own database exploration: the work of textile designer Jacqueline Groag. An example of her work is pictured above (via Birds of Ohio).

Liz Alpert Fay –

Liz Alpert Fay is another artist creating colorful hand-hooked pieces for the wall.

Altoon Sultan –

I’ve just been introduced to Altoon Sultan’s wonderful hooked “ruglets”. Created as art for the wall, they’re an extension of her work as a painter and contribute to her ongoing study of nature and landscape, abstraction, and the work of artists that inspire her. Click here for her paintings and here for her ruglets.

Bombay Bliss by Seema Krish –

Seema Krish’s debut collection is called Bombay Bliss and includes six patterns made in a range of fibers and techniques. There are pillows and throws — and fabric by the yard is coming next.

Via Interior Desisgn magazine’s “Market Tabloid” issue, 10/31/09.

Barber & Osgerby -

The New York Times blog “The Moment” has a post on new carpets by Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby for The Rug Company. Fun and happy, but sophisticated too.

Debra Smith –

Debra Smith uses vintage textiles to create compositions that are sewn and quilted to collage-like effect. By framing her pieces for the wall she also helps blur the art/craft distinction that often leaves fabrics in a lesser camp.

If you like Smith you might also appreciate the work of Leah Evans.

Paul Smith at Kvadrat –

Stripes by Paul Smith at Kvadrat go perfectly with rain in San Francisco.

The site is full of other contributing designers and can be easily navigated if you’re looking for a specific color, type of pattern, etc. In the U.S., fabrics featured on the site are sold through Maharam.