Mariska followers her instinct rather than art theory, giving her work a brightly patterned quality.  In addition to her fine art pieces she has a stationary range and in 2009 she launched her screen printed cushion range.

Interior of new flagship store in Amsterdam

Mariska’s blog is full of colour, too, so worth a look.

I have a fully thought out design process that encompasses all aspects of my woven fabrics and products and I have written a Sustainability Manifesto and Ethical Policy to demonstrate my commitment. All this hard work has earned me, an award-winning textile designer, the Environmental Quality Mark from the Peak District National Park Authority in Derbyshire.  I had to meet very rigorous standards before being put before the panel of judges and I was delighted to present my business practices and demonstrate my commitment to the environment both locally, nationally and internationally.

Here are my top tips:

Products:

*  Think clearly about production and how fuel and water can be reduced.

*  Where do your raw materials come from, can their carbon footprint be reduced?

*  Are there more sustainable alternatives?

*  Are any of your raw materials available locally?

*  Can production waste be reduced, and can any waste be up-cycled?

*  How can any packaging be reduced, could you use re-cycled packaging?

*  Do you use a local postal service/courier/carrier?

*  Develop classic designs that will endure, can quality be improved so that the products will last, how can your clients become emotionally attached to your product?

*  If your products need to be laundered, how can fuel and water be reduced, can you use materials that don’t need so much laundering, how will you tell your customers?

*  Can you offer a second life at the end of your products life?

*  Are you able to offer a take back policy: can any textiles be re-dyed, can your product be repaired, can your product be re-cycled or up-cycled, can they be composted?

Business:

*  Do you have more than one strand to your business, is teaching an additional option, would your notes make an interesting book?

Social Responsibility:

*  Do you offer occasional free workshops to organisations that have helped you?

*  Do you offer work placements to students?

It’s often a good idea to re-evaluate your business and products on a regular basis. Using these tips might help you develop additional strands to you business and offer new products that have a stronger sustainable element. More and more buyers are looking for good sustainable practice and the more you can show your credentials, right across you practice, the more they will seek you out!

This morning the honeysuckle was scenting the air beautifully and the newly shorn sheep where sheltering from the early morning sun!  Derbyshire is such a beautifully varied county and our little corner is full of surprises.

Honeysuckle in the hedgerow

I think these sheep are Border Leicesters, but I could well be wrong, but they are really charming, with their upright ears and roman noses!

Sheep sheltering from early morning sun

I’ve put together a list of benefits for business to introduce textiles to the office environment…

• *  Absorbs sound, so ideal for conference suits, restaurants, public foyers, reception areas.
• *  Enhance and transform your corporate image.
• *  Impress your visitors and clients.
• *  Make a positive statement about your business.
• *  Motivate your staff with an inspiring environment.
• *  Provide a talking point to liven the workspace.
• *  Add character to your workplace.
• *  Save valuable capital by renting.
• *  Long term and short term rentals available.
• *  Rotate the art to refresh your workspace.
• *  Only you know the art is rented.
• *  All natural materials used ensuring you help the environment and enhance your environmental policy.
• *  Hand made by local designer aligns with your social responsibility policy.
• *  Fly the flag for “Made in Britain”.
• *  All textiles are selected from our exclusive “Limited Collection”.
• *  Advice on positioning and hanging.
• *  Wool fabrics shed dirt, they only need to be vacuumed to keep clean.
• *  Wool fabrics are naturally fire retardant.

I’d love to hear what you all think about this concept, do you agree and are there other points that could be made?

Take a look at my Rent Textile Art document to find out more.

BUSINESS: Sustainable Design in a Changing World

Although predominantly pink with small accents of the fresh green and very, very dark brown it’s freshened up.  Another one for ladies suiting, I think.

But what do you think?

Last Tuesday we went for a walk in Bow Wood, which is on the hillside just above Lea Bridge, Derbyshire.  Bow Wood, a birch and oak woodland, is owned by the Woodland Trust and has plenty of lovely woodland paths to follow with some maginficent views.  We were a little early for the bluebells, but as you can see we did spot quite a few, but with a few more days of warm sunshine the whole wood will be a gorgeous swathe of blue.

From the east side of the wood, you could look down over Smedleys, a long established knitwear company in the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site, who make very fine merino knitwear for men and women.

Despite the showers we had a lovely walk which has inspired my Colour Palette of the Month for April and I’m now exploring some bluebell wood designs…..

…so watch this space for the first of my limited edition fabrics!

Yesterday, between the showers, we took a walk through Bow Wood at Lea Bridge, near Cromford.  To our great delight we spotted quite a few bluebells and in another few days of sunshine they will carpet the wood spectacularly.

This image is the one that really stood out, the beautiful purply blue flowers really showed up against the dead bracken.  I think this might just be a new fabric…  What would you use the colour in?

Some mornings it’s misty and I don’t get much of a view across the valley, but there are often hidden treats, such as a row of spiders webs covered in dew.  This morning it was only a little misty, but Spring was starting to show herself and I couldn’t resist sharing these treats, too!

I count myself so lucky to see nature in it’s glory every morning…

My daily commute...

These days with so much “green washing”, those of us who genuinely work hard to be “environmental” often feel that our work becomes devalued.  But an award such as this, which values our work across many level, not just “saving the planet”, but supporting the local community as well, for example, makes our hard work worth while.

Thank you for this recognition.