Bring Back

“Tattoo world deity Paul Timman brings his intricate art to the dinner table”.

click to enlarge

Check out the Summer 2010 issue on newsstands now or visit their website to learn more about affordable luxury from Irezumi dinnerware to how to get half off stays on Nantucket Island.

photo by Elizabeth Lippman

Chris and Taryn Santos’ Favorite Things: The couple’s wedding china, a pattern called Cherry Ink, designed by tattoo artist Paul Timman.

You can spot the mug and bowl in the photo and read the quote and the entire article at the NY Post.

If your in NYC check out The Stanton Social Club and make sure you save room for dessert. The puddings are amazing.

Julie with some of her designs in a Kuala Lumpur department store

Julie graduated from Liverpool Art College (now John Moores University) in 1971 with a degree in Textile Design. After working in a textile design studio in Bolton , she left to train as an art teacher. She turned to ceramic design in the early 1980s working initially in the UK Potteries, then later concentrating on the Limoges porcelain industry. After a stint as an in-house designer for Royal Stafford, she became head of design for the European arm of PT Sango, one of the world’s largest tableware manufacturers. In 2003 she established her own business Julie Pople Designs www.juliepopledesigns.com  which has enjoyed considerable success in markets throughout the world. In 2008 she partnered with Ink Dish www.inkdish.com a business focusing on the manufacture and sale of fine art tableware

Top Ten Tips on being a Designer

1.    Be true to your design ideals but be sensitive to the commercial concerns of your customers
2.    Self-doubt goes with the territory, but don’t underestimate your value
3.    Keep up to date with the latest design software, in my case that’s Adobe Photoshop
4.    Communicate – keep as many channels open as possible. My latest is an ftp site
5.    Travel! British designers are highly regarded abroad
6.    Keep your portfolio of designs fresh – don’t be afraid to ‘retire’ designs
7.    Look for inspiration when you travel. Visit galleries, boutiques, and study the ever changing world of the consumer
8.    Keep in touch with fellow designers. A network of support is vital in what is often a lonely job
9.    Don’t wait for inspiration to strike – establish a regular work routine
10.   Keep going till everyone else drops out!

One of the best things about tableware is the lovely things people eat off your wares. We’re thrilled to be a small part of the London food scene by providing a backdrop for some beautiful grilled squid.

Now that summer is upon us, the barbeque gets a serious firing up. A perfect way to spend a lazy Saturday or Sunday, I sometimes struggle to see past the usual burgers, steaks, chicken drumsticks and kebabs. Often it can turn into a total meatfest. Recently though, we’ve been a bit more creative.

Read the whole story and see the goods from Lizzie Eats London.

We are thrilled to be back in Elle Decor. The last time we partnered with ED we received over 125,000 entries for Alyson Fox’s tug pattern. 125 thousand! I thought it was a typo at first.

Elle Decor is the ultimate guide to decorating and design and we are exicited to hear them describe Cherry Ink as a way to, “add a burst of blooms to the table with this pretty service for four”.

The Cherry Ink porcelain dinnerware set offers a fresh take on traditional botanical patterns. The collection was designed by tattoo artist Paul Timman, whose soft, painterly strokes evoke springtime cherry blossoms.

Enter to win a service for four before May 21st and it’s too late:

ElleDecor.com

It’s been a busy couple of days on the Ink Dish website thanks to great writeup by Whitney Matheson who blogs for USA Today on “pop culture & hidden treasures”.

I like the way these items overlap with the art world: Pop reader Caroline P. told me about a small company she started with her husband called Ink Dish that puts designs by contemporary underground artists onto dinnerware.

“We’re hopefully changing people’s perception of what decoration can be and creating some pretty awesome modern functional art,” she says.

The first two collections are pretty great: One is by Hollywood tattoo artist Paul Timman; the other comes from Austin artist Alyson Fox.

Check out the full piece here.

Our latest spread in Nouveau features the release of Alyson Fox’s line.

In International Tableware Caroline is interviewed on her views on the US market. Growing up in the UK and still splitting time, Caroline gets a unique inside view of both markets and how the trends move back and fourth.

“Style wise design in the UL seems to use cooler oculars and less cover, while in the US there are far more hand painted themes – lots of rousers, etc. However, the US has within it many markets so there are strong regional variations in colour palette and style, which makes generalizations difficult.” Read the whole article here:

We have too many new designs and need your help choosing which to produce.

Our design director Caroline has been working non-stop with Dana Oldfather, David Palmer, and Paul Timman to create some cutting-edge patterns.

What comes out when you put two modern artists together with a tableware veteran? Click on the link below to see! As you know from the previous surveys we decide what to produce based directly on your picks – so get in there and let us know what’s what!

Click here to see the preview/survey

*If you are a retailer or sales rep email me for a password to the industry survey.

December by Alyson Fox

We were thrilled with the response to our contest with Home & Garden Television (HGTV) last week. HGTV ran a promotion to give away a gift set of four Ink Dish “May” side plates by Alyson Fox.

To enter you had to answer the question: “Have you actually ever used the china you picked out when you got married?”

In three days we got over 300 responses. It was really interesting going through the responses. Some of my favorites are below (as you can see I loved a lot of them).

Check out all the responses on HGTV.com

“…For everyday use we use a mix of dishes I’ve found in museum shops, at art shows, etc. The Alyson Fox dishes would be a fantastic addition to our daily dishes. And they would go great with the three Fox prints we own.”

“…they are a mismatch, they work perfect for me since I get to match the pieces to my guests personality or occasion and so the Ink Dish plates would make a wonderful addition to my dinnerware.”

“…We only received four sets of our china, so four pieces of Ink Dish would be a perfect accent to what we have!”

“…I have added to my dinnerware collection and have 4-5 different sets of dishes that I use when entertaining. I love the December plates from Ink Dish….might have to add them to my collection.”

“…Currently, my dinnerware is plain white. I’ve bought a number of sets of four side plates in different patterns and colors so I can change up my table settings as my mood changes. I’d love to have the Alyson Fox plates to add to my collection…they are so ME.”

“…My mom has my grandma’s set and eventually it will be split between my sister and I. This set is so FUN!! I LOVE it.”

“For my first marriage registered for Noritake which I never used. For my second and present marriage, settled for Corningware SimplyLite 9-inch pie plates (they are the best when you have kids, no spillovers and so durable), but got a better guy with the deal! Would love the addition of the cute Alyson Fox designed dinnerware!”

“…The only dinnerware that my husband and I have had is the cheap set that we bought after we were married. The set has definitely had it’s fare share of use but we would love to replace it with something a little more presentable. The “December” collection is so cute & quirky….right up our alley! I bet they would make a great conversation piece while also being very functional.”

“…Would love to use China for many of the casual dinners we have with friends at home not just for “special occasions”. These patterns from Ink Dish are absolutely adorable! Thanks, HGTV!”

”…Love Fox’s design for Ink Dish, very creative.”

“…I didn’t register for actual China…but it was really nice everyday wear, and that’s what I use for my China…on special occasions! And actually, these really cute plates would match!”

“I received some china from my great Aunt but have never used it in fear of damaging it. the cheap stuff i do use though is off the clearance rack from walmart and i would really enjoy something cute and fun like these instead.”

“…My mom found a set of china in a yard sale and bought it for me. It was the sweetest thing and I love those dishes just as if they were new. The first time I used them was for a Christmas Tea at church. I decorated a table and they were beautiful. I would love the “December” Ink Dishes so I could use those for this December Tea at church!!! It would be the talk of all the tables!!”

“…Its fun to add some whimsy to the kitchen and these plates sure fit the bill! Thank you for the post and opportunity to win them.”

“…This is really cute, could use for everyday!!”

“…The Alison Fox set of dishes would head off to college with my daughter, I’m sure. She would LOVE them, she is pretty much out of the box, too!”

“…I would love to add these plates to my collection and pass them on someday. But if I don’t win them, to whoever does…enjoy!!! THey are cute and set the tone of your “party”!”

“…I hope I get some from my wedding registry! And I’d love to get these!!”

“…not yet married, but would really love to win this cute set!”

“…I got 8 place settings or Chelsea Wicker china. My husband and I were stil in college, me finishing my undergrad, and he getting his MBA. I think it was two years after the wedding when we were graduating fro college that we actually took all of the settings out of the boxes and looked at them to see that they have little black flaws in the off white plates. Too late to do anything about it at that point! Dang. This dinnerware is fantastically fun!”

“…my daughter and myself as well, would love them:) You really made me realize that it’s time for new plates and glasses”

“…Have my Grandmother’s “Apple Pattern” Franciscan Ware, which she bought in the 40’s or 50’s that I use everyday. No others, as we down-sized four years ago. Miss having a variety of choices. These are fun.”

“My husband and I as artists are not formal, so the traditional; china Idea seemed to not fit us , we opted for all white every day stuff in interesting forms, but I often wish we had something with color or a a funky design now and then.”