Flora + Fauna

The eleventh London Design Festival is underway and this year, among the high end and established brands, the indies are making a stand. Or rather, a pop-up.

The lovely people behind Designers Makers, the agency bringing independent designers to market, has launched Flora + Fauna, a bricks and mortar outlet for forty carefully selected members to exhibit their work throughout the month of September.  Although the shop opened it's doors at the beginning of the month, last week was the official press launch to coincide with the beginning of the Festival. I went along to see what's in store...

The shop itself, at 136 Columbia Road (formerly The Powder Room), is a delight to the eye and brimming with expertly crafted products from all areas of design including jewellery, furniture, ceramics and print.  Nestled comfortably among the permanent stores it has been a labour of love for D/M director Sophie Rees and her small team but the hard work has paid off and it's sure to give the other proprietors a run for their money.  

The flora and fauna theme is hugely popular at the moment but the beautifully curated interior offers a few surprises on the subject away from the usual flowers and woodland animals.

Flora + Fauna interior

Flora + Fauna interior
(image courtesy of Designers Makers)

Flora + Fauna interior
(image courtesy of Designers Makers)

Goodie Bag!

Some of the chosen designers I had come across before and some were pleasing new discoveries but all deserve their place among the UK's finest.

If you're visiting the London Design Festival this month it's definitely worth the 15 minutes walk from the Old Truman Brewery to explore this delightful little haven of handmade goodness.

Flora + Fauna is open 11am - 6pm, Wednesday to Sunday until 30th September.

You can read more about the Designers Makers monthly market here.

Bonny Boutique

Regular readers of this blog will know I get quite a buzz from discovering new craft businesses and to meet with the proprietors in person gives me such inspiration.  Last week I spent a delightful hour chatting with Sarah Chorlton, twenty-four year-old founder of bespoke soft furnishings and accessories company Bonny Boutique, at her pop-up shop a stone's throw from London's bustling Victoria station.

Sarah in her Victoria pop-up

Established in 2011, Bonny Boutique offers hand made products with a distinct Britishness, lovingly created by Sarah herself from her idyllic sounding log cabin studio in Horsham.

Taught to sew as a young girl by her mother  Sarah has followed a creative path ever since, one that led her on a journey from needlework to photography and eventually to an honours degree in fine art at Winchester School of Art, from which she graduated in 2010.  After deciding to return to her childhood passion for textiles Bonny Boutique was born. 
Her first sale came at a craft market at Loseley Park in Surrey and since then Sarah hasn't looked back, working full time on the business since late 2011.  She now sells at markets around the south-east, through her website, Bonny-Boutique.co.uk and also via a number of local stockists.
In December 2012 Bonny Boutique opened a pop-up in Richmond as part of the Pop-Up Britain initiative  to give independent British brands a chance to get their products on to the High Street.  It proved so successful that it is now occupying space in the Victoria shop.  

tock from the Richmond 
Christmas store

Sarah's beautifully crafted cushions and bunting are made from her growing collection of fabric remnants, sourced anywhere from car boot sales to charity shops, meaning no two items are exactly the same.  Her inspiration comes mainly from the fabric itself but is driven by an underlying theme of good old fashioned British pastimes and interests such as caravanning, taking tea and man's best friend.
Below she answers a few questions to help us get to know her a little better...



Describe yourself in five words:

Talkative, happy, confident, caring, quirky.

Which country would you most like to visit?
Iceland.


What was your last meal?
Cocktail sausages and Percy Pigs!

How do you relax?
Reading or chilling with my boyfriend.

If you were an animal, what would you be?
A cat.

Tea or coffee?
Tea.

Mac or PC?
Mac.

What advice would you give to others wanting to start their own business?
Never cut corners.

Finally, when I asked what ambitions she has for the future, Sarah replied (without any hesitation), "to be a brilliant businesswoman and mother".  I think she is halfway there already. 

Bonny Boutique is at the Pop-Up Britain Victoria store until 31st March. 
Commissions welcome.  
Facebook.com/bonnyboutiquecouk  Twitter: @Bonny_Boutique

If you are a crafter or designer/maker and would like to be featured on this blog, email me: kerry@verykerryh.co.uk