One of the most exciting things about bringing my wallpaper library "in house" under the New South Pattern House brand, is that I get to have a lot more control over how these patterns are displayed. This includes working with my team to create my own "mock ups"--- online tools that will let you envision each pattern on an actual wall. In my case, a few of these mockups we created were actually pulled from my own home-- and these are hands-down my favorites. My house is by no means perfectly curated, but does include some pieces that I absolutely love--- family heirlooms, artwork by talented friends, and hand-built furniture. Today I thought I would walk you through some of these new mockups and tell you the story behind them.
The Guitar Wall:
I love this mockup so much, because there is literally nothing in this photo that doesn't hold meaning for me. From the storm-felled plum wood that runs across the top of the image (milled for us by my father-in-law and sourced from my husband's childhood home,) to my grandmother's piano that frames the bottom of the photo--- every bit of this photo is wrapped in nostalgia and memories for me. I simply love the idea of my clients using this image to envision my artwork in their own spaces. Pattern shown above is "Possum Magic."
Above: Here's the same mockup again, this time with my "Great Blue Heron" pattern. To the left of the photo hangs my dad's guitar-- the one he handed down to me after his arthritis became too severe for him to reliably play John Prine songs at our family gatherings. On the right top side, you can see a mahogany ukulele that my husband Sean built from scratch, which is probably my favorite thing he's ever made.
The Tabletop:
Did you know I grew these zinnias in my garden with my kids? And I often read this native plant book before bed, so that I fall asleep dreaming of future gardens? Do you see the gorgeous lamp here, which was made by talented Durham-based potter and family friend, David Roswell of Studio Maypop? Guys. I'm just so excited with how these turned out. (Pattern shown is "The Pollinators, Dark Sage on Light"
The Swatch:
Above: We were looking for a way to highlight the relationship between my original hand pulled block prints, and the digital patterns I create for my wallpapers. Here, you can see me holding an 8x10 inch wallpaper swatch with Shirley (My large format Conrad Printmaking press) sharing the foreground. I love the way this sample image draws a connection to my printmaking equipment and features a photo of the actual studio where these patterns began life. I also love that it's different from what any other wallpaper company is doing-- because we are not trying to be like anyone else. (Pattern shown is: "Sandhill Cranes. This pattern began life as a set of limited edition block prints made here on this very press.)
Of course not every mockup on the site is drawn from my home, but I was surprised by how much meaning it gave me to create the ones that are. As I continue to build out this portion of my business, I'm looking forward to getting creative with future images and seeking to share even more with y'all. I'll continue to push for authenticity over perfection, and of course aim for ultimate whimsy maxing :). In return, I am hoping that y'all will post photos along with your reviews, because I honestly CANNOT WAIT to see all the creative ways you bring these patterns to live in your own spaces! Thanks for being with me on this journey.
Have a great week y'all,
Katie