Craft Focus - Dec 2017/Jan 2018 (Issue 64)

The Colourist: expressive mixture of different materials with dynamic colours This trend revolves completely around colour with intensive shades such as magenta, yellow, cyan, orange-red, azure, violet and emerald playing leading roles. The intensive colours are applied to the different materials with rough brush strokes, scrapers, stamps or templates. In this way, wood, plastic, wool, bast materials and patterned silk fabrics are given an extraordinary finish with striking patterns, painted typographies or checks. Traditional skills are tested with new materials such as the ancient batik technique shibori, which is used for a variety of materials from fabric and paper. There are also many recycling ideas, such as plastic strips, cable and PET bottles combined with classic DIY materials. The Gardener: creative inspiration from flora and fauna Nature is a rich source of creative inspiration. Leaves, blossoms, herbs, insects and landscapes are the motifs of The Gardener for designs, three-dimensional images or embroidery templates. The trend unifies a natural colour palette including copper beech, lime, oak, sage and chicory. Sketches created using different painting techniques such as gouache, water, oil and pastels, not only decorate greetings cards but are also used as design ideas on fabrics and porcelain. The use of leaves is an invitation to be creative and trees recreated artistically on paper in different shades, and folded into three dimensions. Leaves and insects are used as embroidery motifs. Knitting offers numerous opportunities to add a very personal touch. No longer is the classic knitted scarf rounded off with wool fringes but with feathers and pearls. Dark shades are used for pottery with irregular and handmade shapes created without the potter’s wheel. Sensuous and relaxed. The Purist: high-grade materials given a restrained finish This clear, simple style is given expression through the use of high-grade materials, such as paper, cardboard, chrome and leather, and a restrained finish. In the case of The Purist trend, plain objects are turned into something special simply by using patterns such as a leather shoe can become one-of-a-kind through the application of delicate polka-dots. Typographies for sweatshirts and hoodies can catch the eye if the letters are not printed in the usual places but run across the hood. Contrasting surfaces and their properties generate an aha-effect. Soft and gentle meets hard and angular, shiny metal competes against dull and matt while paper-thin meets strong and bulky. A fine line is drawn with a pencil on rough hand-made paper or bright, chromed products such as mugs, dishes and bowls, are sprayed with matt paint. Beside white, shades of grey and chrome, the colours in this trend world range from rosé shades to dusty pink. The Purist trend puts the focus on the quality of the materials used, which underscores the reduced, simple and high- grade style. The three trend worlds are dominated by a blend of different material combinations, influences from nature and simple colours: 48 craft focus