Philip lives and works between residences in London and the beautiful Dorset coast. He finds a lot of his inspiration in the natural world around us. This blog has been written using Philip’s own words …..
‘Arcadia’ is Philip’s new Autumn 2018 collection by for Snow Leopard Designs by Free Spirit Fabrics
“Arcadia” is an ancient Greek word that refers to a vision of pastoralism and harmony with nature. In this new collection for Snow Leopard Designs I have tried to recreate this same vision of pastoral harmony and as a chance to escape from the complexities of modern life and back into a simpler way of being.. I have based the designs on images of great beauty that I have seen in my daily life while working down at my seaside studio.
“Farmyard Feathers” (see here with our very own Sabu) was inspired by some feathers that I picked up at a local West Dorset farm while collecting my supplies and I was so amazed at their beauty that I wanted to turn them into a design.The farmer`s wife now collects the different feathers that the turkeys and bantums shed, so that I can use them to inspire designs.
“Carp and Petals” was inspired by seeing beautiful fish swimming in a pond under the floating blossoms scattered by the spring wind blowing down the valley from the hills. I love the sense of depth and movement that the different layers bring.
“Ammonites” is inspired by the many fossilized 170 million year old ammonite shells that I have collected during my dinosaur bone hunting expeditions along the Jurassic coastline of Dorset. For about 30 years I have hunted for dinosaur and marine reptile bones. Most of my collection has now been gifted to the nation. My ichthyosaur “Britney” can see displayed at the Etches Collection in Kimmeridge.
“Egg Shells” and “Shell Stripe” were both inspired by the many objects that I pick up on my way down to the beach for my swim in the sea. I love collecting objects of beauty and seeing beauty in everyday items and then arranging them in a pattern. Then the design creates itself before my very eyes.
“Violas” was inspired by some lovely old antique lithographs that I have in my archive that date from the early 1900s. I just love the way that they tumble over each other in a profusion of colour, shape and texture.
Then “Snow Leopard” is taken from a small mid 19th century leopard spot chintz in my archive that I think works so well as a “filler” and a foil to the larger patterns in this group.
I would like to thank Natasha McCarty from the UK TV series ‘Sewing Quarter’ for an interesting day recording for the studio production of ‘Arcadia’ You can see that interview coming up soon on Sewing Quarter…..
There is so much beauty around us if we try to look with an artists eyes. I hope this new collection will help bring that same beauty into your projects and homes.” I would also like to thank Jenna Bost and Debbie Driscoll Stark for their considerable help with colouration and production.
See more of our collections on Facebook in our Snow Leopard group where you are most welcome to post your own Snow Leopard creations for Philip to admire. Don’t forget to post in the UKQU Facebook Group too … https://www.facebook.com/groups/Philip.Jacobs.Snow.Leopard.Designs/
He will also give advance notice of any new upcoming designs in the aforementioned group and on his own page https://www.facebook.com/Philip-Jacobs-and-Snow-Leopard-Fabric-Collections-533380116849105/
Written by Philip Jacobs and edited by Marilyn Merrilees
Photos by Philip Jacobs
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