Behind the scenes of Archipelago

Archipelago Linen original artwork

Archipelago was inspired by a day trip to the Tresco Abbey Gardens in the Isles of Scilly, United Kingdom—where an incredible variety of plants have thrived in the subtropical climate. Established in the nineteenth-century, the 17 acre gardens form a magical landscape with secret gardens and spectacular vistas.

 

Images taken while visiting the island in the 2016 summer

Details from the gardens were depicted with oil pastels—mixing, layering and mark-making to create a dreamy escape. These were individually drawn on Yupo paper before being scanned and designed into a repeating pattern.

The thick nature of oil pastels allowed the movement and shape of plants to be captured more so than their detail.

Archipelago Linen original artwork

Archipelago Shell original artwork

The design was a key feature in our second collection, By the Sea, appearing as a stand-alone design and within Nana’s Quilt. Archipelago was developed into two colourways and is available from Nerida Hansen Fabrics in a variety of base cloths including cotton linen, lightweight linen, midweight cotton and cotton sateen.

We’re both planning #fielddaymakes of our own with this one—an oversized cotton linen beach tote in Archipelago Linen and a set of relaxed lightweight linen pillowcases in Archipelago Shell… who knows, maybe even beach kaftan as well?!