The Alpha Workshops for Thibaut

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thibautdesign.com/collection/artisan/Alphapage_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.thibautdesign.com/collection/artisan/Alphapage_01.jpg" /></a></div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">I</span></span></b>'ve been organizing my home office and sewing room and came across a packet of wallpaper samples from Thibaut that I picked up at last fall's Market Week at the Boston Design Center. Oy, sometimes, things do get buried, don't they?<br /><br />Anyway, the wallpaper samples are from Thibaut's newly released papers made in conjunction with The Alpha Workshops called <a href="http://www.thibautdesign.com/collection/room_photo.php?id=87" target="_blank">Artisan</a>. The papers, and the story behind them, are pretty fantastic. <br /><br />[via Thibaut's website] Founded in 1995, The Alpha Workshops is the only not-for-profit organization in the country that trains and employs people who are living with HIV/AIDS in the decorative arts. The Alpha Workshops has been an industy pioneer, developing a unique training curriculum within a flexible setting and providing a supportive workplace that is responsive to the medical, financial and emotional needs of people living with chronic illness.<br /><br />Decorative arts classes are taught at The Alpha Workshops studio School, which is licensed by the New York State Department of Education. The Alpha Workshops also runs a highly regarded design studio, staffed completely by artisans who have graduated from the school's advanced program. The studios are well-known for hand-painted wallpapers, on-site custom painting and venetian plaster, decorative finishes, gilding, hand-cast lamps and site-specific artwork.<br /><br />The collaboration between Thibaut and Alpha utilizes the best talents of both companies to create Artisan, a bold and inspiring new wallpaper collection. For Thibaut, the license with Alpha presented an opportunity to work hand-in-hand with the creators of Alpha's designs to shape their new interpretation. The artisans of Alpha recognized that in Thibaut, they had a partner who could skillfuly capture the handmade quality of their designs and translate them into a widely available product. The result is a beautiful group of papers that reflects the best of both The Alpha Workshops and Thibaut.<br /><br />For more information about The Alpha Workshops, please visti <a href="http://www.alphaworkshops.org/">www.alphaworkshops.org </a><br />Their website is currently under construction, however, you can still view more info at their About Us page <a href="http://www.alphaworkshops.org/about.html" target="_blank">here</a>. <br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">H</span></span></b>ere are the sample papers we were given. The papers in the images (via Thibaut) are not all the same colorway as the samples I have on hand, so I'm showing both. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thibautdesign.com/images/collections/artisan/mar_roomset_360.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.thibautdesign.com/images/collections/artisan/mar_roomset_360.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsyxaZrxWpSPGyV4v7_d9xuXG5FH8jEBG9pMoZ2F8XXcKUEhctwVgtEKCaSKiS0M-VreXpZp4x2jrNvcCYDerBoUam0IyBWM9Ej1qXr5orQD93pSsduDlNoxqwj3wxR5Li_6wA9JzovK3Y/s1600/01_mar_751_HR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsyxaZrxWpSPGyV4v7_d9xuXG5FH8jEBG9pMoZ2F8XXcKUEhctwVgtEKCaSKiS0M-VreXpZp4x2jrNvcCYDerBoUam0IyBWM9Ej1qXr5orQD93pSsduDlNoxqwj3wxR5Li_6wA9JzovK3Y/s640/01_mar_751_HR.jpg" width="447" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thibautdesign.com/collection/high_res.php?productID=6781&patternID=1134" target="_blank">Maryse</a>  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thibautdesign.com/images/collections/artisan/lac_roomset_360.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.thibautdesign.com/images/collections/artisan/lac_roomset_360.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9hcCmdCo2LZ7MUwM-4P7-UiHoxwtRp91ki8ocgh0UgB70vsoErwcqyCOdyNbtZ4pRQGF8qFg7Do_x3Tli20c6g0dvSqpSxpGy6QZB3vAhmusqCkMmsT-yFNz3_PKJ6tptQkLN6SrOebRu/s1600/02_lac_769_HR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9hcCmdCo2LZ7MUwM-4P7-UiHoxwtRp91ki8ocgh0UgB70vsoErwcqyCOdyNbtZ4pRQGF8qFg7Do_x3Tli20c6g0dvSqpSxpGy6QZB3vAhmusqCkMmsT-yFNz3_PKJ6tptQkLN6SrOebRu/s640/02_lac_769_HR.jpg" width="446" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thibautdesign.com/collection/high_res.php?patternID=1131&productID=6758" target="_blank">La Giaconda </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thibautdesign.com/images/collections/artisan/loo_roomset_360.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.thibautdesign.com/images/collections/artisan/loo_roomset_360.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX29ZEX4yRyQTja8VJP3Oi0SjCaoTy_krXXLZtQlH_x4EYNnVLvcH4i7aQvdBJV5bhmdKIEvcgISgM8M4cWPiGJjHlNb68op3loYOFOEbLe3dbT2byV_8kpuS2471R26OKOVBYUi-HRb1t/s1600/04_loo_714_HR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX29ZEX4yRyQTja8VJP3Oi0SjCaoTy_krXXLZtQlH_x4EYNnVLvcH4i7aQvdBJV5bhmdKIEvcgISgM8M4cWPiGJjHlNb68op3loYOFOEbLe3dbT2byV_8kpuS2471R26OKOVBYUi-HRb1t/s640/04_loo_714_HR.jpg" width="446" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thibautdesign.com/collection/high_res.php?productID=6820&patternID=1140" target="_blank">Loom</a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thibautdesign.com/images/collections/artisan/rev_roomset_360.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.thibautdesign.com/images/collections/artisan/rev_roomset_360.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFHTI8XkoV6pkWZHnyJYMmEnH2dQCXw-WPDHf-VMaO7Dv2urRMOQPMBPUvaxXanzzshZ5gJALXKf-PaQrmJ1MqdVViFvcfBMlFpQuFzq4uWnLZlcEhxN-mZzgy1ANrxH55cSivrpAPxStN/s1600/04_rev_767_HR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFHTI8XkoV6pkWZHnyJYMmEnH2dQCXw-WPDHf-VMaO7Dv2urRMOQPMBPUvaxXanzzshZ5gJALXKf-PaQrmJ1MqdVViFvcfBMlFpQuFzq4uWnLZlcEhxN-mZzgy1ANrxH55cSivrpAPxStN/s640/04_rev_767_HR.jpg" width="447" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thibautdesign.com/collection/high_res.php?patternID=1131&productID=6758" target="_blank">Reverie</a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thibautdesign.com/images/collections/artisan/ver_roomset_360.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.thibautdesign.com/images/collections/artisan/ver_roomset_360.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKI2ukZbf01OPLxuc1GWjBCDZ9rFMo7yvIHQsGqyMd08ui8dfmqBYiT2kgVp3OGKzix1hj81DDiWrWyswJLMs-nECyqK2eQwSlZGvf16e4rgdpSqT6NPZD3PfU2JmZ6iM-yJIuRHpISoeG/s1600/04_ver_774_HR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKI2ukZbf01OPLxuc1GWjBCDZ9rFMo7yvIHQsGqyMd08ui8dfmqBYiT2kgVp3OGKzix1hj81DDiWrWyswJLMs-nECyqK2eQwSlZGvf16e4rgdpSqT6NPZD3PfU2JmZ6iM-yJIuRHpISoeG/s640/04_ver_774_HR.jpg" width="446" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thibautdesign.com/collection/high_res.php?productID=6820&patternID=1140" target="_blank">Verre Eglomisé</a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thibautdesign.com/images/collections/artisan/gin_roomset_360.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.thibautdesign.com/images/collections/artisan/gin_roomset_360.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAU4p5Q6WFfBwfcNtpj9roF_qbmPn8G0_Hd2JvHhvAQmCZH4mLYEa5yafc8fCopNd-mFBKDCxdWGWwJBLOZScgV1Rur6NdkMry8Fpy-2hhtJOhJrREvSwlpqptPhDlbkfGENKfXQ8gxhpV/s1600/06_gin_719_HR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAU4p5Q6WFfBwfcNtpj9roF_qbmPn8G0_Hd2JvHhvAQmCZH4mLYEa5yafc8fCopNd-mFBKDCxdWGWwJBLOZScgV1Rur6NdkMry8Fpy-2hhtJOhJrREvSwlpqptPhDlbkfGENKfXQ8gxhpV/s640/06_gin_719_HR.jpg" width="447" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thibautdesign.com/collection/high_res.php?productID=6754&patternID=1130" target="_blank">Ginkgo</a></div><br /><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">E</span></span></b>ach of the papers has a unique texture and feel to them. The Maryse, for example, is a smooth paper with a stried ground and overlaid block print metallic pattern. The Ginkgo is a thick pressed paper with a block print. The Verre Eglomisé, mimics the look of real eglomisé, which is glass that has been painted on the reverse side. The Reverie has the look of a rand, hand stamped pattern and La Gioconda has a soft, romantic quality to the print. <br /><br /><span id="breadcrumb"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">R</span></span></b>oyalties from the sale of Alpha Workshops for Thibaut patterns will directly support <a href="http://www.alphaworkshops.org/" target="_blank"><i>Alpha’s</i></a> training and employment programs. </span><br /><br /><br /><br />If you would like my help on your design project, I would love to chat with you! Please <a href="mailto:linda.m.merrill@gmail.com">email me</a>. Thanks!<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe to ::Surroundings::</a>

The Alpha Workshops for Thibaut

I 've been organizing my home office and sewing room and came across a packet of wallpaper samples from Thibaut that I picked up at last...

Read more »

Wedgewood Ceilings and other finds

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A few weeks ago, I was watching a re-run of an old Antiques Roadshow (British version) and in the background of one of the estates they were filming in I caught a glimpse of what looked like a Wedgwood Blue Jasperware ceiling. Gorgeous. Of course, it got me to wondering how many of these types of ceilings exist. Developed in the late 17th century by Josiah Wedgwood, Jasperware came in many colors although the blue is certainly the most famous. Named for the mineral jasper, this pottery mostly depicted scenes of ancient Greeks, mythology and other classic motifs.  What I didn't know was that Josiah, a prominent abolitionist, was the grandfather of Charles Darwin. Charles Darwin married Emma Wedgwood, his first cousin, and they had ten children. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Anyway, I've been gathering images of Wedgwood Blue ceilings and my wanderings through the internet have been fascinating indeed. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3659/3555599363_ff46049809_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3659/3555599363_ff46049809_b.jpg" width="640" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Wedgwood Suite - <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/stgeorgeshotel/3555599363/" target="_blank">St. Georges Hotel</a> - Wales, UK</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wEG1rJvmKww/TvlDlSWkEdI/AAAAAAAAJPY/qucQ-kxGm84/s1600/wedgwoodroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="423" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wEG1rJvmKww/TvlDlSWkEdI/AAAAAAAAJPY/qucQ-kxGm84/s640/wedgwoodroom.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Location unknown, via <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/raffaella/4916986553/sizes/l/in/photostream/" target="_blank">Flickr</a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm1.staticflickr.com/75/172015081_b78266dcd8_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://farm1.staticflickr.com/75/172015081_b78266dcd8_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Glasgow City Chambers - via <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cumbo/172015081/sizes/l/in/photostream/" target="_blank">Flickr</a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.drookitagain.co.uk/coppermine/albums/userpics/10001/Glasgow%20City%20Chambers,%20ornate%20plaster%20ceiling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="500" src="http://www.drookitagain.co.uk/coppermine/albums/userpics/10001/Glasgow%20City%20Chambers,%20ornate%20plaster%20ceiling.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Glasgow City Chambers - <a href="http://www.drookitagain.co.uk/coppermine/displayimage.php?pid=814" target="_blank">via </a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6024/5926539957_2cd18993d2_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6024/5926539957_2cd18993d2_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ahinpgh/5926539957/" target="_blank">Buhl Building in Pittsburg</a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG0dKeOv6dvTG4dS30rJdgr3r2s5-bcbtCrHBROw8dnk0XSrJ98EOcKMx39F_g78oFGZ3dnoXOgA528W3Lx6-T-dla5mJKJa8EH-yPtu2WDnRMl-_fm-jrgYAhThg0Lto1YJY_I8G39jxV/s400/Gallery-Wedgwood-Waterfor-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG0dKeOv6dvTG4dS30rJdgr3r2s5-bcbtCrHBROw8dnk0XSrJ98EOcKMx39F_g78oFGZ3dnoXOgA528W3Lx6-T-dla5mJKJa8EH-yPtu2WDnRMl-_fm-jrgYAhThg0Lto1YJY_I8G39jxV/s1600/Gallery-Wedgwood-Waterfor-001.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Unknown</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm1.staticflickr.com/87/243011458_bb0cea3e6f_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://farm1.staticflickr.com/87/243011458_bb0cea3e6f_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>One of only four known existing fireplace surrounds made by Wedgwood. 3 are in the Lady Lever Gallery in Merseyside, England, and the fourth at the Biltmore Estate in Ashville, NC.  via <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/44124485911@N01/243011458/sizes/l/in/photostream/" target="_blank">Flickr</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/picture-of-month/graphics/large/wedgwood_jasper_fireplace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/picture-of-month/graphics/large/wedgwood_jasper_fireplace.jpg" /></a></div><a href="http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/nof/aotm/displaypicture.asp?venue=&id=258" target="_blank">source</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">My wanderings also brought me to a whole host of gorgeous Jasperware inspired confections: </div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bettys.co.uk/common/images/products/Wedgewood-web_el.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://www.bettys.co.uk/common/images/products/Wedgewood-web_el.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I lost this link. Will add when I find it. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRd4uDQUKt3yUejDV-f2lSesF7I2sAI14fgwRx9u1IDJ0H4PjbJ-jb-Hh3Cji6mpZE1cqUJx7cR8nyYyZKxMC23O7MPYh5ww3gRth0r0W3cvgdQhqsr-ulItay43d8ALf-tVhGUayYPjY/s320/wedgewood-wedding-cake-idea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRd4uDQUKt3yUejDV-f2lSesF7I2sAI14fgwRx9u1IDJ0H4PjbJ-jb-Hh3Cji6mpZE1cqUJx7cR8nyYyZKxMC23O7MPYh5ww3gRth0r0W3cvgdQhqsr-ulItay43d8ALf-tVhGUayYPjY/s320/wedgewood-wedding-cake-idea.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cherylkleinman.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Cheryl Kleinman Cakes</a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3030/2514753166_6af5a27deb_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3030/2514753166_6af5a27deb_o.jpg" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">via <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77639913@N00/2514753166" target="_blank">Flickr </a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div style="background-color: #d5a6bd;">If you would like my help on your design project, I would love to chat with you! Please <a href="mailto:linda.m.merrill@gmail.com">email me</a>. Thanks!</div><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe to ::Surroundings::</a>

Wedgewood Ceilings and other finds

A few weeks ago, I was watching a re-run of an old Antiques Roadshow (British version) and in the background of one of the estates they wer...

Read more »