Introducing designers, abigail*ryan...

Whilst at the trade show, Pulse 2011, this month, I came across the abigail*ryan homewares stand and their beautiful floral-inspired tea towels, cushions and lavender bags.

The company was founded by Abigail Percy and her partner Ryan Bell. They design and print all their own fabrics based on Abigail’s botanical illustrations and Ryan’s love of graphic design and colour.

Today’s post features a selection of their designs, starting off with dahlia tea towels above. Below are their agapanthus and hydrangea tea towels, followed by cushions and lavender bags.

Abigail and Ryan very kindly answered a few questions for me:

When did you start your business and where are you based?

We launched our business in November 2009, but had been working hard for a few months prior to that getting our launch range perfect!

We were originally based in Glasgow and Belfast, as Ryan and I were long distance for a while, before I finally took the plunge and moved to Belfast full time.

Now we have a small home studio between Belfast and Carrickfergus in a place called Greenisland, where we now live with our puppy, Angus.

Where do you get your floral inspiration for your designs?

My (Abigail) inspiration comes from my photography. I spend many hours taking photographs of all the plants and flowers I can find – in everywhere from our back garden to the botanic gardens I visit around the world – and work directly from these photographs when producing the ink drawings that form the basis of our patterns.

What are your plans for the remainder of 2011?

We have soooooo many plans for the near future – new product lines, new patterns, new colourways…new everything!! Coming soonest, though, is our new ‘heirloom’ range and we’re incredibly excited about it.

Using our own fabrics and gorgeous Irish linen, we are producing completely one-off, unique patchwork quilts, throws and floor cushions. With each one being completely different and made entirely by us, we really think these items will be the heirlooms of the future.

Do you have a favourite flower?

Abigail: Peony or anemone – big, blousy blooms that beg to be turned into patterns! Ryan: Ranunculus, but I also love daffodils, they’re so fresh and happy.