Visions of Paisley Ivory Kraft

While we were visiting London many years ago, a well-respected bookshop owner sold us a set of paper and silk swatchbooks that date back to the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Calling to mind the intricate hand-painted and block-printed art from another era, these swatchbooks contain possibilities and ideas crafted from the golden age of French textile design.

Returning to Canada with these books in our possession, we set ourselves the task of creating journal covers inspired by the richly patterned textiles and paintings discovered within these books. Finding it remarkable to discover firsthand how contemporary design is influenced by the artisans of the past, we spent hours poring over each book, savouring every design and trying to decipher the notes we found written in the margins.

We slipped our own notes into the pages to mark the designs we liked, believing that by transferring the delicate beauty of the silk to paper, the golden era of French textile design could become a part of our Paperblanks collection. We wanted to re-create the timeless quality these books possessed, combining it with the rigours involved in book craftsmanship to bring old-world artistry into the light of day.

We finally selected and decided upon our first theme, Lyon Florals. Providing a fascinating glimpse into the creative process of French textile design, these book covers draw inspiration from a striking pattern featuring elements from the natural world.

Intricate, lush foliage and floral designs were painted on paper to create this master pattern dating from the 1860s, which would have been used to create a template for the mass production of the fabric. With a timeless elegance, the muted beauty of this paisley design on an ivory-coloured background brings to mind the stylish refinement of a 19th-century drawing room.

Ever since our first Lyon Florals release, the French swatchbooks have provided inspiration for many Paperblanks series and remain a veritable treasure chest of ideas for our future designs. And though the original Visions of Paisley covers were discontinued years ago, we are pleased to bring the design back as part of our collection of new softcover Flexis.