PaperCrafter Magazine / / Two-page feature!

We are honoured to have received a lovely two page feature in 'PaperCrafter' magazine! The feature follows a day our studio & showcases some our illustrative cards, our brand new colourful wedding & party decorations & our new limited cushion collection. Find out more about PaperCrafter magazine on their website.

(A special thank you goes to to our fab product photographers navyblur & our gorgeous model Emma).

More about MaJoBV!

Good morning creative people!

Welcome to a Beauty morning with me, MaJo :) This week though, Rachael gave me the chance to tell you guys a bit more about myself, so my weekly Beauty Breakdown will be posted next Tuesday afternoon (a one time exception). 

This quote really helped me feel better on a sad day… you can read more about it here.

You already know the basics about me: I'm a Colombian living in Milan, Fashion, Textile and Surface Pattern Designer in L♥VE with whimsical, bright, quirky, fun design, nail-art, dogs and fake eyelashes :) So far 2013 has been a great year for me: I was chosen as one of the Top 10 designers to participate in REPEAT(ed), became an Artscase artist, was chosen by Rachael to be one of her guest bloggers, and have some more great news in the boiling pot :) I'm just really thankful for all the amazing things that have happened so far, and I'm very excited for the road I'm paving for myself: I'm sure it'll take me far… I just have to believe it!

Anyway… I would like to take advantage of this free post I was given to also talk more about my life in Europe and why I'm here. I can't really explain why, but ever since I was little I wanted to live in Paris. Life works in different ways, so I ended up moving to Milan instead. I love travelling and learning from new places and cultures, I also like change, so I don't think I will stay here forever… I would like to experience long term stays in other European cities too, so I might move to Paris someday in my life, who knows, right? 

People wonder why I choose to be here instead of choosing my own country and family and all the comforts I could have there… well, I guess the quick answer is: I like creating my own success, even when there is an easier way to choose. I miss my family A LOT! but I was taught to be independent and to work for what I want, and all I want is to prove my family I'm strong and capable enough to do so :) 

Il Duomo di Milano - I literally cried the first time I found myself in front of it. It is just stunning and every time I see it I realise how lucky I am to be in such a historical city. 

Searching deeper, there are many more reasons why I like living here: Europe is filled with art, history and culture… everywhere you go, everywhere you look you breath in years and years of inspiration. Europe is a really small continent, but so culturally rich it seems huge. I love travelling, and moving around Europe is very easy and also cheap if you find the right offer. I love the fact that I can take a plane and be in Berlin, Paris or Madrid in an hour or so. I have over 25 countries with their own language, culture, traditions at the palm of my hand… I feel I'm on the World's bellybutton, and I love it!

I took this picture one day while walking to work… it is the courtyard of a beautiful old building in downtown Milan, and I just found everything about it beautiful. So many architectural motifs to be inspired by. I wanted to show you an example of how easy and simple it is here to find things that just take your breath away :) 

I don't know where life will take me, I don't know if I'll live the rest of my life in Europe or if I'll eventually move back to Colombia… I might, so I'm trying to soak in as much inspiration as I can while I'm here. One thing is true though, inspiration is everywhere… even in the tiniest of places, even in front of wherever you are now sitting reading this post. We all just need to learn to observe, and we'll be able to find beauty everywhere!

Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to read this personal post. I hope you've enjoyed getting to know me a bit better. I leave you with some of my newest work (and a couple of oldies) hoping to still inspire you today. Have a great day, MaJo.

Also my beautiful country (Colombia) serves me as inspiration… actually, it is always present in my work even if not always as literal as in this design which was inspired by the colonial architecture and colours  of the gorgeous city of Cartagena. 

House Beautiful Magazine Feature!

Recently we have been very lucky to have been featured in 'A House Beautiful Home Business' book where we were featured as a 'Beautiful Business', & now we are in the House Beautiful Magazine! Our  signature '50's Inspired' print was chosen for the 'Design News' section of the magazine.

"Have fun with Rachael Taylor's quirky and colourful pieces"

Our 50's inspired print has been used a cross a range of diverse products including tea towels, aprons & canvas bags from our own product range as well as bedding, shower curtains, cushions & clocks with DENY Designs. You can find all of our on our shop!
We are so grateful to have been featured!

50's Inspired Canvas Bag

'Signature' Canvas Bag Collection

50's Inspired Tea Towel

'Signature' Tea Towel Collection

DENY Designs 50's Inspired Duvet Set

DENY Designs 50's Inspired Throw Pillow

DENY Designs 50's Inspired Clock

DENY Designs 50's Inspired Shower Curtain

Feature in Mollie Makes Magazine!

We are very excited to share that we have been featured in Issue 25 of 'Mollie Makes' Magazine! Several of our designs featured in the 'Designer Focus' section of the magazine, including our Signature Tea Towel Set, DENY Designs Textured Honesty Throw Pillow, DENY Designs Fun Floral Duvet Set & our Shapes & Squares wallpaper with Wallpaper Republic. The lovely magazine said of our designs:

"Leeds - based designer Rachael Taylor creates energising homewards from her bold, illustrated prints (...) If zingy florals or bold abstract shapes rock your style, she's your gal."

"Rachael can design awesome prints with her eyes closed. Literally."

The magazine is a great read & so beautifully designed, we couldn't be more chuffed to be featured! Below you can see larger images of the designs given the spotlight. Our designs are used across a diverse range of products, visit our shop to find more colourful items!

You can subscribe to Mollie Makes or buy the magazine here. Also check out their gorgeous website or follow them on Facebook, Twitter & Pinterest.

Signature Tea Towel Set - Also available in aprons!

Textured Honesty Throw Pillow - Also available in aprons & tea towels!

Fun Floral Duvet Set - Also available on Cards!

Shapes & Squares Wallpaper - Also available in other colourways!

Real Life Kitchens & Baths Magazine feature!

A big thank you to Real Life Kitchens & Baths Magazine for their kind feature of my 'Textured Geo' shower curtain, in collaboration with DENY designs. You can find the rest of the 'Textured Geo' range as well as a selection of other patterns by clicking here!

Homes & Antiques Press Feature

I've had a very lucky month for press features! THANK YOU!

You can find my 'Quirky Floral Stems' tea towel featured in the current issue of Homes & Antiques magazine (June 2012). I'm so thrilled that the new collection has been well received you can buy this particular design online here for just £10.00!