The Spring Tabletop Show in New York

Two weeks ago was the Spring Tabletop show here in New York City. It is held at a showroom building for tabletop, 41 Madison Avenue. The  building set up is easy to navigate. The buyers lounge is comfortable with couches and coffee tables and shelves of trade magazines free for the taking. If that weren’t enough there is a cafe which has a lovely lunch that is free to attendees.

We wanted to see about 10 companies but gave up after seeing six. At each showroom we introduced ourselves and found the person we would need to contact to show designs or in some cases the marketing person. I was able to take photos in all but one showroom after I explained about the blog and showed our business card and some photos from the blog.

 We did not go this time intending to show work. Since tabletop is a new area for us we need to take more time to understand what kinds of designs are needed by  this market. In the meantime we are making contacts and getting to see what is new in Tabletop. Some of what we saw are already popular themes in our art licensing market such as: birds and botanicals; travel themes and decorative patterns.Sometimes trends we see in tabletop, as in the fashion world will be coming to the art licensing market in a year or two. This is a great place to spot trends.

Rather than showcase each company separately as I had planned it occurred to me it would be more interesting to show patterns together that are following a similar trend. I will of course identify the companies.

Marie and Fleur was a  new in the Fall at Vileroy and Boch and I fell in love with it at that time and again this month.

MarieFleur by Villeroy and Boch

Hydrangea lace cap

Azalea watercolor

Marie Fleur inspired me to start painting my own florals and create designs with them. We are working on a new collection of four botanicals.

Toulouse by Fitz and Floyd

This lovely botanical with  bird butterflies and type is one of my favorites at Fitz and Floyd.

Toulouse turreen by Fitz and Floyd

Fitz and Floyd has always been known for its decorative pieces. I would love to have this grace my table.

New Courtyard by Fitz and Floyd

The New Courtyard collection combines colorful butterflies with a traditional asian style border. This mix and match makes a very handsome design.

New Hydrangeas by Vietri

Vietri’s lovely New Hydrangea collection has a painterly impressionistic feeling and a shiny almost lusterware look.

Gibson Overseas

Gibson Overseas

These two patterns from Gibson Overseas are colorful and cheery. Great for a rainy day.

Winter Song by Lenox

Lenox’s winter song is a really nice look with a lot of white for simpler tastes.

Bird Song bluebird collage

BIRD SONG COLLECTION, CHICKADEE

Inspired by the bird and Nature themes that are so popular we created Bird Song, a collection of four watercolor collages from Andrea Brooks Studio. There are two more in this collection. I love birds and am now learning to identify their songs. What a happy sound in the morning and the evening.

It is good for many reasons to work in series. Manufacturers can see multiple uses for collections. Artists find that developing a theme can take them new places that they hadn’t planned to go with their work.

New additionsto the New Wave Caffe Cities of Villeroy and Boch

The New Wave Cities collection originally included New York, Paris and London It has been selling well and now Villeroy and Boch have added Tokyo, Sydney and New York. Anything to do with world travel is a popular trend.

Kate Spade’s Hopscotch Drive

Hopscotch Drive by Kate Spade for Lenox China

Hopscotch Drive is the travel themed collection that Kate Spade designed for Lenox. It is a city theme without specific cities.

Holiday Inspiration and illustration from Lenox

Holiday Inspiration and Illustration by Lenox

The Holiday Inspiration and Illustration collection from Lenox is charming and homey with many wonderful pieces.

Fetes de Noel from Villeroy and Boch

This is an absolutely charming holiday collection by Villeroy and Boch featuring christmas goodies and greenery in a light watercolor style. Probably my favorite holiday design of the day.

A special thanks to the people who made this blog possible by giving us a tour of the showroom and allowing me to take photos.

Suzanne Luther and Sharon Nale at the Fitz and Floyd showroom.

Claudia Ochoa at Gibson Overseas.

Ellen Thompson at Vietri.

Lisa Mendenhall at Villeroy and Boch.

Working on a new project, Botanical Garden

Surtex is almost a month away.

But creating art continues until the last possible minute. There is nothing like facing a show to inspire creativity and productiveness.

I have been painting new flowers and birds for several weeks. And now I am finished except for painting backgrounds. Then I turn it over to Dennis and we sit in front of the computer and create the new designs. The inspiration this time are antique botanical floral and bird designs. I am doing an updated version working inthe loose watercolor style that I have been developing. I have had many sources of inspiration, including but not all, sumi e painting, Janet Rogers watercolor tutorials and my own way of putting thngs together.

Here are a few of the florals  that I am happy with.

The newest peony

Red Poppies

Azalea

Blue Poppies

I’ve painted about twelve different flowers. There are a few rejects.

I’ve done a number of birds to go with this style, but only like one so far. I’ll wait before I post it. Always good to wait a few days and then look again.

I thought that the Azaleas had gotten too heavy handed right after I finished painting. Two days later I looked and made a few alterations and thought “hmmmm these are nice,I like them.”

I hope to have at least one of the new designs called “Botanical Garden” to show here soon. In the meantime I have to come to terms with the birds and then a few insects. I’ll include a bee, butterfly and dragonfly. Maybe even a little grass hopper.