To begin with Smith, full of energy as usual, led us through his profile. He explained how he started out running his first shop in Nottingham alongside his wife, Pauline and Afghan hound Homer, through to how he gains inspiration for the 26 collections now under the Paul Smith brand.
A couple of things that really stuck with me were how hard you have to work to really be able to achieve your ambitions and remain pure to your work ethos. Smith emphasised how 4 days a week he worked to earn money so that the remainder of the week he could do what he was passionate about. Also, how important individuality is; to make each thing special and interesting, to capture attention and most importantly, to show your personality. A couple of things I will take forward into my work are the importance of colour in design and the need to be brave in order to be distinctive! It was a great evening and i was given lots of food for thought! Plus a few mince pies!
Effort Costs Nothing.
Laid-back 40s Glamour combined with crisp white cotton shirts and bright punches of colour. Jonathan Saunders' adds a splash of freshness to the preceedings by working floral graphics with ombre blends in this fun and feminine Spring/Summer 2011 collection.
Look at these wonderful pockets of colour! Created by the master weaver of the Bauhaus, Gunta Stolzl. Although conventionally associated with woven textiles, this method of recording and blocking colour could be good for me to use in the development of my designs.
This is always the kind of thing I dreamed about making as a child, but i think I only ever managed a sheet hung haphazardly between the back of the sofa and the radiator. Nothing like the masterpieces in these photographs by Tim MacPherson. Oh to have the imagination of a child again!
A few snaps from my trip to Japan...
Last night I was lucky enough to attend a great lecture by Paul Smith at Nottingham Contemporary followed by Christmas drinks and mince pies at Willoughby House. 
© everywoman’s Modern Muse
