news · susi bellamy ·Oct 16, 2024

Italian Inspiration: The Magic of Marbled Creations

Bring a sense of Italy to your home:

My inspiration to create the Susi Bellamy collection has come after many years of both my art practice and the influences resulting from travelling and observation. But it was my time living in Florence with my family that led to so much visual stimulation - enough to last a lifetime. Here I share some of my artistic and creative journey that has helped inform our brand's identity...

The Art of Marbling

I learnt the ancient art of paper marbling whilst living in Florence and have developed it further since being back in the UK. After learning the classic patterns, many of which are included in the collection such as Bouquet and Fantasy, I began to put my own stamp on designs so they are unique to me. It is such a mesmeric practice and all absorbing. The palette of the designs can be enhanced by using coloured paper and where the gaps in the ink swirls occur then the paper colour shows through. The results can be thrilling as shown below!

Editing the Papers

Once I have a selection of marbled papers then I bring them back to the studio and decide which ones I like the best and how I am going to crop them to create a pleasing design. The love of editing and cropping comes from my background as a fashion editor for Conde Nast when I worked with the photographic fashion imagery to help create the pages of the magazine. This skill has held me in good stead as a textile designer

Susi's original hand marbled papers, which have informed and created some of our new cushion designs, such as Crimson Marbled Velvet Square Cushion and Blue Cosmos Velvet Square Cushion

The Results

This collection of marbled cushion designs were put into the home edit at Liberty and are now in our own range. I love the simplicity of these designs which highlight sections of my favourite marbled papers. We also play with the colours and sometimes adapt them to fit in with the favourite tones of the new season. If you look through the selection of papers then you might be able to see the actual cushions that came from these designs

Above: Ink Tobacco Marbled Velvet Square Cushion, Fig Marbled Velvet Square Cushion, Sage Marbled Velvet Square Cushion, Amber Marbled Velvet Square Cushion

Malachite

I think green Malachite has to be one of my favourite patterns and this took inspiration from shrines, pillars and Pietra Dura marbled furniture in Italy. Creating my own interpretation of the famous marble, I have a collection of cushions, fabric, lampshades and more in this exotic patina

Above: Malachite Oriole Velvet Large Oblong Cushion, Malachite Marbled Velvet Fabric, Carnelian Marbled Velvet Fabric

Artisan Stationary

I fell in love with the marbled stationery in Florence so when I had the chance to make my own box files for the brand, I jumped at it! What could be more luxurious that filling your home study or bookshelves with these gorgeous boxes. I fill mine with memorabilia and old photos. Memories of a wonderful time living in Italy with inspirations to last a lifetime!