Leaf Plaid, Inspired by the silhouettes found in nature

(London, England – Winter 2012) Tania Johnson Design continues to expand its collection of stunning one-of-a-kind rugs. The process Tania Johnson, the company founder undertakes to create the pieces is as intriguing and deeply layered as the rugs themselves. A selection of recent introductions, Abstract Floral, Threads, Lined Peony, Lined Stem and Leaf Plaid, is an excellent example of this unique process.

The long journey towards the completion of a rug often begins with a walk - with camera in hand - through bustling city streets, quiet countryside, spaces in nature. A photo taken or a small memento picked up on the way often becomes either inspiration for or the actual first stepping-stone in the painstaking process.

Abstract Floral and Threads are both based on photos Johnson took of images through paper and fabric. Abstract Floral comes from the photo of one piece of fabric with a bleached out flower shape through a piece of semi transparent lined paper. Threads was derived from the image of a loosely woven piece of fabric taken though a textured semi transparent paper.

Abstract Floral
A delicate shadow of flowers runs across the surface of this elegant design. It has a rich painterly quality and is rendered in silk on a wool ground. Hand knotted wool and silk 100, 150 or 200 knots per inch 3mm pile

Threads
Inspired by tangled threads of silk seen through painted gauze, this design is interpreted in a wool base with textural silk accents. Hand knotted wool and silk 100, 150 or 200 knots per inch 3mm pile

Lined Peony, Lined Stem and Leaf Plaid are based on simple photos Johnson took and are a study of the silhouette of the flower or plant. She added layers of lines onto the images in keeping with the layered theme. This created the effect of a strong shape that is partially veiled or obscured. The origin of Lined Stem is a pressed flower, while the other two are close up photos.

Lined Peony
A painterly image of a peony rendered in wool is partially obscured by veiling it with fine lines of silk. Hand knotted wool and silk. 150 or 200 knots per inch, 3mm pile

Lined Stem
Inspired by the shadow of an orchid viewed through a layer of loosely woven, transparent fabric. The flower silhouette, raised in pure silk, lies on a ground of wool with fine lines of wool and silk running through it. Hand knotted wool and silk 100, 150 or 200 knots per inch 4mm/6mm low/high pile

Leaf Plaid
Inspired by the silhouettes found in nature, this bold leaf motif is emphasized by the high/low pile technique. A delicate grid of silk softens the raised leaf shape. Hand knotted wool and silk, 100, 150 or 200 knots per inch, 4mm/6mm low/high pile.

Retail prices range from $125 to $240 per square foot. As with all the Tania Johnson Design rugs, these designs are customizable.

About Tania Johnson Design
Founded by Tania Johnson in 2010, Tania Johnson Design specializes in custom made, contemporary, hand knotted rugs. The collection is inspired by the natural world, the way light creates shadows and reflections, the microscopic details found in nature and the infinite textures created through layering. Johnson creates ethereal designs and translates them into intricately woven rugs. The collectable pieces feature original, cutting-edge designs, and are hand knotted by artisans in Nepal using lustrous combinations of silk, wool and pashmina.

The British born designer graduated from London’s Royal College of Art with a Master of Arts in woven textiles. For more than 14 years Johnson designed textiles for such top home brands as Martha Stewart, Chilewich, Vera Wang, and Calvin Klein Home. As a designer for Calvin Klein Home, Johnson created the brands’ first rug collection in 2002. This further developed her passion for innovative rug design.

Johnson takes a hands-on approach to her business. This is reflected in her commitment to promoting fair labor standards in the carpet industry. She works with GoodWeave (www.goodweave.org), a certification program which aims to eliminate child labor and to improve working conditions for adults; any carpet with the GoodWeave label means that the rug was made only by adult artisans. In addition, the certification program helps fund educational opportunities for children as well as support and resources for families and weaving communities in South Asia.

To view the entire Tania Johnson Design collection, please visit www.taniajohnsondesign.com