After months in the making, and over a year since I had first had the idea for this pattern, the day finally came to print my Wild Edge wallpaper!
I took Sarah with me to do some filming (can you see her in her hi viz doing her thing?) and it all felt very poignant for us both because the film we are making is a 'coming-back-stronger-after-the-fire' type of film andĀ in the same week we hadĀ BOTH moved onto our new premises back in the centre of Hebden Bridge after being tucked away and out of sight for the last year.
It was such a good feeling to see it coming off the huge gravure machine on the factory floor. I love the contrast between the huge heavy machine and the fine, delicate patterns that it makes.
It was good to see the finely etched print cylinders in action, picking up the colour from the vat of ink and printing all the fireweeds and nettles...
This is a suction wall so they can quickly cover it in pattern. At this point it's the first time I have seen the pattern in a life size, full repeat. That is a good feeling too. This green colourway is called 'nettle.'
This is about 150 metres of paper and is a minimum order at the factory. Next it will be rolled into individual rolls. That could even be happening right now as I type.
Once I receive the rolls I will get it up on the walls and take some proper photos.
While the printing was underway we explored the factory. There are shelves that hold a sample of everything ever printed!
I couldn't believe that among them all I actually saw found of mine! It just jumped out at me!
Wayne gave us a tour of the ink room. Waste ink gets saved and catalogedĀ here and re-used. The currently recycle 60% of their inks, but they have a target chart on the wall and are going for 100%!
We also had a tour of the archives. Anstey hold all the original William Morris woodblocks. Imagine that!
It's amazing to see these.Ā
What a special piece of design history.
It was a brilliant day. Sarah got lost in the filming and got lots of footageĀ that I cannot wait to see. I stood and watched the paper coming off the machines, trying to fully soak up what was happening.Ā There is so much story in this paper and seeing it being printed marks a new beginning. It will be the first thing that goes on the wall in my new studio. I can't wait to show you.
You can order samples and rolls of Wild Edge, and all the other papers in my collection here.
