Sonya Winner Blog/News http://www.sonyawinner.com.com/blog Thu, 17 May 2012 20:08:44 -0700 http://www.vortexcms.com/ en Homes & Gardens Designer Awards 2012 http://www.sonyawinner.com/blog/2012/homes-and-gardens-designer-awards-2012 http://www.sonyawinner.com/blog/2012/homes-and-gardens-designer-awards-2012 http://www.sonyawinner.com/blog/2012/homes-and-gardens-designer-awards-2012#comments Mon, 27 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0800 Sonya Winner

I am thrilled to have been nominated for the prestigious:

HOMES & GARDENS DESIGNER AWARDS 2012

To be announced at The British Museum on Wednesday 7th March

There is more information about the awards and the other wonderfully talented nominees here:

http://www.housetohome.co.uk/product-idea/picture/homes-gardens-designer-awards-2012/9

Watch this space!

]]>

I am thrilled to have been nominated for the prestigious:

HOMES & GARDENS DESIGNER AWARDS 2012

To be announced at The British Museum on Wednesday 7th March

There is more information about the awards and the other wonderfully talented nominees here:

http://www.housetohome.co.uk/product-idea/picture/homes-gardens-designer-awards-2012/9

Watch this space!

]]> Deep Sunset in Kathmandu http://www.sonyawinner.com/blog/2012/deep-sunset-in-kathmandu http://www.sonyawinner.com/blog/2012/deep-sunset-in-kathmandu http://www.sonyawinner.com/blog/2012/deep-sunset-in-kathmandu#comments Fri, 06 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0800 Sonya Winner One of the reasons we are here in Kathmandu is to supervise the final finishing of a large Deep Sunset rug with bespoke colours before it is sent to our client in Mexico. The weavers have worked incredibly hard to produce this piece ahead of schedule. We have seen the progress of the rug on the loom and are now excited to see it in its last day of production. Here is the original design and the colours we picked together with the interior designers to adapt Deep Sunset to work with their colour scheme.


Below you can see the Deep Sunset's progress as it is being woven.
Each weaver weaves the width of the shoulders - about 1m - so this 6m rug required 6 weavers
to weave side by side - at a 100 knots they weave around 12cm a day.
This is the ancient art of weaving on the loom that has not changed in centuries!


After the weaving was completed the Deep Sunset rug was washed in Himalayan rainwater and
then dried in the sun on the roof tops - you get an idea of the scale of it in this picture below:

Once the rug has been dried the final finishing starts - binding the edges and carving definition
between the colours with very large hand held carving scissors.

We double checked the rug's colours, the finishing and made an general inspection of the rug -
We were very happy!
 
The Deep Sunset was ready to go after a couple of hours of final finishing. It took quite a few
strong men to get it loaded on a palette and into the FedEx van.
It left the Kathmandu Valley on Friday the 5th January and by Monday the 8th January it was with
our client in the USA where it was going on to Mexico. Well done FedEx we are once again
impressed that you can go from Kathmandu to California in one weekend!

Our client (one of the top 100 interior designers in the USA) was delighted:
"The rug will be stunning in the home in Mexico and I can't wait to see it pull everything together.
Thank you so much for everything".
We celebrated with a slap up Nepalaese meal with our weavers -
the local spinach we ate in this restaurant is absoultely wonderful!

]]> One of the reasons we are here in Kathmandu is to supervise the final finishing of a large Deep Sunset rug with bespoke colours before it is sent to our client in Mexico. The weavers have worked incredibly hard to produce this piece ahead of schedule. We have seen the progress of the rug on the loom and are now excited to see it in its last day of production. Here is the original design and the colours we picked together with the interior designers to adapt Deep Sunset to work with their colour scheme.


Below you can see the Deep Sunset's progress as it is being woven.
Each weaver weaves the width of the shoulders - about 1m - so this 6m rug required 6 weavers
to weave side by side - at a 100 knots they weave around 12cm a day.
This is the ancient art of weaving on the loom that has not changed in centuries!


After the weaving was completed the Deep Sunset rug was washed in Himalayan rainwater and
then dried in the sun on the roof tops - you get an idea of the scale of it in this picture below:

Once the rug has been dried the final finishing starts - binding the edges and carving definition
between the colours with very large hand held carving scissors.

We double checked the rug's colours, the finishing and made an general inspection of the rug -
We were very happy!
 
The Deep Sunset was ready to go after a couple of hours of final finishing. It took quite a few
strong men to get it loaded on a palette and into the FedEx van.
It left the Kathmandu Valley on Friday the 5th January and by Monday the 8th January it was with
our client in the USA where it was going on to Mexico. Well done FedEx we are once again
impressed that you can go from Kathmandu to California in one weekend!

Our client (one of the top 100 interior designers in the USA) was delighted:
"The rug will be stunning in the home in Mexico and I can't wait to see it pull everything together.
Thank you so much for everything".
We celebrated with a slap up Nepalaese meal with our weavers -
the local spinach we ate in this restaurant is absoultely wonderful!

]]> Back in Kathmandu! http://www.sonyawinner.com/blog/2012/back-in-kathmandu http://www.sonyawinner.com/blog/2012/back-in-kathmandu http://www.sonyawinner.com/blog/2012/back-in-kathmandu#comments Thu, 05 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0800 Sonya Winner What a wonderful way to start 2012 back in the foot hills of the Himalayas on the outskirts of the Kathmandu Valley!
We finally landed here yesterday after circling above Kathmandu airport for over an hour - the pilot didn't feel the cloud conditions were safe to land.
To land you need to drop 3,000 feet very quickly to get through the hilly peaks around the valley to the relatively short runway and the pilots rely mainly on sight rather than radar. The thick cloud covers today made this very tricky. So we -my daughter and I - had the opportunity to take in the wonderful scenery of the snow capped Himalayan peaks jutting through the sea of clouds for an hour !

Finally the pilot decided the time was right and we dropped 3,000feet very quickly and the hills surrounding the Kathmandu valley and city appeared and before we knew it we were finally safely landed... here are the stunning views from our Air Indian flight:

     

     

     

]]> What a wonderful way to start 2012 back in the foot hills of the Himalayas on the outskirts of the Kathmandu Valley!
We finally landed here yesterday after circling above Kathmandu airport for over an hour - the pilot didn't feel the cloud conditions were safe to land.
To land you need to drop 3,000 feet very quickly to get through the hilly peaks around the valley to the relatively short runway and the pilots rely mainly on sight rather than radar. The thick cloud covers today made this very tricky. So we -my daughter and I - had the opportunity to take in the wonderful scenery of the snow capped Himalayan peaks jutting through the sea of clouds for an hour !

Finally the pilot decided the time was right and we dropped 3,000feet very quickly and the hills surrounding the Kathmandu valley and city appeared and before we knew it we were finally safely landed... here are the stunning views from our Air Indian flight:

     

     

     

]]> Guardian Weekend Magazine http://www.sonyawinner.com/blog/2011/guardian-weekend-magazine http://www.sonyawinner.com/blog/2011/guardian-weekend-magazine http://www.sonyawinner.com/blog/2011/guardian-weekend-magazine#comments Sat, 29 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0700 Sonya Winner The Guardian Weekend magazine published a wonderful article:
 "Home is where the art is" Be inspired by 20th-century masters - Picasso, Matisse, Miro and Mondrian - and bring home some colour. Styling: Susanna Powell  Photography: Franck Allais

Here is the spread from the article featuring the "After Matisse Rug".

 

]]> The Guardian Weekend magazine published a wonderful article:
 "Home is where the art is" Be inspired by 20th-century masters - Picasso, Matisse, Miro and Mondrian - and bring home some colour. Styling: Susanna Powell  Photography: Franck Allais

Here is the spread from the article featuring the "After Matisse Rug".

 

]]> SuperDesign http://www.sonyawinner.com/blog/2011/superdesign http://www.sonyawinner.com/blog/2011/superdesign http://www.sonyawinner.com/blog/2011/superdesign#comments Thu, 13 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0700 Sonya Winner

SuperDesign curated by Patrick Brillet now in its 5th year opened with a fantastic party -
the place was buzzing with lots of excitment as this year's offerings were unveiled.

 

]]>

SuperDesign curated by Patrick Brillet now in its 5th year opened with a fantastic party -
the place was buzzing with lots of excitment as this year's offerings were unveiled.

 

]]> Tent London http://www.sonyawinner.com/blog/2011/tent-london http://www.sonyawinner.com/blog/2011/tent-london http://www.sonyawinner.com/blog/2011/tent-london#comments Sun, 25 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0700 Sonya Winner

Photo by Barbara Chandler www.lovelondon.uk.com  twitter: @sunnyholt

Thank you everyone who visited us at Tent London.

We were overwhelmed by the positive response and interest we received.

]]>

Photo by Barbara Chandler www.lovelondon.uk.com  twitter: @sunnyholt

Thank you everyone who visited us at Tent London.

We were overwhelmed by the positive response and interest we received.

]]> Varanasi the rug making capital of India http://www.sonyawinner.com/blog/2011/varanasi-the-rug-making-capital-of-india http://www.sonyawinner.com/blog/2011/varanasi-the-rug-making-capital-of-india http://www.sonyawinner.com/blog/2011/varanasi-the-rug-making-capital-of-india#comments Sat, 10 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0700 Sonya Winner From Kathmandu onto Varanasi (India) on the banks of the River Ganges. According to legend, the city was founded by Lord Shiva, several thousand years ago. It is believed to be the oldest city in the world and the most important pilgrimage site for Hindus, Buddhists and Jains. Bathing in the Ganges cleanses you of sin and liberate you the cycle of life and death. Pilgrims immerse the ashes of their relatives in the Ganges water, allowing them to pass onto heaven.

Varanasi is also the rug making capital of India and this is another place where our vibrant contemporary rugs are being made. Here are some of the steps in solved in the Indian hand tufted After Matisse rugs:

]]> From Kathmandu onto Varanasi (India) on the banks of the River Ganges. According to legend, the city was founded by Lord Shiva, several thousand years ago. It is believed to be the oldest city in the world and the most important pilgrimage site for Hindus, Buddhists and Jains. Bathing in the Ganges cleanses you of sin and liberate you the cycle of life and death. Pilgrims immerse the ashes of their relatives in the Ganges water, allowing them to pass onto heaven.

Varanasi is also the rug making capital of India and this is another place where our vibrant contemporary rugs are being made. Here are some of the steps in solved in the Indian hand tufted After Matisse rugs:

]]> The Nepalese rug making process http://www.sonyawinner.com/blog/2011/the-nepalese-rug-making-process http://www.sonyawinner.com/blog/2011/the-nepalese-rug-making-process http://www.sonyawinner.com/blog/2011/the-nepalese-rug-making-process#comments Sat, 10 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0700 Sonya Winner Wool /silk quality is selected and then dyed by our skilled dye master. The dyed wool is dried in the sun and made into balls ready for weaving. Weaving is done at the loom – the average amount woven per day is 10cm (at 100 knots) – 60 knots is quicker.
Finishing
Once the rug is woven it is washed over and over again in mountain stream and rainwater to clean it and soften the fibres. The rug is then stretched and dried in the sun (not so easy during July & August – the rainy season). Final finishing – carving and stitching the edges and removing imperfections is a skilled and lengthy process.

]]> Wool /silk quality is selected and then dyed by our skilled dye master. The dyed wool is dried in the sun and made into balls ready for weaving. Weaving is done at the loom – the average amount woven per day is 10cm (at 100 knots) – 60 knots is quicker.
Finishing
Once the rug is woven it is washed over and over again in mountain stream and rainwater to clean it and soften the fibres. The rug is then stretched and dried in the sun (not so easy during July & August – the rainy season). Final finishing – carving and stitching the edges and removing imperfections is a skilled and lengthy process.

]]> Kathmandu City & the Kathmandu Valley in the foothills of the Himalyas Nepal http://www.sonyawinner.com/blog/2011/kathmandu-city-nepal http://www.sonyawinner.com/blog/2011/kathmandu-city-nepal http://www.sonyawinner.com/blog/2011/kathmandu-city-nepal#comments Sat, 10 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0700 Sonya Winner Last week I arrived in Kathmandu city (KTM) in the Himalayas, the vibrant capital of Nepal set 4,600 feet above sea level. The rainy season had just ended and the city was bustling with life. It is here (and in Northern India – more later) using the weaving techniques developed 2,000 years ago on the Silk Road that the highly skilled craftsmen and women make my vibrant contemporary rugs.

]]> Last week I arrived in Kathmandu city (KTM) in the Himalayas, the vibrant capital of Nepal set 4,600 feet above sea level. The rainy season had just ended and the city was bustling with life. It is here (and in Northern India – more later) using the weaving techniques developed 2,000 years ago on the Silk Road that the highly skilled craftsmen and women make my vibrant contemporary rugs.

]]> Thank you Design Milk! http://www.sonyawinner.com/blog/2011/thank-you-design-milk http://www.sonyawinner.com/blog/2011/thank-you-design-milk http://www.sonyawinner.com/blog/2011/thank-you-design-milk#comments Thu, 07 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0700 Sonya Winner

 

 

Happy 5th Birthday to Design Milk

Congratulations for creating a wonderful and inspirational place to see fresh and fun ideas and….

Thank you for featuring our rugs this week!

]]>

 

 

Happy 5th Birthday to Design Milk

Congratulations for creating a wonderful and inspirational place to see fresh and fun ideas and….

Thank you for featuring our rugs this week!

]]> The first 100% Silk Tree Trunk http://www.sonyawinner.com/blog/2011/the-first-100-silk-tree-trunk http://www.sonyawinner.com/blog/2011/the-first-100-silk-tree-trunk http://www.sonyawinner.com/blog/2011/the-first-100-silk-tree-trunk#comments Mon, 27 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0700 Sonya Winner

The first 100% Silk Tree Trunk has arrived!

Here are some comments from the few people who have already seen it:

“I think the silk tree trunk is one of the best hand made rugs I have every seen. Truly inspirational”

“Simply one word …. Stunning”

“Silk gives the design a completely different character”
Lucy Upward Deputy Editor – COVER (formerly Modern Carpets and Textiles for Interiors)

“The thick pile silk gives the Tree Trunk re-newed texture, depth and interplay of colours”
Editor HALI Publications Ltd.

If you are interested to know more about this piece do get in contact:
info@sonyawinner.com Tel: 0203 283 8776

]]>

The first 100% Silk Tree Trunk has arrived!

Here are some comments from the few people who have already seen it:

“I think the silk tree trunk is one of the best hand made rugs I have every seen. Truly inspirational”

“Simply one word …. Stunning”

“Silk gives the design a completely different character”
Lucy Upward Deputy Editor – COVER (formerly Modern Carpets and Textiles for Interiors)

“The thick pile silk gives the Tree Trunk re-newed texture, depth and interplay of colours”
Editor HALI Publications Ltd.

If you are interested to know more about this piece do get in contact:
info@sonyawinner.com Tel: 0203 283 8776

]]> Limited Edition Tree Trunk at Themes & Variations http://www.sonyawinner.com/blog/2011/limited-edition-tree-trunk-at-themes-and-variations http://www.sonyawinner.com/blog/2011/limited-edition-tree-trunk-at-themes-and-variations http://www.sonyawinner.com/blog/2011/limited-edition-tree-trunk-at-themes-and-variations#comments Sat, 28 May 2011 00:00:00 -0700 Sonya Winner

Themes & Variations is showing the limited edition Tree Trunk during May and June.

The gallery is recognised as a “leading specialist in Post-war and Contemporary Design”.
http://www.themesandvariations.com/

231 Westbourne Grove, London W11 2SE
OPENING HOURS:
Monday – Friday 10am – 1pm & 2 – 6pm
Saturday 10am – 6pm

]]>

Themes & Variations is showing the limited edition Tree Trunk during May and June.

The gallery is recognised as a “leading specialist in Post-war and Contemporary Design”.
http://www.themesandvariations.com/

231 Westbourne Grove, London W11 2SE
OPENING HOURS:
Monday – Friday 10am – 1pm & 2 – 6pm
Saturday 10am – 6pm

]]> Our latest rug After Matisse is the cover design of IDFX magazines May edition http://www.sonyawinner.com/blog/2011/our-latest-rug-after-matisse-is-the-cover-design-of-idfx-magazines-may-edition http://www.sonyawinner.com/blog/2011/our-latest-rug-after-matisse-is-the-cover-design-of-idfx-magazines-may-edition http://www.sonyawinner.com/blog/2011/our-latest-rug-after-matisse-is-the-cover-design-of-idfx-magazines-may-edition#comments Thu, 21 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0700 Sonya Winner  

Check out Amelia Thorpe’s article ‘Neon Brights’ in this months IDFX:

She mentions the ‘After Matisse’ rug below:

Sonya Winner’s vibrant contemporary rugs include After Matisse, inspired by the artist’s work using paper cut-outs. The collage of 26 colours replicates the effect of transparent colours mixed together. The irregular shape and five different tuft heights create a sculptural and striking design, which is made of pure New Zealand wool.

]]>  

Check out Amelia Thorpe’s article ‘Neon Brights’ in this months IDFX:

She mentions the ‘After Matisse’ rug below:

Sonya Winner’s vibrant contemporary rugs include After Matisse, inspired by the artist’s work using paper cut-outs. The collage of 26 colours replicates the effect of transparent colours mixed together. The irregular shape and five different tuft heights create a sculptural and striking design, which is made of pure New Zealand wool.

]]> The definitive book of Vibrant Contemporary Rugs http://www.sonyawinner.com/blog/2011/the-definitive-book-of-vibrant-contemporary-rugs http://www.sonyawinner.com/blog/2011/the-definitive-book-of-vibrant-contemporary-rugs http://www.sonyawinner.com/blog/2011/the-definitive-book-of-vibrant-contemporary-rugs#comments Thu, 24 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0700 Sonya Winner

We are very excited to launch our first coffee table book of Vibrant Contemporary Rugs full of inspirational photography to give you loads of ideas for your home.
Please do contact us if you would like to receive a copy:
info@sonyawinner.com

]]>

We are very excited to launch our first coffee table book of Vibrant Contemporary Rugs full of inspirational photography to give you loads of ideas for your home.
Please do contact us if you would like to receive a copy:
info@sonyawinner.com

]]> Limited Edition Tree Trunk opening at Aram Gallery 11th March 24 April http://www.sonyawinner.com/blog/2011/limited-edition-tree-trunk-opening-at-aram-gallery-11th-march-24-april http://www.sonyawinner.com/blog/2011/limited-edition-tree-trunk-opening-at-aram-gallery-11th-march-24-april http://www.sonyawinner.com/blog/2011/limited-edition-tree-trunk-opening-at-aram-gallery-11th-march-24-april#comments Tue, 08 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0800 Sonya Winner The Now and Then Exhibition opens on Friday 11th at Aram Gallery:
The Aram Gallery
110 Drury Lane (near Aldwych)
Covent Garden
London
WC2B 5SG
Come and see the Tree trunk rug one of only 25 pieces of this design made to order in Abrash Tibetan Wool and Silk.

Limited Edition Tree Trunk 

]]> The Now and Then Exhibition opens on Friday 11th at Aram Gallery:
The Aram Gallery
110 Drury Lane (near Aldwych)
Covent Garden
London
WC2B 5SG
Come and see the Tree trunk rug one of only 25 pieces of this design made to order in Abrash Tibetan Wool and Silk.

Limited Edition Tree Trunk 

]]> Deep Sunset http://www.sonyawinner.com/blog/2010/deep-sunset http://www.sonyawinner.com/blog/2010/deep-sunset http://www.sonyawinner.com/blog/2010/deep-sunset#comments Mon, 15 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0800 Sonya Winner

A new rug Deep Sunset has recently been commissioned and sent to its new home in Neve Tzedek Israel – check it out on my website under Collection

]]>

A new rug Deep Sunset has recently been commissioned and sent to its new home in Neve Tzedek Israel – check it out on my website under Collection

]]> Tree Trunk http://www.sonyawinner.com/blog/2010/tree-trunk http://www.sonyawinner.com/blog/2010/tree-trunk http://www.sonyawinner.com/blog/2010/tree-trunk#comments Sat, 03 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0700 Sonya Winner

Decorex

There are less than 4 weeks to go until the most luxurious design show of the year…DECOREX.
Sonya has been invited by Cover Magazine (The International Magazine for Contemporary Rugs) to be their featured rug designer. Decorex in conjunction with Cover magazine are creating an amazing ‘Into the Woods’ 4 meter Focal Point based around her Tree Trunk from The Limited Edition Collection.

The content of the rest of this huge 4 meter circular Focal Point in currently top secret – but its safe to say its highly original and definitely worth a trip.

Decorex is at The Royal Hospital, Chelsea, London SW3 4SR from 26-29th September. Open to the public Wednesday 29th September.

http://www.decorex.com/

]]>

Decorex

There are less than 4 weeks to go until the most luxurious design show of the year…DECOREX.
Sonya has been invited by Cover Magazine (The International Magazine for Contemporary Rugs) to be their featured rug designer. Decorex in conjunction with Cover magazine are creating an amazing ‘Into the Woods’ 4 meter Focal Point based around her Tree Trunk from The Limited Edition Collection.

The content of the rest of this huge 4 meter circular Focal Point in currently top secret – but its safe to say its highly original and definitely worth a trip.

Decorex is at The Royal Hospital, Chelsea, London SW3 4SR from 26-29th September. Open to the public Wednesday 29th September.

http://www.decorex.com/

]]> Neutrals http://www.sonyawinner.com/blog//neutrals http://www.sonyawinner.com/blog//neutrals http://www.sonyawinner.com/blog//neutrals#comments Wed, 01 Dec 1999 00:00:00 -0800 Sonya Winner

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