It's not something that I'd thought about before, and of course once I started thinking about it there were so many.
The three I chose were Pauline Black OBE, singer with Ska band The Selecter, Hedy Lamarr, actress and inventor, and Delia Derbyshire, the pioneer of early electronic music.
All of these women have had interesting twists to their careers which has lead to unexpected creative and scientific output.
Pauline Black is the singer with Ska band The Selecter. Initially working as a radiographer, she was a founding member and the singer of the Ska band The Selecter, and is an inspirational performer and campaigner for racial equality. Now in her late 60’s she is still performing.
Delia Derbyshire studied maths and music at Cambridge university which was an achievement for a working class woman in the 1950’s. She went on to create ground breaking work at the BBC radiophonic workshop in the 60’s, famously working on the Doctor Who theme and creating the foundations for much modern electronic music.
Hedy Lamarr was a glamorous film star during Hollywood’s golden ages, and at the height of her film career in the midst of a world war, she invented signal hopping, the basis for all modern wireless communications
]]>It's that moment in the design calendar when the Pantone Colour of the Year is announced.
]]>It's that moment in the design calendar when the Pantone Colour of the Year is announced.
‘Viva Magenta’ is a pinkish red is described as ‘fearless’ and ‘brave’.
I'm quite a fan of red and we’ve used accents of it in our latest ‘Blues Fantasia’ wallpaper, which, combined with natural tones and metallics makes quite a regal statement.
Here's what Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director, Pantone Color Institute has to say about the inspiration behind this vibrant shade:
'In this age of technology, we look to draw inspiration from nature and what is real. PANTONE 18-1750 Viva Magenta descends from the red family, and is inspired by the red of cochineal, one of the most precious dyes belonging to the natural dye family as well as one of the strongest and brightest the world has known.
Rooted in the primordial, PANTONE 18-1750 Viva Magenta reconnects us to original matter. Invoking the forces of nature, PANTONE 18-1750 Viva Magenta galvanizes our spirit, helping us to build our inner strength.'
Let us know what you think!
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About The Monkey Puzzle Tree
Combining their love of colour and pattern with the unique vision of some of the UK’s most innovative artists, The Monkey Puzzle Tree creates exquisite textiles and wallpapers which bring story, meaning and beauty to interiors.
The original pieces have a timeless quality which rises above passing trends, ensuring they will enrich an interior with character, authenticity and a quiet sense of rebellion for many years to come.
From their award winning ‘Hit the North’ real cork wallpaper, to their latest climate change themed fabric ‘All Tomorrrow’s Futures’ , the brand brings a fresh edge to interior design whilst prioritising ethical practices and local manufacturing.
Each artist is paid a 20% royalty on sales of their designs and all products are manufactured within 100 miles of their Leeds studio.
Awarded 'Best in British Product Design' at the Brit List Awards and a Design Guild Mark for 2021 and 2022.
We've been shortlisted for the Hotel Designs Eco Award.
Our 'All Tomorrow's Futures' fabric both celebrates and shows the reality of our natural world, and we've followed this up with a commitment to transparency and producing locally.
Take a second look...
Artist Alexis Snell's expansive narrative print celebrates nature with a twist.
FIocks of birds morph into aeroplanes, whales swim alongside bottles and the smoke from a factory chimney becomes a snake.
To make the cushions we used the waste selvedge trim from the weaving process to create the fringing which would otherwise be wasted:
We think it looks amazing on the cushions:
We wanted to follow our design statement with some positive action.
So we took the decision to be completely transparent by releasing the names of all the mills we use to make every one of our products alongside as much information we have about raw materials, dyes and inks on our website.
Our lovely local mills have told us that they have already benefitted from this publicity by gaining extra customers.
Although it's currently very difficult to make completely sustainable products we believe that encouraging transparency across the industry is the best way to improve standards and hold brands accountable.
About The Monkey Puzzle Tree
Combining their love of colour and pattern with the unique vision of some of the UK’s most innovative artists, The Monkey Puzzle Tree creates exquisite textiles and wallpapers which bring story, meaning and beauty to interiors.
The original pieces have a timeless quality which rises above passing trends, ensuring they will enrich an interior with character, authenticity and a quiet sense of rebellion for many years to come.
From their award winning ‘Hit the North’ real cork wallpaper, to their latest climate change themed fabric ‘All Tomorrrow’s Futures’ , the brand brings a fresh edge to interior design whilst prioritising ethical practices and local manufacturing.
Each artist is paid a 20% royalty on sales of their designs and all products are manufactured within 100 miles of their Leeds studio.
Awarded a Design Guid Mark for Innovation and Excellence in British Design in 2022 and 2021. 'Best in British Product Design' at the Brit List Awards 2021
🎂 The faces behind the designs
To celebrate 5 years since launching The Monkey Puzzle Tree, I met up with some of our artists last weekend for a birthday celebration.
We're not the most sociable group so it was a rare treat - and here they are!
Drew worked with us to create our hugely popular 'Hit the North' real cork wallpaper which was awarded a Design Guild Mark last year.
He's well known for his intricate illustrative style, and has been commissioned by rock bands such as Foo Fighters and Arctic Monkeys.
Joel works in the minutest, often tiny detail. He assisted Damien Hirst and Ryan Gander early on in his career and now creates the most detailed and often surreal miniature drawings.
Joel collaborated with us on 'Disorder in Stasis' wallpaper and 'Between Certainty and Oblivion' linen.
Sarah was part of the notorious 'Leeds 13' group whilst at university in the 90's and applies her vibrant use of colour and appreciation of nature and fun to her watercolours and drawings.
She collaborated with us on 'Rita does Jazz' velvet and 'She Chose Science' wallpaper.
Josephine, who has a degree in animation and is inspired by comic book art is working with us on our next new design which will be launched at Decorex this October.
*******
About The Monkey Puzzle Tree
Multi award winning English made interiors with a twist and a conscience.
Combining a love of colour and pattern with a strong ethical purpose, their exquisite textiles and wallcoverings enrich interiors with character, authenticity and a quiet sense of rebellion.
Established in 2017 by Charlotte Raffo, The Monkey Puzzle Tree carved out a new way to harness creative ideas by collaborating with carefully selected Yorkshire artists, celebrating the best of the North of England's creativity, eccentricity and innovation.
The company works to support local communities and minimise the environmental impact of their products, paying their artists generous royalties and manufacturing their luxury designs within 100 miles of their Leeds studio.
Awarded ‘Best in British Product Design’ at the Hotel Designs Brit List Awards 2021 for ‘Metamorphosis’ linen union fabric
Awarded a Design Guild Mark in 2021 for ‘Hit the North’ real cork wallpaper.
We thought we’d introduce you to some of our favourite seductive designs, all created by female owned businesses.
Award winning interiors brand The Monkey Puzzle Tree has collaborated with artist Sarah Jane Palmer to create subtle but daring erotic designs.
Their monochrome Maitrise wallpaper shows intertwined couples amidst handcuffs and chains, all subtly concealed in a baroque pattern in black on white.
'Maitrise' wallpaper, £132 per 10m roll, from The Monkey Puzzle Tree
Artist Sarah Jane Palmer also creates bespoke erotic wallpaper designs and hand printed papers under her own brand Muriel Design.
A distraction from prying eyes, these secretly naughty voile curtains may look innocent but take a closer look…
'At first you don't see the couples, but when you make out their shapes you have the notion of something forbidden hiding beneath the respectability of a traditional net curtain' - artist Sarah Jane Palmer
Body Lace voile fabric, £78/m from The Monkey Puzzle Tree
Perfect for giving you privacy with a pretty twist.
Of course, seductive lighting is a must for your new space.
Trikonasana black multi-arm light £204.99 from Dowsing & Reynolds
Dowsing & Reynolds, headed up by Ally Dowsing Reynolds, creates stunning moody lighting. From the industrial to the decadent, they also stock a beautiful coordinating range of metal dimmer switches in a range of finishes, essential for creating the right mood.
Black double dimmer switch, £65.99 from Dowsing & Reynolds.
Hand made by female fronted Yorkshire based company Something Wicked, this beautifully presented bondage kit is an essential accessory for your boudoir.
Bondage Starter Kit £235 from Something Wicked
Something Wicked also have an extensive range of exquisite luxury leather lingerie.
Perfect for your post coital cup of tea, Tease Me, founded by Santa Sakic make stunning china tea sets and vases which celebrate the female form. All hand made in Stoke on Trent.
Tea set, £55 from Tease Me
We've been listening to the critically acclaimed album 'Prioritise Pleasure' by Self Esteem. A frank and insightful exploration of the complexities of female sexuality.
********
About The Monkey Puzzle Tree
Multi award winning English made interiors with a twist and a conscience.
Combining a love of colour and pattern with a strong ethical purpose, their exquisite textiles and wallcoverings enrich interiors with character, authenticity and a quiet sense of rebellion.
Established in 2017 by Charlotte Raffo, The Monkey Puzzle Tree carved out a new way to harness creative ideas by collaborating with carefully selected Yorkshire artists, celebrating the best of the North of England's creativity, eccentricity and innovation.
The company works to support local communities and minimise the environmental impact of their products, paying their artists generous royalties and manufacturing their luxury designs within 100 miles of their Leeds studio.
Awarded ‘Best in British Product Design’ at the Hotel Designs Brit List Awards 2021 for ‘Metamorphosis’ linen union fabric
Awarded a Design Guild Mark in 2021 for ‘Hit the North’ real cork wallpaper.
We're trying our best to preserve our beautiful world, but there's always more that can be done and we'd love to hear your views too.
Transparency
We are championing transparency as the best way to improve sustainability in our industry.
We now name all the mills we use in the manufacture of our designs under the 'Sourcing & Sustainability' tab of each product listing. We also state the standards that the products meet.
This is gives us the best motivation to improve each step of the process, and means that you can check out that our claims are true.
Why make locally?
Making locally reduces our carbon footprint as well as supporting local skills and jobs.
In Britain we have more stringent controls and regulations for chemical use and waste processing than many parts of the world, and a higher proportion of our energy comes from renewable sources.
We love being able to pop in and meet the people making our designs too!
Natural Fibres
Where possible we use natural fibres which are biodegradable. Our cork is grown chemical free in Portugal, and our linen is also from Europe. All the wood pulp in our papers in FSC certified.
We also think it's really important that our fabrics are hardwearing, and that's why we will sometimes use a blend of fibres to increase the life of the fabric.
Packaging - We'd like your help!
At the moment we are posting out our rolls of fabric with an outer layer of plastic to ensure that they arrive with you in optimum condition and are not damaged in transit or by damp.
We'd love to hear if anyone has come across a more environmentally friendly alternative we could adopt, please send us your ideas!
Thanks so much for supporting our small business. All our designs are made in England within 100 miles of our Leeds studio and we pay a 20% royalty back to our artists.
We'd love to hear from you, please feel free to get in touch with me by email or phone 0113 4503639 for further information or a chat!
It's been announced today that the Pantone Colour of the Year 2022 is 'Very Peri'.
A violety-blue which ‘displays a spritely, joyous attitude and dynamic presence that encourages courageous creativity and imaginative expression’.
Each year, Pantone's colour experts comb the world looking for new colour influences...
Unlike us! We often deliberately avoid trend research before deciding on our colourways as we want our designs to stand the test of time.
Also, artist Alexis Snell and I have hardly left Yorkshire over the last year or so!
But nevertheless it's a tiny bit gratifying to see that the Ocean Blue colour of our new ‘All Tomorrow’s Futures’ fabric was a good choice!
Inspired by Matisse and Willow Pattern plates, we felt our 'Ocean Blue' colour was fresh and optimistic and I have to say it's my favourite.
Pantone have helpfully provided some palette suggestions to give you some inspiration on how to use this colour.
'Balancing Act' is my personal favourite but have a look at the others on the Pantone website and also see their YouTube video below:
About The Monkey Puzzle Tree
Combining their love of colour and pattern with the unique vision of some of the UK’s most innovative artists, The Monkey Puzzle Tree creates exquisite textiles and wallpapers which bring story, meaning and beauty to interiors.
The original pieces have a timeless quality which rises above passing trends, ensuring they will enrich an interior with character, authenticity and a quiet sense of rebellion for many years to come.
From their award winning ‘Hit the North’ real cork wallpaper, to their latest climate change themed fabric ‘All Tomorrrow’s Futures’ , the brand brings a fresh edge to interior design whilst prioritising ethical practices and local manufacturing.
Each artist is paid a 20% royalty on sales of their designs and all products are manufactured within 100 miles of their Leeds studio.
Awarded 'Best in British Product Design' at the Brit List Awards and a Design Guild Mark for 2021.
With so much beauty outside at this time of year it's the perfect opportunity to raid your garden or take inspiration from a local hedgerow or woodland.
Think differently - sometimes the most unconventional foliage can be ornamental and have real impact when shown out of its normal surroundings.
When we created this scene for our fantastical 'Metamorphosis' fabric, we wanted to convey artist Kirsty Greenwood's love of nature and the mystical.
Kirsty spends a lot of time on her allotment, so digging up our marrow plant provided the perfect over-the-top feature for our shoot. If you look carefully you might also see a broccoli plant! Some beautifully crisp orange leaves from our Red Oak tree added a warmer colour.
The silver goblets and quinces were added to give a decadent feeling. We used dry ice to further add to the atmosphere. You can order dry ice from Chillistick, but beware, it doesn't last long!
This image features our 'Metamorphosis' fabric (£132/m), also available to buy as ready made cushions.
It helps when your wallpaper backdrop has skulls, owls and a black cat!
Ornamental gourds and seed pods can look beautiful when pared with pewter jugs and bowls which you can find in charity shops and on Ebay.
Add candles for a warm glow. The real cork wallpaper brings warmth and a refined natural feel to the scene.
This image features our real cork 'Hit the North' wallpaper, £192/m.
Where things are not quite as they seem...
For those that want something a bit different, raid the toy cupboard to find objects for your display. Here we used a Darth Vader mask and plastic skull.
A vintage chemical bottle and hand made pottery adds depth and interest to the scheme. We kept colour to a minimum and added a pop of colour with the eyeball lights. Using objects which share similar textures unites the scheme and creates a feeling of continuity.
Artist Sarah Jane Palmer creates patterns which reveal the unexpected on a closer look. Her 'Maitrise' baroque style wallpaper is really quite naughty on a closer look, featuring handcuffs, chains and intertwined couples.
We took inspiration from Sarah, adding unusual objects to create an eye-catching look where everything is not as it seems.
This image features our 'Maitrise' wallpaper, available to buy at £132/roll.
This look is perfect to create a cosy maximalist look on dark cold nights.
Against a backdrop of blacks and golds we used an autumnal palette of oranges, yellows and greens taking our inspiration from nature.
Seasonal fruit such as quinces, ornamental squashes and apples bring the outside in and are softened with trailing ivy.
Metallic glazed vases contrast with the weathered stone bowl creating textural interest, while the soft glow of candlelight warms the scene and reflects on the golds in the wallpaper and accessories.
Image featuring our black and gold 'Passion Flower' wallpaper, available to buy at £132/roll.
Artist Sarah Thornton is inspired by nature and the play of light in the outside world.
We took a leaf out of her book and contrasted brightly coloured autumn foliage from the garden with vintage coloured glass, creating wonderful shadows and reflections against the wall in the autumn light.
Further pops of colour were created using seasonal fruit, and nature inspired fairy lights, creating a bright, light and airy autumn feel.
Image featuring our 'She Chose Science' wallpaper, available to buy at £280 per panel.
Award winning artist designed fabrics and wallpapers with a twist and a conscience.
Combining our love of colour and pattern with the unique vision of some of the UK's most innovative artists, our exquisite textiles and wallcoverings bring story, meaning and beauty into your space.
These original pieces have a timeless quality which rises above passing trends, ensuring they will enrich your interior with character, authenticity and a quiet sense of rebellion for many years to come.
Awarded a Design Guild Mark for 2021 for ‘Hit the North’ real cork wallpaper
New ways with wallpaper
Until now I don't think our wallpapers had ever been used for upcycling furniture.
So I was a little surprised when I had two enquiries in the same week for our 'Hit the North' real cork wallpaper to be used on two very different pieces.
I was blown away by the results!
Kayleigh from Kookiwood created the stunning G Plan wardrobe above.
This glamorous gin bar by Reloved MCR was commissioned by one of my first supporters - Helen from The Curtain Co, for her new country home to remind her of her roots in the North.
You can see the amazing transformation in these before and after pictures.
Both Kookiwood and Reloved MCR are available for commissions.
After seeing these amazing transformations, Deborah Faulkner decided to take on a project herself.
This damaged but beautiful crescent shaped cabinet was to be turned into a useful and attractive shoe cupboard for her hallway.
Using just one meter of our Hit the North wallpaper Deborah created this amazing statement piece for her hallway in a weekend:
And thanks very much to Deborah for the lovely review which made our day!
'I had a broken and scratched old cupboard languishing in the hall for months, waiting for me to find the perfect paper for the recycling project. I'd noticed this paper on a piece a furniture renovated professionally by @Relovedmcr and it stopped me in my tracks! It was THE ONE!!
The beautiful and unique quality of the cork paper and stunning print made easy work of making the tired old cupboard come alive. I don't like to use products without researching the company first and was delighted with the ethical stance of The Monkey puzzle Tree for supporting local communities, careful consideration of environmental impact of products and that they pay proper artist royalties. It was a premium purchase but one that I can honestly justify and will last me a lifetime.'
If you'd like to use our papers and fabrics for your own project please get in touch
We're happy to work around specific sizes for most of our designs, however you might be using them!
Watch upcyling expert Kayleigh talking to me about the inspiration behind The Monkey Puzzle Tree and our real cork wallpaper in this Instagram Live video.
View our wallpaper collection here
About The Monkey Puzzle Tree
From rich linens and velvets to a risqué lace voile, The Monkey Puzzle Tree collaborates with artists to create truly unique home textiles with a twist and a conscience.
Founded by Charlotte Raffo in 2017, the business pays a 20% royalty to their artists to help provide them with a passive income, and the unique designs are manufactured in the North of England, supporting traditional industries and maintaining high environmental standards.
Awarded ‘Highly Commended’ for Best British Product Design in the Brit List Awards 2020, Finalist in the Northern Design Awards 2020.
]]>🏭 In celebration of 'Made in UK Day' this week I thought you might like to have a look behind the scenes at the screen printing of our ‘Metamorphosis’ linen union fabric in Cumbria.
It was a thrilling, fascinating day see the fabric for the first time, but it also required nerves of steel!
The huge screens are expensive, and unlike digital printing, you can't try it out before you commit!
Different kinds of screens and inks were used for each layer of the design, building up to a give a depth and texture which couldn't be achieved with other techniques.
Printer Garry had started work at 5am and after 5 hours of machine set up couldn't leave until I was happy with the colours and the order was printed...So the pressure was on!
Supporting local manufacturing is a issue close to my heart, having worked for 6 years in my first job in a tannery in Leeds.
The closure of the tannery in 2006 resulted in the loss of hundreds jobs (including my own) as well as an immense amount of skill and knowledge which will no longer be passed on.
By manufacturing all our designs within 100 miles of our Leeds studio I hope to play a small part in preventing this happening again.
Metamorphosis linen union has been shortlisted for the Design Guild Awards.
From real cork wallpaper to secretly naughty lace, The Monkey Puzzle Tree collaborates with artists to create unique fabrics and wallpapers for interiors.
Founded by Charlotte Raffo in 2017, The Monkey Puzzle Tree has a strong social conscience and works to support local communities and minimise the environmental impact of their products. They pay their artists generous royalties to help them continue with their creative work and make all designs to the highest standards using English manufacturers within 100 miles of their Leeds studio.
]]>Breaking the rules!
I've been reflecting on the representation of women in art this week, and the infamous project our own artist Sarah Thornton was involved in...
This amazing poster from 1989 by The Guerrilla Girls highlights the inequalities in the art world.
Formed in New York in 1985 with a mission of highlighting gender and racial inequality in the art world the Guerrilla Girls wear gorilla masks to hide their identities and focus attention on the issues they are raising.
Fake news that went viral in the 90's...
Whilst studying Fine Art at the University of Leeds, our own Sarah Thornton was part of the 'Leeds 13' student art collective.
The group created an elaborate hoax, apparently spending grant money on a holiday to Malaga, complete with postcards, photos of them at the beach and boarding a plane.
Artist Sarah Thornton talks about 'Going Places' in January 2020
When the story of their apparent misuse of university funds made the headlines in the Sunday Mirror, The Leeds 13 were invited onto BBC Radio 4's Today Program.
The students announced live on Radio 4 that the media had been duped, and the holiday was in fact a simulation, and that they hadn't left Yorkshire.
Their 'Going Places' project fooled the world's media, with the story of the hoax gaining international attention as far as CNN in America and the South China news.
Still breaking a few rules, Sarah Thornton was an inspiration behind the founding of The Monkey Puzzle Tree.
She has brought her energy and love for colour to our 'Rita does Jazz' velvet and 'She Chose Science' wallpaper.
“I aligned myself with those pioneering women artists of the past, looking at things around me for inspiration, nature, flowers, motifs that brought comfort and beauty into my world” - Sarah Thornton
Thanks so much for supporting our small business. All our designs are made in England within 100 miles of our Leeds studio and we pay a 20% royalty back to our artists.
See Sarah Thornton's collection here
Here's how we created our latest images...
Photographer Chris Leah found the amazing venue locally in Leeds. Sunny Bank Mill is a disused textile mill building which was derelict and pigeon poo-splattered but gave us the space, light and character we needed.
Photos were taken of the empty space and plans were made by roughly photoshopping images of the props into the room pictures.
You can see the ideas turned into reality in the images below featuring our beautiful Body Lace voile. The amazing ombre bathroom suite was found locally on Facebook Marketplace.
Here's the (very) rough plan for our Metamorphosis linen union photo. You can see the finished result at the top of this page.
We ordered dry ice, I dug up a squash plant from my veg patch and cut ivy from my garden on the morning of the shoot to create this scene.
For our Hit the North real cork wallpaper set, Dowsing and Reynolds kindly lent us a beautiful lamp, the pampas grass was liberated from a traffic island 🤦♀️ and the sideboard was brought in from our house. Note also the Rancor (a Star Wars character) which belongs to Mr Puzzle and usually lives on our kitchen window sill!
Our cushions and lampshades were shot on location at the beautiful home of interior designer AMC Design
Photographer Heidi Marfitt took the stunning images in this vibrant period house.
About The Monkey Puzzle Tree
From rich linens and velvets to a risqué lace voile, The Monkey Puzzle Tree collaborates with artists to create truly unique home textiles with a twist and a conscience.
Founded by Charlotte Raffo in 2017, the business pays a 20% royalty to their artists to help provide them with a passive income, and the unique designs are manufactured in the North of England, supporting traditional industries and maintaining high environmental standards.
Awarded ‘Highly Commended’ for Best British Product Design in the Brit List Awards 2020, Finalist in the Northern Design Awards 2020.
]]>When looking for inspiration for our latest collection we turned to the Bauhaus art school.
Established 100 years ago, Its attempt to unify mass production with individual artistic vision was an ideal that really struck a chord with us
Taking the values of this movement - simplicity, honesty and the use of natural materials as a guide, we set out to create the new and original!
We chose natural cork to create 'Hit the North' wall covering with artist Drew Millward.
The print was inspired by the architectural landscape of the North of England.
Circular sunrise elements were incorporated as a nod to motifs used on wall coverings of the bauhaus era, and parts of the design were left unprinted to allow the natural beauty of the cork to be appreciated.
First popularised by modernist architects in the 1930's, cork comes from the bark of the cork oak tree, grown in Portugal.
Its warmth, sound insulating and natural anti-microbial properties make it very relevant for interiors today.
Design inspiration for our ‘Metamorphosis’ linen union fabric by Kirsty Greenwood came from the simple lines in the drawings of Egon Schiele and the expressive use of gold in paintings by Gustav Klimt.
We used unbleached fabric for the design, allowing the natural beauty of the fibre to show through.
Linen has been used since before ancient Egyptian times and is made from the fibres of the flax plant which are grown with far less water and pesticides than cotton.The fabric is woven in Scotland and screen printed in a heritage print works in Cumbria
Our 'Disorder in Stasis' conceptual wall covering created with Joel Weaver really played on the idea that mass production can be reconciled with the individual artistic spirit.
The lines in this paper were in fact originally draw entirely by hand.
Every line is different, with the fades resulting from the pen running out of ink.
The abstract panels were created from the blotting paper used to clean artist Joel's pen whilst creating the original.The resulting wallcoverings create a graphic statement, their hand drawn origins showing through in the level of character and detail.
Thanks to our good friends The Modernist Tourists for design inspiration.
Their musings on everything modernist from architecture to furniture and posters make a fascinating read. Follow them on Instagram and visit their blog here.
About The Monkey Puzzle Tree
From rich linens and velvets to a risqué lace voile, The Monkey Puzzle Tree collaborates with artists to create truly unique home textiles with a twist and a conscience.
Founded by Charlotte Raffo in 2017, the business pays a 20% royalty to their artists to help provide them with a passive income, and the unique designs are manufactured in the North of England, supporting traditional industries and maintaining high environmental standards.
Awarded ‘Highly Commended’ for Best British Product Design in the Brit List Awards 2020, Finalist in the Northern Design Awards 2020.
]]>At The Monkey Puzzle Tree we often get asked about the stories behind our designs, so this week I thought I'd introduce you to lino print artist Alexis Snell.
Alexis designed some of our most popular prints including How the Leopard got his Spots velvet, and Passion flower wallpaper .
As well as designing beautiful fabrics and wallpapers with us, Alexis has launched a stunning picture book.
'The Bear in the Stars' is a timely fable about climate change and the transformative power of kindness.
Publishers Puffin have created a video showing Alexis at work in her studio in Otley. It's a wonderful rare insight into her private world and we recommend you giving it a watch!
I first worked with Alexis in 2016 when I commissioned her to design our logo. We enjoyed working together so much that we decided to create a fabric together.
How the Leopard got his Spots began as a series of pencil sketches on tracing paper:
A different piece of lino was carved for each colour, and the design built up by printing the lightest colour first, finishing with black.
Alexis printed the design by hand numerous times so that when they were pieced together, each leopard would be slightly different giving a real depth of character to the final pattern.
We chose a luxurious velvet to bring out the vibrancy of the colours and printed the fabric in a heritage mill in the North of England.
How the Leopard got his Spots velvet is suitable for domestic and commercial upholstery, curtains and blinds and is also available as cushions and lampshades and has been featured everywhere from Elle Decoration to the Evening Standard.
About The Monkey Puzzle Tree
From rich linens and velvets to a risqué lace voile, The Monkey Puzzle Tree collaborates with artists to create truly unique home textiles with a twist and a conscience.
Founded by Charlotte Raffo in 2017, the business pays a 20% royalty to their artists to help provide them with a passive income, and the unique designs are manufactured in the North of England, supporting traditional industries and maintaining high environmental standards.
Awarded ‘Highly Commended’ for Best British Product Design in the Brit List Awards 2020, Finalist in the Northern Design Awards 2020.
]]>From crisp linen blinds to sumptuous velvet curtains, the fabrics we choose to dress our windows are key to the character of our rooms, bringing interest, warmth and shade, and framing the view.
Photo credit: Ryan Wicks
Above, Ilkley based interior designers Sturman and Co used roman blinds made from our Between Certainty and Oblivion linen by artist Joel Weaver to add depth to this beautiful crisp scheme in a converted Yorkshire barn.
In our own bedroom at home we have the slightly naughty 'Body Lace' voile curtains created with artist Sarah Jane Palmer.
This contemporary take on net curtains gives our room privacy whilst also disguising the ugly windows! The voiles allow a beautiful rose tinted light to filter through, adding a delicate softness to the room.
A good tip is to have the curtains on a double track so that you can draw back the voiles as well as the main curtains.
For a real statement, floor length curtains in heavy velvet add drama and provide the best heat and light insulation. Above is How the Leopard got his Spots velvet by Alexis Snell, and below, Rita does Jazz velvet created with Sarah Thornton.
Velvets can also be made into roman blinds. These use far less material and are perfect where space is at a premium, like the How the Leopard got his Spots blinds in in the home office of interior designers Fresh Start Living.
All our fabrics are made in the UK and are in stock. Samples are available to order through our website.
If you're a trade customer please get in touch with me at charlotteraffo@themonkeypuzzletree.com to order a trade pack.
About The Monkey Puzzle Tree
From rich linens and velvets to a risqué lace voile, The Monkey Puzzle Tree collaborates with artists to create truly unique home textiles with a twist and a conscience.
Founded by Charlotte Raffo in 2017, the business pays a 20% royalty to their artists to help provide them with a passive income, and the unique designs are manufactured in the North of England, supporting traditional industries and maintaining high environmental standards.
Awarded ‘Highly Commended’ for Best British Product Design in the Brit List Awards 2020, Finalist in the Northern Design Awards 2020.
]]>The Monkey Puzzle Tree will be donating 20% of their website takings to charity Homeless Street Angels from Friday 27th November to midnight on Monday 30th November.
From those with beautiful homes to those without...
For the second year we are working with charity Homeless Street Angels to help those in need through a particularly difficult winter
Buying a beautiful lampshade or cushion for yourself or as a Christmas present will create a lasting statement in your home whilst supporting an independent business as well as the local mills and artists we work with.
Registered Charity number 1185876
Charity Homeless Street Angels first came to our attention after we read how they had turned around the life of a former rough sleeper, enabling him to find work and apply for a place at University. You can read that story here.
As well as handing out hot meals and toiletries to those on the streets, the charity also supplies food parcels to families in need and those who are isolating. Help is provided for rehousing and furnishing new homes, as well as support with life skills.
This year donations are needed more than ever as the charity is unable to host regular fundraising events due to social distancing rules.
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From real cork wallpaper to secretly naughty lace, The Monkey Puzzle Tree collaborates with artists in the North of England to create fabrics and wallpapers with a twist and a conscience.
The Monkey Puzzle Tree aims to support local communities and minimise the environmental impact of their designs. Artists are paid generous royalties to help them continue with their creative work and all products are made to the highest standards by English manufacturers within 150 miles of their Leeds studio.
]]>Much as though I dislike trends, I thought I should really make the effort to pop next door to the Dulux Decorator Centre and see what all the fuss is about.
I have to say I wasn't overly excited when I opened the can.
I’m not a massive fan of beige. And especially not beige paint - it seems so flat and lifeless and really not very ‘brave’.
Being of a certain age, I can also remember the excessive matt beigeness so prevalent in homes in the late 90's and early 00's.
I brushed the paint out onto some paper to see if it looked more inspiring once dry. It's certainly a warm earthy colour, but not really my cup of tea - far too milky! ☕️
Many feel that what we really need right now is a bright and uplifting colour, something that allows us to escape, a fantasy away from the real world. And I have to say that I kind of agree.
But then I noticed that Brave Ground is actually very close to our new Metamorphosis fabric which was also hanging up in our studio!
So, completely by accident we’re on trend! 🤷♀️
I might be a little biased but as our fabric is printed on a natural unbleached base it has more texture and colour variation than the paint which makes it look less flat. The addition of Kirsty's bold design in green, gold and grey makes it a little bit brave and of course sustainable as Dulux say the colour should be.
This is what Dulux have to say on the subject:
'What has emerged from our trend forecast this year is that we’re all reassessing what really matters in our lives. We’re taking stock and finding a new and positive way forward by having faith in ourselves, working together, building on the past and planning for the future. It takes courage to embrace change and our homes can help provide a solid and supportive foundation, as well as giving us the scope to be creative.
Dulux Colour of the Year for 2021 is Brave Ground – a warm, natural neutral that’s an enabling and stabilizing colour. It’s also a versatile shade that lets other colours shine.'
Well, I can't argue with that. And I certainly agree that Brave Dawn is a colour that lets other colours shine. I think it might just be the new grey...
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About The Monkey Puzzle Tree
From real cork wallpaper to secretly naughty lace, The Monkey Puzzle Tree creates interiors with a twist and a conscience.
Founded by Charlotte Raffo in 2017, the business collaborates with artists to create unique fabrics and wallpapers, paying a generous royalty to their artists to help provide them with a passive income. The unique designs are manufactured in the North of England, supporting traditional industries and maintaining high environmental standards.
]]>So I chose the name of a tree that had been in the background of my whole life.
The Monkey Puzzle Tree is rare and unusual, some people love it and some people hate it. It's been around since the time of the dinosaurs and yet they thrives in the City despite the pollution. It's memorable and uncompromising and a bit of a mystery.
When I was born my parents planted a tiny monkey puzzle tree. You can see it here - insignificant and lost in the front garden of our first house.
The tree came with us when we moved, and became a fixture of family photos, always in the background whenever there was an occasion or a fancy dress day at school.
The tree grew fast and tall. Every Christmas my dad would precariously climb up to the top on a ladder and festoon it with lights.
By the time I'd grown up and left home the tree was as tall as the house.
In the year I was married, cones appeared with seeds for the first time. When I became pregnant, the first baby monkey puzzle trees appeared growing hidden in the front garden.
Eventually the tree grew much too big and tall. By the time it was 40 years old it seemed to want to climb in through the upstairs windows of the house with its spiky arms.
And so the painful decision was made that it had to be cut down before it damaged the building.
So I'm glad I chose the name of this beautiful tree for my business.
And our logo by artist Alexis Snell can remind me of my beautiful tree.
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Launched at the Surface Design Show in London in February, our latest fabric Metamorphosis features metallic comets and mysterious faces on an unbleached linen union fabric. |
Watch our new video interview with artist Kirsty Greenwood about the creation of our latest design.
Trying to make the best of our time working from home, the video was edited by my 11 year old son, and features Kirsty talking through the making of her new design from her studio in Ripon North Yorkshire.
Please give it a watch, it will make my son's day!
Kirsty Greenwood and Charlotte Raffo talk about the creation of their new design, 'Metamorphosis'.
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From crisp linen blinds to sumptuous velvet curtains, the fabrics we choose to dress our windows are key to the character of our rooms, bringing interest, warmth and shade, and framing the view. Linen Roman BlindsAbove, Ilkley based interior designers Sturman and Co used roman blinds made from our Between Certainty and Oblivion linen by artist Joel Weaver to add depth to this beautiful crisp scheme in a converted Yorkshire barn. |
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For more new designs and stories behind the patterns, follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter
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Sometimes it's the challenging ideas that leave a lasting impression, staying with you longest...
When artist Joel Weaver told me the story behind the drawing that would later become 'Disorder in Stasis', I knew we had to create something from it, no matter how unconventional. |
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notepaper, and a conversation!
]]>ago, when the idea for The Monkey Puzzle Tree was first born.
It all started with an unexpected redundancy, a sketch on a piece of hotel
notepaper, and a conversation!
I'd loved my job (as a textiles buyer and developer) and when I was made
redundant I knew it would be hard to find another similar role in Yorkshire.
While on the school run, friend and artist Sarah Thornton asked if I could help
her create a textile design from her artwork and maybe help her produce it.
Sarah has LOTS of art in her studio, but something about the colours and
abstract design on the painting shown above inspired me to think that this could
be the first of our fabrics
With an enormous piece of paper, a big pile of print outs, and some scissors
and sellotape I worked with Sarah to create the design that would eventually
become 'Rita does Jazz' velvet.
A name has to mean something, and in my case it came from the monkey
puzzle tree which had been planted outside my parent's house when I was
born.
The tree is now so tall that it towers over the house. In the year I was married
the monkey puzzle produced cones for the first time, and when I had my
children, baby monkey puzzle trees stared to grow in the garden.
It's a beautiful and unusual tree, but not to everyone's taste! It creates a bold
statement and has been around since the time of the dinosaurs.
In the photograph above you can see me (left) and my sister with the tiny
monkey puzzle tree in the background. We are wearing Norwegian national
costume as our dad is from Norway.
We had a name, and the first fabric, called 'Rita does Jazz' by Sarah, was vivid
and unique and beautiful.
I knew I was on to something, and so began The Monkey Puzzle Tree!
Watch Sarah and I discussing our story in this you tube video from 2018.
Treat your home! We are sending out our beautifully packaged designs contact
free from our home via DHL once a week.
We really appreciate your support to help keep our business going during this
difficult time.
Stay safe!
For more new designs and stories behind the patterns, follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter
]]>We're looking to the future, and as our designs can be a year in the making we'd like your help in finding our next artist.
At The Monkey Puzzle Tree we love to collaborate with artists who have a very strong sense of their own style and we believe that it is this that helps us create completely unique and timeless designs.
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We're looking to the future, and as our designs can be a year in the making we'd like your help in finding our next artist.
So, what are we looking for?
We work with artists who are based in the North of England so that we can support our local community.
We'd love to broaden the diversity of our brand to reflect the people and cultures who live in our area.
We relish the challenge of working with people who haven't made textiles and wallpapers before.
We pay our artists generous royalties to provide them with a passive income so they can continue pursuing their passion.
If you'd like to get an idea of how we work with our artists, take a look at the video we launched last week explaining our collaboration with Kirsty Greenwood.
If you know someone who might be interested, please ask them to email me at charlotteraffo@themonkeypuzzletree.com with a couple of images or a social media or website link.
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Artist Sarah Jane Palmer and Charlotte Raffo felt an instant connection when they first met as two outsiders at a corporate networking event in Leeds.
Sarah is a multiple media artist based in Sheffield with a passion for visual trickery and illusion, drawing on elements of eroticism and suspense in her work.
On her first visit to artist Sarah’s studio, Charlotte spotted the potential of the delicate drawing which was to become Body Lace. The sketch depicting two couples embraced in an erotic act had been inspired by a 5th century Greek plate.
Upon finding out that her Great Great Grandfather had been a Nottingham Lace designer, Sarah’s ambition was that her design would one day be realised as a lace fabric.
Charlotte’s passion for using innovative and forgotten techniques lead her to work with a heritage print works in Lancaster. The fabric was created by the use of a technique called burn out screen printing which was first developed at the turn of the 19th Century.
A lace effect was created by printing the design with a special paste which dissolves some fibres in the fabric, creating transparent areas and leaving the unprinted parts intact.
The delicate but naughty voile is a modern take on the net curtain and is perfect for softening and adding privacy to bathroom and bedroom schemes.
Now available in Nude and Limited Edition Black.
Body Lace was exhibited under the title 'What will the neighbours think' in 2018 as part the 'This Class Works' exhibition curated by graphic artist Pete McKee.
By using hidden erotic imagery in this contemporary take on the net curtain, Sarah is playing on the idea that something which has been created to conceal and cover is actually hiding it’s own secret within the surface of the fabric itself.
Body lace has also been featured on the Evening Standard Homes and Property website and in the Colour Hive trend forecast for Spring Summer 2021
One recent project has seen the lace used to great effect in the ensuite bathroom of a London Victorian Villa. The bathroom, in white marble with black fittings is softened by the addition of a full length Body Lace curtain in delicate pink, creating privacy from the road outside without detracting from the beautiful period window and balcony.
Samples of Body Lace available here.
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Happy New Year!
Why not try something new and truly unique in 2020? Have a browse through our artist designed collection...We pay a generous royalty to support our artists and manufacture everything within 150 miles of our Leeds studio. |
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We collaborated with Drew Millward, a well respected musical artist, to create this ground breaking large scale design. 'Hit the North' depicts architecture from the North of England in Drew’s distinctive style featuring his skull, lightbulb and rose motifs. |
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