Artisan handmade books by LOTUS BLU BOOK ART

"Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart"

William Wordsworth

Lotus Blu Book Art is a small artisan bookbinding company based in Belfast, Northern Ireland that specialises in block printed, hand bound guest books, photo albums and journals, with a beautiful and eclectic art and design look. 

Most of their book art is custom made, each one being as unique as the individuals they are made for.

Moneeza, one half of the husband and wife Lotus Blu team, says 

"We are on a mission to get memories and musings out of cyber space and into a proper journal or photo album..Couples visiting the fair looking for a 'curious' keepsake that can be passed on will find just that in our customised books."

Most Curious especially loves the geometric, ethnic prints and bright gypsy-infused embellishments on Lotus Blu's latest designs - perfect for an off-beat wedding!

Moneeza, please talk us through a typical Lotus Blu day

Our day begins early around 6.30 am, Brian is a morning person and I am the complete opposite, It takes me at least two or three cups of coffee before I can function normally again. I reply to Etsy messages and emails while plonked on the sofa in my jim jams - the perks of working from home!

While Brian does the school run, I roll out my yoga mat. A quick shower later and I'm ready for the day ahead. Brian and I discuss what needs to be done over breakfast. We head up to the studio around 9am with more coffee and our faithful companion Ruben, our spaniel.

I normally finish off whatever I may have been working on from the night before or pack up books that are ready for the post. I usually work on a couple of projects at a time. I paint and do all the binding while Brian does all the prep work such as hand ripping and dyeing paper, making cover blanks and getting all the paper cut to size. 

We take a quick lunch break which normally involves a bit of house hold chores and then before we know it, it's 3pm and time for Kahal to come home, then it's homework, piano lessons, dinner prep, dog walks etc - sometimes I find it difficult to get a good creative rhythm going between 3-6 pm so I tend to do other things like online shopping for material or a bit of social media interaction or more prep work. 

I paint mostly at night when all is quiet and there are no distractions. I usually fall into bed around midnight, read a little and then I am out like a light!

Who or what is inspiring you right now?

Shibori is something I am crushing on these days. 

I recently dyed a load of paper using this Japanese indigo dyeing method with some gorgeous handmade paper which I have made into some guest books, albums and sketchbooks with added paintings and block printing. 

Describe a Lotus Blu couple

A Lotus Blu couple would be quite laid back, well travelled, readers, dreamers, yogis, artsy and above all have an eclectic style and not be afraid of colour.  

Lotus Blu is exhibiting at our 2016 London show at the Old Truman Brewery so get your tickets now and start planning your very own unique keepsake!

www.lotusblubookart.com

www.lotusblubookart.etsy.com

Facebook
Instagram

Bridal Jumpsuits and Combos by HOUSE OF OLLICHON

"When a dress seems too much fuss...
When you say ‘I do’ at the registry office...
When a brunch or cocktail is another celebration...
When you need a one-stop-shop for your bridesmaids...
When you want glamour at your hen-do...
When you want to dance like there’s no tomorrow..."






Oh YES, now this is what Most Curious is ALL about!

The dress-less wedding collection by House of Ollichon is, quite simply, stunning. Their range of luxury jumpsuits, playsuits and combos are just perfect for Most Curious fashionistas who don't want to go down the traditional wedding dress route.

Not surprisingly they are taking the wedding world by storm with their unique, eclectic designs and are finalists in the British Wedding Awards 2016 in both the Bridalwear and Newcomer categories - you can show your support for their beautiful, elegant and alternative creations by voting for them here!

Hannah Ollichon, founder and creator, brings her adopted French roots to the designs.

Hannah has sourced beautiful French bridal lace from the famous Dentelle region in northern France and is proud that House of Ollichon uses quality European fabrics such as luxury Italian tissutos, 100% silke crepe de chine and British embellishments and trimmings.

And every single House of Ollichon piece is made with a huge amount of love, care and experience right here by hand, in England.

Hannah, please talk us through a typical day in your life

I love this about my new bridal collection world!

Every day is different. I could be at a networking event, talking to clients, at the factory which I love, choosing fabrics, ordering zips, writing interviews, designing flyers, you name it!

Each end of the glamour spectrum and everything in between is covered!

Who or what is inspiring you right now?

The wonderfully, overwhelming, positive feedback. 

Whether this comes from the press, direct from the wedding industry or from all the gorgeous 'Brides of Ollichon', the fantastic reception of House of Ollichon has been the most motivating, inspiring thing so far.

Describe a House of Ollichon bride

The designs were carefully created to (hopefully!) provide something for everyone. 

It could be the girl who wears a big dress during the day but changes to dance like crazy in the evening, a registry office ceremony, a low key celebration, a bridal vibe for a brunch or cocktail or simply when a dress is too much fuss.

HoO is proud of its niche collection and we definitely appeal to women who are happy to push their bridal boundaries.

House of Ollichon will be exhibiting at our 2016 London show at the Old Truman Brewery so get your tickets now and check out these glorious designs in person.

House of Ollichon 

Facebook 

Instagram

Welcoming the very talented and very lovely LEE GARLAND as Photography Sponsor for Most Curious 2016!

If you're looking for a photographic storyteller who loves getting caught up in the joy and excitement of your wedding day then Lee Garland is your man. We were chuffed to see his application appear in our inbox and jumped at the opportunity to have him as our Photography Sponsor for 2016.

Not only is Lee a fantastic wedding photographer he also shoots for a number of national publications, such as The Guardian and The Daily Telegraph. He has been a professional photographer since 2002 and has a wealth of experience in different photographic genres, ranging from Interiors to Architecture, from Music to Portraiture and of course Weddings.

Lee's career began at university where he spent the majority of his time in the student magazine offices, starting out as the photographer and then progressing to Picture Editor. His talent was recognised and acknowledged by The Independent in 2002 when he was voted Student Photographer of the Year. 

Straight out of uni he secured a job as Staff Photographer for a publisher and during his time at this job he managed to fulfill his childhood dream of meeting Slash and Duff of Guns 'n Roses fame!

Lee's style is predominantly reportage, with a focus on capturing your wedding day as it unfolds, naturally and organically. He genuinely enjoys weddings, and his passion for people and for recording their special day clearly comes across in his work. Whether it's a more quiet, reflective moment before the ceremony or the laugh out loud fun at the reception afterwards you can be confident Lee will get the kind of shots you will treasure forever.

Hi Lee and welcome to Most Curious! We would love to know more about a typical day in your life.

I’m so tempted to describe an idealised, enviable world of self-employed freewheeling. Home-toasted granola followed by some hot yoga and a teaching kids to use a camera - but in reality we’ve just had a baby daughter. She’s incredible and teaches me things every day. If you’re asking what a typical day entails; I’ll be brutally honest and say getting pooed and weed on routinely.

Where do you draw your inspiration from?

Over an incredibly short period of time, wedding photography has gone from something that carried more than a little stigma with it, to something genuinely beautiful.

There is an incredible freedom, on the one hand coming from the photographers and filmmakers, and on the other from couples casting off the constraints and rules that built up around wedding. I get inspired by people bravely treading their own path - couples and other photographers alike - and I’m lucky enough to see that happening everywhere I look.

Describe a Lee Garland Photography couple

My ideal couples get lost in themselves on the day, they laugh, they cry and they have the best day. But more so, the best day for them - regardless of what they ‘should’ be doing or think they’re expected to do. I just tag along for the ride and they put their trust in me to tell the story of their day, whatever that might be.

Lee is available to cover weddings anywhere in the UK but also loves to travel more widely, and has photographed a number of destination weddings in places such as Ibiza, the South of France, the Pyrenees and Greece. You can find out more about the services he offers and their corresponding prices here.

Lee will be exhibiting at our 2016 London show at the Old Truman Brewery so get your tickets now, and come and say hello to the man himself.

Until then make sure you follow Lee on instagram and facebook to see more amazing images and for plenty of laughs too.

On a side note, we think Lee may possibly have the best beard in the industry!

Lee Garland Photography

Instagram

Facebook

Twitter

Timeless elegance for modern brides by GENTLY INSPIRED

"Our vision is born out of a love for the romantic vintage appeal of the past and a desire to work with our clients to create the dress of their dreams.”

We bring you Gently Inspired, a collection of vintage inspired couture bespoke gowns and occasion dresses, handmade to order in London using the finest European silks and genuine vintage embellishments.

Bespoke gowns may be a luxury but this is your wedding day, ladies! This is one day that is ALL about you (what do you mean, two people involved?!! ) and you deserve the dress of your dreams.

Enter stage left - Carole and Sarah Riggs, the duo behind Gently Inspired, who have created a limited collection of signature silhouettes inspired by, and cut from, original vintage classics for not just the bride, but also her bridesmaids and mother too.

To ensure that every gown is unique, each client selects fabrics and embellishments reflective of their own style creating their bespoke and timeless garment. 

Your Gently Inspired experience combines glamour, elegance and personal service as experienced in the couture houses of earlier decades.

Carole, please talk us through a typical day in your life

One of the things I love about my work is that there is no such thing as a typical day.  

As well as the Gently Inspired couture line we also have our well established Gently Worn Vintage brand plus a Ready To Wear collection launching in December so variety is definitely the spice of life at GI Towers!! 

We have just launched the couture line and are currently putting the finishing touches to some bridal additions to the collection so there is a lot of running around with samples, and meetings with our seamstress and pattern cutter, selecting fabrics and trims and fit sessions. 

With the RTW collection in sampling stage we will also be liaising with our production team, selecting fabrics and checking samples for this line too.

The best part of any day is always the client fittings, our dresses are bespoke and the service very personal so we have the opportunity and time to get to know our clients and build relationships through the process. 

Each client chooses their own genuine vintage embellishment, the signature of any Gently Inspired piece, we have a large treasure trove from which our ladies can choose, always a fun part of the process!

In between there is PR & Marketing for the brand, we tend to have those meetings away from the studio at one of our local cafes, somehow chai lattes and cake always make brainstorming so much more productive!

All of our gowns and dresses are vintage inspired so we are constantly researching, visiting exhibitions and trawling vintage stores and fairs for design inspiration… and opportunities to snap a picture of our theme colour #gentlyred

Who or what is inspiring you right now?

I have and always will be inspired by beautiful dresses, embellishments and couture finishes, they have always been the signature of the Gently Worn Vintage collection and the Gently Inspired line too.

For me the construction and finish of a gown or dress is the most important aspect, a well made piece will not only look good it will feel even better...

The workmanship of the past, hand beading and embroidery, hand painted silks and home made pieces of such quality always have me mesmerised.

As a collector of vintage dresses for many years I love the glamour and femininity to be found in earlier decades and it is these feminine silhouettes that have inspired me to develop the Gently Inspired collection.

I have an absolute passion for fashion books and magazines from earlier decades and they are a constant source of inspiration, I have been known to get lost for many an hour among books! 

Whilst the couturiers of the past continue to inspire and influence, Ralph & Russo are an inspiration in the couture world. The intricate detailing in their embellishment and embroidery work, the soft femininity in their shaping, we love Tamara Ralph’s work. 

The fact that they were a small business founded in 2007 and are now one of the World’s most famous fashion houses and the first British house in a hundred years to be accepted into Paris Haute Couture!

They are so inspirational for us, to think less than 10 years ago they began with a sewing machine and an ironing board…how could we not be inspired?!

Describe a Gently Inspired bride

The Gently Inspired lady has a true appreciation for timeless classic style; she loves the elegance and glamour of the past and is a lady who has developed her own style and is true to that rather than a follower of fashion. 

A lady who wants the overall experience of glamour, elegance and personal service as experienced in the couture houses of earlier decades.

So come and meet the Gently Inspired team and buy your tickets here now ladies and gents for the Most Curious London show 2016.

And you can find out more about Gently Inspired here:

www.gentlyinspired.co.uk
www.facebook.com/GentlyInspiredCouture
instagram.com/gentlyinspired/