AUTUMN//WINTER 2017 27 are unique but she clearly holds a candle to historical illustration. Her In Bloom range does feature people, but on a miniature scale. For her, it’s all about the plants. Back to nature Perhaps going back to nature is all part of the growing desire to counterbalance digital overload. Humans like to surround themselves with foliage to feel more connected to nature. Independent stationery shop Meticulous Ink in Bath drew customers in this summer with a fabulous window display of greenery. Over-sized palms and vines cascaded from the ceiling, all made from precision-cut paper in various shades of green. The effect is of passing through a tropical rain forest to discover an oasis of stationery. Illustrator and pattern designer Jacqueline Colley has created a range of stationery and gift designs based on her own house plant collection that blends a historical botanical illustration style with a distinctly millennial feel. Jacqueline explains: “Plants make people happy. Having a growing (pun intended) collection of house plants for me is like a reminder of the beauty and diversity of nature. They also clean the air in my home as a bonus benefit! I love my house plant notebook, which I am currently writing my to-do lists in, especially as it features all my favourite house plants which I drew directly from my home collection!” The interior life of plants Botanical design in stationery owes much to cutting-edge interior design brands. House of Hackney’s Palmeral design, which pays homage to Loddiges, one of the world’s largest palm houses and based in Hackney during the Georgian period, is available in several shades. Its Midnight and Azure design of palm leaves against a dark blue background in particular is a look proving popular in stationery design: dramatic and contemporary with historical roots. Ohh Deer’s Papergang subscription box in June, for example, was called Dark Botany and its curated selection of stationery offered a modern twist on botanical illustration. Modern Florals Despite the current fascination with green leaves, florals also form a significant part of the botanicals trend, in an eye-popping palette of hot colours like pink and orange. These designs appear on a wide range of products, including pens, notebook covers and even notebook edges. Julie Bell Stationery is known for its understated luxury social stationery. One of its latest designs features a little green cactus which clashes dramatically with a bright orange background. This is botanicals super-charged. Julie Bell, of Julie Bell Stationery, offers her interpretation of the perennial appeal of floral designs, commenting: “We have done masses of things with flowers on, sometimes too many things! I think they always appeal because they never offend.” Jacqueline Colley,House Plant notebook Dark Botany stationery,Ohh Deer Meticulous Ink shop front Julie Bell Stationery Artisan notebook, FlameTree In Bloom wrapping paper,Laura Stoddart