Designer Profile:
Sweetpea Home.
Key People:
Louise Cuckow.
Location:
Onehunga, Auckland, New Zealand
Bio/Company History:
Louise Cuckow is the designer and creator of Sweetpea Home who now lives and works in her little house with a big garden in New Zealand. But for the past few years she lived and worked in London as a magazine Art Director. Sweetpea Home is inspired by the handcraft traditions of our past, when items were made to be treasured.
There was a time in New Zealand history when the European settlers desired a small slice of home in their new land. They fought bush for rows of bluebells and built cottages with white picket fences, which were to be furnished with the most cosy, comforting handmade items. This was a time of 'making do', and every scrap of fabric was used. Each creation was treasured and passed down to the next generation.
Sweetpea Home remembers this time and celebrates it with a wink. Louise wanted her creations to appeal to everyone young at heart. Sweetpea Home was started on Louise's return to New Zealand and has existed for nearly a year. The original Sweetpea Home product line includes a caterpillar who is soooooo hungry, mice who love cheese, apple shaped 'Apple Of My Eye' cushions and a three piece owl family to name but a few.
Each piece is carefully handmade using beautiful patterned fabrics, and comes with its own personality and story; Olive Owl for instance is "a spelling bee queen who enjoys the weeklies".
No two will ever be exactly the same. These creations are currently avaliable in New Zealand stores and online at endemicworld.com.
Louise has also collaborated with fashion designer Karen Walker. This range features the same products with a few exclusive items like racehorses, jockeys and dolls clad in Karen Walker outfits. All products in this range are made using Karen's latest season fabrics. The Sweetpea Home for Karen Walker range is now avaliable in New York, Japan, Taiwan, Australia and New Zealand.
Louise says 'When the box of Karen Walker fabric arrived it was like Christmas! It is amazing for me to be working with Karen as I have loved her designs for years."
Karen says "I loved this range the second I saw it. There's a naivety and whimsy to it that I find completely adorable and the intimacy of each piece, in its design but also in its handmade nature, is so refreshing and a wonderful antidote to mass production. We're thrilled to be working with Sweetpea Home on this collaboration."
What are you doing when you don't do this?
I don't do much else, but I love gardening or spending time with friends and family.
Black or White?
Both.
Meat or Vege?
Both, but as a keen vegetable gardener, I love eating what I have grown.
Mac or PC?
Mac.
Married/Single Kids/Pets?
Married and a cat called Rufus, a super cute tabby rescue kitten.
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