I am so excited to review the new Print & Pattern book today because I love the author, Marie Perkins (aka Bowie Style), and her blog under the same name -- Print & Pattern! And what a lucky girl to have her book named after her blog, right? Love it. Okay so let's get started in seeing and discussing Print & Pattern (the book). First let me tell you a little about Marie.

Marie is a surface pattern designer in London who started blogging in March '06 which seems like ages ago now (I guess web years are a bit like measuring time in dog years?) and I've followed her site from day one. I guess I always felt like she and I were partners in crime since we got started blogging during a time when it wasn't yet hip or cool, and certainly before blogging became the next big thing. Marie and I always supported one another, I had launched decor8 only a few months before she got started, so again -- there was this bond between us that made showing up each day to write online a nice experience -- I knew she was out there, along with a handful of other new blogs that I enjoyed. This is another reason why I am so proud of her as she has been writing religiously on her site for four years now and that is some dedication -- especially since so many blogs come and go. That level of commitment and consistency is quite impressive. Now Print & Pattern is both a blog and a book -- the blog is loaded with bazillions of illustrators and products to drool over but the book is equally handy because you can reference it snuggled up on your sofa or carry with you to the balcony during lunch. And of course, a book pulls everything so nicely together and gives the Print & Pattern blog a permanent home that Marie can take pride in for years and years to come... even long after she's wrapped up her blogging career and moved on to discover other paths.

In Marie's beautiful book you can find 120 designers on over 300 pages with over 750 full-color examples of their work. I like how each designer has their own spot and that each has a mini bio along with contact details so that you can find them on the web. Marie has been working on turning her blog into a book since 2008 -- I remember because she had put out a call for entries back then on her site which resulted in hundreds of entries (naturally). I think Print & Pattern may require a second book after I read this one... as I know Marie is scouring the globe daily for designers that I'm sure in a year or two she'll have more than enough for a possible volume two. Fingers crossed!

In this book you can find the best of the best -- works by surface pattern designers who have had their designs on products ranging from wallpaper to bed linens and greeting cards. You can expect to find the fabulous Orla Kiely, Caroline Gardner, Lotta Kuhlhorn, Petra Boase, Rock Scissor Paper, Sanna Annukka, Sukie, Nathalie Lete, Julia Rothman, Anne Wendlandt, MOZI, Marilyn Patrizio, Jessica Gonacha, Samantha Hahn, Fifi Mandirac, Heather Moore... and dozens more! It's a fantastic introduction to surface pattern design that is happy, bright and inspirational. And Marie if you're reading this, I'm so proud of you -- inspired by you, happy for you, and extremely impressed by the beautiful book that you've pulled together.

Congratulations Marie on this delightful, super informative book! I hope I see it in stores everywhere -- this would fit in so nicely at Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters because it would help to educate the average consumer who shops there... they could learn about where all the beauty around them comes from -- people! Very talented ones -- I often think most people don't even consider this when out shopping, those who aren't reading blogs and who haven't made the whole "online connection" yet. In fact, this book would be great in many shops for this very reason -- an education -- especially in stores selling some of the works from the designers featured therein!

Psst: I’m an Amazon affiliate so the links to Amazon are part of my affiliate program.

(images: holly becker for decor8)