An early summer

I'll start by apologising for the time that has passed since my last post. As I write I feel the arrogance inherent in that sentence; it implies a horde of people waiting on my every musing so I will qualify by adding that this apology is to those faithful few who are kind enough to follow and hopefully enjoy my postings. But then probably all of you like me have been awol in a garden or on a beach during this last sunny week or two.
When I left a salaried position to be self employed I vowed that I would embrace the flexilbility that it brought but too often weekend fairs, stock to be made or other tasks prevent this and I find myself missing out on good weather, exhibitions etc. This early and unseasonable hot sunshine was just too good to waste and of course would be very short lived. I found myself musing on the term for an unexpectedly early summer..like an Indian summer but before not after the real thing. In fact of course this could be the real thing and as I write it rains outside so who knows when we shall next need our t shirts and shorts.

So most of last week was spent in the garden and some of it kneeling to weed not sitting to read but I was able to pass off one jaunt as work. On Friday I drove to  a small hamlet in Derbyshire to collect 2 chairs from the upholsterer who lives and works in a converted chapel not far from Chatsworth. He can look out onto fields filled with sheep and lambs and I did find myself envying him the country life. Must add here that later that day I was in a city centre cinema, 10 minutes from home, and I'm not sure I could do without that weekly fix.

I digress as ever; the chairs look great, both covered in vintage linens provided by me. It is a joy to have found someone who enjoys working with different fabrics and sees handwoven linens as a challenge not an annoyance.

Very pleased with this chair which was covered in an 1980s check and looks much happier in simpler mode.
I chose a heavy weight French linen sheet so that it could fit in in a living room or here in a bedroom; perfect spot to listen to our old LPs. Its a neat shape and will be a useful chair to add in to the living room when guests are round. I am however planning to sell this one so do ask for images/price if interested.

Chair number 2 was apparently more of a challenge requiring a seat rebuild as well as recovering. I bought it several years ago covered in a pretty blue stripe and had resisted changing this fabric but as a chair it was uncomfortable and precarious so when I acquired a Hungarian mattress cover it seemed its time had come.

I love the red on cream stripe and it matches the sack I use as a bathmat so it's currently residing in the bathroom. Perfect while waiting for the bath to fill or painted nails to dry.
This week and an Easter fair on the horizon I have had to get back to work. I bought a patchwork quilt for cutting last month and have been turning it into a variety of cushions and lavender bags.

I find the extra bulk of the quilting is great for comfy cushions and well stuffed lavender hearts. It is a mixture of mauves and pinks with a central section of red although as there is a sod's law to all things here it is that the most worn areas are in the most lovely prints.

I have made 4 large cushions suitable for a bed or large sofa and then a collection of smaller ones to show off the prettiest sections of the quilt

This tiny cushion uses all of one part of the design.

I think I have confessed a love of glass jars in these posts and have a new collection to sell.

I've filled these French parfait jars with seasonal painted eggs and hope they'll look good on my stall at the Homespun fair in Portscatho on Easter Monday.

I'm looking forward to this fair in one of my favourite holiday destinations; both to sell, meet up with friends and find out more about the vintage scene in Cornwall. We've been visiting the Roseland penisula for over 20 years now and cinema going apart could imagine living there so I shall be pretending for a brief few days that I am a local.

Hope you'll come along if you live or are visiting nearby.
Details on the left or http://www.homespunfair.blogspot.com/

I've filled the house with goodies..come and see

I've spent the last couple of days rearranging, hiding dross and hopefully filling my rooms with temptation for tomorrow's open house. I love these 4 times a year sales; often it's a chance a catch up with friends or neighbours who I haven't seen for a while. Equally I've made lots of new friends in the customers who come along having seen my designs at a fair or on the net.

 If you need directions do ring 0115 9604453 or email via the blog although let's be honest you might be better using a sat nav!
Spring sprung briefly last week and we had a lovely warm weekend which made all my pastel florals look just perfect.

Sadly I've photographed them this morning with deep gloom outside, I can scarcly see to the bottom of the garden. Hope you can get the picture.
A lovely patchwork quilt has made a collection of soft coloured cushions. I used a larger cushion pad which is a perfect size for a bed and the quilting makes them particularly soft and comfortable.

This is a pretty print in a warm pink which blends well with most surroundings.

These plum coloured florals look very at home on my leather chair

The kitchen is in spring mode with blossom from the garden ( a bit of a cheat as this is a winter flowering viburnum) in 3 toning jugs. I usually style this bench with rustic pieces but think pretty works well on it too.

The table sports my collection of French crockery..10 patterned dishes and 11 dinner plates...for those of you who entertain on a large scale but they are available in smaller numbers

The rustic pots are decorating the mantel..the colours work well against the paint colour behind.

I like the candlesticks made from spools from a mill

Love this collection of classic red and grey French prints, work well with the monograms
Hope you'll come along if you can..see timings on the left

If you're in the London area next week you can see my designs at the Country Living fair in Islington. I've supplied Charlotte from Charlotte Supple antiques with cushions, shades, pegbags etc; Charlotte's stall will look gorgeous as quite apart from my designs her taste is immaculate and she always finds lovely pieces of furniture and fabric.

Animal toiles

I've never wanted to become a dog owner; love cats too much, hate early morning walks in the rain. I do, however, enjoy other people's dogs and often its the aesthetic as much as the dog itself that appeals. The fine skull of a pointer, the feathery ears of a spaniel, the intelligent collie nose or the appealing snout of a boxer.
I did recently lose my heart briefly to a beautiful white boxer dog but I digress.

I think this is why I love toiles featuring animals as they so beautifully depict the lines of a particular breed.
I've had beautiful pieces in the past showing hunting scenes with horses,dogs and foxes but this particular toile is of a more pastoral scene.

The dogs seem to be chasing birds of their own volition and there's even a fox up to no good.

This week I've been making cushions from some pieces I've had for a while. The fabric is a lovely soft cream with the print in a rusty red; it works perfectly with the mangle cloth linen stripes.

Do love this lamb..the perfect Easter cushion?

I'll be selling these and lots more next week at my open house; do hope you'll join me. Please email if you need directions.
I had the my best ever Manchester fair last Sunday so many thanks to all of you who bought from me; its always a sociable and enjoyable day with lots of interested buyers and sellers

A shared past in fabric

Last week I had a pleasant surprise when the husband of a friend who died prematurely in 2009 rang to say he was coming to Nottingham and would like to call in with a box of fabric. He had been having a clear out and wondered whether I would like some of Maggie's collected treasures.

We had been close friends from the time when our sons were at nursery together..almost 30 years ago now...although as we both moved soon after meeting this was always a long distance friendship conducted by letter and regular meetings. These meetings often took place in London where we enjoyed a wander round antique markets, Libertys and other textile haunts.
In those days we sewed clothes as well as curtains and it was Maggie who made fabric lampshades long before I started to sell them.
I enjoyed chatting with her husband about our memories and perceptions of her, easier now that the shock of her short illness and tragic death has receded. After he left I rifled through the box looking for remembered purchases.

I have made a pair of cushions from the first piece of french fabric I found; the cherry red background is typical of Maggie's taste.

This piece of Cabbage and Roses floral, never used, is also in her favourite red. I thought on first sight that it was an old Laura Ashley print as it reminded me of a design I had used in the late 70s. Not sure yet how I will make use of it.
I came across a piece of Donegal tweed with maker's label which I recall her describing buying on holiday in Ireland; the receipt is from the year before her death so she obviously never got round to making the skirt she planned. I tried without success to find a pattern this morning to turn it into a tunic; wish I was a better pattern cutter.

I was nearly at the bottom of the box however before I found the fabric I had hoped so much to find.
We had shopped at Alfie's Market in London probably about 10 years ago and found a piece of faded floral linen which we both loved. Neither of us could afford it whole so we resolved to share the cost and the fabric. I made mine into cushions for my garden room (greenhouse without the pots!) and they looked gorgeous for a short while; I hadn't bargained on the strength of the sun and found them after the winter faded and in holes.
So here was Maggie's half still in a piece; this time I'm giving myself time to decide what to make but whatever it will be in our north facing guest room.

I've been busy finishing cushions and shades for the textile society fair in Manchester this Sunday. I had a pile of mongrams to make up and these are now all cushions. They make great presents for weddings, christenings and perhaps Mother's Day in a couple of weeks. As ever I don't have the complete alphabet but get in touch if you're interested in a particular initial.

Do come along to the fair if you're anywhere near; each stall is a treasure trove of textiles, buttons, vintage clothing and bags. In addition there are talks and demonstrations about matters textile, certainly many people seem to spend the whole day there.

Cul Noir pottery and shabby chic fabric

A couple of weeks ago I bought two attractive side plates from one of my favourite dealers.

We must be on the same wavelength as I always find lots to buy from her and much of it stays with me. I loved both the colour of the glaze and the naively drawn flowers but it was only when I was washing off the price label that I read "cul noir" plate.

Too late to ask Tess, I googled and found a helpful blog reference and images; my French fluent friend had already translated "black bottom" but I learnt that this refers to the dark glaze underneath the piece. The pictures I found all featured blue and white designs, almost a French willow pattern, rather than the simple flowers I have. Underneath both plates I can read Tours but sadly the rest of the writing is indistinct so I can only assume they were made near or in Tours in the Loire valley.

I'll be thrilled to be further enlightened if any of you reading can help.

I've owned this plate for a while and although it is glazed in the same colour all over in other ways it resembles my floral plates. I love the perfect piecrust edge.

They all work very well alongside newer pieces such as this great Wonkiware jug; this time last year I was in South Africa and visiting the Wonkiware factory shop was the ceramic equivalent of being let loose in a sweet shop.
Since I don't intend to part with these plates I'd better get selling some of my textile items!

This is a very pretty print, too fine for cushions but perfect for a small shade.

I love this simple pictorial print, both for the depiction of the scene and for the pairing of the red tones with a soft turquoise. I've also a piece of barkcloth in similar shades and I hope to make cushions in that which will work together as a group. One of my customers says she likes to find fabrics that together tell a story.

This faded "shabby chic" floral with tiny birds is perfect for lampshades so I've used it to cover a  pair of frames. They would look lovely in a cottage bedroom or adding light to a console table. I decided to add a pair of cushions to the "story" and what better design to pick for the 14th Feb than this heart on linen.
Hope you're having a romantic day!

Stocking up for the first fair of the year

It seems decadent to confess to 2 months off work but it is indeed that length of time since I set up a stall to sell my wares. I have however been busy in other ways; sewing lots of new cushions, shades etc, restocking the cards and, most necessary, buying more stock to sell. I think I have found some lovely new goodies to sit alongside the textiles which are either for sale or for making up.

I've confessed already in these posts to my addiction to glass bottles so no surprise I've bought more.
These simple milk bottles will look great with an arrangement of spring flowers but I like them lined up simply on my mantel. They are however for sale this weekend at Market Harborough but thought they would look good snapped next to the French jars.

Several of these for sale; still useful as storage or use as a vase.
I've bought more Ball jars as they were good sellers filled with fabric scraps.

 Think this turquoise colour would look lovely filled with painted eggs as a spring decoration.

These were a new find; American spring water flagons which would have had a cork stopper. Hope you can make out the native American Indian on the front.

Again they would be good with blue flowers such as love in the mist which grows like a weed in my flower bed since I sowed seeds many years ago now or possibly iris at this time of year.

This is a departure for me as I'm not really a doll person but this sweet little highchair (modelled by Old Tom Ted who was rescued from a school jumble many years ago) proved irrestible. I think it was the level of detail right down to the stencilled tray as well as the lovely soft paint colour, just like drying plaster; not sure the colour reproduction on the camera has measured up to the challenge but its a poor workwoman who blames her tools! Hope a collector will give it a home but afraid Tom has to stay with us.

I love this trio, all french earthernware, all functional and all very decorative. On the left a classic dairy pot; these semi matt glazed pots are lovely just as they are or with flowers or plants.
I've never seen a jug like this before, great fat bellied shape and with a "harlequin" style glaze. My lovely friend Moira has just left having visited for lunch, she brought a bunch of spring flowers so I can show you how gorgeous it looks filled with tulips and narcissi.

Finally a cheese mould in deep aubergine which I think would look perfect filled with yellow primula; I have also got a metal mould which looks great when lit by a candle. Both would have been used to drain the whey off a French farmhouse cheese.

Again a new departure but I couldn't resist this leather bag. Large enough to use for paperwork it has 2 compartments so practical for keeping all the essentials to hand. Pictured with my fine knit fingerless gloves which are so useful; confess to wearing them to read in bed on Saturday night as the snow fell outside.

Whenever I find this particular red striped linen ticking I snap it up. It is especially nice made into lampshades as it gives a soft warm glow to lamplight. Fortunately I found a piece large enough for this shade and a bigger one with more to spare...currently lighting up a corner of the workroom

This rustic bench is for sale although will be very useful in front of or to add height to a stall before it goes. Its a neat length and would look good at the foot of a bed or in front of a bench or sofa as here. More of the large handblown glass jars (on bench behind) for sale.
I'm planning on putting some of these and more in the car for Market Harborough but if there's anything you'd like to see there please email as there won't be room for it all
I'm also updating my blogshop to include new February stock, take a look, and scroll down for lamps and bases from last month (those that have sold are marked)
Hope to see some of you on Saturday and don't forget to come and say hello