Poppingjay Lampshades for Ian Sanderson launched at Decorex 2012

Well that's it then...the great and the good have packed away the most luxurious and beautiful textiles and lighting imaginable for another year. Decorex 2012 has closed its 35th anniversary show and I see the blogs are alive with folk discussing their highlights.

FollyandGlee Patchwork Lampshades in Poppinjay Collection Fabrics from Ian Sanderson

Delighted to report FollyandGlee made a small contribution to this years show. The lovely folk at Ian Sanderson launched the fabulous Poppinjay Collection at Decorex and requested a couple of patchwork lampshades to show off just how well this gorgeous collection of fabrics work together.

Ian Sanderson

From a 1930s interpretation of an Elizabethan-style design to the 21st century modern vintage-style interior Poppinjay is an archive print reborn. Originally wood roller printed on 27” linen in Lancashire in the 1930s. This printing technique was the next generation from the original method of hand wood blocking. These early printing techniques produced some of the most interesting of the late 19th and early 20th century textiles, many of which are now stored in the V and A Museum in London.

 I worked the lampshades in two colourways - Green tea and Russian caravan. But check the Ian Sanderson website for the other colourways....the Thirties Blue/Green is particularly lovely.

I had feared for the different weights of fabric -with some being linens some firmer upholsetery fabrics- making patchworking difficult. But no they were a joy to work with. My favourite......well for sheer softness and all round tactile loveliness I'd say the Cree 100% Scottish Lambswool in Willow. The Ercol has already begun a whispering campain in my ear that it would be perfect for his new covers.

Jamie Oliver chooses Folly&Glee lampshades

Time to share a really exciting commission I completed earlier in the summer - 7 big standard lampshades for Jamie Oliver's new mega restaurant, bakery and bar at Gatwick Airport. Its well worth watching this clip of Jamie explaining just how he's hoping to change the face of restaurant eating with this huge venture.

Photo courtesy Blacksheep

I didn't get to meet Jamie but I did get to work with his amazing design consultancy Blacksheep. Blacksheep have won just about every design award there is going for hospitality and restaurant interiors. They have an uncompromising reputation for throwing away the rule book and creating amazing spaces that still work. I'd read about their work on Jamie's  Union Jacks and loved that the design celebrates Britishness with all kinds of nostalgic and quirky finds. There's stuff from the 50s, 60s and 70s  all given a modern twist. But Gatwick  incorporates a bakery, a Jack's Bar and a Jamie's Italian and is set to serve more than 1000 breakfasts alone a day all frshly cooked on the premises. It's a groundbreaking concept for Airports where food is generally simply re-heated and lets face it sad.



BlackSheep Design

Cripes! It was clear from the off then that Blacksheep really wanted to push the boundaries of what people expect from an airport bar and that made this commission super exciting. Here's part of my brief from Designer Emma Freed,  "we want to create a warm and inviting bar space to enjoy a quick pint, with a subtle nod to yesteryear and postwar nostalgia. We are doing this with custom printed formic table tops, worn leather armchairs and some great vintage chandeliers and cushions. Importantly the bar also has to encapsulate Jamie Oliver’s cheeky chappy persona, so on top of all of this there is lots of big signage, hand painted slogans and graphics and a great Tea-Rex dinosaur mural!”

Photo courtesy Blacksheep

No ordinary lampshades then. Something out of the ordinary for sure. How about an "inside out" lampshade. A plain and modest outer with a vibrant burst of nostalgic original vintage fabric on the inside. Eureka!

I was nervous about finding just the right quality and weight of natural undyed linen. An intense search came up trumps and I'm really pleased with the linen I have in 3 colourways: natural, black and cream. Its fine enough to give a lovely smooth handrolled edge and allow just the right of reflection of the inner pattern through once lit.

Photo courtesy Blacksheep

That effect really seems to work and Blacksheep have commented on how well the lampshades add to the intimate atmosphere they wanted to create all the way along the main  balustrade and in front of the keg room.

Choosing the inner fabrics from the barkcloth stash went well too. There were a couple of first choices that didn't work given the width of fabric required for such large lampshades. One quirky English boating scene would have looked great but the directional print just wouldn't co-operate...not even for Jamie! 

There was a moment of panic when on delivery to the electrical contractors I was told the shades would never pass stringent airport health and saftey rules. Everything in an airport has to either be bolted to the floor or ceiling by way of specialist tools presumably in case of exuberant holiday makers deciding to play lampshade volleyball. Lordy I had visions of my shades chucked out, forlorn and unloved atop a skip somewhere by the side of the A23.

I should have had more faith however as there are  ways and means to do these things and Jamie Oliver is clearly on a mission to transform Airport hospitality. If the man can get the first proper gas ovens into an Airport, calm Security by changing the size of kitchen knives and build an explosive proof storage room for his flour...then ensuring a few lampshades could be fitted safely was never going to be a real issue. I'm REALLY chuffed to have played a small part in making one of our major Airports a somewhat cosier, more soulful place to spend time.Cheers Jamie for the opportunity.

If you'd like a Jamie style "inside-out" shade just let me know. It's a method of shade making I've really enjoyed and works for most shapes and sizes. When you think about it if hanging as a ceiling pendant the inside of your lampshade is more on display than the outer. And of course for those who just want a touch of midcentury/retro without screaming "I love vintage" they're perfect. I'll be listing a few in the shop over the next few days or get in touch at hello@follyandglee.co.uk. 

Pop in for pop-up Liberty at MadeinLewes

The PatchworkDogandbasket in the Needlemakers, Lewes is a a bit of a mecca for those who love their Liberty fabrics.

With that in mind I created a Liberty Patchwork standard lamp and shade for the fabulous MadeinLewes Co-operative pop up shop running as part of Artwave Festival.

There's just two more days to go before the space returns to its normal role as workshop space extraodinaire so why not pop in!

Lewes Artwave Festival 2012

Being part of the 2012 Lewes Artwave festival is proving to be a real joy - so much to see, admire and be inspired by. Exhibiting Folly&Glee for the first time at the #LongBarnStudios @UpperLodge is so worth the hardwork to prepare for.

Welcoming friends and family who have long wondered what I do all day feels good. Chatting to older visitors who themselves made lampshades - the old fashioned way - 20 and 30 years ago is enlightening and I just love the reaction of those who recognise their own previously loved (or loathed) curtains amongst the barkcloth cupboard!

It looks like we are in for another glorious sunny weekend, the studios are freshly stocked, kitchens throughout Laughton are filled with the aroma of freshly baked cakes -  so come see us.

Carnations X Large Tapered Shade Half Price

One lesson I have learnt to my cost is never make lampshades in bad light. Easier said than done on a gloomy, wet and dark afternoon (in July-ha ha!). But the truth is original vintage fabrics have flaws. Many find their way to me as curtains and after all the unpicking of the seams and the oh so careful laundering there are some flaws you can just do nothing about. Sun fading is one of the most annoying. The fabric might on first sight be perfect - its only in good light that you spy a line of slight fading where the sun has worked its magic over time.

This is what has happened to my last piece of carnations barkcloth. Such a pretty print on a clotted cream background. Just one little problem - a line of fading on the back seam. Nothing dramatic just a small section where the background is more "single cream" than "clotted cream"

I've taken pity and done something I rarely do and trimmed this shade rather extravagantly with a really unusual super soft natural linen tassed trim and linen braid. I think it compliments the barkcloth fabric really well.

With the trim (which was from France) this shade should have been in the shop for £60. Its a real one off bargain at £30. Please select whether you'd like to fit it to a floor lamp or hang it as an oversized ceiling pendant. 

Lampshade Making at Made in Lewes

Can't tell you how much I've loved running the last two workshops on lampshade making. Jill and Josie from the Patchwork Dog and Basket have created such a wonderful warm and friendly atmoshphere for Made in Lewes events I soon lost any nervousness.

Vintage Embroidery Patchwork Shade from FollyandGlee

Workshops just seem to incapsulate what we all need more of - working together to learn a new skill put to use creating something we'll treasure...whilst sharing our trials and tribulations into perspective!

The Patchwork Traditional Shade Workshop

It's hard to imagine many other parts of our life when we get that chance anymore. Work is so pressured, families so busy, friends so varied in their interests.

Applying trimmings

In sorting the ins and outs of how to roll the edge on a lampshade, and the best way to bind our frames, what trim to choose etc we were united in a common aim.....and it felt good!

The rolled edge drum shade workshop

I don't know about running lots more but I'll certainly being booking to attend more workshops myself - love them.

Jill's beautifully finished map print shade

A special thank you to our guest from VivaLewes Magazine.  He was pretty darn good with a needle for someone who "hasn't sewn a stitch since he was seven".

I can't mention Viva Lewes without encouraging you to their website. We are blessed with what must be the country's most stylish community "what's on".



VivaLewes Covers

Just take a look at some of the specially commissioned covers available to purchase as prints. They are always simply stunning.

FollyandGlee Bargains on Shoplocket

I've decided to have a little experiment with a rather nifty app called ShopLocket.

I am lucky enough from time to time to get requests from magazine and other stylists for one off pieces. This is obviously great publicity and if I can say yes I do. The downside is that when items are returned to me they have "seen a little life" on their adventure. Invariably they get moved around a photo shoot a few times and often take a few knocks. They are not damaged but I feel less than happy about just poppinf them straight back in the shop....and as they are one offs its somethimes hardly worth all the listing time/fees etc.

The other scenario is of course of my own making. All FollyandGlee items are handmade by my less than fair (kind of gnarled actually) hands. This means mistakes do happen and a line of stitchy can be a bit wonky, a rolled edge might have a fray at the end, and horror of horrors sometimes I discover a slight fabric flaw....after all the work has been done.

Well I'm hoping with this ShopLockety thing we might all be winners. I don't have to sit and stare and projects I'm not sure what to do with and you dear customers get rather lovely things at rock bottom prices.

I promise to make the reductions on my ShopLocket widget at least 40% off and I promise to tell you what the flaw or "unique little character forming feature" is. So first off - here is a smaller than usual 25cm diameter drum patchwork lampshade in a combination of blue/lilac barkcloths. He's a one off made to order for a very highly regarded Interiors Mag and set to feature in their October issue. he returned home in a very big box with some heavier lamp bases and he got a bit dented on one side. I've steam pressed him and 99% of the dent is gone. He's almost half price at £20.

Of course the FollyandGlee shop is still very much alive and soon to be refreshed with lots of new season fabrics. Do still hop over and have a browse please but if you are short on time and want to grab a one off bargain the ShopLocket window just lets you click and pay securely online with PayPal right from the blog and hopefully my the FollyandGlee facebook page. Let me know if it works!