Bang up to date

Sometimes you find a vintage fabric that's what 30 or 40 years old or more and something about the colour or pattern just makes you think you saw it yesterday heralded as the latest trend. 

That's how I felt about this barkcloth called Kanye.

1. Pyramid Crewel Cushion in Clementine from John Lewis

2. Cloud 9 fabric called On Point - Peachy from the Simpatico collection designed by 
Michelle Engel Bencsko.
3. Kanye x-large retro drum from FollyandGlee

 There were a couple of items that I kept seeing on the design blogs and Pinterest pages that I loved. They both combined a fabulous geometric pattern with those gorgeous desert inspired celementine/smokey grey/coral colours. And then came along a barkcloth find and it was love at first sight.

Why an earth have you called it Kanye? Well ....silly story but when I look at it I see diamonds. And when I think of diamonds I think of a rather amazing Kanye West concert and holding our hands up in the diamond shape swaying to his  splendidly over the top performance. Yes I know hard to believe I know but once upon a time I frequented such events and yes OK we probably were one of the oldest there but hey!

Room for a little Kanye in your home but a different size or shape - come say hello@follyandglee.co.uk.

Blossomless

A big virtual hug to everyone who's feeling the cold today. It is bitter even for those of us lucky to still have the power on. Here's hoping all will be restored by evening and you'll be cosy and snug.

Burleigh

Now that I'm working at an enforced slower pace I thought it would be great to take the time and let nature inspire which fabrics I use and when. I'm itching for the first sign of buds on the forsythia so I can make some shades with this beauty.

Forsythia

And oh won't the first cherry blossoms be welcome?

Spring Farm

 Mind you I'd settle for a primrose or two right now.

Wellingham

Sadly the view from my window is of trees as bare as a babies bottom!

Thank goodness for barkcloth - there's a design for every eventuality. 

Meet Burleigh.

Burleigh

Pompoms - They don't make em like they used to!

Today I've enjoyed a few treasured moments fondling something so soft, round and plumptious that it seems cruel not to share.

Yes its my twindling stock of original vintage cotton pom pom trim for lampshades - made sometime before 1957 by Wrights in the USA.

 Wanna cop a feel?

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What Cancer Cannot Do

So here is what I have learnt in the past six weeks about cancer and its limitations.

Cancer can't diminish love, it can't prevent friendships from deepening and new ones blossoming, it can't silence laughter, it can't suppress memories, it can't shatter hope, it can't conquer courage, it can't invade the soul, it can't steal an eternal life from the universe......and it sure as hell can't stop me playing with the barkcloth and making lampshades.

FollyandGlee

So I am back from the hospital this afternoon chemoed up to my eyeballs and delighted to announce the shop is back up and ready for business. My sincere apologies to customers old and new for slow responses and the absence of a phone service - I'm working on it promise.

I hope you like some of the new barkcloths. I'm on an imposed quarantine for a few days and hope to get a few more together.

My aim is to launch a lampshade fundraiser for Cancer Research but I want to do it properly and there are many talented folk I'd like to ask to help - this will take some energy and concentration both of which I'm a little low on at the moment.

FollyandGlee

For now any purchase from the shop will be my wig money. Yes having gone short for the  first time in 20 years last week in preparation it was still a shock this morning to discover rather less on my crown than when I went to bed. Not being so keen on sporting a "monk like do" it may be time to take the rest off......but its so cold!

FollyandGlee

I have wrestled a little with whether or not this blog was somewhere I wanted to share my f****** cancer journey but never fear it won't be the focus. In many ways the mental scars are more scary than the physical ones and I know that in doing and sharing more of what I  love I'll be protecting myself. The other deciding factor in going public is of course the hope that others who have to embark on this journey to the dark side get to see its not all darkness. My favourite t-shirt of all time reads "blessed are the cracked for they let in the light". And I am a little cracked at the mo.

Take care and go hug a loved one x

Transform Your Wardrobe at a Cascade Lampshade Making Workshop

I'm very excited to be running the first of several brand new lampshade making workshops for Cascade next weekend. 

You may well have read about Cascade as they were Mollie Makes "website to watch" in Issue 20 and declared the "new style saviours".

Cashmere Jumper Roses on a Velvet Skirt Lampshade

 Cascade is about sustainable style – helping you make more of what you already have in your wardrobe and offers stylish and practical ways to Restore, Revive and Remake clothes and accessories.They run creative craft workshops in and around Brighton and Sussex using vintage or preloved materials, offer wardrobe surgeries and hold regular pop-up shops selling beautiful, handmade, upcycled products. If you love beautiful things, and want to make more of what you already have, then you’ll love Cascade.

Cashmere Jumper Roses on a Velvet Skirt Lampshade

 What a great concept. Obviously FollyandGlee Lampshades are made with upcycled fabric as the vast majority of Barkcloth I hunt out had a former life as a curtain, bedspread or tablecloth. Inspired by Cascade's concept I'm really keen to explore the options for  making lampshades from clothing. 

Man's Party Shirt Lampshade

 

Nothing in the wardrobe has been safe. A cashmere jumper I had shrunk on too hot a wash was a wonderful mustard colour and made up as rolled roses made the perfect partner to an old velvet skirt repurposed into a shade. My man's former party shirt quickly became a panelled patchwork shade complete with butons covered with fabric from the cuffs.

Wool Skirt Lampshade

A wooly winter skirt had languished unworn for ages but yielded enough fabric for 4 tall shades embelished with a few pinking sheer roses.

Wrapping Paper Lampshade

 Why stop with clothing? I had a stack of off-cuts of Rie Elise Larsen wrapping paper left over from another project. Laminated to fire retardant lampshade PVC paper is perfectly safe and is great to work with.

So if you'd like to make more of what you've already got and can do with lighting up these winter evenings come and join us on a lampshade making workshop. The first Cascade workshop on Sunday 18 November will be to make the pannelled patchwork shades from repurposed fabrics and paper. The second on December 6th  will be to make a lampshade again from repurposed fabrics but trimmed with handmade flowers. Both are no-sew workshops and you need absolutely no previous experience or skills. 

You can get all the details and book one of the last remaining places with Cascade online or by emailing hello@cascadestyle.co.uk or phoning 07799 071919.

Selvedge Winter Fair November 10

I am absolutely chuffed beyond chuffedness to have been invited to exhibit at this years Selvedge Winter Fair on November 10th at Chelsea Town Hall.

Selvedge Winter Fair 2012

I am in complete awe of this magazine and the folk that are featured in it. Some of the most creative textile artists EVER. I thought that maybe I could write a blog post featuring some of my favourites but to be honest the more I look at who will be there the more I fall in love with.....and if I'm honest the more I panic that I'm not worthy!

So instead....go take a peep at the Selvedge website and blog there is much to make the heart quicken. And when you think you've finished pop over to the Fair's Pinterest gallery - you'll be there some time.

What will I be taking? Well I'm hoping to finish off lots a handsewn traditional lampshades in some of my finest wintery vintage barkcloths. This sort of thing... 

 For supporting me at FollyandGlee here's a little thank you - a voucher for 2 for 1 entry - just print and present on admission.