Vintage fabric novice

I discovered the pure joy of vintage fabrics rather late in life. Well hopefully not that late just the about to turn 40 stage when a radical career move was already on the cards. Consequently I do not have any formal education in textiles or textile design. I am in awe of those who have. Through pure love and determination I'm getting to know more about vintage barkcloths - how to recognise the era's, the key designers, where it was manufactured. As for other vintage fabrics I am clueless. Seriously.

Take the four pannels above. They are four different colourways of the same very loose open weave fabric which almost feels like its embroidery. I've been using small pieces of them for the vintage fabric and lace lampshades for a long time now but these are my very last remnants.

I haven't a clue where to start looking for replacements. I think they are from the 1930s but I can't be sure. What would you even call this type of fabric?

Any textile gurus out there that can help?

Inspiration from the Baroness

I have a new lamp shade in our living room.

Do you like it?





Folly and Glee Our Home

I found a pair of curtains at a village jumble sale some time ago. They weren't barkcloth but a heavy linen and so I had no business looking at them. But the selvedge was in French and the colours...oh. I was in love.

They have sat in the non barkcloth pile of my cupboard for some time until one day I read an article about Lisa Bengsston.

Oh my. What a clever cloggs that lady is. I love all of her fabric designs but Baronessa is just great.

I like it in blue....

1. Lisa Bengtsson  2. as before 3. Living Etc December 2010 4. as before

I LOVE it in pink....

Lisa Bengtsson

But in chartreuse and chocolate.........I could eat it. All day.

 Well..maybe not eat it but you know what I mean..cover everything in it..cushions, chairs, the sofa.



Lisa Bengtsson



And actually that's not really so hard to do...recover the sofa I mean. Thanks to those brilliant folk at Bemz you can buy new slip covers in Lisa's Baronessa Design for several IKEA sofa's. Bemz have a nice blog and there are reports of covered beds and bed skirts next so don't be suprised to find me drooling badly in a future post.

 But for now I am happy to just enjoy my new lampshade. They are similar right?



1. Folly and Glee Our Home 2. Lisa Bengsston fabric  Baronessa

PS: If you love this original vintage Baronessa looky likey too there's enough for one more large retro drum lampshade in the shop now.



Patchwork Lamp shades?

Here's a little insight into my head before closing my eyes last night.

x3 different lamp shades patchworked from vintage barkcloth.

But which is which?

Colour trending and old wives tales

Remember the one about "blue and green should never be seen without yellow in between."

Well we are big fans of that particular colour trio so it is with a small whoop that I read in this months interiors style bible -Elle Decor- that they are the colours that "most keenly represent the mood of the moment". OH my goodness says I. And why is that? Well apparently "blue exudes calm and peace, yellow liveliness and energy and green optimism and excitement that growth is possible".

Crikey I hadn't reckoned on the science behind it. I've just been admiring the bluetits in the garden (and sadly the kitchen floor thanks to horrid killer cat -Ja Ja Binx).

Photo courtesy Ron's Wildlife Photogrpahy Blog

T'was enough to make me dive into the barkcloth stash and pull out a fine blue/green combo fabric scrap big enough for a handful of barkcloth button brooches.

Remember the old nursery rhyme?

"What are little boys made of?

Frogs and snails

And puppy-dogs' tails,

That's what little boys are made of.

What are little girls made of?

Sugar and spice

And everything nice,

That's what little girls are made of."

Well it doesn't get much "nicer" than this puppy dogs tail and my boy's mighty fine too!

And yes observant readers will spot that is a highback Ercol chair and the exciting bit is my mate plans to paint it ( colour tbc) and recover in some Folly&Glee barkcloth.

Design your own lampshade

I've been really lucky to receive several custom orders for lamp shades recently. The patchwork shades are perhaps the most fun because its always exciting to see which fabrics folk choose and discover how they will work together.

Take this one. The brief was for a lamp shade with a foliage/winter theme in reds, blues and greys. I hunted around the fabric shelves and these are the barkcloths selected.....

.....and here are those fabrics patchworked into a lampshade.

Its the same process for making a vintage lace shade but with more snuffling around in my lace and doily drawer plus some precious time with Little A the trusty button maker. Some of these fabrics are really old ie 1930s and they are torn and tired in places. Using them in patchwork shades is brilliant because you get to rescue all the good, still vibrant bits.

I'm not sure how many more custom shades I can fit it before Christmas  but if you have a sad floor/table lamp that is looking for a new partner or if the sprouts on your holiday table might look more inviting under a new ceiling pendant....get in touch. Below are the sizes I typically make for folk.

Just let me know what size you'd like and whether you'll be providing your own fabric or want me to source that for you. You are most welcome to peruse my Flick gallery of vintage barkcloths but be warned it's not always up to date....I may have new stock or be running low.

donnaflower.com

Lots of you ask me where do I find my vintage fabrics? Well its certainly getting harder but jumble sales are probably still my favourite hunting ground. For a more comfortable experience perhaps the best source of  vintage fabrics in the UK is DonnaFlower. Donna REALLY knows her stuff and has an ever changing stock from pretty much every era. Follow Donna's blog for regular updates on what's just arrived and events, open days etc.

My most favourite vintage barkcloth ever was bought from Donna yonks ago. I must take a close up when the sun is next shining but if you really want to know it's the yellow roses fabric hiding my veg and under sink unmentionables in the kichen.

For the Love of Daisies

 Our lawn has been invaded by the sweetest of invaders....hundreds of daisies. Whilst I would be happy to let them be I am told by those that know better about such things that the grass must be mown. This will probably take place at the weekend when our pack leader is home from work. If the wind is in the right direction, it's a full moon and pigs are flying it is also possible boys large or larger may  cut it even sooner. Either way it seems I must soon say farewell to their cheery little faces....

or do I? 

 Found at the Scout Jumble sale on Saturday (at 8 o'clock in the morning sporting hangover from hell) I spied an old 1960s book on wild flowers. It's great and guess what's at no.50. Yep - Bellis something - the daisy. 

 

Well from then on it seems that everything is coming up daisies. 

I took a tour around the house today whilst waiting upon absent plumber and spied more daisies. There were 3 sets upon my favourite fibreglass trays.

And on the stooly bin thing I think I spy a daisy.  There's my precious patch of vintage vinyl wallpaper all covered in the palest and softest of daisies. And from the corner of my eye whilst deep in conversation with caller I spy another daisy invader on one of the kitchen pinboards.



Well now I became rather alarmed. Have I been a daisy fanatic all these years and never known it? Have I been lurking jumble sales and charity shops with what I though were eagle eyes but which were only actually eyes capable of focusing on things with daisies on? Surely not.

A brief inspection of what passes as my wardrobe revealed no daisies. Phew. I'm 4* for goodness sake - I cannot wear daisies. Cushions, throws and bedding all a bit granny chic floral but no daisies.
But then it hit me how many other flowers I was seeing in the patterns and design. Flowers are truly inspirational and in honour of that I am launching a monthy "floral favourites" round up of all that is best on the interweb/etsy/flickr etc.

Every now and again (roughly monthly) I'll pick a flower and we'll see what we can find. I'd really welcome your suggestions. If there is enough interest I'll set up a flickr group or something where you can submit your entries for that particular flower.

So the first flower to inspire is...the daisy.

And to kick us off I've made my selection of favourite daisy inspired goodness.

My Darling Daisy Design award from Etsy goes to......

1. Letterpress recipe cards from 622 Press 2.  Sheer vintage daisy drapes from beedteed 3. Edible sugar daisy from Andiespecialitysweets 4. Daisy 3 piece part set from PartyPoms

5. Paper art framed daisies from RedEyeVintage 6. Vintage bed sheet from Pumpkintruck

7. vintage handpainted tray from thepetitemarket 8. Summer Breeze ring from LizHutnick

.....and from Flickr the Darling Daisies award winners are...

1. Daisy, Daisy from a A Thrifty Mrs 1    2. the most fantabulous granny chic daisy barkcloth thrifted by Dottie Angel 3. cute collage by Picnic by Ellie

Wait a minute, yes - there are even daisies in the Follyandglee shop too. Now what a suprise.

What have you seen inspired by daisies you really Love?

Button Therapy

I'm pleased to introduce you to Little A. He's a vintage button press rescued from a dusty workshop in India many years ago. I've had him now for nearly 4 years and he's a pleasure to use. Yes he's a little noisy cos you have to really slam the leaver down to cut through layers of fabric. And yes that really upsets the furry one. But....I guarantee if you are feeling a little blue or mayble just a bit befuddled half an hour with Little A will cheer you up. Bonus is you get a big stash of perfect fabric covered buttons and an excuse to get the 70s wallpaper out to make the backing cards.

 Nice.  

Anyone else got an old favourite machine or tool in the craft room/workshop that never fails to lift the spirits?