See Miss C in Selvedge

I have a new story in the May/June issue of Selvedge on the Portuguese designer Teresa Martins.

The magazine focuses on "botanicals" for early spring, and, on the contributor's page, I reminisce about my favourite flower, the wild lupin that grows on Prince Edward Island.

I've included my contributor's photo here, and you can see it's a textile-focused image.  The scarf is by Pero, from my friends at Selvedge; the smock, made from Liberty of London peacock print, is by Nadinoo; and the silver bracelets are gifts from dear Nepali friends.

Clutching at Liberty

Gentle readers may remember that I adore Liberty of London fabrics. I use it in quilts, bunting, accessories, and sometimes buy clothing in Liberty prints. 

I think I prefer making things out of Liberty to purchasing items fully assembled, but I have been eyeing two new J. Crew spring pieces: the clutch above and the shoes below.

The clutch print is on a myriad of J. Crew items, from trousers to a skirt to a shirt and a scarf, but I prefer the clutch for its shapelessness, if you will.  There's no darting, no seaming, no scrunching, just print. 

And this print can come across a tad too yellow in a garment, so the clutch is perfect.  It's kind of a Miss Rumphius-in-a-hothouse look.

(The bad news is that the clutch comes with a beyond hideous chain and matching fabric shoulder pad.  Tuck in the chain or remove it.)

I've known the print on these shoes for a good fifteen years, at least. 

I've used it in a quilt and still have some of my original stash tucked away.  I don't pull it out any more, because I prefer different colours now. (These colours remind me of the "old" days, when Liberty was less available in the United States and I'd have access only to pre-cut bundles.  How I looked forward to and treasured those bundles!)

But on a pump this print catches my eye again.  Anything too bright would be annoyingly playful; these pinks and blacks have a measure of sophistication.

Do gentle readers have any favourite Liberty prints, items, or garments?

Feeling Blue and White: Delft Dressing

Do you ever follow a colour pattern that you don't recognize till a few days later?

During my "call of the mall" expedition with my daughters, I ducked in to J Crew to take advantage of their educators; discount (hurrah!) and was immediately drawn to the fitted jacket to the right. 

Its blue and white filagree pattern reminds me of china that I love:

Delft, which uses the beautiful, inky blue:

or the lighter Burleighware:

or the stunning work of ceramicist Maria Kristofferson:

I'll feel like a real dish when I wear this jacket.

Then, yesterday, when I went to Purl Soho, in search of fabric for a particular project, I ended up changing routes entirely when I saw this new Nani Iro double gauze cotton in blue and white:

To the left, to the left . . .

I plan to make a quilt, bordered in a Liberty blue/white/lavender swirl and bound by a Kaffe Fassett shot dry-mauve. Perhaps a simple muslin for the back, or one of Liberty's new quilting weight fabrics that will be introduced next week.

The Liberty Print That Got Away

I rarely purchase anything on impulse, which is often very wise but sometimes leaves me with regrets. 

Last summer, for instance, when I was on a fellowship in New Haven, I was cooling my academic jets by wandering around the shops and found a small cosmetics bag in Jack Wills, made from a pretty Liberty print.

"Oh, I'll get it later, if I still want it," I said to myself, but left without, having indulged in French linens and a London clutch elsewhere that day.

Later that summer, I looked for the bag online and in the Nantucket Jack Wills, but it was sold out. Small sigh, but I'll survive.

When I discovered that Sailor Rose makes tunics and dresses from that (and other!) Liberty print(s), my pulse temporarily increased.  The tunic is lovely on the model above, but its combination of a button-up back and waistlessness brings my heart rate back down.

Still, I can gaze upon this photo and luxuriate in the fabric through the filter of the computer screen.  And maybe I should just get some of the tana lawn cotton and fashion it myself.  We'll see.

Daffy Garden Wear

This photo, by Tim Walker for Vogue April 2012, is a favourite because of its unabashed celebration of florals.  I love how the contrasting patterns bloom in a virtual garden.

I thought of this image when I came across these vintage Joan Vass bloomers made from Liberty of London fabric on eBay.

I wouldn't wear them, I don't think, but would display them somehow.  They are seriously daffy and would put a smile on my face every time I passed them.

However, I would wear the Valentino garden gowns below. 

Meryl Streep wore a Valentino skirt the other night to honour Shirley MacLaine. Definitely daffy, with the ecru blouse.  I think she should have gone all out floral, though.

Shakespeare in the Scarf

Fair is fall and fall is fair. 

Maybe the three "weird sisters" might have cackled that instead that if they had seen the pretty new fall scarves from Liberty of London.

I felt like putting on a scarf this morning, and any of these three (related, but definitely not "weird") scarves could have been enchanting. . .

Liberty of London and Lemon Drops

It has been raining here, most uncourteously, all week, and there is no sunshine on the horizon.

This morning, while driving my children to school on yet another dark, wet morning, I thought of a favourite children's book, called The Lemon Drop Jar. 

In this charming picture book, Great Aunt Emma offers her niece a lemon drop when the weather starts to turn.  The lemon drop brings some welcome sunshine into their winter visit.

Perhaps this lemony travel wallet from Liberty of London, with pretty floral lining might do the same on this blustery, wet day.

Feeling Sketchy

Why yes, these small sketchbooks from Liberty of London with Ianthe detail do make me feel like drawing. 

And collecting.

Frock and Roll

Liberty of London has just released its fall 2011 fabric collection, which is inspired by musicians.

Singer Florence Welch selected two prints from the Liberty archives to reissue, right (Dancing Ladies) and below (lace):

Guitarist Graham Coxon produced an original sketch (which became this print A Boy Dreams) to recall vintage rock posters:

Singer Emilia de Poret designed this print to evoke microphones, though I see disco balls too (!):

Here's a link to the entire range.

A Pearl in Soho

The other day I visited Purl Soho to buy some fabric for my summer create-a-palooza (just finished another quilt).

It was my first IRL visit, and I was very pleased.  The shop is long and narrow, but filled with light, and, most importantly, a very nicely edited collection of fabric. 

There was a riot of Liberty of London, from bundled bits through fat quarters and half yards to lots of gorgeous bolts.

There were some usual suspects, like Amy Butler, and an enticing new collection from Heather Ross. All the fabric was boutique-y, which often meant pricey, but often simply meant cult of personality.

And there were some discoveries for me, like the Japanese fabric above, which will be a new quilt.  I cannot bear to cut it, so I will make a lap/throw quilt (Kaffe Fassett sunbleached mango on the back, crazy L of L handmade binding).

If you like to knit, there's also a beautifully presented selection of yarn, and wonderfully helpful craftspeople to assist with any questions.

I also appreciated the stand-up display of embroidery floss, the project books that were easily accessible, and the cheerful color everywhere.  Indeed, I think that Purl Soho just may be my Tiffanys.  To borrow from Holly Golightly, there are no mean reds here.  Only warm florals and heathered crimsons.

The shop is also next door to Rudy's Guitars, so if you happen to be travelling with a musician who prefers frets over finishes, he/she won't have to sit and wait.  And wait.  And wait. 

iSad? Liberty London iPad Case Proves Elusive

While I was working on my iPad yesterday, Mr. C looked at me and said, "You need a stylist."

"Puh-leeze, dude," I shot back.  "I certainly do not."

Fortunately, I misheard him, as he had said "stylus" when he saw me typo-ing away on the tiny iPad keyboard.  An iPad stylus magically appeared at breakfast today, a gift from my dear children.

I had fully intended to buy myself an iPad accessory as well.  Gentle readers will know that I have long adored Liberty of London prints (just finished my crazy LoL quilt and will photograph it soon), and I was delighted to learn that Liberty is collaborating with Apple on some cases.

Some are available at Liberty proper, like this one:

It's pretty, but white and canvas will not wear well in my life.

Then I saw this Ianthe-print embossed-leather iPad case at the Apple UK store.  Perfection.

I particularly like Ianthe; it's the border for my newly completed quilt, and think that this case would be both beautiful and useful (thanks, William Morris).

But could I order it from the Apple UK store?  NO!  They do not ship to the United States! 

The kind Apple UK employee suggested I call the New York Apple store to see whether they could get it in via special order.  Could they?  NO!  Apple US does not tangle with imports.

Liberty, however, ships gladly, and while it carries the Ianthe sleeves for the iPhone, it does not offer Ianthe for the iPad. 

Portmanteau word for the day:  iSad (but only in great good fun.)
Still, there will be no Apple for this professor, unless I hop a plane to London and pluck it from the tree myself.

Liberty of London Kicks from Nike and Sperry

April showers brings . . . floral kicks, of course!

I've coveted a pair of Liberty-covered Nikes since their first collaboration, but never could seem to find a pair stateside.

These beautiful examples will all be available at Liberty soon.

But on this side of the pond, and in just about every major city in the States, these Sperry Top-Siders are prancing about in Nordstroms!  (Sperry has also covered a deck shoe in Liberty, but those are, to my mind, best to avoid.)

Would any gentle readers like their garden to grow in this manner?