I go to an auction every other Wednesday, I can be lucky there with furniture to re-upholster. Or vintage linen and curtains. This week was the best week ever… look what I won… I love her, I’m calling her Florence as I name my sewing machines you see. My day-to-day sewing machine is called Bob.

Isn’t she beautiful. One day she will sit in my shop, but for now she’ll sit in my workroom looking glorious. She works too!! I will love her forever.

Speaking of sewing machines Bob and I have been busy with LOTS of cushion orders this week. Everyone perking up their sofa’s for Spring me thinks. It certainly feels like Spring is on the way now that we have had a little sunshine.

I plan to soak up some vitamin D this weekend.

What do you have planned?

I have an idea of embroidering a lampshade. Sounds different huh? If I do manage to claw the time to do this I’ll take some photos for you and show you next week. I also have a spa day booked with friends on Sunday… we are all very excited about that. I love pampering, I have a thing about scents… I am currently in love with the fragrance of Bergamot. I have a facial and massage booked and after this busy week I feel I deserve it. : )

I hope you all have a lovely, creative sun filled weekend.

See you Monday!

- Lucy xx

Liberty…

Dena Designs…

We hope you like!

- Lucy xx

- Lucy xx

Our club meets every Monday in Brentwood, for more details please give me a call on 07739718672.

I’ll take some more next week too.

- Lucy xx

I am so envious of the crochet apron. I think I’m going to have to brush up my crochet skills as I’m more of a knitter.

LOVE it!

I’m signing off for the day, I have neck ache from using the laptop so much today.

Have a good evening everyone.

- Lucy x

Well in the March edition there is an article on Tracey Emin’s ‘Blankets’ (which we would call quilts) called ‘Pieces of me’.

Tracey is so inspiring, and as someone who also falls in love with a lot of her fabrics and clothes I can totally understand where her design ideas are coming from. Each quilt is made from the heart and made using fabrics that hold a lot of special memories for her. She tells us how she ‘grew up within a tradition that everything could be useful and nothing should be wasted’ – how necessary in today’s society with the economic climate.

The article is her story how she used to raid her closet for items of clothing she didn’t wear anymore but was holding onto for sentimental reasons to cut up and use as material for her meaningful ‘blankets’.

I am going to quote directly from the article the paragraph where Tracey describes what it was like to sell her first quilt.

‘When it sold, on the third day of the art fair, I curled up in bed with it tucked around me and cried at the idea of it going away. A lot of love had gone into it, and on the final days of getting it completed in time for the White Cube show, different friends had helped me complete the patches and sew them on.’

Sometimes when I part with some of my fabrics, its quite a heart wrench. I haven’t yet been brave enough to part with any that hold memories for me. I have only parted with pieces that I have fell in love with design-wise, not the pieces holding memories of my life in every thread.

The article is a fantastic read and I recommend you all go and buy March 2010 Vogue!!

I’ll also be going to “Quilts 1700-2010″ at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London in March. I cannot WAIT for this, which was another reason I was so pleased when I turned the page into this article.

All of Tracey’s work show very ‘large’ messages. I’ll leave you with a couple…

(Images: V&A)

For more info on Tracey, visit her site here.

- Lucy x

I’m also going to be ordering some YARN!! A new addition to the Lucy Loves Fabric empire. I’m in love with the Kaffe Fassett yarns… yummy. I thought it would be a good addition as the Knitting Club is going so well, I’ll also be able to take the yarns along to the fairs… and once we have premises I’ll be able to load the stash right up : ))))

Speaking of premises…. I’ve been on the hunt this week and have some viewings next week too. So I’m on the case I promise.

Also next week I have been booked in by a delightful lady to advise on fabric for curtains in her front room, and how to introduce fabric in other ways into her living room. This is a first for me and I’m really looking forward to it.

Another exciting date in the diary next week is LONDON FASHION WEEKEND!!!!!!!!!!! SO excited about this, I cannot wait to get engrossed in the catwalk and breathe in all the inspiration. I’ll be sure to take pics to show you all : )) Sommerset House is a fantastic venue. I’m going with a wonderful friend of mine too… which is always exciting hey girls!

So I just thought I would share this all with you. What plans do you guys have?

- Lucy x

I don’t know about you but I tend to have a lot of silk scarves. I love to collect vintage scarves as I scout around for other fabrics, I also like to pic up brand new ones in colours I adore. They are a nice perk to an outfit and an easy way to lift a dress you have had for a while and just brighten up your wardrobe in general. Well now they can brighten your interiors too.

If you are looking around for a project to do and want to keep the budget down. Why not upcycle one of your scarves into a cushion cover? Create an eclectic, non matching look on your sofa, bed or just place an individual one on your fav comfy chair. A silk scarf is nice for a bit of luxury and extra gloss. Below are a couple for sale at Lucy Loves Fabric made from vintage silk scarves.

You’ll be so pleased when you see your scarf move from your wardrobe to your interior space. It’s refreshing and a great, cheap project.

Enjoy!

- Lucy x

Holly did an article on Haus Maus, 25 things about herself also inspired by a blog she reads. So I thought I would get on and do this too, when you work online sometimes it can feel so impersonal… lets try and change that for today. If anyone would like to let me know something about themselves I would be really interested to hear. : )

Here we go…

1 – My maiden name is Powell, getting married is the best thing – but loosing that identity is weird and a little hard.

2 – I have a cat, a goldfish and a tortoise.

3 – I live a happy little life in a little detached house and now work from home.

4 – I find the hardest thing working from home and running your own business is getting a lot of people to actually believe your working and not playing housewife at home all day. It takes time and effort to prove you are more than that.

5 – I am 26 years old.

6 – I have blond hair and am 5′8”.

7 – If I could LOOK like anyone who is famous… style wise I would say Kate Moss.

8 – My favourite book is A million little pieces by James Frey.

9 – My most inspiring interior book is Flea Market Style.

10 – A habit I couldn’t give up is drinking tea.

11 – My favorite magazines are.. Vogue, Living Etc and Elle Decoration. I also like to read The Sunday Times.

12 – At the weekend I love wake up late with my Husband, eat a leisurely breakfast with sun pouring in the windows, go clothes or interior shopping and see friends for food and drink in the evening.

13 – My cat makes my day when working from home.

14 – I drive a cream convertible Beetle.

15 – What is making me happy at the moment is thinking about one of my closest friends who had her first baby on Friday. Welcome to the world little Laurence. I’m already knitting for the little chap.

16 – If possible I only ever want to live in a house with high ceilings. I love high ceilings.

17 – I LOVE my job.

18 – I am an only child, my husband is too – it troubles me greatly to think I’ll never be a proper Auntie, or my husband a proper Uncle. If we have children they won’t have any Cousins, Aunts or Uncles. That saddens me.

19 – I prefer Summer and Spring to Autumn and Winter. I know, I know there are lovely things about Autumn and Winter but I just prefer Summer and Spring. I am so ready for them now.

20 – I have called my sewing machine ‘Bob’ and I love Bob.

21 – Knitting or Crochet…..!??!!??!….. KNITTING!

22 – My parents names are Pam and Mick. No they aren’t anything like Pam and Mick in Gavin and Stacey. Phew.

23 – I am on the panel of speakers for the Women’s Institute.

24 – Another of my many skills is that I am a qualified Reflexologist. Bit different hey!

25 – My last ‘thing’ is totally dedicated to my loving and supportive husband. His name is James and without his belief in me I wouldn’t have started Lucy Loves Fabric. He is the best husband in the world.

Well that was tiring!!! I’d love to hear something about you guys out there!!!

- Lucy

Revolutionary.