in love with Liberty...

(Pillow cases to love: soon to be sold via yours truly.)

"I was determined not to follow existing fashions, but create new ones."

– Arthur Liberty

When I was a wee gurl, I used to hear my mum and Gran talking about something called “lawn cotton”. At the time, I had no idea what it was. All I knew, from the way they spoke about it, was that it was something to be revered. 

Come to think of it, my Gran and my mum used very specific language to describe textiles – I guess more so than other people I knew. Damask, organza, georgette, taffeta, silk (obviously). It might have been because my Gran made wedding dresses that these words made their way into her daily lexicon – but either way, I was gifted with a vocabulary that went way beyond what I had ever had the chance to personally experience.

It’s only in fairly recent years that I’ve come to understand the incredible nature of tana lawn cotton and, specifically, Liberty Lawn Cotton printed fabric. The story behind Liberty’s exquisite printed cotton is both romantic and rather brave. 

(Ciara: in all her pink, blue, green and purple splendour.)

That Vision

As the story goes, Aurthur Liberty was utterly enchanted by Japanese culture when he first visited the Japanese section of the International exhibition held in London in 1862. Inspired and enthralled, he persuaded the head-honchos of the company he worked at to invest in the entire collection of fabrics and home furnishings with that Japanese aesthetic. Novel and fresh, the floral and ditsy motifs swiftluy gained populatiry- their surge in demand prompting Liberty to launch his own company. Many of the original designs and motifs are revisited and reimagined through contemporary Liberty fabric designs. And with an archive of designs that exceeds 40 000, we can be sure that Liberty will be able to keep their iconic, beautiful fabrics flowing.

That Cotton

Tana Lawn can be found at Lake Tana in Ethiopia. Back in the 1920’s, Liberty buyer William Hayes Dorell came upon cotton fibres in the Lake Tana region that he could compare to no other. Fine and silk-like, Tana lawn cotton’s ultra-fine, long stable fibres made it unique – its beauty being both tactile and visual.

Tana Lawn is woven from 70 and 100 ply yarns. Ply refers to how many yarns are twisted together to make a single thread so you can imagine how fine the Tana Lake cotton threads are.

(Liberty Lawn Design: Garden Secrets)

The Process

Once woven, Tana lawn undergoes a series of preparations. One such preparation is Mercerisation, which makes cotton take dye better and also increases its lustre and sheen. Mercerisation causes the fibres to swell which increases the surface area of the fibre. The mercerisation process also pre-shrinks the fabric, makes the cotton fibres stronger and more stable, and enhances the handle (the way the fabric feels to the touch – smooth, soft, stiff etc.)

(These flowers look like foxgloves or hyacinths, poppies and Hydrangeas in exciting colours.)

Those colours, Those Designs

From their iconic florals and paisleys to their graphic geometrics, conversational designs, and their art nouveau designs, Liberty Fabrics are synonymous with an extensive palette and fine, exquisite details. 

Printed in Como in Italy, the print process includes both traditional screen-printing techniques, rotary printing, as well as modern digital printing. Regardless of the print process, the designs are approached with deliberate care and passion. One of the things that makes Liberty prints so exceptional is the amount of colours they use in each design. This brings a richness and depth to the design and makes them easy-to-use and exciting to own.

From design inception to the final printed product, each step of the fabric’s journey bears Liberty’s stamp of pride, joyous colour and dedication.

(Pillow cases you will love to love and love to hand down to those you love.)

The design below is called "The Strawberry Thief" and if you look closely, you'll see why. It's aesthetic is reminiscent of Liberty's art-nouveau inspired designs.

 I managed to find a very limited stock of the designs below which I like to call Tropical Jungle colour Morning (left) and Tropical Jungle colour Noon (right). Do you know what the real names of these designs are?

For a more masculine take in terms of palette, the two designs below would be incredible if used for men's dress shirts. BK is the most tactile person I know and would love the handle of these as apparel. No idea on the name of the pineapple design but I know the Navy/Red Cherry blossom is called Mitsi.

I'd love to know the real names of these designs but in the meantime I've called them Psychodelic Strawberry (left) and Nouveau Lily. The colours are so very beautiful!

 Last but not least, the design below - called Margaret Annie - fills me with utter joy every time I handle it. While the design has a traditional feel, the colours are bright and quite acidic, which gives them a contemporary feel.

I hope this has been a feast for your eyes and a feast for your souls. You can love Liberty Lawn fabrics as much as I do – just remember that I loved them first ;)

Till next time nerds,
May the force be with you during lockdown <3

P.S.

If you love the process of creation, take a look at this Liberty Video...

https://youtu.be/R0i_U7YhCBs

Sources:

https://www.libertylondon.com/uk/features/design-and-living/a-legacy-reinvented.html

https://www.forbes.com/sites/loreleimarfil/2019/05/30/how-libertys-fabrics-business-evolved-over-the-years/#2528b5d2dab5

https://tissura.com/articles/liberty-fabrics

https://www.libertylondon.com/uk/behind-the-scenes-liberty-print-archive.html

globe trotter... and other friends of fabric

A few weeks ago I was on the hunt for something to store my (rather BIG) fabric stock in. I couldn't bear the thought of having to buy monster plastic containers because they're not very sustainable (and ummm, quite ugly.)  

After trawling FaceBook marketplace, I found this beauty at Ruby's Cottage in Cape Town. It is a vintage Globe Trotter suitcase. Eeeek!

I love that you can see it's had two owners (at least - if not more) and I love that the leather handle is beautifully aged and worn but still works. The metal latches still work perfectly too!

Globe Trotter is all about the romance of a bygone era. Where time and travel was slower and more effort was put into creating items of beauty.

If you're wondering where you might have seen Globe Trotter suitcases (other than similar ones we used to take to school back in the 70's), my bet is that you've seen this gorgeous luggage on ... 

Ta Daaaaa ... James Bond movies.

To celebrate the most recently made James Bond movie, Globe Trotter has launched a No Time To Die vulcanised* fibreboard luggage collection (*more about this later). It echo's the timeless vintage style of their Deluxe Caviar range and it is conceived in the tone of all things Bond: smooth, elegant and handsome.

Globe Trotter suitcases are made out of a material that dates back to 1903. Vulcanised fibreboard, layered with paper, cotton fibre and wood pulp bonded in a zinc chloride wash, is pressed to create an innovative, one-of-a-kind material that's both extremely light and extremely strong.

And, just when you thought that the James Bond range was the most beautiful luggage ever and ever on the whole planet, I must introduce you to their Chelsea Garden Range. Comprised of Day Garden and Night Garden ranges, the suitcases are lined with THE MOST EXQUISITE patterned textiles.

The exterior colour combination of the Night Garden range below is so gorgeous and so sophisticated. 

Originally founded in 1898 in Dresden, Germany, production moved to the UK in the early 1930's. Since then, it has been associated with a British-made skill and ever-elegant aesthetic.

Globe Trotter have also collaborated with Paul Smith to create a luggage range that's aligned with the Paul Smith look-and-feel. Iconic Paul Smith stripes are used in the interior, and the corner protectors are not only functional but are all different colours - giving it a quirky but always stylish trim.

(Top  right is from the St Moritz range, Top left and bottom Paul Smith)

As if that isn't enough, Globe Trotter's St Moritz range 

makes use of a classic navy, red, cream and black palette to create a classy, chic range.

The St Moritz small case (handbag size) is devastatingly cute and I love the clean, simple lines of the interior of the St Moritz range.

                       

If you were wondering where I put the Day Garden range, I was saving it for last because I'm nuts for the vintage cream and chocolate colour combination. Can you actually handle how gorgeous this is?

Umm, yesssss! Look at the lining of this Day Garden mini-case. I can't cope.

                

Thank heavens for thrifted goods. My most treasured Liberty Lawn fabric now has a beautiful storage home and I get to look on my Globe Trotter suitcase with joy as I imagine all the adventures it must have had.

Does anyone else own a Globe Trotter suitcase?  Post a pic of it on Instagram and tag The Fabric Nerd and we'll see if Globe Trotter can date it for us!

If you want to read the full background visit the Globe Trotter website (and swoon over the luggage you see :)

Till next time nerds

xx

(Copyright of all Globe Trotter images lies with Globe Trotter, Copyright of other images lies with Li Protheroe)

simple origin...

I’m very excited about today’s post. I’ve been searching for a quiet moment to give deserving attention to an emerging local brand that’s close to my heart. I’m counting every one of my blessings during this surreal Covid19 phase – one blessing being that with less running around I have more time to write! Hurrah!

Simple Origin is a botanical dye house that specialises in natural hand dying. Using plant waste sourced from local farms, restaurants and supermarkets around South Africa, they create beautiful, sustainable fabric designs, imprinted with organic shapes and dyed natural colours. The fabrics have both a robust and ethereal quality to them and they echo the purity and simplicity of nature.

The fabrics they use are 100% plant based and no harmful chemicals are used throughout the dying and converting process. Simple Origin’s dying process is the most fabulous example of the circular economy; nothing goes to waste. All the used dye water is poured over their vegetable garden and the organic waste is converted to compost.  Waterwise: check. Earth and animal friendly: check. Sustainable: check.

Their dying process is slow, intentional and artisanal. Because of this conscious approach, the brand and their products are imbued with mindfulness.

Simple Origin works with sustainably-minded interior decorators, fashion designers and wedding decor businesses. Aaaand, the launch of their online shop is imminent. In addition to selling homeware like scatter cushions, table cloths, dish towels, napkins, they will also be selling natural, earth-friendly soaps and washing powders. 

Roxanne Hamlett is the heart, soul and hard-working hands behind Simple Origin. Like her brand, she’s local and she’s lekker. Originally hailing from Cape Town, Roxanne and her gorgeous fabric relocated to Riebeek Kasteel a few years ago and quickly settled into a slower, simpler way of life “out in the country.” 

Rox is the incredible mom to two gorgeous girls and is also a talented writer. If you’re looking for some inspirational and heartwarming reading, take a look at her blog Teaching Tara. It is both touching and inspiring.

Last but not least, Simple Origin will be launching an utterly fantastic baby and kids range - Kibaba - later in the year. God willing, and with cheeky viruses out the way, Kibaba will be the kid’s brand to watch in the very near future. Watch this space, because as soon as it’s out, I’ll be talking about it.

 Till next time nerds, stay healthy, stay strong :)

x 

(Copyright of all images belongs to Simple Origin)

shiny, happy, people

Sooo, last Friday this time I still had my head in the clouds as I’d spent the morning doing something exciting and fun that I’ve never done before. I did one of Janine Binneman’s ring carving workshops and it was epic!

Top: The table laid out with all kinds of exciting tools. The blue thingies are the wax that you carve.
Bottom: Hard at work with the hard stuff - look how involved we are!

You might be wondering what a fabric nerd is doing amongst hard materials and metals but, if you know anything about me at all, you’ll know how obsessed I am with the process of how anything is made. I know its #nerdydotcom but I find it pretty amazing to see how materials are transformed from something unusable (and often unbeautiful) into something incredible. (Yes, I DO spend unreasonable amounts of time watching “How It’s Made” videos on YouTube and Instagram. There, I said it.)

OK, so this is how it all went down. We arrived at 10am (a decently late start for a sleepy head like me) and were greeted by the mermaid herself. Fresh pastries, coffee, OJ and bubbly were waiting for us – which was lucky because we all know that on Fridays you can have cake for breakfast.

The work table was laid out with all kinds of intriguing implements, cutting boards and cobalt blue wax that was either shaped into 2inch squares or into pre-cast ring shapes (kind of fat and squared off). The first while was spent mucking around with the tools and seeing what kinds of marks could be made on the wax. Which tools cut, which scraped, which carved. It was all very exciting and the wax is very forgiving. There were things to melt wax, things to file wax down, and yes, there were extra pieces of wax if you wanted to start over.

Right: I'm not too cool for tools. Different shaped files for shaping the wax
Top Right: Wax, bubbles, coffee and tools. What more could one want?
Bottom right: I think I was the messiest. See how you have to file down and shape the wax?

I had this preconceived idea that I was going to make something florally but I soon found out that the world of jewellery making is HARD AF! If you ever see delicate hand-crafted jewellery, know that it took a decent amount of blood, sweat and tears to create the end result (probably a fair amount of cussing too.) Before I went to the workshop I had this firm idea in my mind of how I wanted my “piece” to turn out. But honestly, the feeling of carving and creating was so enjoyable that I didn’t really mind what the result was. The workshop is 3 hours and it went in a FLASH because everyone was so preoccupied with what they were doing.

The Mermaid showing, telling, and helping.

Speaking of “everyone”, the workshop had 7 people, which is a good amount for chatting and getting to know everyone (not too peoply). Normally I have performance anxiety if I have to make something (actually do anything!) in front of people, but everyone was just sitting there, working away and not comparing what they were doing to anyone else’s creations. 

How's that leafy view?! Green therapy. A workshop amongst the leaves!

Janine explained the really cool process of how the finished wax rings get translated into metal and just because I’m a nerd and I found it super interesting, I’m going to tell you….

First, Janine attaches all the rings to little stalks of wax and then joins the stalks to make a “ring tree”. Then, she casts a mold (out of a kind of plaster, I believe) which then bears the indentation of the ring tree. Melted silver is then poured into the mold. And then, this is the super-cool part… The metal runs along the stalks of the ring tree – which become like veins carrying silver blood – and the metal runs into the ring-shaped indentations in the mold.  And voila! The ring is cast!

(I don’t know who invents these cool ways of doing things but they are coming to my party.) 

I know what you’re thinking… But I’m not creative. Hear me now ‘coz I’m gonna get all creatively-annoraky and philosophical and say that EVERYONE is creative – we just don’t give ourselves the opportunity and time to cut loose and see what we can do! #truestory.  And to be quite honest, making something (for me, at least) is more about the time spent using your right brain and doing something therapeutic than feeling satisfied with the end result. Know what I mean?

How are these glorious colours? Other than the top pic, these are my favourite colours and designs.

Having said that…. I’m so excited to see how my pieces turned out!!! I ended up making two (one with a heart that Janine is putting 3 little stones in – one stone for each of my dogs, obvs.) Watch this space (and my Instagram!) because I’ll definitely share the pics!

This is how my piece turned out....LOL! Just kidding!!! How I wish! This is one of Janine's recent pieces that is utterly heavenly.

Honestly, if you’re looking to learn a new skill or just looking for a fun, marvellous way to spend 3 hours, do the workshop! Follow Janine Binneman on Instagram (drooling is allowed and inevitable) and be sure to watch her stories. She's obvs on Facebook or you can shoot them an email to find out when the next ring carving workshop is. Pinky promise that you will love it. 

And whether you plan on making something or not, do check out her work because it’s delicious and diverse (Ummmm… and Christmas is coming up…just saying.) 

Till next time nerds! 

x

 P.S. All pics copyright @janinebinnemanjewellery

scandi style ribbon

Hello nerds! I couldn't be more excited about these Scandinavian inspired ribbons.

After all...what's not to love. The classic grey and red palette is stunning and timeless and if you were thinking of gorgeous ways to style your Christmas this year (believe me when I say we'll be in November before you know it) - here's your inspiration.

Anyone who knows me will know that I'm OBSESSED with wrapping presents but literally HATE the waste that goes with it. Ta-daaaa... Brown paper (recyclable) and (even better), cloth gift bags that can be reused for gifts or as travel bags finished with beautiful ribbon is the way to go. Find a local NPO (in Cape Town you could approach The Sewing Cafe) and get them to whip up some burlap or linen gift bags that can be used and reused.)  Your Scandi ribbon can be reused for gifts or can be upcycled into napkin rings, tree decorations etc.

(Images left to right clockwise: Pinterest, AmazonUK, pippii.co.uk)

If this freezing Cape Town weather has you looking for what the Swede's call "mysig" and the danes call "hygge", feast your eyes below and get in the mood. Tie up some plain linen napkins with Scandi ribbons and voila! You have mysig down.

(Images left to right via: vibekedesignblogspot.se and Pinterest)

I'm totally crushing on this look. 

( Original image via Pinterest)

Need more reminders of how very beautiful the grey and red scheme is? ...

(Images left to right clockwise: decozilla.com and walmart.)

And there you have it! Till next time, keep hygge and mysig all you fellow nerds.

xx

(Original images via: madrastrecha.sk and Pinterest)

milan... a velvet to die for

(Image via Pinterest)

A couple of weeks ago (I know right, where has the time gone!) I went to a fabulous launch at St Leger. They launched lots of wonderful fabrics but the one that blew my socks off was their new velvet called Milan. I know what you're thinking ... there are so many velvets out there, is there space for more? 

Yes! This velvet has a glorious well-worn look and is made from Viscose and Cotton (with a tiny bit of poly) which makes it SUPER soft to the touch. Also, you know how velvet can give you that nails-on-a-chalkboard feeling if you rub it the wrong way? Milan doesn't have this (which is great for touchy-feely tactile people who like things to feel smooth and soft :)

They've launched a small but smart palette of colours that cover the bases in terms of style, era and mood. 

Natural tones include Snow, Dove, Silver and Grey and Chocolate. 

(Image via pdxhousepretty on Instagram)

They also have soft blue which is timeless and restful.

(Image via Loaf on Pinterest)

They've included artillery green - instead of typical hunters green or emerald green - which is a refreshing changeup.

(Image via sofa.com)

Last but not least, they've included a rather daring retro orange and mustard. Very jewel-ish and very delicious.

(Image via thenordroom on Instagram)

Visit St Leger to find out where you can purchase these gorgeous beauties.

Till next time nerds

x

Happy Twenty Shine-teen!

Can you actually believe it's 2019?  I'm not sure about you, but every year a time-gremlin gobbles up the months between July and December and I'm left feeling a little robbed of time.

I tracked this gorgeous ribbon down and while I think it's a wonderful option to fancy-up Christmas gifts,  the colours are great for ALL YEAR AROUND gifts. A simple bit of bling against brown, white or charcoal paper is a beautiful solution that can be reused (the ribbon) and recycled (the brown paper). Voila!

(Inspiring images above via Pintrest)

These lurex ribbons come in classic shades: romantic rose gold, and timeless silver and everlasting gold.

In the pink!

In addition to the shimmer of lurex, I'm crushing on ALL shades of pink (I know I"m supposed to be crazy for Living Coral - colour of the year - but frankly I lived through the peach and coral of the 80's and I'm not going there again :) 

Take a look at these beauties...

Timeless, girly, and a little bit vintage, I love this pastel story. Petersham ribbons are a brilliant solution if you're making tie-top curtains. Think plain white linen curtains with candy strip tie tops and diagonal stripe trim at the bottom. So fresh and lovely. 

I know I know, this may be leaning into dusty lilac but I still think it's pink enough to be showcased. There's a sophistication to this colourway and I think these would be so stunning to wrap around a bunch of roses to create an extra special gift.

The last two images I call the "Summer Stories". Crisp and beach-stripey, I would love to use these ribbons as trims on a plain white canvass or hemp tote bag. 

Aqua oh Aqua! You are a breath of fresh air! 

Till next week nerdos.

xx :)