Indulge me. I know that this is at least the third time I've addressed the topic of toile (and insects for that matter) but I promise this will be different.
In this morning's Financial Times there is a wonderful how to spend it Special Interiors Section that had a sidebar on the Glasgow design firm Timorous Beasties. Founded in 1990 by Alistair McCauley and Paul Simmons who studied textile design at Glasgow School of Art, Timorous Beasties was once described as, "William Morris on acid." The name TB comes from the Robert Burns poem, "To a Mouse" (pronounced 'moose") and edgy in their creations. From their website:
The Glasgow Toile above and the London Toile below.
Which brings me to their insects. Insects have long been used in traditional design. Here are two from the TB line of fabrics: the Napoleon Bee and The Moth.
Check out Nice Legs, below. Wouldn't you love to have a duvet covered in this pattern? Maybe not a table cloth.
And finally Stripey Legs.
The image at top is Leaf.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Timorous Beasties
Monday, January 10, 2011
"The King's Speech" -- via The New Victorian Ruralist
One blog I check at least once a week is The New Victorian Ruralist written by James Snowden of Lexington, KY.
He recently wrote about a post about the movie "The King's Speech" and it expresses my feelings exactly. Do check it out and tell him what you think. I will see it again just to savor the colors and textures.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
NOLA on my mind -- Zeitoun, Hazelnut and Robert Tannen
Sometimes things just come at you all at once. I've been meaning to write about some very cool jewelry designed by New Orleans artist and planner Robert Tannen.
I saw his work at the Lori Warner Gallery earlier this month. AND, he's the father of my friend Erica Tannen who carefully composes the e-list -- which encourages shopping and cultural visits along the CT shoreline. The shape is based on the traditional New Orleans shot gun house. Proceeds from the sale of the wooden shot gun house necklaces go to rebuilding the city. I like (love) the silver "block" necklaces (see below). Thanks to Kim Tyler for the photographs.
Then I heard that Tannen is collaborating with architect Frank Gehry on some new affordable housing for the city. Here is a model of the Modhouse.
Last night I finished reading Zeitoun Dave Eggers magnificent non-fiction account of the lives of Kathy and Abdulrahman Zeitoun during Katrina. Phew. This afternoon I see in T&C mag that Mad Men's Bryan Batt has a shop in NOLA called Hazelnut where he has a line of toile de Jouy based on the city's scenes. Check out this tray below.
NOLA, we're done for a while. Except I need something from Hazelnut. Anything.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Galbraith & Paul Fabric
I've been visiting the site of Galbriath & Paul for a year or two, particularly when they were making wallpaper.
A creative collaboration of Liz Galbraith and Ephraim Paul based in Philadelphia. Ivy Paisley above. Below, Persimmon Tulip on Pewter Velvet is smashing. Can you see it as not just gorgeous fabric, but an amazing wallpaper? It was the wallpaper that introduces me to G&P. I can also envision it as a aged panel in an armoire.
The large patters of Marigold Spring Garden on Oyster Linen would be wonderful for curtains. I certainly miss curtains during this cold part of winter. May have to do something about it. There are a few ready-made pillows and some of G&B lighting at Room and Board. There are also a few pieces on sale.
Photo credits: Galbriath & Paul
Friday, October 31, 2008
Boo!
Happy Halloween!
The little Ghosts are my favorites. From Burdick Chocolates in Walpole, NH and Cambridge, MA. The photo below was taken at my friend Kathie's. She's having a tag sale tomorrow and has a ton of vintage fabric and textiles. Neither of us sew, but we both think that had we ever lived previous lives it would have been as textile designers.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Patterns: Paisley
For the past few weeks, I've been musing on paisley. It's a classic. One week, I couldn't find anything worth mentioning. The next I was inundated with images.
The perforated lanterns, above are from River, the wonderful shop in Essex CT belonging to my friends John and Joe. No one has better taste than they do. No 1. They opened in a new location there and it has changed the balance of the town. The following three images are Etro products. A tray, a throw that no Iphone can do justice to and a gorgeous tablecloth. I have successfully edited out Joe's leg. Cute as it might be. A word on Etro. The website is darling; not too great as a functioning site, but darling. Check it out.
Crate & Barrel sports this pillow along with some paisley linens.
Target has an understated paisley shower curtain reminiscent of Les Indiennes
And three good examples from the Bergdorf Goodman website. Check out the Stephen Dweck engraved paisley (silver?) earrings.
Love the Loro Piana cashmere scarf here.
Stella McCartney has the asymmetrical paisley print dress. Might have to see this in person.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Madeline Weinrib Atlier
Wow. Found this wonderful fabric company this weekend. I love the graphic simplicity.
Colors and patterns are wonderful. I want to visit one of the stores soon. 
Friday, July 25, 2008
Les Indiennes
So Haute! did a post on Les Indiennes recently and I fell in love with the fabric.
Not sure if it goes to well with an early American home, but I might find some fun application for it. A bedroom? I think that if I ever lived in another life, it would have been a fabric designer. I found out today that my friends John and Joe carry some if the Les Indiennes linens in their store, River. I am always intrigued by fabric. Even when it's absurd to me. Take Romo; I love it, but do we live in the same world?
