AUTUMN

There is nothing I like more than a bright and crisp autumn day.  However few and far between, they are oh so welcome among otherwise gloomy weather, and when a low slung sun casts lengthening shadows, it turns the air golden and sets colours aflame.  

I have been gathering some autumnal fabrics recently, and this week, on just such a day, I took my samples out to the local park to photograph them in that slanting golden light.  

 Zoffany's Harvest is aptly named.  First it is printed with islands of flat colour and then richly embroidered with exuberant clusters of ripening fruit and vegetables.

Edinburgh Weavers' Stag is a painterly design of large stag heads, digitally printed on linen.

 Abraham Moon's Doune in rust is a 100% wool plaid in subtle blues and browns.

 Abraham Moon's Whistler in old gold takes weaving to another level.

Abraham Moon's Fyvie in sand, is a beutifully textured wool and mohair mix.

Don't they look good!

NEUTRAL NATURALS

Here's a shot of a recently completed job where we re-vamped some plain twill curtains with a deep embroidered border of Romo's Black Edition Safi Natural, which beautifully reflected the client's eclectic mix of pattern and texture.

This sparked me off gathering some other swatches of fabrics together, all neutral naturals with lashings of wonderful texture. Some embroidered, some woven, some appliqued - all gorgeous!

From top left, Ian Mankin's Kintyre check and Fulham linen, Zoffany's Banyan Coconut, Sanderson's Savary Linen, Romo's Ennis Steeple Grey and Austin charcoal, Gina Take a Bow's Pixel Rose Natural. 

 Middle from left: Harlequin's Caprice Chalk/Linen, Clarke & Clarke's Maroc Natural and Raja Natural, Harlequin's Cheree Slate/Chalk.  

Bottom from left: Romo's Chaumont Pewter, Clarke & Clarke's Anita Natural, Romo's Xilia Feather Grey, Ian Sanderson's Macita Husk.

DECOREX EDIT

I went along with the crowd to Syon Park in west London the other day to whizz around the exhibits at London's largest interiors trade show: Decorex 2014. Housed in the most enormous tent, thinly disguised on the outside with wraparound landscape, once you were inside, you totally forgot the transient nature of the building amongst the lavish extravagance of the 300-odd stands. This years theme was based on Hogarth's Rake's Progress - and I can tell you I felt a little rakey myself after a few caffeine-free hours as the show's catering concerns seemed to be buckling under opening day strain and the cafe queues were too long to contemplate. Having said that, the show seemed bigger, brighter and better than previous years, and I was soon enthralled by the wonderful fabrics on display.

Here is my initial edit:

FOLKLORIC:

Created on a handloom in Guatamala, this traditional weaving technique is given a contemporary twist by London interiors brand, A RUM FELLOW.

JULIA BRENDEL creates wonderfully rich silks and linens with woven designs based on her own eastern european heritage

EMBROIDERY

Albizia & Bee is an exquisite hand embroidered linen by BAKER & GRAY

Two wonderful embroidered fabrics from SANDERSONS Fabienne range based on 18th and 19th century documents in their archive.

This is a ZOFFANY embroidered linen called Jayshree that is almost an exact replica of a Kashmiri paisley document.

Soak up the luxe for now and I'll post some more Decorex fabrics in the next few days.

THIS WEEK'S THEME: STRIPES

Perennial and classic, stripes go on and on.....


Designers Guild Ottomon Lime


Ian Mankin Empire Sage


Romo Somerford Ebony


Zoffany
Corinthian Gooseberry & Natural