Sunday 6 July 2014

Reviving Laura's Wild Clematis

Many thanks for your lovely comments on my last post-I do so enjoy reading them! Have you had a sunny weekend? A few showers here earlier but a lovely sunny afternoon-definitely one that truly makes England in summer a beautiful place to be. Such afternoons bring to mind picnics by the river and endless sunshine as you flit about on your vintage bicycle amongst the wild-flowered byways, in a big floppy hat. Such days always evoke thoughts of Laura Ashley's wonderful  tiny country floral fabrics from the 70s and 80s.

 One such fabric is 'Wild Clematis', a traditional country cotton. Many of these designs are becoming increasingly rare and it has become my quest to track down as many as possible so we can enjoy them once again! Whilst I do like to enjoy gazing at my 'finds' sitting on my collection shelf, my prime motivation for collecting is to re-use them  into various projects.



'Wild Clematis' features such a pretty rambling floral design  on a plain background in various shades. It was very popular for home furnishings, especially curtains as this seems to be where I find most to reclaim. It is possible to discover unused fabric-what a find it is when you do. This can still be in pristine condition, I'm still amazed by the quality of the fabrics.  I located some colours in my 1987 catalogue, but the design must have been around some years before, as someone reports furnishings made from it with fabric bought in 1979 on the Laura Ashley blog. The fabric generally retains its colour so well, with just some fading to edges, depending on where it has been situated.


A while ago I came by some of the lovely green, which I incorporated into a quilt along with a mix of other fabrics. I don't do quilts very often and have never done one where you have a pattern or plan, my designs just sort of evolve, usually from some central fabric that I fancy the look of. I wanted a very natural mix of country style designs with a soothing, green theme, for a bedroom which has the more up to date Laura Ashley 'Heligan' (natural) as its main theme. As there was quite a bit of this it made a pretty border.




Recently I came upon some very small pieces of the brown on cream colourway. I had a small fabric panel of a black labrador which is exactly like our lovely Bonnie, and knew my younger daughter would love this as a cushion for her room. I also wanted to incorporate some vintage Laura Ashley for her and the cream pieces were ideal. I just need to finish backing it now!





Suddenly I was on a roll of little fabric pics and made a little padded kitchen hanger with this cute cat.



I also like to revive these fabrics to be shared and used by other sewers and incorporate quite a lot of my reclaimed fabrics into themed collections-here I used  'Smoke' in a blue themed collection.


Hope you have had a lovely sunny, floppy hatted crafty weekend! I don't have a pic of wild clematis but here's a little snap of some pretty Cornish wildflowers I took when walking along the river yesterday.
Alison xx



14 comments:

  1. I remember having some curtains in that fabric in pale blue how I wish I had kept them now. I live your green quilt so soothing and relaxing.
    It's been a fairly damp weekend here with showers both days but never mind the gardens needed the rain
    Have a good week
    Jackie x

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  2. Oh Jackie your curtains must have been lovely in the pale blue, Thank you -the quilt is lovely and soft as well. You're right we do need the rain-everything will really grow now! Alison xx

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  3. Hello Alison
    Thank you so much for visiting me. I love vintage laura Ashley fabric. Lovely to meet someone who shares the same love.
    Wishing you a lovely week x

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    1. Thanks so much for popping over- Delighted you are a Laura A fan too! Looking forward to more of your updates, Happy Monday! xx

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  4. Hello Alison! Lovely to learn all about the vintage Laura Ashley fabrics and I love your quilt as well as the cute Labrador cushion and kitty kitchen ornament. Glad you had a nice sunny weekend, it was a bit of a mixed bag here but fun all the same! Christine x

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    1. Hi Christine-delighted you enjoyed the little update and pics. I must finish the lab cushion this week! Hope you have a happy and sunny week, Alison xx

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  5. Lovely fabrics and such nice projects too, fun to use fabrics you really adore, we had temps of early 30's C which doesnt really lend itself to feeling like crafting. Have a good week xcx

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  6. Thank you Chrissie - goodness it must be hot where you are! Have been feeling the heat here but that's much higher than we ever get- you must just want to sit in the shade with a cold lemonade! xx

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  7. I love vintage Laura Ashley fabric too and what you've done with them. I've still got a couple of original dresses. That dates me doesn't it xx

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  8. Thank you Jacqui so glad you are a Laura Ashley fan too. It dates me as well, remembering it first time round!. Your dresses will be worth a lot now though and especially in the future! xx

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  9. Alison, so happy to meet you! Thank you for visiting my blog. I lived in England for 6 months when I was 14 (long time ago!) and then my husband and I visited years ago. I only know Cornwall though from reading and watching Doc Martin on TV. Love seeing your pretty Laura Ashley fabrics. So feminine and romantic. I am your newest follower.

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    1. Deborah thank you so much for popping over and following me! Delighted that you like the Laura Ashley fabrics. How exciting it must have been to live in another country for 6 months when you were 14. Doc Martin does give a lovely flavour of what Cornwall is like! Your blog is so inspiring-looking forward to more updates xx

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  10. I love seeing old Laura Ashley prints, they bring back so many memories! I have saved some of my Laura Ashley dresses and some curtains too!
    Happy weekend.
    Helen xox

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    1. Delighted that you like Laura Ashley too Helen. You did right to save your originals-so lovely to look at! Hope you have had a lovely weekend xx

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