For the love of lampshades...

At our show on Sunday, the beauties above, well, they just flew out the door, along with many of the other lampshades we created.

So, lampshades will become a full-time member of the family.

Antique silks, lined in hand-dyed silk. Lovely and so much fun to play with. We'll be making more and putting them up on our website in the next few weeks along with a whole raft of cushions.

PS: our first quilting class at The Papered Parlour is FULL! Never fear, a second class is scheduled for May 9th.

Come visit!

At the last minute.... oh lordy.... we have taken a tiny (and somewhat challenging) space at Mid Century Modern, this Sunday. Come along, see the kinds of quilts we make, and .... audible gasp.... delightful lampshades and cushions. Antique silks, Organic hand-dyed silks and velvets. It sounds lovely, fingers crossed it looks like how I have it in my head.

Apologies also for sporadic posts. back to normal on Monday!

Just in time! - our first quilting class.

Friday 2 April - yes Good Friday!

In the words of the Papered Parlour... 

Celebrate the launch of the V&A's first ever major exhibition of British Quilts with a master class in contemporary quilt making at The Papered Parlour.

Join bespoke quilt maker Cassandra Ellis as she teaches you the essentials of improvisational design and free-form quilting.

Intuitively cut and stitch your blocks from the centre out, to construct a small quilt top or the beginnings of a larger piece, and leave with all the knowledge you need to complete your quilt at home.

Bring a piece of fabric you love and incorporate it into your design to create your own family heirloom.

We Provide - Sewing machines, rotary cutters, cutting mats & fabric

You Need to Bring - 1/2 metre of a single fabric to use in the workshop - this should be something you love and want to incorporate in your finshed piece. It could be an old dress, tablecloth or just a piece of fabric you've had for years.

What fun!!!

A bath, a bath, a kingdom for my bath (and a glass of delicious pinot gris)

 

Besides making quilts,getting ready for a show and a new class to teach, I'm helping set up the new Anthropologie store in Chelsea, London. A short cycle ride from home and a very early start - these are actually good things in my book.

Today - sewing, painting, sanding and sourcing props in Spitalfields - nothing more can be said.......

Tonight - new designs for a show that is 2 1/2 weeks away.

Wine anyone? 

Quilting classes coming up!

 

Huzzah! Just confirmed, two contemporary quilt making classes coming up, taught by yours truly, at The Papered Parlour. More info coming soon..............

The joy of second hand books...

We love books in our home like you wouldn't believe. That's why we set up this. Fiction, non-fiction, poetry,  or design books it doesn't matter, it's just about having them around. It's how my mother brought us up and gave my sisters and I the ticket 'out'. It's one of the reasons Ed and I fell in love, and they are vital to me. Now, books can be expensive ( try buying them in NZ - sheesh! ), so second hand books can be a marvellous way of trying a bit of Graham Green, or stock up on chick lits for when your life (and brain) is too full, or, if you are very lucky, find a design book treasure. My favourite find is Carolyn Quartermaines 'Unwrapped'. Still one of my most referred to books.

Try charity shops - there are some fantastic stores out there now. Car boot sales, 'proper' second-hand book shops, market stalls or even Ebay (still trying to find 'Flair' the annual, for less than £50...). £1, £2 or £5 pounds for literally hours of entertainment, revelations or comfort.

Inspirations gathered over the weekend...

I have a new show coming up soon. The below images are, I think, a very exciting start....

 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

 This is always the exciting, yet frightening part......

What do you think will come out of this?

Thought for the week - what do we need?