Inspirational and creative quest

Well, it's been a while since I have stopped by this personal blog of mine. I feel the need for my fingers to do the talking today... so I think this will be a rambling one.

It's been a busy time for me in my fabric world, I have been sourcing our vintage pieces each and every day for months now. This week I am giving my self a bit of a break from that. I feel the need to get in touch with my creative self this week. Get inspired. I have met some wonderful people over the last few weeks, so I've been chatting to them. Reading lots of books and magazines for visual inspirations, and of course the inspiration of words. 

A book that I have been in love with so far this week for it's visual inspiration is one of my all time fav's:

 

And this book, that I bought ages and ages ago and have sadly neglected since then:

 

I love how this book shows off pattern within fashion.The story within this book is wonderful too.. I recommend.

I've also really been enjoying music, 'The Best of The Specials' for a bit of fun. Along with Daniel Merriweather's album 'Love and War'. Having time to sit and reflect whilst listening to music is a real luxury amongst the madness of normal, hectic life.

After the fair on Sunday that Lucy Loves Fabric attended I have been re-sorting our workroom. Here are a few pics of our stall if you are interested: 

 

  

  

It was great fun and we met some wonderful people, lots of people have got in contact with us since Sunday which is wonderful. Thank you.

Is everyone looking forward to Christmas?? I have been planning on doing some baking. Something else I want to indulge a little research in this week. At the moment I have home-made cookies cooking and scenting my kitchen.... yummy....

The blog that I am loving giving my chance time to catch up on is Decor8. FULL to the brim of inspiration. 

Anyway my lovelies. It was just a quick stop by... my cookies are now nearly ready!! : ) If you have time stop by www.lucylovesfabric.com as I have uploaded some new stock if you are interested.

Stay creative! 

- Lucy x

welcome..

to my home... would you like to come in??

Come in and get out of the still blustery weather..

Brrr... hasn't it been CHILLY today... I was up and out early doors this morning. Well, I'm always out early doors as I take my wonderful husband to the station at six am. He is due in work before most people have even got in the shower. Bless him. Everyone say.... 'arrrrr...' : )

Anyway... this morning I was then out myself rather promtly. For my first meditation class. First one of eight, I can then join group meditations. FANTASTIC for the mind and energies and just wellbeing.... and it's only my first class! My therapist is amazing, so full of positive vibes. I think i'm a rather positive person, but I am a person that worries.. and I worry a lot about other people more than myself. But anyway... I won't bore you with all of that. I've always felt rather 'spiritual' and the teachings at my meditation class really seems to have 'clicked' with me you know... and thats a wonderful feeling when that happens isn't it. When you feel you have found what you have been looking for. A bit like that perfect shade of paint, or the perfect pattern in a fabric. It's like 'yay'... a kind of feeling of relief. That you know you are going to be satisfied. Happy. Content. 

Well that is how I felt this morning, after my meditation class. And that is how I have felt all day. I have had a wonderful creative day in my fabric world. Busy and energised yet not stressed at all. Perfect.

If anyone is reading this blog. As I know I haven't been around long enough for many to have found me. I wish you all well today and every day and I hope you find your sense of 'wellbeing' somehow.. somewhere.. sometimes it takes a while to find..

- lucy x

 

inspiring me today

now as you get to know me you will learn that i am always excusing my lack of photography skills. and this is no acception. although i have a little excuse that it was taken from a blackberry mobile, so it would be a little worse than normal. AND it is a photo of a photo, and a very old black and white photo at that.

a little bit of blurb behind this photo - this photo hangs on my inspiration board in my workroom every day. every day i look at it. i love this photo. this is a photo of my mum and dads first home together, a flat in londons east ham. now you are only going to get the 'gist' is this photo due to the quality, but i think thats all you need to get. i think you're going to understand where i am coming from with this beautiful photo. as i say, i always look at this photo.. but today i got an extra twinge of inspiration and love. 

i love the wallpaper, the big chair in the corner, the shape of the lampshade. and what is comicle is that i have always loved the design of this room yet my mum and dad never really understand why. to them they would never have this decor again, myself and a lot of people out there would have this today. would you?? maybe everything apart from the fireplace... what do you think??

i would love to see this photo in colour, but maybe it wouldn't then have as much charm.

- lucy x 

 

peep

after my moany email yesterday about the weather, my lack of dedication to the cause of reporting about the country living christmas fair... i am pleased to report that out of my little window opposite my little desk this morning - the sun is indeed shining! i mentioned yesterday that i was off to see a man about some fabric he had for sale. here is a peep of what i bought...

please excuse the photo quality (as always), this is just intended to whet your appetite. I will be putting a few of my most recent buys on my website later on, i will be in photography mania mood as the sun is shining. did i say that loud enough???... THE SUN IS SHINING!! hehe...

i intend to make good use of the light today.

i hope you are all well and you are getting a dose of the good stuff, and soaking up some much needed vitamin d after the last few days.

- lucy x

 

a bluster

well what a blustery morning. that sun is trying to come out. i'm looking out of my little window opposite my little desk and i can just see the tips of the rays. the sun is failing though, the rain is still drizzling down and the wind is still blowing round and round my home. blowing round and round yet failing to blow away those grey clouds.

it's been like this most of the weekend in london, however the sun did shine yesterday morning. saturday was horrendous, we spent a whole day in our little home. boiled eggs and soldiers for breakfast. home made soup for lunch and takeaway for dinner along with scrabble (love it!). during the day we did get a little stir crazy and adorned our waterproofs and ventured into the garden to clear away the majority of leaves - amazing how invigorating it is being in the outdoors in such weather. and it's another excuse to put the kettle on when back in the warm :) faces pink from the wind and fresh air. that was our outing for saturday.

sunday included a trip to john lewis to buy some dk yarn to make this winters crochet blanket. i also managed to tick quite a few christmas presents off the list too. result :)

i'm babbling away here as i should be blogging about what i promised, my trip to the country living christmas fair that i went to on friday. i'm afraid i failed. on the photo front. miserably. i managed one photo the whole day which was a pretty lame attempt at the entrance, so i won't even bother loading it on here. the fair was sooooooooooooo unbelievably busy!!!! busier than any fair i have ever visited, even the ideal home back in the nineties when it was hugely popular! i'll share something with you my friends, i dont fare well in crowds. i dont enjoy them really unless i'm totally geared up for them like one would be for a concert. i'm afraid on friday i was caught unaware, i wasn't prepared for the crowds and therefore had a few panicky moments and also failed to get the camera out anymore. did anyone else visit??? did you find it so busy??? goodness knows what is was like on saturday!!! i cannot believe i was only in the exhibition for an hour, i flicked around visiting the stalls i fancied, but truthfully you couldn't have got me out of there quick enough. i could see through the ladies and gentleman (mostly ladies) that the goods on peoples stalls were truly beautiful and i apologise all stall holders for not gritting my teeth and fighting through for a closer look. 

i do hope anyone else that visited wasn't as lame as myself and had a wonderful time - if you have any stories about the fair i would love to hear!!

on falling out of the fairs front doors we found the trusty pizza express and had a wonderful lunch along with a much needed glass of red wine. then we braved the ghastly weather and hoped on the tube home, to relax, in an uncrowded place. bliss.

what a let down i have been to you all... and my blog...

well today i was hoping for some sunlight to take some wonderful photos of my new wonderful stock that i am dying to put onto my website. that doesn't look like it is going to happen. humph. this afternoon i am off to a village about an hours drive away to meet a man who promises more fabric goodies, i do home the rain eases off!!!!

moan.. moan.. moan..

i shall be back, letting you know of my success (or lack of)..

but i may be in a happier mood.. ;-)

- Lucy x

Excitement

My excitement today is about the Country Living Christmas Fair that I am visiting tomorrow in Chelsea.

I am feeling really Christmassy this year. I cannot wait to put the tree up, I am going to be an early bird this year and put it up the first week of December. I don't know what has changed my mind about Christmas this year, normally I can't face it until it's right on top of me. I think having my Christmas fabric for sale, and it's selling well has put me in the mood, knowing people out there are visiting Lucy Loves Fabric for their Christmas material, after all its a big honour to be chosen to have input in someones Christmas.... don't you think??

I will be there tomorrow with my trusty camera, photographing beautiful bits to share with you on Monday. I'll also be paying close attention to how people decorate and organise their stalls. This will help me with the planning for my stall in a couple of weeks time. The nerves are kicking in now. So of course... I am only going tomorrow for work and research purposes only.... :-/// !?!?!?! Hehe...

Well a girl has got to have a bit of fun hasn't she...

Is anyone else going to the fair this year???

I will try and stop by tomorrow morning and babble about something...

- Lucy x 

(Image: Country Living)

Inspiration: Bricks, typeface and windows

As a fabric nut, and now owning and running my own business - apart from my husband, family and close friends my sewing machine is my first love. When in the inspirational NYC last year I was overcome with excitement at this building.. take a look at a couple of shots..

 

  My husband and I love old architecture, big buildings, the history behind the buildings and the stories they could tell. We also love old signs, the old typefaces are so interesting. So you can imagine both our interest and my excitement when we stumbled across this beauty. Such a large building too, wonderful bricks and windows. Oh I find New York so inspiring, all the bright lights and big buildings give me a feeling that anything is possible.

(Images: Fabric and Lucy)

- Lucy x

 

 

Bringing the inside out rather than the outside in.

Today has been I thoughtful day...

It's funny I love floral's and garden prints in my fabrics. It's always a fav bringing the outside indoors by furnishings and the fabric we use. However, I have neglected my lovely little garden since we have moved into this house. I get so wrapped up in the interior design of things that I forget about the outside, garden design. Eek. To be honest I find gardening and the design aspect behind it a little daunting. Actually very daunting. And it's the TIME with gardening isn't it.... everything I do is indoors really, any design and planning I do is indoors with fabric. Be it at my house or someone else's, it's my job after all! I'm much more likely to run up a curtain, than plant up a pot in the garden. 

Well anyway... I am very much a LIST person. I love to write a list and I get very troubled when I can't mark things off of this list. And guess what point has been on my list for far too long... well it's designing the garden.

Do any of you find gardening daunting?? I don't know why I do. I'm a very 'out-doorsey' kinda gal. And I love sitting in the garden, reading the papers and magazines. Having friends and family round for BBQ's and fireworks parties. I absolutely ADORE choosing a tablecloth to adorn the garden table and putting pretty cushions on the garden bench for extra comfort (what a surprise huh!). But the actual gardening side of things... I never seem to get around to taking the plunge. As close as we get is cutting the grass. Oh and I painted the shed a wonderful colour between mint green and duck egg blue, it's totally on the verge of them both... it's a rather strange colour but I'm pleased with it. I love painting things. I also have a little wooden sign hanging from one of the fence panels saying 'Love grows here' - to be frank, not much else does!!

I also really enjoy trips to Kew Gardens which is where all the photos in this post were taken (over three years ago I might add...I can't find my more recent batch)

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During my trips to Kew, I look at these gorgeous flowers and the greenery and shrubs and look at the colours and think of fabric... I really must start thinking 'oooh I could have one of these in the garden' instead, or at least as well as. 

So after my thoughtful day, I think I will draw up a plan for our garden. Think how to use the space productively, start researching some plants and maybe once beds have been dug, weeds pulled, agreements made on flowers and shrubs we can purchase confidently and plant. Mental note: investigate the best time of year to plant. I love research so I'm sure I'll enjoy this bit. Create our little botanical paradise....okay, okay I may be going a step too far there. 

And think of the tablecloths I could buy and make for my newly designed garden... ;-) sorry, I'm never going to change that much people!... : )

If anyone has any suggestions they would be welcome....

- Lucy x

Hello - Welcome to our first post

Hi Everyone

Welcome to my first post on my new personal blog - Fabric and Lucy. Thank you for stopping by.. I am going to use this first blog to tell you a little about myself and pray that you are interested :)

I am Lucy, a now Fabric Retailer. I have had a successful nine year career within Advertising and Banking, rather recently I have changed career path and have launched Lucy Loves Fabric. An online fabric shop. This is a blog where you can get to know the real Lucy and my ramblings of my change in career, how I build my business, what I get up to in the fabric world and my feelings and inspiration behind creative living.

I hope to keep you interested, and I would love to learn from all you wonderful fellow bloggers out there!

Within Lucy Loves Fabric there is a more 'industry based' blog if ever you wish to visit that. My Fabric and Lucy blog I would like to keep personal to me, where I can ramble on, share my feelings and have a general chat about everything inspirational out there. And a bit of an online daily (hopefully) diary of what I am getting up to... I enjoy writing so this will be the place where I do just that.. :)

Right now I am love, love, loving the Amy Butler stationary range!!! I cannot get enough of her fabrics, and to launch a stationary range I think is wonderful!!!!... let's face it we all love stationary don't we..! Take a look at some mouth watering snaps below...

 

(Images: Amy Butler Design website)

All of these are available on Amy's website linked in above. Her designs are always so inspiring, designs you can get lost in, and designs that are so good for the soul that when you use her fabrics each time you look at whatever you have made it brings a smile to your face.

I will love and leave you all for now, I will be back tomorrow if not before. I thank you again for stopping by...

- Lucy x