And Now For Something Completely Different
May 2, 2012 "Antique Flowers Collection" by Lecien
Do not adjust your set ...
I KNOW! What is UP with ME?! LOL!
I'll tell you what. Another Lecien quilt for Quilt Market!
Yes, I know. There's nothing really Shabby Chic about these colors either. In fact, one could argue they are like the anti-Shabby colors I most often relate to.
But I'm totally head-over-heels in love with this fabric all the same.
Why? Lemme 'splain.
Even though I’m a city girl I have many fond memories of visiting my Dad’s childhood home. He was raised on a small farm (80 acres) and my grandparents grew wheat & corn. They also had sheep and chickens. They lived in a tiny (and by tiny I mean the original bathroom was an outhouse) turn-of-the-century Cape Cod style farmhouse in southern Ontario (Talbotville, if you know the area) with a quaint parlour just inside the front door to the left. To me, that little parlour was the ultimate in old-fashioned, traditional romance.
Well, my sentimental heart jumped the moment I laid eyes on this collection. You see, my Grandma Irma - of Finnish decent - had beautiful long auburn hair (always worn up in a gentle bun).
And these colors are, in a word, her.
Soft golds,
rich merlots,
tobaccos, (this is a very ... unusual color ... but it plays so well with the other colors in this collection and I think is one of the "keys" - hardy har har - that really make Antique Flowers feel ... antique)
warm caramels,
deep chocolate, (I was gonna say coffee, but I don't drink coffee ... and I do love chocolate)
silvery greens, (another color that almost defies description but is so gorgeous in real life)
... even the littlest hints of blush & rose
... it's all Grandma Irma.
Her parlour was appointed with everything one would expect to find in the "best room" of a country farmhouse. The window was adorned with cream, voile curtains. Heavy velvet drapes – which matched the gold wall color - functioned as a closet door.
There was a dark, antique pie-crust coffee table and oak cabinetry with glass doors to hold her books. A small wingback chair occupied one corner while a chesterfield lined the far wall and a smaller couch sat in front of the brick fireplace. (Her prized Royal Doulton & Hummel porcelain figurines cluttered the mantle!) The furniture was all mismatched and covered in a variety of upholstery from brushed mocha velvet to goldenrod cordeuroy.
The accent colors were wine and smoky blue/grey.
And the painted, squeaky floors (which were almost EXACTLY this color ...)
were covered with layers of oval braided rugs in russet & autumn browns.
And then of course there were the quintessential vintage glass bottles on the window sill to catch the light and the doilies to protect the wood and decorate the furniture.
I think you've got the picture. ;)
So.
It's as though Lecien went to my Grandma's parlour, took an inventory of all the colors and made these fabrics especially for her.
And I've not even MENTIONED this quilter's dream combination of timeless cabbage roses,
dainty posies,
floral etchings,
bouquets,
and whimsical polkadots ...
you know ... to keep everything from being too serious.
Can you just IMAGINE what beautiful quilts can be made with this collection?
Well, I've got one in the works here. Partly the reason I haven't got my FW blocks done yet. I've been cutting and sewing like crazy working on this quilt these past few days and can hardly wait to show it to you.
Reader Comments (27)
Can. Not. Wait. (Again). Those fabrics just scream old time romance. And how wonderful that you equate them with your Grandma Irma. It means she past on lots of love to her family.
I can't wait to see what you make with Grandma Irma's collection! (I think they should rename it in her honour!)
This is truly a lovely collection..thank you for sharing it and your wonderful memories.
hurry up :)
beautiful...you made me fall in love with these fabrics. I love all the sweet touches you put in your photos...the lace, the keys, the pearls....so special.
And we can hardly wait to see it;-) Although this are not me-colors, too 'country' for my taste. But I KNOW I'll love your quilt and will make it someday in me-colors;-) Hildy
All I can say is "Wow". A very unexpected color palette, but with all the romantic florals and polka dots! Your wonderful stories of Grandma Irma's parlor just make this line come alive! I cannot wait to see what your memories help you to create! :)
Those are the most glorious fabrics! I can't wait to see what you're making with them. And I agree, I think the line should be renamed Grandma Irma. What a wonderful scene you painted with your words and the extra touches!
I love those shades Kristyne, beautiful, looking forward to seeing the finished quilt. :)
V x
Can not wait to see what those lovely fabrics become under your skilled hands and vision.
Beautiful!! Will we have to wait until market? Hope not. ;p
Your job is done, I'm drooling over these fabrics! lol I MUST have them! *sigh* I think my husband will have a fit if I bring any more fabric home... Guess it's time to use up what I own and THEN I can get this pretty fabric.
I can't wait to see your quilt!
Oh.... be still my heart... you had me with all your wonderful descriptions of your Grandma's house... sniff.... what sweet memories.... would love to have tea time in her parlor! Cannot wait to see what you've been working your magic on next! Thanks for the sweet trip through the past and letting us see through your eyes!
You are amazing, when I saw these fabrics on your post I thought eew! what is she thinking... not colours or fabrics that grab me at all BUT after your thoroughly dreamy romantic description ( I have wonderful memories of my grandparents too) I have a new perspective on them and will now have to buy some for my stash, thanks for the beautiful story....
Hi Kristyne, is the fabric a new line of Lecien or is it an old line? I waited in hopes that someone else would ask that question. Darn...no one did! It looks like I'm always the last to know.
This will be another beautiful quilt. I'm looking forward to your finished product.
Take care,
Carole Y.
I cannot imagine designing two quilts so close together,but this one really speaks to me too. It is just so expertly done,how can one not just fall in love at first sight? It would be quitle a chalenge to get every print into one quilt! Love each and every print and colorway. IF anyone can do it,you can!!! Do your Grandma proud!!
I love the fabrics, and the lovely story of your Grandmother, it will make the quilt all the more special.
hello there, greetings from Perth Western Australia! i enjoy your blog so much and happened upon quite by accident a few months ago. i love this fabric too...and i love the description of your Grandmother's parlour. in one of the pictures you have some earrings on some fabric and i have the exact same earrings...they were bought for me when i lived in Naples Italy - they were bought for me from Capodimonte ceramics...they are a beautiful reminder of an amazing year in my life...i was just wondering how you happened upon yours? thank you so much for so generously sharing of yourself...i love reading about your sewing projects. i wish you a very happy day
love Tanya Hughes
There is not one fabric that I didn't love (and want). What a joyous task to patch and quilt these fabrics. I am looking forward to seeing the quilt. You must have wondered what to do with such a treasure,
Thank you for the family connection makes the work more meaningful to touch the heart.
What a beautiful collection!! Your description was bang on - you must have visited my grandma's parlour at some point! It brought back good memories. Looking forward to seeing your quilt.
Really wishing I could switch gears on my Farmers Wife quilt to THESE LOL! Rats... ;-p
I wonder when this collection will be available and where I can find it! This is 100% "me"!
You have shared the loveliest of visits with us. I imagined each item as you described it to be in your Grandma Irma's special room. Then to see your own home's decor with such similar colors, only shows what an influence your past memories have had on your present circumstances. :o)
Holy Moly! That fabric is luscious. I just might have to break my pledge for this one.
Oh my gosh, that is some seriously beautiful fabric!!! I can't wait to see what you make with it. Gorgeous!!! Hugs...
Fantastic! Love them ALL!
You write very eloquently about your grandmother, I can't wait to see what you do with this.
How do you fit squeaky floorboards into a quilt design!
(and opposite of shabby chic, to me, would be something like Half Moon Modern)