I’ll do a post on Sanderson’s latest collection next week perhaps but for now, I’ve realised I never posted about their  Bloomsbury Canvas Prints and Embroideries collection which are inspired by the hugely creative output of the artists, poets and designers of the 1930s, especially those associated with the Bloomsbury Group and the Omega Workshops.

Still Life Fabric by Sanderson

The charm of the collection reflects the eclectic nature of influences ranging from Post Impressionist paintings and textiles, to the interior decoration in houses such as Charleston Farmhouse, the beautifully preserved home of Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant, both of whom were key personalities within the Bloomsbury Group.

Still Life Fabric

I love the sheer colour and vividness of these particular fabrics. With a plain sofa, you can really let your hair down by adding lots of colourful cushions and then decide if you want curtains too

If you need any more information on these fabrics, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Howard Hodgkin last designed fabrics for Designers Guild back in 1986 and they have just launched his newest collection for DG.

Hodgkin’s paintings are primarily grounded on a remembered experience or emotion – a meeting with friends, a view across a landscape or the moment after a meal. From this starting point Hodgkin embarks, working over a long period to produced layered, richly coloured, sweeping composition, which extend onto the picture frame. The finished pieces hover brilliantly between representation and abstraction and have been described as ‘profound painterly equivalents for memory itself’.

Howard Hodgkin fabrics for Designers Guild

He represented Britain at the Venice Biennale in 1984, was awarded the Turner Prize in 1985 and was Knighted in 1992. He was also the subject of a major retrospective at The Tate in London in 2006. His distinctive, lavish colours and expansive brushstrokes have been stunningly printed onto fine linens and crisp cottons.

Howard Hodgkin Large Flower Fabric

And I think this photograph below is amazing:

Howard Hodgkin

We stock Designers Guild here at Garrendenny Lane so if you would like any samples or to order any of the Howard Hodgkin fabrics, do get in contact with us.

Fancy a teddy bear’s picnic in the garden? What do you need? Well, marmalade sandwiches I guess and some really cute chairs like these

The pink chair belongs to Kate. I had stripped and painted it months ago and the fabric was sitting there waiting for me to cover it. Then a client asked me to get her little girl’s chair upholstered when we were doing her bedroom so when I was sending it along (coincidentally in the same Primrose Hill Designers Guild fabric but a different colourway), I sent along Kate’s chair too.

I have to admit I squealed when I saw both chairs – I think they are gorgeous and I’m sure both little girls feel like princesses sitting in them.

By the way, if you are looking for  Designers Guild fabric we can order it for you if you are looking for something in particular, check out their website and then do get back to us if you would like help calculating how much you require or any pricing information.  Just use the contact form above to email us or feel free to phone.

The fabric pages showcasing gorgeous fabrics from our suppliers may not be there yet on our new site but rest assured, we can still supply you with fabrics and wallpapers from the same suppliers so if you see something you like from Sanderson, Designers Guild, Jab, Voage, Lorient, Baker or Swaffer, do get in touch for samples or a quote.

Do take a peek at Sanderson’s new collections.  Here’s a picture of their Coralie fabrics:  a collection of embroideries, jacquard weaves and gingham checks that has been carefully selected to create complete decorative schemes.   This collection includes fabrics suitable for both curtains and upholstery and is presented in six colour palettes of classic reds and leafy greens, fresh blues, soft mauves, eau de nil, primrose and ivory and linen.

Coralie with Nanine fabric in the curtains and headboard – gorgeous!

I know I’m cheating here but I can’t pick a single favourite from these (but, hey, it’s my blog – I make the rules and break them!!) I love ALL of these checks and stripes in the Musette collection: a versatile collection of small scale jacquard and dobby weaves, checks and stripes that are woven in natural fibres.  The soft, classic colour palette complements the ‘Caverley’ prints and ‘Coralie’ weaves and sits well with previous Sanderson collections. The six designs in this collection are suitable for upholstery as well as curtains, blinds, bedcovers, cushions and lining.

And my absolute favourite is the Porcelain Garden wallpaper from the  Caverley wallpapers, a collection of nine wallpapers that complement the printed fabrics.

I think the colours of this Magenta/Leaf Green colourway of the Porcelain Garden are absolutely exquisite and are even gorgeous enough to get me over my phobia of birds on wallpaper (I know it’s nuts, but I think I’m afraid they will come to life at night or something – maybe I watched The Birds at an impressionable young age or something!)

But yes, even with that phobia, Porcelain Garden is my favourite – what is yours?

I know many of you will be familiar with our stock of Paperboy’s wallpapers but we were chuffed that they were featured in last week’s Irish Examiner in Carol O’Callaghan’s article.

‘A great find at last year’s 100% Design was Paperboy wallpapers, depicting adventurious scenes aimed at young boys who have outgrown the bunny and teddy phase, but who haven’t reached the point of watning to paint their walls black. The braninchild of Victoria Cramsie – who despaired of finding something suitable for her boys’ bedroom – she has now expanded her offering to include fabrics that can be used in cushions, curtains and upholstery. Good news for Irish shoppers is that the range can now be bought from Laois-based online store Garrendenny Lane, saving on shipping costs that stop many from buying online from companies abroad, and make shops reluctant to ship to us.‘  Irish Examiner 9th October 2010

And yes, Paperboy have created beautiful fabrics now too to co-ordiante with their beautiful wallpapers.  Made of Irish linen, they are suitable for use as cushions, curtains, blinds, curtains and upholstery.

D’ya-think-e-saurus fabric in purple & silver

D’ya-think-e-saurus fabric in blue and brown

Animal Magic – Blue gloss on Blue

Animal Magic – Grey & White

We aim to stock more brands and collections that are not readily available in Ireland so do keep an eye out and we’ll be blogging about each new addition as they arrive too.