I've had it since my early teens, when I made all my own clothes with my Granny's Edwardian sewing machine (a Singer, with foot treadle and weirdly wonderful 'attachments') and started a stash of cloth by the yard and both constructed garments and embroidery going back to Elizabethan times.
Twenty five pounds worth of luscious loot!
It was not until I started researching my family history that I found that the excuse for my craving might go back even further than my own lifetime - an ancestor was, apparently, a textile merchant in the City of London in 1760. Recent research on genetic memory suggests that it might well be 'in the blood' in more ways than one.
Embroidered silk remnants
Printed silk - Chinoiserie toile de jouy
Later I trained as a soft furnisher and upholsterer - a pursuit which went 'on ice' when my children were born - but the thrill of seeing and touching beautiful fabrics has never gone away. You will thus understand my delight at attending the annual fabric (and interior decoration items) sale of locally based but internationally active Interior designer/decorator and textile supplier, Ian Sanderson.
Hand-printed wallpapers
Cottons in colours to match the summerhouse
The bargains were monumental - I left with an armful of embroidered silks, crisp cottons, plush chenilles and also four rolls of hand printed wall papers - all of which will be used, in some way, in creative workshops and personal gifts for friends. It was blissful to wander around the bolts of beauty, handling fabrics which cost big bucks at full price. I bought only small pieces (if you saw how much fabric I had in store here already, you would understand why…yardages and remnants only outnumbered by books!) but I'm already planning what to do with it all. Meanwhile, I'm just looking at it, smelling that 'new fabric' smell - and fondling. Oh, yes, fondling silk is a deliciously pleasurable activity today!
Silk chenille brocade
Oh wow! I am so envious....
I too have it in the blood, linen manufacturers on one branch of the family, silk merchants on another.
Enjoy your luscious loot. :-)
Posted by: Cilla | Wednesday, May 14, 2014 at 20:07
Oooooo - I especially love the silk toile and the chenille brocade! I can imagine the things I could do (and would do!) with some of those remnants. Enjoy your time with them, and make something beautiful with them soon so you can have it out to enjoy with all your senses!
Posted by: Boyd Savage | Wednesday, May 14, 2014 at 21:16
Yes in the blood a love of textiles. My grandmother worked at Courtauld's Mill in Halstead and also my uncle. She would bring home remnants of wonderful brocades and I still have some.
Happy memories.
Christy
Posted by: Christy at Lilbitbrit | Thursday, May 15, 2014 at 09:33
Bliss! I love those embroidered silks...
Posted by: GeraniumCat | Thursday, May 15, 2014 at 09:57
So gorgeous, Roz!
Posted by: CatherinE | Thursday, May 15, 2014 at 12:36
What a haul! Glad you found some treasures. You can never have too much fabric (or books).
Posted by: Ardi | Thursday, May 15, 2014 at 14:43
Fondling fabric is so satisfying. Love those silk squares - I can almost feel their smoothness. Looking forward to seeing what you'll do with them.
Posted by: Lorrie | Friday, May 16, 2014 at 23:29
I love the toile, one of my favorite designs. My husband trained as an upholsterer too, and I always look at a fabric, and think where could we use it. The wallpaper is gorgeous.
Posted by: Sheila | Saturday, May 17, 2014 at 16:44