For the love of fabric

The Nicholas Building is such a great location I thought I should show you around the neighbourhood. Just up the hill in Flinders Lane is my favourite fabric store, Tessuti Fabrics. They stock the most unbelivable range of fabric, and the staff are fantastic. They have so many beautiful designer fabrics, and the way they display the fabric by colour is so inspiring. If you love fabric this store is absolute heaven!

141 Flinders Lane, look for the sign with the big button and needle, the entrance is up the stairs to the left.

Love the textures and colours all together, how to choose just one?

Soooo love Liberty

And they have classes too, check out their website and blog .

http://www.tessuti.com.au/

On another note, but not unrelated is the move from Collins Street to South Yarra of La Louve. I have always loved the store front of this Melbourne institution, so romantic and evocative of another more graceful time. I am sad to see it go.

Meanwhile it's been a hectic week in the studio, Mother's Day is on the way so I had to get a new window in for Kleins Perfumery. They had lots of new stock to display including l'uccello heat pillows and scented pillows for linen. I have also been making more scented pillows for linen in gorgeous new fabrics so the studio is well infused with the scent of lavender and rose. I finished a new batch of Vintage Cutie Doll Kits, these little ladies have been very popular. I will try to make time to get photos of my current windows to post. 

Packed and ready to ship.

They really are too cute

For the love of fabric x

PS Thanks to everyone who has posted comments, so lovely to have the feedback.

Hello l'uccello

Too exciting! We have finally got the land line phone connected to the studio, it had to be rewired from the basement and it seems electricans are still very busy after the big storm. I was so excited I had to take a few snaps of this miraculous device.

It's been a busy but fabulous week with our first week of trade going smoothly, thank you to all the lovely visitors, it was great to meet you all. I have been busy getting new stock for the shop, we sold out of vintage bobbins, this new delivery arrived just in time for opening this week.

We are also now in production of our new range of heat pillows, perfect timing it seems with the weather turning so chilly all of a sudden. They will be available exclusively through our store and Kleins Perfumery

(313 Brunswick Street Fitzroy), the link to Kleins will take you to their brilliant website. I have been doing the window displays for Kleins for about 7 years, lots of fun and hard work, possibly a few tears (yes sometimes it all goes horribly wrong -the old "seemed like a good idea at the time!") and friendships I will always treasure.

Cosy heat pillows ready for packaging.

I made  a series of these bird cages last year for the Kleins spring window to feature these gorgeous soaps and violet lollies from Paris and l'uccello vintage style pommanders. 

Despite my best efforts last week the sign for the door wasn't ready in time for my opening , but I did manage to get it ready in time for today.

Other little projects for the week were these new limited edition bags for packaging our lovely rose and lavender soaps, they are made from calico and there are 9 different vintage swap card images to choose

from.

 

Fat 16th fabric "cigars", I have packets of unused vintage cigar labels and thought it would be fun to use them to hold the rolls in place.

I also managed to get more buttons sewn on these cards

hello l'uccello

Welcome!

Welcome- l'uccello's new store/studio is now officially open. It's so satisfying to see it all together at last, and to have visitors enjoying the space. It was a lovely day with customers from Marche Rouge returning, new customers, dear friends and most special of all a surprise visit by my precious mum and most fabulous husband. Thank you all for the support and encouragement.

A quick tour of l'uccello-

My favourite basket full of lovely vintage fat quarters.

Just what every glamourous girl needs

Sooo loving a snap dragon

Cutest vintage kokeshi dolls

I hang things that inspire me on this rack, different colour and texture combinations

A section of two large collages I have done at the end of the room made up from my collection of vintage textiles, ribbons, lace, buttons, tapesties and  ephemera.

This is one of my favourite pieces of lace, it's from Belgium.

This is part of the millinery department, some of these lovelies are around 70 years old                           

l'uccello

Almost ready!

Finally!! I have managed to start my blog about my work as a visual merchandiser, my new business l'uccello and my obsession with vintage haberdashery, textiles, ephemera and craft. I have a studio in the Nicholas Building, it is a lovely old deco salon with beautiful french doors and views over St Paul's Cathedral. I am busy preparing to open 3 days a week to sell my range of hand made homewares and ever expanding collection of vintage haberdashery and ephemera. I will also be stocking some fabulous hats and accessories made by renown milliner Serena Lindeman.
Following the success of Marche Rouge and all the great feedback I decided to open on a more regular basis. I am also planning some classes and an informal crafternoon tea group  later in the year. For a review of our Christmas Marche Rouge and an interview about my work, check out this blog (best blog for what's happening in Melb!) http://www.melhotornot.com/
I also did an interview with Kate at  http://www.ispystyle.com.au/, there are more photos of my visual merchandising work.

I will be opening Thursdays & Fridays 10am-6pm and Saturdays 10am -4pm from next Thursday 8th April.
The address is Room 5 2nd Floor, 37 Swanston Street Melbourne, take the lift or stairs from Cathedral Arcade.

My neighbour Kate, at the famous Buttonmania is having a fabulous sale next week of her vast supply of crazy patchwork fabrics. Kate has the best range of buttons in town and also offers a custom service for covered buttons, buckles and belts.

A few of my favourite things

New 1940s anodised knitting needles with original labels-  love the colours

             So much new stock! New DMC, celluloid sequins, Cutie Doll kits

                                                  Happy Easter!!