Behind the times........

Well here I am at last, I'm at bit behind with everything at the moment, including the blog. I decided that it needed a bit of a makeover and as you know I'm not very techy, so it will take a while to finish. We have also been very busy filling wholesale orders, trying to keep on top of the mess, making lots of hot air balloons for the Klein's Easter window, developing new products and most exciting, working on our new packaging and branding. According to my significant other I have taken on a resemblance to the white rabbit in Alice in Wonderland, I'm late, I'm late for a very important........

This is our lovely new range of Lavender heat pillows, hand made by us with pure cotton fabrics and natural ingredients, including fragrant Victorian lavender.

Sneak peek, they are not quite finished, these gorgeous cockades and rosettes are mostly made from vintage ribbons and have a pin back so they can be worn as a broach. They will be on sale shortly.

I don't have a picture of the hot air balloons yet, but if you are in Brunswick Street Fitzroy and want to have a look at them they are at Klein's Perfumery (313 Brunswick Street)

Basket full of happiness, waiting for the tram, South Melbourne.

We have so much lovely new stock, including these glass pearly coated buttons

Fab new stock of vintage coat buttons in great colours

Balls of silk yarn, spun from the threads left over from silk sari production

We have some great pieces of recycled vintage cloth from Nepal at the moment, lots of cross stitch and indigo and authentic Nepalese dust. Perfect for a gypsy caravan!

New stock of Sajou thread winders and needles including a couple of lovely new designs

This is Kookie, he popped in last week to say ciao, clearly he feels right at home at l'uccello, maybe he speaks Italian.

One of my current obsessions is the work of this French artist, Isabelle De Borchgrave, magnificent! This is from an article in Selvedge, issue 34 May/June 2010.

 I have finally seen Bright Star, this image on the cover of Selvedge is from the film. How beautiful is this film!!? I was enthralled, the costumes are so wonderful, the textures and colours, the art direction of the whole film is just so beautiful I couldn't speak. The actors are lovely and moving and Keats poetry is like a dream. And Sophie Digard scarves and cardigans! If you love textiles and haven't seen this film, you must see it. 

"A thing of beauty is a joy for ever,

Its loveliness increases; it will never

Pass into nothingness; but still will keep

A bower quiet for us, and a sleep

Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing."

John Keats from Endymion 

Speaking of Sophie Digard, our winter collection is not far away so stay tuned, the colours and patterns are more beautiful than ever.

Finally a brief word about the passing of one of my favourite movie stars, Elizabeth Taylor. One of my favourite films is Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, if anyone thinks petticoats aren't sexy they haven't seen that film. I loved her style, her passion, her extravagance, her acting, her beauty and old school Hollywood movie star glamour, she was an inspiring and courageous woman.



50,000 things

I can't believe it is Friday night already, how did the year get to be so fast already? I feel like I have 50,000 things in my head, and that is about 49,995 things too many! I have wasted at least a whole work day on emails, our connection at the shop is the worst ever, can I just say telephones are wonderful inventions! You pick them up, dial, talk, hang up - easy. As apposed to try 5 times to connect to the server, open the mail, loose the connection, connect again, take 10 minutes to load, then horror of horrors, attachments. Anyway sorry about the diatribe, telstra man is coming soon to put the cable on.

 So to rid myself of such pointless angst I spent yesterday creating a couple of vignettes with various props that I am collecting to decorate the shop for our rapidly approaching first birthday. We also have had some lovely new stock arrive so a few hours of arranging and patting them all did the trick.

Today I was happy as a lark, it was the perfect big sky day, endless blue that goes on forever and the golden sunshine of autumn. I have lots to catch up on, but some times you have to remember to breath.

We are having a gorgeous range of cockades and rosettes made using our lovely vintage ribbons.

Too much is never enough.

Fabulous new paisleys have just arrived.

More beautiful Valdani hand dyed threads.

Heavenly bullion tassels, made from real metal, they date from the early 1900s

More trims for my circus girls, a new project starting next week, too exciting.

I have started pinching the art work from home, this lovely old print is perfect behind the counter, don't you think?

PS Dear Fabricfantastique, apologies! I went to post your comment last week, but accidentally deleted it instead, thanks for taking the time to send it.

Happy Labour Day/Moomba have a great long week end x

Autumn already

It seems like all of a sudden Summer is over, it's kind of melancholy at first, this last flourish of Butterfly Bush from my garden is so lovely and fragrant. But then I start to think of cosy scarves and lovely new boots for winter and it makes me quite cheerful. I also find I am much more inclined to get crafty in the cooler weather, suddenly felts, pompoms and crochet seem so appealing. I have been especially happy because I have been able to wear my new Sophie Digard scarf, it is just so beautiful.

The crazy filter that I like on my iphone doesn't do the colours justice, they are heaven!

The big news of the week is we are hosting our first Crafty Hens Party on Saturday - craft, afternoon tea and girlfriends, it is sure to be a relaxing and fun afternoon.

Because of this l'uccello will be closing early this week only, at 2 pm. We hope this doesn't cause anyone any inconvenience.

Saturday hours 10am-2pm

this week only 

These fabulous old magazines from the 1930s arrived today, I'm thinking this could be my look for the season, a little hunter chic!

How glamorous are these dames?!

These fabulous baskets from Ghana arrived today, beautifully woven in lovely patterns and colours, perfect for storing crafty stash or for carrying your supplies to a class or two.

Gratuitous cotton reel shot

Have a great week, don't forget about early closing this Saturday x