Smitten

I'm a bit behind in my blog posts because I'm smitten.... with our new fabulous counter. It is around a hundred years old and came from Harveys, a Melbourne institution for all things haberdashery that recently closed. Harveys opened for business around 1895 in Bourke street and traded there until about thirty years ago, then they moved into the Nicholas building, on the floor directly above l'uccello. We wish Mr and Mrs Harvey a lovely retirement and hope they have time for all the things you don't have time for when you have a business. So many of us that sew will miss them, where will we go for so many supplies? Stay tuned for the new drop off for scissor sharpening, rumour has it, it may be another business in the Nicholas building, how convenient! A quick tour around the new lay out at l'uccello.

This wonderful old counter comes with so much history, there are grooves worn in the wood from the  measuring of various lengths along the old yard ruler. There is this little hole and groove for the string, and a little wooden box underneath the counter for the ball of string. I can't help but think of all the supplies sold over the years and the wonderful garments they were used to produce. Mr Harvey has been kind enough to share some of his memories of the industry over the years, of delivering supplies as a young man to Melbourne's couture houses and of the tables of ladies doing all the hand finishing, how much things have changed in such a short time. So thank you Mr. Harvey, we will take very good care of your counter and hopefully add a little history of our own.



Fly girl fly

This is the cover of a fabulous new book I bought myself for my birthday, it's title is Circus and it is published by Taschen. I have always wanted to be the girl who rode the white pony, spangly leotard and feathers on my head, standing on the pony's back as it galloped around the circus ring. I also loved the flying trapeze, it is such a leap of faith to let go and fly. This has been our inspiration this week, we have had to make a few big decisions about the l'uccello's direction this year so we have decided to swing high and fly, all we need now is some fabulous outfits.

Something like this, what do you think?

It really is a fabulous book.

We have had some gorgeous new stock arrive this week, luxurious ribbons, hat pins, lace and lovely French linen threads.

Moody blues, heavy delustred satin ribbon in navy blue, it's almost like a duchess satin. Lustrous jacquard and the the most beautiful shade of dark blue moire taffeta ribbon. More of these fab French hat pins, and in the background is a grey and white stripped extra wide milliner's grosgrain and black silk velvet, both suitable for blocking.

Prettiest French blue and champagne colours.

More of the delustred satin, this time in this stunning shade of green, and this beautiful stripped ribbon, both are over 10cm wide, too delicious!

Cotton seam binding tape in sunniest yellow, this makes the loveliest soft bows.

Beautiful antique Calais, Bedfordshire and Irish lace in a lovely range of colours.

We especially love the new straw hat pins and the sea shells are perfect for the season.

These lovely old French cards of linen thread are surplus from the 1940s, they would have originally been for soldier's uniform repairs. We also received some hanks of DMC lace making thread in ecru and some great Bakelite buttons also probably from the forties, made in England.

I have cousins in Queensland cut off by the floods, one of them has a new baby and the other a number of beloved horses, thankfully their properties have been spared so far, it is such a nervous time. If you have loved ones affected by this disaster our thoughts and best wishes are with you.

 Cottage Industry has a great offer of support, if you buy one of their fab tea towel cushions featuring Queensland Miss Pen Pen will donate all of the money to a worthy cause, check out the link to her blog for details.

Have a great week and remember the motto this week is Fly Girl Fly!

Bright and shiney and new...

Well Happy New Year lovely people, it's the first week of 2011 and it is amazing how the beginning of the year feels so bright and shiny and new. Although I have to say my resolutions are already out the window, that would be: not being late, not staying at work too late, not staying up too late there is definitely a theme here.

We have been busy little birds cleaning and painting and rearranging l'uccello, everything is starting to look refreshed and order is being restored.

The little desk that houses our vintage stamen collection has had a quick make over in palest antique pink, it's called China Doll, the stamens look so much more vibrant.

I still have the other half to finish tomorrow, but this side of the studio area is looking a treat, it makes me want to get started on our new projects, amazing what tiding up your workspace can do. I am so loving the cosmos, such brief but exuberant prettiness.

The centre table is loaded up with baskets full of lovely new fat quarters, fabric cigars (16ths) and charm squares. How divine are the delphiniums! I have mixed them with snap dragons, carnations and this gorgeous vibrant lime green foliage, they look so English summer garden.

These are some of the new fabrics, lots of Judy Rothermel civil war reproductions, new French General and Moda's new range based on William Morris designs.

This sweet little lady is an early 20th century french pin cushion doll, originally she would have been attached to a pin cushion that would have been concealed by a skirt.

Possibly the most divine antique sewing collectible that we have ever had, this delicate little silk covered shoe is circa 1820 and is most likely French or English, the silver thimble it contains is hallmarked.

  The antique French quilt remnant I have used under the shoe is also too beautiful, circa 1880.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Christmas at our house

So another Christmas has been celebrated and it seems everyone has suddenly realised how tired they are. It's always such a race towards the end of the year thank goodness for Boxing day and left overs in the fridge. We have all been laying low with a nasty cold that I so kindly shared with everyone, so I haven't ventured much further than the couch, sleep sleep sleep, heaven!

As promised I have a couple of snaps of our Christmas table, while I was at it I took a few others around the house.

Roses from my sister's garden

 

My favourite baubles stay out all year round, I can't bare to put them away.

I must shamefully admit our tree is still up from last year....

I love it so much I may just leave it up permanently.

Christmas seems to have infiltrated every nook around here.

This is my favourite icon

 Post Christmas reading list

I'm watching..

I'm listening to...

and eating.......

Hope you are relaxing too.

Twas the night before Christmas

This is so the best ever Christmas album cover, I'm not sure if he is playing the drums or just lit up a cigar, either way it's pretty funny.

 I can't believe it is the night before Christmas already, still so much to do, you can't see our dining table for buttons and other l'uccello related items and we are having the family to Christmas lunch. The fridge is bulging with lovely produce from the market and I am looking forward to getting started on the cooking, I love the cooking, don't love the cleaning up. I also love the table setting, every year we have a different look, this year we are having one of our beautiful antique french linen and doily runners, lots of tea light candles in pretty glass votives and carnations in red and pink, I have just remembered I haven't bought the bon bons, something else for the list.

 I'll take a picture of the table to post after Christmas, I'd love it if you want to take a snap of your table to send to us and we can post them all together, send it to info@luccello.com.au.

l'uccello will close at 3pm on Christmas Eve and will re open on Wednesday the 5th of January at 10am.

Have a wonderful Christmas if you celebrate it and a brilliant New Year, enjoy time with friends or family and make sure you find time for a nap or two. Thank you to everyone who made l'uccello's first Christmas such a special one.

Merry Christmas xx

Behind the grey door.....

We are still waiting to hear what our options are regarding the ugly old steel door that is currently covering the entrance to l'uccello. Here are a few treasures that are behind the grey door, just ring the bell if you decide to drop in, we will come and help you with the door.

 

Lovely new arrivals, beautiful old velvet violets, pretty vintage stamens and ribbons.

A Christmas present to myself, this fabulous flag cushion is made from WW1 bunting, made by the ever clever and stylish Miss Pen Pen, I love love love it!

This is part of our mural on the back wall, how funny is Grumpy Cat?!

Also from our mural, old Semco sewing cards, who remembers these? I'm sure I had some once.

So cute, these patterns by Marg Low are a perfect match with our new range of pure wool felts, Janet whipped up this sample isn't she clever!

I'm so in love with these new flowers, ribbons and stamens I don't know if I can part with them, they look especially good all piled up together.

This is a Christmas present from a dear friend, it is a Japanese dolls sewing room cabinet set, it even has a tiny pin cushion, I am so spoilt.

Pretty vintage swans just arrived this week.

And so did these sweet little chaps, hummingbirds, robins and sparrows.

We hope you are all coping with the pre Christmas craziness that seems to have kicked in this week, if you need a little respite pop into l'uccello, as the sign on the door says, it's lovely inside.