Monday, November 9, 2009

Leaves falling




Two more colorways of my LEAVES ribbon arrived today: each features the same vibrant maple leaves. One is on a mysterious plum ground, and the other on an espresso brown. The brown version is just like the great brown kitchen towels I designed for Crate & Barrel this season (now I LOVE a brown towel, as it never shows stains!) And what do you know -- they are on sale right now! I also love a great deal!

Sunday, November 8, 2009

free shipping!


I am so proud of myself! I do all of my own website work and it is often a struggle to get through the process to achieve what I want to do. I loathe paying high shipping fees when I want to order just one little thing online -- so I decided some time ago to offer free shipping on all US orders of my ribbons, but couldn't figure out how to change the website calculations -- until tonight!
So now, if I did it all right, you won't be charged shipping on your orders within the USA (unless you want it overnight -- but gotta say, I can't figure out how to offer that option anyway!) Does this sound like an amateur?

Monday, November 2, 2009

leaves


This is the beautiful new postcard from my wholesale distributor, Renaissance Ribbons. Welcome Fall!

Monday, October 26, 2009

and MORE new ribbons




They just keep on coming! I have listed these today on www.lfntextiles.com:

Suzani Flower, 22 mm

Leaves - gold, 1.5"

Primrose- violet, 22 mm (approx. 7/8")

Thursday, October 15, 2009

more new ribbons





I have been so busy in the studio -- still working on Fall 2010 designs for Crate & Barrel, among other projects -- that I forgot to post the other new ribbons which have now arrived in stock. Doily is based on crochet doilies, and has the apprearance of rather baroque snowflakes. Creamy white, lacy doilies float above a ground of the same pattern woven in 2 tones of either red, or deep blue.

And it has a WOVEN edge! This is thrilling for me: when I began my ribbon business I went with the relatively new, much-maligned broadloom construction, where the ribbons are woven as a wide sheet and then slit apart into narrow strips. Much less expensive to produce, the edge has a simulated selvedge but was spurned for some time by true ribbon connoisseurs, who preferred the woven edge. On "real" woven edge ribbon, a tiny shuttle races back & forth on each separate ribbon. If they are 1.5" wide, and you are weaving them on a 54" loom, you an see how many tiny little shuttles would be needed to weave all those strips. But now, by teaming up with Renaissance Ribbons, I am able to design constructions that I could only dream about as tiny little LFN.

The other new woven-edge ribbon is Mistletoe, which comes in red with bright green leaves, or deep red with celadon leaves. Both are sumptuous, woven with beautifully detailed leaves and bright white berries which sit like pearls on the surface.

Quilting has also arrived; it is delightful. I originally designed it as a print, on a rather sophisticated khaki ground. Now it has the look of old handwoven coverlets, with a cream ground and either red or blue brocading. I love the tiny little stitches throughout the design, which I meant to look like the tiny stitches of hand quilting.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

new ribbons in stock!







Wheee-- some of the new ribbons have arrived! As soon as I got them online orders began pouring in -- I guess that means that a) it has been a real long time since I posted something new and b) maybe this recession is over ???
Here are the ones which arrived today. click on the image and it will take you to the website.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

a sewing kit for the quilt show





I love working with the ribbons I design, to find new uses for them. "Quilting" is a re-issue of a design I originally did as a printed satin. It is terrific as a reversible woven, 7/8" wide. The look is reminiscent of old coverlets, and I love the stitching detail. I should have it up on the website in about 10 days.

I have been interested in sewing kits, pincushions, and needle books, so I designed a sewing set using antique linen ticking and wool felt to make a needle book with pockets for scissors and notions; then made a wrist pincushion, using the ribbon as the casing for an elastic band. Finally I made one of my signature lavender-stuffed square pincushions. I made box corners to make it look even more like a little mattress in its crisp ticking. The edges are all bound with my red Plaid ribbon.

I am toying with the idea of designing a line of sewing patterns for items like this -- what do you think? Please weigh in with comments!