planting cycles

Vegetables ribbon, copyright LFN Textiles

I love vegetables -- I love to eat them, I love to grow them, I love to draw them.  When I first saw the vegetable garden at Monticello, first designed by Thomas Jefferson in the late 18th century, restored under Peter Hatch at Monticello in the 1980s, I was mesmerized by its beauty and its long, ribbon-like proportions.  At about 80 fet wide by a thousand feet long, it seemed like a giant, patterned textile just unfurled from the loom.  So I set about making a series of tapestries trying to describe the scope of the garden, from seed-sprouting and seed saving, through a woven catalogue of dozens of vegetables planted there.

the vegetable garden at Monticello

detail, "Harvest, 1992".  1993, hand woven. copyright Laura Foster Nicholson

This last piece, "Harvest 1992"  (1992 was the planting year I referenced, it was woven in 1993) became a lexicon for me of woven form which I have referred to over and over again ever since.  Long after the tapestries had been exhibited and sold, I designed a ribbon with some of the vegetables which we still produce' Crate & barrel licensed that design for kitchen towels for several seasons too.  And most recently I was contacted by The Battery Park Conservancy, who have now licensed the design for use in fund raising efforts for their Urban Garden, due to open this spring.

From their website,
"The Battery Conservancy presents the first Urban Farm at the Battery since the Dutch planted their cottage gardens in New Amsterdam in 1625.
This innovative project began with a request from students of Millennium
High School’s Environmental Club to plant a vegetable garden in the park.
Saying YES launched a farming initiative that now includes EIGHT schools with over 450 students (K-12).
The Battery Conservancy is expanding the program to include community groups, residents, and the neighboring workforce who long to give their hands and hearts to cultivating and harvesting home-grown food."  How cool is that ?

Shell Sheets

I just got a note from my customer, Jeanette Scarola of Hip Dragonfly, who had ordered my Shells ribbon in aqua to trim custom monogrammed sheets.  She sent me these photos, along with her very helpful ribbon sewing tips, which I quote here.

"This is Jeannette Scarola, from www.hipdragonfly.com, I didn't realize that you had an etsy store front, so do I, I want to forward you the pics. of this finished sheet order set for which I used your beautiful ribbon. I applied the trim: w/the teflon sewing foot; using mettler poly sheen thread; needle #11; stitch length 2.50; machine tension on #1, do not iron the trim w/steam, just press w/cloth. Hope this info is beneficial for your other customers."

I am always grateful to customers who send photos of things to make with ribbon.  I am happy, with permission, to publish them here, so please let me know when you make something wonderful!

Thanks, Jeanette!

and then it is baby time

Actually I should have said my first two bedding collections for Land of Nod.  I am nearly falling over in glee, just got done posting about the Teatime bedding collection below, and then thought "hey, that must mean the baby bedding is live too!  So here is the fabulously titled "how does your garden crib bedding bedding grow" set.  It comprises a crib bumper and applique flower quilt, and the design relates to the "better floors & gardens"  rug I designed which came out at LON last fall.  All photos courtesy Land of Nod. 

Teatime at the Land of Nod

Oh, yay!  My first bedding collection for Land of Nod went online today.  Called Teatime, it is centered around my big Doilies pattern and has related linens, throw pillows and curtain panels.  I love the prose Land of Nod uses in their catalogues:
"This calls for a parade!"
"Tea parties come and tea parties go, but this bedding is designed to stick with your little lady as she grows. Fun and playful, yet unconventional and modern, making it an ideal look for older kids. An eclectic array of printed doilies covers the pink comforter cover. Add appliquéd Pink or Green rickrack sheets for an understated touch. Coordinating throw pillows (sold separately) will be just your daughter's cup of tea."

Teatime pillow case, photo courtesy LON

Teatime throw pillow, photo courtesy LON

Teatime throw pillow, photo courtesy LON

Teatime bedding ensemble, photo courtesy LON

Teatime curtain panels, photo courtesy LON

and not only that...

Another new LFN design online at Crate & Barrel now is the valentine dishtowel & mug.  Couldn't be more different in design from the Kincaid rug, hence the new post!  I had a lot of fun designing this -- heart tulips.  I feel lucky when things go like this!

a new rug for Crate & Barrel

I have always wanted to design rugs.  In fact I have busily designed them for a while now, and in the last 3 monthsI have actually managed to get 2 out on the market!  The first was for Land of Nod, and I wrote about it in an earlier post.  My new rug for Crate & Barrel, Kincaid, is now available online and in stores.  It is all wool from New Zealand & Europe, hooked, and comes in 4 sizes.  I love wool.

or maybe Gold?

We have had a runaway best seller with the Suzani Flower design.  Not only have I done it in ribbon, but I have also had 2 doormats produced by Crate & Barrel spring & fall last year with those big, happy flowers.  Now I am glad to announce that we have brought Suzani Flower out with a modified, lighter palette for spring.  My partner Edith Minne at Renaissance Ribbons, who is charmingly French, suggested this palette as more South of France in inspiration an a softer, yellow gold ground. 

This ribbon is available in 2 widths, as are the others: 7/8" (22mm) and 1.5" (38mm).  Think spring.