Great Marlborough Street, Batman!

Do you know of where I speak?

Even their own website describes the location as "iconic".  And yes, it is.

Liberty of London.  

Please forgive my pictures but it was overcast and cloudy the afternoon I went to Liberty.  It affected the lighting outside and inside the store, an open space with a large glass skylight.  It didn't rain -- more's the pity as it would have given me a terrific excuse to just hang out in the store, lingering on the 3rd floor with the fabrics.  

As you're reading this, I'm in Wisconsin this week.  I'm there for a Shopowners Retreat at Primitive Gatherings.  No, I am not opening a shop.  No, I am not buying a shop.  But after seeing a card about it at Fall Market last year, I asked Ms. Bongean if I had to do one of those two things to be able to attend.  After a little bit of a discussion, she decided that I was probably harmless enough -- less annoying than she originally thought -- and it would be okay to go.  So here I am -- or there I am.  I'll tell you about it when I get back.  In the meantime, I'll tell you about another great fabric shop.

Over the years, I've managed to collect some Liberty of London fabrics, mostly the lawns for which they are very famous.  But as many of you know, they can be hard to find in much of the US, and when you do find some, it is often very expensive.  

There's the skylight.  On a sunny day, I can only imagine how beautiful it is inside.  

This lovely lady agreed.  

I knew I should have brought a bigger suitcase -- wouldn't this dressform have been fun?

Or one of these little suitcases?  

Ribbons and trims -- I loved how the ribbons were wrapped on the cards.  I almost  bought a couple just to put on a shelf... but then my attention was diverted.  (It was a mixed blessing.  Given that I didn't know what I would do with the ribbon, and the price of it, I was better off being led away from this particular temptation.  Except that sometimes the temptation you leave behind isn't quite as bad as the temptation you're replacing it with.)  

Oh hello my pretties... I'll be right there.  

These vase-like things were on the other side of the building from where I was standing when I first spotted them.  

This was was filled with scarves -- medium-small squares in two or three different prints.  Very pretty.

I was told that George Clooney walked right by me, said "Hello gorgeous!" and I didn't even notice.  (Okay, I would have noticed... I would have noticed anyone who tried to get close enough to this to try and grab one of those rolls!)

Packaged primarily by weight, each of these little rolls has between 10 and 12 different prints, each measuring about 48" long by anywhere from 4" to 6" wide.  Packaged and sold for patchwork, the tag says that if the pieces were sewn together, the finished quilt would be about 48" x 60" or thereabouts.  

Naturally wanting a big quilt, and to share these lovely rolls with all my friends, I picked up the vase-thing and carried what you see in the picture to the salesdesk.  While waiting in line and making a mental list of who might like a roll of Liberty fabrics, I happened to see a price tag.  When it was my turn, I told the lovely saleslady that while I didn't need the vase, I would take all four of the rolls contained therein!  When she questioned my count, I apologize profusely and told her that I hadn't realized that there was a fifth roll tucked in there.  My mistake.  Please forgive me.  Yes, I will take that one too.  

Hey, at 49.95 each, my largesse was going to get very expensive, very quickly.  That's 49.95 pounds -- British Sterling.  That's $81.82 at the current exchange rate.  Each.  Five times $81.82... oy vey.  So just how much do I really like Ginger?

After the formerly nice saleslady mentioned the possiblity of calling security -- oh, to have still been in Paris -- I closed my eyes and picked one.  Then I put it back and picked another one... which I bought.  I'm not sure exactly what I'll make with it but I think it's a safe bet that it won't be very big.  

Nor far from Liberty of London, at 4 Avery Row in Mayfair is another lovely shop known for their fabrics -- and soon to be better known here for their quilt fabrics.

Cabbages & Roses, the British lifestyle company founded by Christina Strutt -- the folks behind the upcoming Northcote Range by Moda Fabrics.  (Coming in September.)

Did you know Christina has a blog?

But for the glass in the picture frame, I think there were a half-dozen prints I would have happily taken home with me.  It is a beautiful shop.  

(No, this shop didn't have any fabric.  There are two shops that stock the home decorating weight fabrics for which Cabbages & Roses are known, but those stores were a little further afield.  I could have taken the Underground, and I did consider it, but with just a few days in London and rapidly decreasing luggage space, I thought it best not to throw any more temptation in my path.  Next time, right?)

More on London later... though not much more.  

 

Comments

[Sandi]

Welcome to Wisconsin! Looks like you're about 2 hours north of me.

I don't know if I could live through a Liberty's visit. There's just so much amazingness, and I'd have a breakdown trying to choose. I have a small vase that my great grandmother picked up in Germany that looks almost like it's wrapped in a Liberty of London print.

I've really enjoyed your vacation posts, although the one with the food tours did require me to wipe down my keyboard afterward.

Enjoy your retreat!

[Auntie Pami]

I would love to see the ribbon wall. I have a crazy quilt in my future. Oh well, one of these days I'll have to go. Although the pastry shops in Paris are still haunting me. Can you show close ups of the Liberty rolls? They have less calories.

[Sunnybec]

Thanks for the tour. Have been to London many times but never been to Liberty...maybe just as well LOL. I am glad you are not in London now, it saddens me so much what is happening there at the moment. Linda x

[Inese]

Hi Carrie! LOVE reading your posts about your trip. I so want to go back to London after seeing this post. I never particularly wanted to see Paris but after your terrific post and wonderful pictures I Do want to see Paris.

[SuzK]

I just caught up on your blog and I'm exhausted! What an amazing trip you had! Holy Cow! You really brought some of Paris back to us. Loved it. However, you should have brought back enough chocolate for everyone....just sayin.

[Kathi Schaffer]

Carrie-
Understand your love of LoL lawns! Found. Terrific source at a fairly reasonable price: Try www.fabric.com
In addition to the usual good base price, they do also email out some great coupons and orders over $35 ship free. All in all, ends up being a pretty good deal!

[Kathi Schaffer]

FYI------Just rec'd an email update from www.fabric.com
There is currently a sale on LoL lawn prints----- 20 percent off---price is a little over $23

[Candace]

Oh Carrie, thanks for taking me back to Liberty of London. I stumbled in there on my first trip over the pond nearly 25 years ago, before I began quilting, but I was sewing garments back then. All I could afford was a scarf on sale, but I spent the better part of 2 hours just wandering around in awe - and yes, being eyed by security over and over! I also found my way to Cabbage & Roses and at the time there was a little cafe downstairs. I had to sit with another woman (it was crowded) but we talked about our homes and had a lovely chat - she was amazed that I could live in a "detached" house! I can't wait to hear more about London!
Cheers!