Sunday 23 August 2009

something made

I was just sorting through a pile of fabric swatches and came across a little bundle from Ian Mankin (who send out free generous-sized swatches). It's all very well looking at fabric online, but it's not the same as running your fingers over the woven threads, trying it out in situ, and getting a feel for the real colours. I love Mankin's fabrics - lovely muted colours, lots of utility fabrics with a contemporary twist, and plenty of linen.

I had a large swatch of grain stripe indigo, and decided to turn it into a lavender bag to hang from my front door (which is actually no longer the front door, but still referred to as such). The weave is quite coarse so I lined the fabric with muslin to prevent any lavender flowers poking through.


In the warmer months this door is always open - it leads into my little conservatory, and then into the garden.


The original letterbox is still in the door - now tinged with rust and long redundant, it's far too small for modern mail. I hadn't really paid it much attention before, but when I got my camera out to take these photographs, and looked through the lens, I finally really noticed it, and appreciated the simple bold graphics. And anything with a hint of rust does it for me. I'm easily charmed.

21 comments:

The Curious Cat said...

Very peaceful photos -I love the wood and the overall composition....

Ali said...

I often see life differently through the lens. It focuses the mind, somehow.

Gigibird said...

Very often I take what I think is a great photo only to doscover a great big dog hair in full view.
Looking at a photo often shows something in a completely different way.
WD40 will curb the rust on your letter box.

heidi said...

again simple but perfect!
i love those natural tones as well they always remind me of the coast.what a sweet front door & the dear little letterbox,they obviously didnt have bills as big as ours back then!!

Gina said...

Your door is charming - I love the letter box too!

kristina said...

Oh you know how much I love those colors! What a beautiful project. And how interesting to think modern mail is bigger... K x

Reading Tea Leaves said...

Diana, if the old 'front' door to your house is anything to go by then I think I would love the rest of it! Rust, weathered wood and linen in muted, earthy colours do it for me too! Your little lavendar bag is really sweet. Thanks for the link to Ian Mankin.

Jeanne x

Anonymous said...

very charming.. i love your front door... and ian mankin fabrics too.
summer kisses to you xx

silverpebble said...

This little corner of your house is now even more lovely. Ian Mankin's ticking is covetable, as is your little lavender bag. Your pictures are a tonic.

Diane said...

Ian Mankin fabrics are lovely. However your door is even more beautiful, and as for the rusty letterbox - utterly divine!!

JuliaB said...

Hi Diana. I've got a back door which isn't the back door anymore! hehe. But it isn't as charming as yours. Nice fabric links! Thanks for all your help yesterday too, I have made all the ammendments including moving my 'about' page. It looks much better. Thankyou! x

Guatyen said...

lovely!

BadPenny said...

Stunning photographs.

Anonymous said...

Lavender bags are great in draws. Newly washed socks are greatly improved by being stored with one. The linen could be really useful.

alice c said...

Your door looks like a piece of driftwood - how lovely.

Louise said...

I agree about rust, especially in the garden. Your door is great, and the type of door I would love to have in my home one day. A very nice lavender bag too. x

urban craft said...

super creative idea!

A time to dance said...

...being easily charmed is a lovely quality...seeing life as half full...i was charmed by the lavender bag...i loved the colours and the simple elegance....

monica said...

I think sometimes a lense sees things we don't... and reveals them in a different light. Our eyes are too used to take in the general picture and forget the details.

(where do you get the lavender? I'm looking for some!)

Jackie said...

The linen pine and rusty metal go together so well.

Sally Anne said...

Oh such lovely fabrics from Ian Mankin. A perfect little lavender bag and it looks so right on that door.