« Spring Classes at Purl Patchwork! | Main | Crochet Kits from Japan »

Liberty of London Swatch Portraits

libertyfull.jpg
In our teeny-tiny fabric shop, Purl Patchwork, it is a challenge to find fresh ideas to display our favorite products in customer-friendly ways.  We were really scratching our heads when a bunch of new Tana Lawn prints from Liberty of London arrived last week on unruly five-foot-tall bolts!   Our solution:  we filled a handful of simple wooden embroidery hoops with swatches of fabric and displayed them all on the wall like a family portrait gallery. 

If you're interested in making a similar display of your own Liberty of London collection, visit our Swatch Portraits Project Journal.

Posted on March 2, 2007 by Registered Commenterpurl bee in , | Comments39 Comments

EmailEmail Article to Friend

Reader Comments (39)

What a nice idea! Instead of hanging fabrics on a line or tacking them up I think I will try this. I quite enjoy visiting this site. Thank you for the inspiration!
March 2, 2007 | Unregistered Commenterjess
stunning! What a beautiful display. I've got several of those liberty prints on my wishlist. :)
March 2, 2007 | Unregistered Commenterjulie
I sooo adore Liberty of London fabric. What a brilliant idea of how to display it !! Clarice
March 2, 2007 | Unregistered Commenterclarice
This is the cutest idea ever. I posted a link to your site on mine so others can see it too.
March 2, 2007 | Unregistered Commenterkm
Very clever stuff girls.
March 2, 2007 | Unregistered Commenterjuju
what a brilliant idea - and what a gorgeous display of wonderful fabric. I've recently made a blouse from the fabric in the very bottom lefthand corner.
March 2, 2007 | Unregistered Commentercaroline
What a fantastic idea! It looks fabulous.
March 2, 2007 | Unregistered CommenterMaritza
GREAT idea! Something to try in my sewing room! I love it!
March 2, 2007 | Unregistered Commenterkate
brilliant! I love it!!
March 2, 2007 | Unregistered Commenterhillary
i keep coming back to the computer to look at this. i am in love with this idea. thanks
March 2, 2007 | Unregistered Commenternancy
This is a super idea! It looks fantastic and serves as a wonderful display to showcase the fabrics.
March 3, 2007 | Unregistered CommenterJune
I love this idea!! I see embroidery hoops all the time when I'm thrifting, now I have a reason to buy some!
March 3, 2007 | Unregistered CommenterCassi
This is so pretty - simple and adorable! Thanks!
March 3, 2007 | Unregistered CommenterMary-Heather
Inspired!
March 4, 2007 | Unregistered CommenterKaren
That is such a fantastic idea! Could I perhaps use one of your pictures to profile said idea in my own blog? I won't have the funds to try it myself for a while, and I'd like to include it in a post I'm writing up of crafters/artisans/ideas I admire.
March 4, 2007 | Unregistered CommenterCorvus
What a great idea! It makes a change from the photo frame displays- in fact it has given me a great idea to actually use the hoops as photo frames - Can't wait to try it now!
March 4, 2007 | Unregistered CommenterMissLaurence
lovely!
March 4, 2007 | Unregistered Commentercheryl
Wow, thank you all for your wonderful comments. We've had such a positive response to this idea, we've gone ahead and made a flickr group for swatch portraits. If you decide to make one, or two, (or 10!) please share your photos here: http://www.flickr.com/groups/364879@N22/

thanks! --purlbee
March 5, 2007 | Registered Commenterpurl bee
i really really love this idea. another thing you could do is paint the hoops different coordinating colors. also - could you use double-sided tape instead of glue incase you wanted to swap out the fabric for different seasons or looks?
March 5, 2007 | Unregistered Commentercristina
Love the embroidery hoop idea, I know what I'm going to do with my favourite fabrics.
March 6, 2007 | Unregistered CommenterJennie
i love the idea, too!
March 7, 2007 | Unregistered Commentercindy k
Brilliant idea and wounderful fabric!
March 8, 2007 | Unregistered CommenterRedwork in Germany
What a stunning image! You do great things with fabric, ladies!

I do a similar display with my knitted swatches using small 5x5 shadow box frames. Might as well use them rather than just have them lying around!
March 8, 2007 | Unregistered CommenterThe Steph
What a wonderful display of fabrics! I have some that I will share in your new group!!!

love your blog--keep up the great work!

Sheree
March 10, 2007 | Unregistered Commentersheree
I love the bird and cherry blossom fabrics...such a sweet, simple idea that looks gorgeous. Well done Purl!
March 11, 2007 | Unregistered CommenterMichelle
I saw this linked over at Decor8 and love it--it's perfect for those of us *compelled* to buy pretty fabrics but not enough projects to use them up! Thanks for the idea!
March 12, 2007 | Unregistered Commentermel
I discovered your blog on the Adorn blog site when they posted a link to this.

What a lovely idea!
March 12, 2007 | Unregistered CommenterJennifer
What a lovely idea....so cut !!!
March 14, 2007 | Unregistered Commenterbribri
this is AMAZING! gorgeous!
March 16, 2007 | Unregistered Commenterjoy
i love this idea...i want to use it in my bedroom.
March 20, 2007 | Unregistered Commenterpunky
I may very well be the last person on the planet to blog about your framed fabrics idea, but here it is: http://smalltownfun.squarespace.com/journal/2007/3/25/easter-craft-ideas.html

As usual, you set the bar! Thanks a ton!
March 26, 2007 | Unregistered CommenterChristi
Wow what a great idea! I saw this featured on Alicia Paulson's blog, Posie Gets Cozy.

I have some remnants and beginnings of quilted fabric that belonged to my mom who is now deceased. Till now I haven't known what to do with them . Thanks so much. Plan to look for hoops after work today. I have a Flickr account so if I may, I'll post to your group when they're done. Thanks again, Josie
April 5, 2007 | Unregistered CommenterJosie Soho
I was inspired by your brilliant idea so I put up a few in my kitchen. Thanks for sharing!
April 6, 2007 | Unregistered CommenterMona
You're a genious! Fabulous idea!
April 11, 2007 | Unregistered CommenterSofia
I am *way* behind the times here! I am dying for that bird print (brown birds..blue flowers) but I couldn't find it on your fabric list......
June 10, 2007 | Unregistered CommenterMelissa
Melissa,
Unfortunately, that fabric was a seasonal print by Liberty and is now completely gone... We loved it too!
June 10, 2007 | Registered Commenterpurl bee
How cool!! Great idea!
October 18, 2007 | Unregistered Commenterstyle saves the world
This photo inspired me to make some frames with embroidered linen. See photos here:
http://thelongthread.com/2008/01/11/embroidery-hoop-frames/
January 11, 2008 | Unregistered Commenterthelongthread
Wow, I am in love with this idea, finally a way to enjoy the fabric just for the fabric you know.
March 13, 2008 | Unregistered Commenteramerica

PostPost a New Comment

Enter your information below to add a new comment.
Author Email (optional):
Author URL (optional):
Post:
 
All HTML will be escaped. Hyperlinks will be created for URLs automatically.
Alert
Comment Moderation Enabled
Thank you for your comment! Your comment will appear as soon as it has been cleared by a purl bee editor.