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Friday
02Mar

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 DateMarch 2, 2007 | Authorpurl bee | Print ArticlePrint | | in , | Comment39 Comments

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

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