Bloomsbury Revisited

March 25th, 2007

From Julie:
I’ve long been an admirer of the Bloomsbury aesthetic; a few years back, I begged my mother-in-law, Sally, to make me a mirror frame from Bloomsbury Needlepoint by Melinda Coss (look for it on amazon.com). She said it was the most difficult needlepoint project she’d ever undertaken. (Note to Sally: I’m now fixated on a cushion cover.)

My Bloomsbury mania had gone into remission until a few days ago, when I came across the fabrics of Cressida Bell, the granddaughter of Vanessa Bell. Produced by Borderline Fabrics in the UK (borderlinefabrics.com), these insanely idiosyncratic fabrics are printed by hand on heavyweight natural Irish linen. In the US, they are available only through Classic Revivals in Boston, MA (One Design Center Place, Suite 534; 617-574-9030). The very knowledgeable owner, John Buscemi, a historian as well as a fabric expert, will regale you with fascinating tidbits: Sally Baring, aka Lady Ashburton, the owner of Borderline Fabrics, is descended from a line of illustrious and distinguished Brits.

Woodland:

Josephine:

Borderline Fabrics also offers designs by Enid Marx (who was a Karl Marx relation and also the designer of seating upholstery used in the London Underground in the forties and fifties).

Star: Zig Zag:

Two more great ones, from E. Q. Nicholson (Elsie Queen Nicholson), who also designed fabrics for HM Yacht Britannia.
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Seaweed: Black Goose:

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