I have always loved Laura Ashley and have used their fabric
throughout the years. So when I found out that as part of their 60th Anniversary they were reintroducing some of their old patterns it made me quite nostalgic.
My first memory of their fabric was as a teenager in the 1970s, I loved their dresses
but could not afford them. So when I
bought two of their milkmaid style smocks in a charity shop I thought I was so cool! And although that was a great summer I am happy to say there is no photographic evidence!
When I got my first home in the 1980s I went to town. I made loose covers for my sofa in Mr Jones,
made curtains and bedspreads in Louise for the spare room and had blue trellis
and red rose bud wallpaper in my bedroom. I have never seen this wallpaper since and I have not been able to find out what it was called, any ideas?
In the 1990s they were still producing beautiful floral
prints and when I moved house again I found myself going back to Laura
Ashley. I made curtains in Somerton and had
a lampshade and cushions in Tulip. I
also made beautiful curtains using Beeton (Chambray) and managed to get matching
oil cloth so that completed the dining room.
I have also used their wallpaper borders over the years as
they were a quick and cheap way to bring colour without the cost of
wallpaper. I still collect vintage rolls
when I see them, I would no longer use them on a wall but have some vague idea
there must be a decoupage type use for them, any suggestions are welcomed!
In recent years the patterns have not had the same
attraction for me the exception being the gorgeous Holiday floral pattern which
I only found after they stopped doing it.
However good old eBay came to the rescue and allowed me to get some
cushion covers and fabric. I also love Bunched
Roses which I still use in my kitchen having collected an apron, oven glove,
seat cushions and table mats!
But sometimes I cannot resist a vintage cushion cover, piece of Alice china or of course a wallpaper border!
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