Friday 28 September 2012

Poppingjay Update



Cree, Galloway and Buchan Plaids fom Ian Sanderson

I'm a lucky girl .....not only have the kind folk at Ian Sanderson sent over some super photos of the Poppingjay lampshades on the Decorex stand .....

Poppinjay Collection at Decorex 2012

but plans are afoot to work again with that gorgeous lambswool I was swooning over.

Poppingjay Collection at Decorex 2012


Ginger wine tonight me thinks.

Thursday 27 September 2012

Poppingjay Lampshades for Ian Sanderson launched at Decorex 2012

Well that's it then...the great and the good have packed away the most luxurious and beautiful textiles and lighting imaginable for another year. Decorex 2012 has closed its 35th anniversary show and I see the blogs are alive with folk discussing their highlights.

FollyandGlee Patchwork Lampshades in Poppinjay Collection Fabrics from Ian Sanderson
Delighted to report FollyandGlee made a small contribution to this years show. The lovely folk at Ian Sanderson launched the fabulous Poppinjay Collection at Decorex and requested a couple of patchwork lampshades to show off just how well this gorgeous collection of fabrics work together.

Ian Sanderson

From a 1930s interpretation of an Elizabethan-style design to the 21st century modern vintage-style interior Poppinjay is an archive print reborn. Originally wood roller printed on 27” linen in Lancashire in the 1930s. This printing technique was the next generation from the original method of hand wood blocking. These early printing techniques produced some of the most interesting of the late 19th and early 20th century textiles, many of which are now stored in the V and A Museum in London.

 I worked the lampshades in two colourways - Green tea and Russian caravan. But check the Ian Sanderson website for the other colourways....the Thirties Blue/Green is particularly lovely.


I had feared for the different weights of fabric -with some being linens some firmer upholsetery fabrics- making patchworking difficult. But no they were a joy to work with. My favourite......well for sheer softness and all round tactile loveliness I'd say the Cree 100% Scottish Lambswool in Willow. The Ercol has already begun a whispering campain in my ear that it would be perfect for his new covers.

Sunday 23 September 2012

Jamie Oliver chooses Folly&Glee lampshades

Time to share a really exciting commission I completed earlier in the summer - 7 big standard lampshades for Jamie Oliver's new mega restaurant, bakery and bar at Gatwick Airport. Its well worth watching this clip of Jamie explaining just how he's hoping to change the face of restaurant eating with this huge venture.
I didn't get to meet Jamie but I did get to work with his amazing design consultancy Blacksheep. Blacksheep have won just about every design award there is going for hospitality and restaurant interiors. They have an uncompromising reputation for throwing away the rule book and creating amazing spaces that still work. I'd read about their work on Jamie's  Union Jacks and loved that the design celebrates Britishness with all kinds of nostalgic and quirky finds. There's stuff from the 50s, 60s and 70s  all given a modern twist. But Gatwick  incorporates a bakery, a Jack's Bar and a Jamie's Italian and is set to serve more than 1000 breakfasts alone a day all frshly cooked on the premises. It's a groundbreaking concept for Airports where food is generally simply re-heated and lets face it sad.


BlackSheep Design
Cripes! It was clear from the off then that Blacksheep really wanted to push the boundaries of what people expect from an airport bar and that made this commission super exciting. Here's part of my brief from Designer Emma Freed,  "we want to create a warm and inviting bar space to enjoy a quick pint, with a subtle nod to yesteryear and postwar nostalgia. We are doing this with custom printed formic table tops, worn leather armchairs and some great vintage chandeliers and cushions. Importantly the bar also has to encapsulate Jamie Oliver’s cheeky chappy persona, so on top of all of this there is lots of big signage, hand painted slogans and graphics and a great Tea-Rex dinosaur mural!”

Photo courtesy Blacksheep
No ordinary lampshades then. Something out of the ordinary for sure. How about an "inside out" lampshade. A plain and modest outer with a vibrant burst of nostalgic original vintage fabric on the inside. Eureka!


I was nervous about finding just the right quality and weight of natural undyed linen. An intense search came up trumps and I'm really pleased with the linen I have in 3 colourways: natural, black and cream. Its fine enough to give a lovely smooth handrolled edge and allow just the right of reflection of the inner pattern through once lit.


Photo courtesy Blacksheep
That effect really seems to work and Blacksheep have commented on how well the lampshades add to the intimate atmosphere they wanted to create all the way along the main  balustrade and in front of the keg room.


Choosing the inner fabrics from the barkcloth stash went well too. There were a couple of first choices that didn't work given the width of fabric required for such large lampshades. One quirky English boating scene would have looked great but the directional print just wouldn't co-operate...not even for Jamie! 


There was a moment of panic when on delivery to the electrical contractors I was told the shades would never pass stringent airport health and saftey rules. Everything in an airport has to either be bolted to the floor or ceiling by way of specialist tools presumably in case of exuberant holiday makers deciding to play lampshade volleyball. Lordy I had visions of my shades chucked out, forlorn and unloved atop a skip somewhere by the side of the A23.

I should have had more faith however as there are  ways and means to do these things and Jamie Oliver is clearly on a mission to transform Airport hospitality. If the man can get the first proper gas ovens into an Airport, calm Security by changing the size of kitchen knives and build an explosive proof storage room for his flour...then ensuring a few lampshades could be fitted safely was never going to be a real issue. I'm REALLY chuffed to have played a small part in making one of our major Airports a somewhat cosier, more soulful place to spend time.Cheers Jamie for the opportunity.

If you'd like a Jamie style "inside-out" shade just let me know. It's a method of shade making I've really enjoyed and works for most shapes and sizes. When you think about it if hanging as a ceiling pendant the inside of your lampshade is more on display than the outer. And of course for those who just want a touch of midcentury/retro without screaming "I love vintage" they're perfect. I'll be listing a few in the shop over the next few days or get in touch at hello@follyandglee.co.uk




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