The first time I saw a toile textile, I have to admit I was not completely in love with it. They have grown on me over the years, and I find that now I am absolutely enamored by nearly every one that I see, particularly the older ones. This one pictured above is called The Gardeners, and it was designed and made by Jouy-en-Josas in 1780.
This book is one of my favorite ones on the subject. It is very thorough and the photos are varied, clear, and very true, and it is written in English.
When I want to feast my eyes on antique textiles and toiles in particular, I love to visit this visual treat. There is a wealth of information here and the textiles are always varied and wonderful.
Today I spent the afternoon finishing two lampshades using a reproduction toile similar to the one pictured above, The Gardeners. I found this fabric quite a number of years ago in France when I was there with my husband. The colors are more vivid than the original, but the design is nearly identical. I made these for a woman that is having a holiday show to benefit families in need. She wanted two shades to pair with a set (one of the lamps is featured above), and decided on this toile. I think her lamps are elegant and delicate. She is working on a website, and when it is complete I will give a reference. She has a great eye for all things antique and vintage. And she loves textiles as much as I do.
Your new haircut is very elegant. It is still long enough to pull back or put up if you want to be glamorous. I cut my long hair several years ago and have never been sad I did. One less thing to fuss with and get in the way of my dreams.
Love the toile topic. I visited the website you featured, the veddy, veddy English Lois. Did you read her post about what she was cooking for dinner? I loved her idea of a normal meal– Roast pheasant and little pasties– as though she did this all the time. What a treat.
I tried to make a lampshade once, it is harder than it looks. I commend you for accomplishing it so nicely!
Your blog is such a treat, I never know what to expect and it is always something worthwhile….and worth the wait if you take breaks. Thank you!
Lately it seems my breaks are too numerous, but only by the schedule of my life right now. I hope the new year will keep me at home and more consistent. I am glad I cut my hair. I don’t want anything to get in the way of my dreams for 2010!
I love toile too and lately have been considering doing an applique quilt with different toile backgrounds.
need to start collecting!
Looks like I need this book! a feast for our eyes for sure!
Beautiful lampshades have never attempted to do that , was it hard?
I love toiles in quilts too. They have such a nice effect. The lampshades were time-consuming but not hard. I actually love making them. My mind drifts away and that is always nice.
Your lampshades seem a perfect use of that fabric. I can never quite decide about toile. It seems to busy and then I look closer and there is a story.
I think the story is one of the best parts of a toile.
i like toile but it never seems to fit into my decor here which is so rustic it seems out of place. i think it fits to your personality so well…. and deb is right, it seems to contain a story….
Toile has many stories for sure. What you need is a country toile. I papered one of the bedrooms in Mendocino in a toile “quatre saisons” and it fits right in, plus it is blue and white so the ocean can be mirrored a bit.
What lovely lampshades! For a short while I was into the toile movement but that has passed I think, but then I saw those lampshades and well I’m not too sure anymore. I love them.
I guess I will love toile whether it goes in or out of fashion. It definitely is an acquired taste, and I love what Richard Saja did with it. Wild.
Hi Phyllis, I totally agree with you, both about the book, one of the best on the subject, and about toiles, I wasn’t particularlly enamoured when I first came across them, but now, the older ones and the stories behind them have become a bit of an obsession!
I really, really love the lamp-shades! You are so clever at putting together perfect colour schemes and shape both in your quilts and all your other projects like these. I hope they raise plenty for the good cause.
PS, I can’t believe it, I just bought some of the same reproduction toile at our car-bootsale!
How did I miss this wonderful post. Must be because I have been having multiple problems with my PC. The lamp shades are magnificent. You are so multi-talented!
Just to think that you can change your lampshades at whim is a little staggering. And to create that beauty is wonderful.