Category Archives: LIFE LOVERS

Tell us a bit about yourself and what you do.  For a few years, I worked as a mixed animal veterinarian in both general practice and at a non-profit sanctuary (think dogs, cats, hedgehogs, mice, cattle, horses, pigs, chickens, eagles, hawks, snakes, camels, and zebras). Then I decided to go back to graduate school to…

In this latest edition on fabric in ukiyo-e art, we will look into the fascinating art of the 18th and 19th century Katsukawa School, and the vital role Japanese costume and silk played in its development. Founded by the great Miyagawa Shunsui, the incredible art of the Katsukawa School spanned paintings and prints with a…

Before I tell you what this ‘Diary Of A Novice Sewist’ is going to be about, I would like to take a minute to introduce myself. My name is Sophie and I live in Vienna together with my partner and our son. It just so happens that it is not very common or considered modern…

It all started with a childhood infatuation with Lauren Bacall and yada yada yada, many years later I finally wound up with a very lovely pair of avocado dyed linen trousers that I’m sure Mrs. Bacall would have gladly worn on set or vacation. I started with a little more than two yards of FS…

Pattern, in all its multicoloured, decorative glory, is at the heart of David Hockney’s art. It was there in his art as a young, keen student in 1950s London, and it’s still alive and well in the art he makes today (only Hockney could reimagine the Yorkshire landscape as a series of eye-wateringly bright patchworks)….

Henri Matisse was an avid, obsessive collector, amassing a huge archive of incredible objects throughout his lifetime that clattered noisily against one another in his home studio. The most cherished of these possessions were Matisse’s impressively vast collection of textiles which he gathered from all over the world, including French tapestries, Persian rugs and African…

The Utagawa School was one the most successful periods in the history of Japanese ukiyo-e art, lasting from the late 18th to the late 19th century. Under the leadership of master printmaker Utagawa Toyoharu, the school revolutionised Japanese woodblock printing, discovering new techniques that allowed them to work quickly and efficiently, creating a huge array…

Italian husband-and-wife team Massimo and Lella Vignelli made a remarkable contribution to late 20th century design, ushering in a new brand of elegance, simplicity and order. Both trained as architects but their legacy is far more extensive, spanning silverware, bags, watches, furniture and typography. “If you can design one thing, you can design everything,” they…

We are all spending more time at home these days so finding a comfortable outfit to lounge in style is more essential than ever. We tested the new Merchant & Mills Sunday Dressing Gown pattern for you and we can say that it might be just the perfect fit! Merchant & Mills is a UK-based…

Recently on fabric-store.com I saw a new CAPUCINE pattern and decided that I absolutely must sew this robe to welcome the cozy autumn in it. I sewed a dressing gown for the first time and already in the process imagined how, wrapped in a warm blanket, I drink a cup of coffee and watch my…

French husband-and-wife team Ramdane Touhami and Victoire de Taillac are one of the busiest and most entrepreneurial couples of today. Both are cofounders of Officine Universelle Buly, a luxury beauty brand with an emphasis on whimsical, naturally derived hand-made products and vintage-inspired graphics. Nomadic in nature, the pair prefer a life of travel and adventure…

Tell us a bit about yourself and what you do.   My name is Monelle. I was born and raised in San Francisco and still live in the Bay Area with my husband and two little boys. I am an attorney by trade, but have always been a creative person. I love all kinds of creative arts,…

For Mexican artist Frida Kahlo fabric was an incredibly powerful form of self-expression, one that made her an inimitable icon of the 20th century. She adored the indigenous fabrics of Mexico, with their lively, exuberant prints and intricate areas of ruffling and embroidery, drenching her body in layers and layers of traditional textiles. More than…

Isabel and Ruben Toledo are best known today as fashion’s greatest love story; their endless, intense love for one another is the foundation from which all their best ideas have grown. His whip-smart illustrations and her razor-sharp clothing have overlapped and intersected many times over the four decades they shared together. Even in the wake…

Does anyone else think that there’s something extra special about a beautifully tailored shirt? And with so many shirt patterns available it can be sometimes tricky to choose the right one for you. Which is why we decided to review yet another shirt style hoping that it might help you make your choice. Today’s pattern…