April at last…
My French c. 1780 canapé trying on a new cushion possibility
in front of the mossy steps outside our dining room…
Story behind this find here
Close up view of a few yards of Andrew Martin’s “July” in
linen from his Carolyn Quartermaine collection…here
dangling in the sunlight above a bank of Biokova hardy
geraniums. She continues to be my idol and muse…
Carolyn Quartermaine here
Her collections, patterns and colors are ethereal…
there is movement and dance in her calligraphy,
laces and arabesques…
Nothing stands still…
light moves about the curves of the crystal…
the colors are brilliant, scintillating…
Giant Lace, Abstract Lace, French Abstract patterns…
Part garden rooms, part artist’s studio…
Art and inspiration flowing onto the fabrics….
Vogue Living Australia May/June ’08
Colors are always fresh, clear, pretty….
a collage of script on this painted door…
French Abstract …enchantingly luminescent…
I could see this with heavily ruffled white pillowcases…
Perhaps in the middle of my garden…hedged with lavender…
an espalliered apple tree and good book within reach…
Back cover of Carolyn Quartermaine Revealed
Whan that aprill with his shoures soote
The droghte of march hath perced to the roote,
And bathed every veyne in swich licour
Of which vertu engendred is the flour;
Whan zephirus eek with his sweete breeth
Inspired hath in every holt and heeth
Tendre croppes, and the yonge sonne
Hath in the ram his halve cours yronne,
And smale foweles maken melodye,
That slepen al the nyght with open ye
(so priketh hem nature in hir corages);
Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages…
Chaucer, Canterbury Tales proloque here
(click to read more, or for translation)
Oh…the pain of being forced to memorize Chaucer in
High School, now I can’t think of April without it….
As I revisit my favorite found treasures
from blogging almost a full year…
I’d have to put this designer at the top.
Happy April…!!! Finally!
I ADORE Carolyn Quartermaine, I carry her book with me all the time for inspiration!! I am so glad you mention hert on your blog, which is beautiful!!
Her book is just SO lovely…I bought a second one just in case something happened to the first.
Trish, I actually have 3, I am glad to know other people want a back up too!!!
Are you trying to remind me of something????? Of course I loved this…Especially the script fabric. The fabric on your canape is lovely. Now get that thing inside before it rains!!!!!!Maryanne xo
Had it outside for just minutes! Incredibly it POURED just a few hours after I took these photos!
absolutely lovely post…..
Trish, I just don’t know how you find the time to put together such rich posts. Thank you for introducing me to Carolyn, another gaping hole in my knowledge revealed. Love the turquoise door.
Sharon
It always starts as a little post….and then I’m up way too late!!!! Argh!
gorgeous post – I’m in lust for the stone walls and stairs outside your dining room – simply enchanting.
Your settee is so special – and your’re so special for returning it to its former glory. It really looks quite mint!
I’m usually not a fan of one “theme” throughout a room – but I have to say, that blue and white bedroom done with various scripts and fonts is delightful – peaceful and relaxing and-oh-so welcoming.
Gorgeous! Fabulous images…..but my very favorite is the photo of your very own mossy steps right outside your dining room…..so pretty! Love the calligraphy and of course, the blues send me over the top!
To die for!
Happy Happy Spring!
🙂 Laura
Such a delightful way to greet April…and as much as I adore Ms. Quartermaine, I would gladly trade a house full of her textiles for your stone garden steps!
~jermaine~
Hi Trish!
How perfectly beautiful..all of it..your steps, the gorgeous fabrics…the notion of the daybed in your lavender-hedged garden..sigh! perfection!
xx
Kit
I love her collection , it is so poetic
Trish- CQ has a unique place in the fabric market-I love the painterly and the scriptwork she uses-the colours especially the aquas and blues are so gorgeous-I can just see a large sunny room-ballroom, I think-full of slightly knocked about french furniture with about 4 or 5 spinning prisms reflecting across the walls. It is truly spring today here in NC- at least 80 degrees-No humidity, alas the Humid days knock me out. happy Easter ,gaye
Your bench is beautifulllllll so exciting! AND I am ready to move that blue velvet “french abstract” into my apartment tout suite!
xoxo Bardot in Blue
I love when you post pictures of your garden — it is art with wordless paragraphs of enchanting beauty — as is your whole blog
Glad you brought that bench in before it rained.
Happy April Showers —
Joanny
oh so pretty…..lovely inspiring images…..love the textural contrast of the stone steps and the settee…….
As normal fabulous post Trish. I have been a fan of Carolyn’s fabulous fabrics for a while now. They are gorgeous and have a timeless feel to them.
Happy April to you too,
Leeann x
Love the contrast of the delicate canape and the solidness of the stone. The fabric, as always, ethereal. Something that intrigues is a DIY with script. I saw somewhere in the great blog beyond someone had a envelope from long ago blown up into a poster. Perhaps in the Trouvais family archives some long ago beautiful script will blossom into art. BTW, I assume adolescent boys are not allowed to kerplunk into this beautifully restored piece of art! Happy Easter and warm gardening days your way.
You should see how gingerly we all perch on this lovely grande dame. It really is like sitting on grandma…except that grandma is 220 years old! Nevertheless…it sure is fun to drag her outside occasionally. Very “Valmont”.
New visitor, Lovely collection and a beautiful post. Thank you
have a nice Easter
Hello Yvonne…thank you!
Wishing you a happy and blessed Easter! xx Gypsy Purple
Hi Trish,
Beautiful inspiring images and post, you have shared today ~ thank you.
I love your beautiful French canape and your stone steps are wonderful.
Wishing you and your family a very happy Easter.
Hugs
Carolyn
Trish- Beautiful post!
I love that pic with the watercolor canvases in the part garden room, part artist’s studio.
I don’t have the book on Carolyn Quartermaine, but am going to go search!
-Ann
love it!!!!!!!!