Olelé

After two weeks in Berlin and Barcelona, it’s time to get organized. So many experiences and memories… and so much fabric found here and there!

These are some of the fabrics I’ve got this week:

• Memento by Amy Butler, from Bobbie Lou’s Fabric Factory
• Fortune by Anna Maria Horner, from Mineymo
• Paradise Garden by Amy Butler, from Mineymo

I love them all!

One of the things I love most when buying online is finding those tiny details that show the origin of the package: the sender’s handwriting, the stamps, etc.
The two Fat Quarters (What’s that?)  I found some time ago at Karen Sato’s Washimatta shop came nicely packed,  with charming japanese stamps on the envelope.

I fell in love with those patterns as soon as I saw them, and I thought it would be a good opportunity to finally get to touch such a famous fabric. What a great choice; Liberty Tana Lawn in a deliciously light fabric, built with tightly woven extremely thin threads.

As soon as I received my purchase, I realised this fabric could make a great fan lining. It can be easily starched and ironing it is a real pleasure; it’s almost like working with paper, more than fabric.

♥ There’s plenty of information about Liberty fabrics online. A bit of history here.

Although Liberty is a UK-based company, many of their patterns are printed and sold in Japan. It’s also possible to find affordable fabrics there.
This post written by Erin from A dress a day contains lots of information about where to find Liberty fabrics online and bargain prices in London!

A quality fabric deserves quality wood, so I chose the nice Bubinga staves I recently received from Aldaia (Valencia).

Liberty Tana Lawn and Bubinga wood fans, in Olelé’s shop.

Another african print found at  Jeanne Weis. I love the bright red and yellow, but what’s really amazing is the depth of the dark tones. Black is really black, coal black.

On my last trip to Barcelona I visited Jeanne Weis’ shop.
Jeanne is a Belgian specialized in african textiles who owns a cosy, colourful shop. If you pay her a visit, be sure you have enough time to get used to the overloaded prints and enjoy their variety. If in doubt, ask Jeanne. She is really nice.

Photo © unlike.net

All fabrics sold at Jeanne’s come from Holland. Oddly, it was the Netherlands that took, at the end of the 19th century, the art of Batik from Indonesia to Africa. When Indonesia closed the borders to Dutch imitation batiks (to protect its own batik workshops) these fabrics made their way to Africa.

One of the remaining companies is Vlisco, which specializes in high quality fabrics .
At first, designs where basically Indonesian, but Vlisco eventually made them suit the taste of the new customers, and today the most common prints are based on the African traditional forms, mixed with modern motifs.

Other manufacturers have followed the same path, and it is not difficult to find quality fabrics at more affordable prices. ‘Genuine Dutch Wax Block Print’, ‘Real Dutch Wax’ or ‘Veritable Wax Hollandais’ are some of the designations for these alternative brands.

This time I got two metres of fabric. I’ve used it to line fans and I love it. It required very little starch to stiffen it, and pleats remain perfect. It’s a strong yet light fabric, very nice to work with.

In addition to that, the patterns can be cut in any position, they’re always different and playful.

Wooden and fans lined with African fabric now available in the shop.

♥ Jeanne Weis C/ Raurich, 8. 08002 Barcelona (Spain)