Liberty of London has been producing its exquisite, fine quality lawn fabric for as long as I've been alive. I have been a fan for almost as long!
Liberty's trademark pretty florals are timeless. And for a girl who calls her blog Bloom, you can imagine how thrilled I was to be asked to review Alice Garrett's sumptuous book of projects made from Liberty florals.
Little Lady Liberty, a collection of over 20 sewing projects designed primarily for little girls, will have you swooning.
This is Alice Garrett's first book, and she is well authorised to do her subject justice. Based in the UK, she owns Alice Caroline Fabrics, and sells an extensive range of Liberty of London fabrics and gifts. She designs and sells her own patterns and shares her passion for sewing on her blog. She is also blessed with a daughter!
If you are a fan of Liberty fabrics, Little Lady Liberty is a visual treat! Page after page, brimming with images of pretty prints.
The book is a delightful mixture of projects, encompassing garments, home decor, toys, bags and purses. The projects are simple, achievable and adorable. What little girl (or even a big one!) wouldn't love this swirly, whirly skirt?
This book is perfect for anyone new to sewing, but inspiring for any level of sewist. Alice's instructions are detailed and very well written. She has a PhD in cancer genetics, so she is well trained in writing methods accurately! Her diagrams are excellent and explain construction concisely. And throughout her book, she includes some great tips on fabric choice and colour.
While many of the projects are designed with little girls in mind, there are enough versatile projects to justify this book's place on any sewist's bookshelf. This gorgeous floor cushion could definitely find a home at my place, and I have teenage daughters!
The release of this lovely book seemed good enough reason for me to indulge in purchasing a little Liberty! I bought a 5" charm pack and, to put Alice's instructions through their paces, I made up her pencil case.
My effort is less sweet than Alice's rainbow version. With limited fabrics, I opted for a more random fabric placement. However, Liberty prints blend so beautifully together - you really can't go wrong!
After making up Alice's pencil case, there were enough surplus fabrics to make another smaller purse. These little squares of prettiness are addictive! And just to change things up a bit, there is a sweet surprise on the reverse side ... but I will tell you about that in my next post ;)
Warmest congratulations to Alice on her lovely book. There will be a month long feast of luscious Liberty to celebrate its release. Join the party by visiting all the blog hop contributors. You can find the full list here. You can visit Alice at her blog or through her website.
You can purchase the book, Little Lady Liberty, here. Or as an e-book here. Other sewing titles published by the same author are available here.
I'd love to hear any Liberty-inspired stories from you. When I lived in Sydney in the '80's, I loved visiting the Liberty of London shop, I think in Elizabeth St? It was heavenly!
