… a bit of a sneak peek

Here they are. . . the little strike-offs for my next line for Lecien. . . Durham Collection - Anew . . .

(click on photo to enlarge)

(The colorways are: white, a warm grey (which I'm crazy about!), pink, red, yellow, green, & a robin's egg blue.)


. . . wait. . . you may say. . .  Wasn't there just a Durham Collection - Anew last year?


Yep. . . there was. . . but this line will always have this name. . . it's a tradition for Lecien - as this originally was one of their in-house lines. 'Lynn S' left a comment on my last post (but is listed as 'noreply-comment' - s0 I couldn't email you directly. . . sorry Lynn!) - asking about the history of the line & how it got it's 'Durham' name. . . & I thought this would be a perfect time to share a bit (what I know - at least!) about that.


The 'Durham Collection' has been a Lecien line for several years now. . . (starting - I think in 2003 -  '04) & was actually the line that I fell in love with & then discovered who Lecien was. . .! It embodies a soft - vintage feel & the company even goes some extra steps at the mill to be sure a wonderful timeworn look is a part of the fabric . . . right off the bolt.


If you are familiar with quilts that are known as 'Durham' quilts. . . you know that these quilts are known for often being whole-cloth quilts that are exquisitely hand quilted. Durham is a town (& also a county) in Northeastern England, referred to as the North Country region. Professional quilters were employed in Durham and it has long been associated with beautiful quilting. The ladies of the area became known for their beautifully hand-quilted quilts after the 1st World War - during the depression era - when jobs were scarce. They received large orders for quilts (mostly made from solid, sometimes satin, soft colors) from Claridges Hotel in London. . . & the soft colored, beautifully detailed quilts became known as 'Durham' quilts.


Although the Durham Collection fabrics from Lecien are not solids. . . they are known for their soft florals & wonderful attention to detail. . . much like the look & feel of Durham quilts. . . & I imagine that the look & feel of those Durham quilts is what inspired the name for the line.


After the original Lecien in-house designer of the original Durham Collection fabric lines had moved on to other design pursuits, Lecien continued to design the line in-house for a bit. Then, in 2009 - right as my first line for Lecien (Celebration) was going to print - they asked me if I would be interested to continue the Durham Collection & design the next line. After I picked myself off the floor. . . I said "oh, yes!" (. . . trying not to sound too excited!. . . although I was!. . . it was my favorite line!!!) Because of the change of the line going from an in-house design, Lecien wanted to add a distinguishing addition to 'Durham Collection', so we added "Anew" to the name of the line. It's the same line. . . just with a new designer. Me. (!)  


To say I'm thrilled about being involved with this line is such an understatement. . . & for this year's line, I popped some of the colors. . . just a bit. They are still soft. . . but there are also some wonderful accent pieces. Many of the designs are based on vintage fabrics from my collection. . . & they translate so beautifully to this line & this look.


I will be giving some more peeks in the upcoming weeks. . . & for shop owners (because I know I'll be getting emails. . .!)  the fabrics are going to print by the end of the month. . . & they will be presented at Fall Market. . . but might be available for ordering just before then. (. . . at least for the bolts sent out on the first ship!)


I hope that you enjoy these fabrics as much as I have. . . I'm so excited about these fabrics & can't wait for the sample fabrics to arrive so I can 'play'!


♥ Bren