I am a bit of a fabric hoarder and if I see something I like and it’s priced at what I regard as a bargain, I just have to buy it, thinking that I’m bound to find a use for it at some stage in the future. That’s exactly what happened when I saw this lovely William Morris design fabric, by Sanderson. It’s called Blackthorn and it’s very similar to a Morris design which I first saw in the 1970s, when Morris had a bit of a resurgence. That seems to happen once every 20 years or so, usually because an institution like the V&A has put on an exhibition of his work. I plan to make a wallhanging from this length of material, I’ll back it with something nice but plain and maybe sandwich some wadding/batting material in between, just to give it a bit more weight and make it hang better. Mind you that may not be necessary as the fabric is quite a sturdy linen type.
I remember in the 1970s when we got married I quite fancied buying a sofa in a very similar Morris fabric, but Jack said bloody hell – he’s really not a floral fabric sort of chap – and we ended up buying a very bland and boring sofa covered with beige dralon fabric.
This stripe fabric is completely different but I love it. It’s a shame that the colours haven’t come out so well, believe it or not, the sun was shining brightly on it when I took the photograph and it seems to have had the effect of draining the colour. It’s two shades of green, two of blue and a gorgeous warm yellow, unusual combination but it works. This is a Liberty design, which was a surprise to me as I always associate Liberty with florals, again it’s a heavy linen and the design is called Boughton.
Luckily this is a good length of fabric and I’m planning to use it to make curtains for the new house – whenever we get there, and wherever it may be. I’m determined that the next house will not have high Victorian ceilings like the house we live in now. I’ve had 25 years of them and I want something cosier next time, which will have the advantage that I won’t have to buy or make curtains with a drop of 108 inches, which is what we have at the moment.
This is all for the future though as Jack has been told that he can’t retire this year as they need his experience in the classroom. It’s an absolute pain in the neck, but as I said, the best laid plans o’ mice and men gang aft agley. Oh all right – Rabbie Burns said it first!
How exactly are young teachers supposed to get any experience if they can’t get jobs in teaching because older teachers aren’t allowed to retire just one year early, without taking a big hit to their pension?
Anyway, I’m keeping calm and taking the attitude that if we can’t move house this year then their must be a good reason for it. Well, there’s not a lot else we can do.
I love that William Morris fabric. My husband wouldn’t have it though – so we’ve got plain fabric everywhere, well nearly everywhere.
Margaret,
I think maybe a whole sofa covered with William Morris material might be a bit much, I think his designs aren’t too twee though, possibly because they seem quite geometric. I can’t stand frills and flounces – I’m just not that girly.
That fabric will make the most elegant wall hanging! It’s gorgeous!
Peggy Ann,
Thanks. Now I just need a new house to put it in!
Love them both. I’d think a lower ceiling would be preferable because of the climate. Our cathedral ceilings are a blessing in the summer, but I can’t imagine how expensive it would be to have to heat such a thing!
Pearl,
I often wish I could have a platform to sit on close to the ceiling, it’s where all the heat ends up! I’m really looking forward to a more modern house, hopefully in the not too distant future.
I had curtains like that in the early 80s. It was probably the same design as your coveted sofa!! I remember them well!
According to my retired teacher friend, if Jack is over 55 they can’t refuse him a retirement package, but I suppose it’s just getting the right package. She retired two years early and said she didn’t lose a huge amount. I agree with you about all these youngsters looking for jobs. Let the older staff who feel burned out retire and bring in the new generation. (They can pay for our pensions!!!) I’m told I’m a black and white sort of person, but it seems reasonable to me! If some want to go on teaching beyond retirement, that’s fine, but I know a lot don’t make it that far. Same with some other occupations. Stress is not good for one!!
Evee,
If he retires on his 59th birthday he would lose 5% of his pension, which seems like a lot considering that I’m not earning any money and it’ll be another 13 years before I get a pension – if ever! I was furious with the news the other day as they were trumpeting that 25% of probationary teachers had got some sort of job!! So 75% are unemployed and the few teaching jobs that there are are maternity cover, part time and short term contracts. My son’s girlfriend has been looking for a history/modern studies post, nobody else that she was at teacher training with (Glasgow Uni) has got a job. She has managed to get 3 days a week for one year.They are still filling the teacher training courses with people unlikely to get jobs at the end of it.