Hello Listen/Watch/Read Photography + Art + Design

:: I Love Liberty!

January 3, 2015
Liberty Of London TV Show Cast Staff

Liberty Of London Wedges

Amazing handmade Terry De Havilland vs Liberty wedge: here

 

 

Hello! What have you been doing, peaches?

I have been trying to not work (it’s very hard for me) and doing quiet things. It’s so hot here at the moment. I know it’s only been two days of heat, but I am waiting for the change. I want to be able to get out and about without feeling exhausted and boiling. Do you know what I mean?

I stumbled across a great show (which I’ve been streaming online). It’s called Liberty Of London and I’ve just watched Season 2 (only four episodes, so totally doable in a day!) It’s such a great program. I love seeing all the behind the scenes drama and excitement, and the Liberty team are really full of smarts, eccentricity, wit and style. If you are able to, you should totally watch it too.

I particularly loved watching Liberty puppet-master Ed Burstell, fab firm-but-fair General Manager Lee, naughty receptionist Judy, gorgeous Omar (of The Cape Drape fame), creative storyteller Emma, cute-as-a-cheeky-button Louis, vintage genius Stelios (he of the rad jumpsuits!) and the amazingly innovative Liz Silvester who is getting the exclusive-luxe-established-meets-contemporary-cutting-edge combo so very right under Ed’s trusty eye! (Wait ’til you see Liz’s amazing mast and sail installation. Argh. It’s super beautiful!)

Obviously I’m a bit obsessed with Liberty. One of the projects in my upcoming book features Liberty fabrics. And once upon a time Liberty even stocked my books. I’m going to wind back a bit and find the first season next. If you love fashion, retail, design and a little bit of drama you will love this show too!  Watch the first episode below and then do some canny hunting about for the rest!

 

http://youtu.be/0S2s9-gutkw

 

(BTW, Liberty has their own craft blog here!)

Of course I had to have a bit of a poke about the Liberty site again to see what I might like for my birthday (!) Here are some of my favourite Liberty things!
Liberty Of London
Liberty Of London

 

+ Flowers of Liberty watch in Pepper Liberty Print : here
+ Liberty print handkerchiefs : here
+ Cute Liberty-bound notebook : here
+ ‘Betsy’ Liberty cup and saucer : here
+ ‘Theodora’ Liberty print napkins : here
+ Travel card holder : here
+ Deco Liberty luggage tag : here
+ Floral medley silk neckerchief : here
+ ‘Margaret Annie’ baby bloomers : here
+ Liberty bias binding : here
+ ‘Hera’ print Liberty sewing box : here
+ Hexagon patchwork pieces : here
+ Adorable ‘Betsy’ print scissors and pouch : here
+ Cute Liberty ruler : here
+ Postcard set de Liberty : here
+ Super useful Liberty eraser : here
+ Pretty ‘Strawberry Thief’ tea towel : here
+ ‘Betsy’ tea cosy of awesome : here
+ Margaret Annie knot watch : here

 

liberty print knot watch

Have you watched this show?
Or been to Liberty?
Or maybe you want some of these things for YOUR birthday too?!

Do tell!

x Pip

 

NB: All images nicked from the Liberty site

 

Not sponsored : no affiliate links

20 Comments

  • Reply Kate May 11, 2015 at 1:46 PM

    Pip
    I recently went all the way to Liberty to meet my oldest and most stylish friend. We spent 4 glorious hours wondering through this emporium of delight! It was a very special day, we drank tea, ate cake, she told me she was getting married (ahh..) and then we pawed over beautiful homewares and exquisite clothes and a potential wedding dress. The most beautiful thing about the day was that she bought me some Oxford A Tana Lawn Cotton to make myself a frock. Have a quick look and see what you think!
    https://sewingwithkate.wordpress.com/2015/05/09/i-love-liberty/
    Kate x

  • Reply Jennifer January 26, 2015 at 7:13 AM

    Oh, I WISH I could watch the entirety of both seasons of this series here in the US! I have loved Liberty of London ever since I was a teen in the 80s, and would buy up everything under the sun that displayed their prints if I had the money!

  • Reply Sarah @Sarahs Heart Writes January 6, 2015 at 10:00 AM

    Do you know I’m English – was born there and lived the first 8 years of my life there, moved abroad and then returned for another 8 years when I was 30, and never had heard of Liberty (it’s official I live under a rock!). Then just before Christmas I came across the Christmas season of Liberty of London and I was hooked. I too love Ed’s indominatable style and how employees are like family, some having been there for 40 years. And of course the products and fabrics are just delicious. And how amazing that they stocked your books. Now my aim is to visit when I am next in the UK. Have a lovely day Pip and thanks for a great post. Xx

    • Reply Meet Me At Mikes January 6, 2015 at 5:41 PM

      I did not know that Sarah! Gosh you will fall in love when you finally get to visit Ed’s shop, I think!!! I hope it’s sooner (rather than later) so you can tell us all about it and take one million pictures!! x

  • Reply Deb Baker January 5, 2015 at 10:31 PM

    I’m such a huge Liberty fan! I must track this show down. I remember another show on the telly where designers had to pitch their ideas to various buyers and one of the episodes was at Liberty. It was really fascinating. Can’t think what it was called but I loved that insight. How amazing that your book was once stocked by Liberty because it seems a really, really hard thing to do. Your book is stocked in my shop too, so, you know – me, Liberty, – we’re like that (fingers crossed over) ?!?! My SIL lives in London and always sends me and my girlies goodies for birthdays, etc. from Liberty. We are so lucky!

    • Reply Meet Me At Mikes January 6, 2015 at 5:42 PM

      Deb! You will LOVE this show. I think it was on Foxtel (I don’t have Foxtel) so I had to wait ’til I stumbled across it online. It’s super entertaining. I think my books STILL might be in Liberty, but I am not sure. Someone sent me a photo a few months ago… but still, they might have turfed me out by now! 🙂 x

  • Reply Jen Storer January 5, 2015 at 10:41 AM

    Lovely Liberty fabrics. Swoon. I don’t know the TV show, Pip, but our gigantic, decadent flat screen arrives today and I think this show sounds like something I would happily glue myself to. BTW did you know that UK children’s author, Lauren Child (aka Clarice Bean, Ruby Redfort etc) created some prints for Liberty? Too too gorgeous. have a look on her website. You will love. Happy New Year, Pip! Jx

    • Reply Meet Me At Mikes January 5, 2015 at 11:24 AM

      Oh my gosh. Did she Jen? *runs to look* Happy New Year! (Did you move studios? I think you did!) x

      • Reply jen storer January 7, 2015 at 9:35 AM

        Yes, Pip, after seven years I’m working from home now. Yikes! xx

        • Reply Meet Me At Mikes January 7, 2015 at 3:15 PM

          I am thinking of doing that… but I am scared to give up my little room! How is it? x

          • jen storer January 7, 2015 at 3:56 PM

            Well, I don’t want to be disloyal to the convent, but it’s actually awesome. I’m loads more productive (I mean seriously productive). But both my boys have left home now so things are different to went i first sought an off-site workspace 7 years ago. And I have converted one of their bedrooms into an adorable studio that kind of makes me feel like dancing, it’s so big! Plus no travel time makes a huge difference to my day. Even if I get up at 9am I’m at work in, oh, about 3 seconds. I’m very mindful of making sure there are plenty of appointments etc beyond the home and I go for coffee every day without fail. I did dread the ‘all alone with the clock ticking’ scenario but so far it’s been wonderful. Plus, i still catch up with the conny gang every so often which is a real joy. Good luck with whatever you decide, Pip! xx

  • Reply Sundari January 5, 2015 at 12:31 AM

    Pip, thanks for the tip off. I loved watching the Liberty show on Youtube. I’ll have to find where I can see the rest. I love going to fabric shops but obviously good old Spotlight is nothing like Liberty. Hope things are cooler your way.

  • Reply Sooziesuzy January 4, 2015 at 8:36 AM

    Your blog is beautiful, and discovered when I was searching Liberty. During the holiday period I had accidentally found some of the Liberty series on BBC tv, and really enjoyed the insights into this iconic store. More than thirty years ago, in my twenties, I had numerous shirts I had sewn for work made of Liberty lawn, unfortunately this fabric is not so affordable anymore here in New Zealand.
    I look forward to following your gorgeous blog. Thank you.

    • Reply Meet Me At Mikes January 4, 2015 at 10:00 AM

      Thank you for reading Sooziesuzy! How great is the Liberty show? So good to watch something that’s a bit cheeky, but still really inspiring and interesting. Liberty Lawn is beautiful, can you believe the amount of fabric prints they have in their archives?! Amazing. So lovely to hear from you, anyway! x

  • Reply Carol January 4, 2015 at 7:53 AM

    I lived in London in the late 70’s early 80’s and bought a fabulous fake fur leopard skin full length coat from Liberty which I still have today. Instead of leopard spots, the coat has different sizes of Minnie Mouse’s head/face in black which you can only identify close up – from a distance it looks like leopard. Sounds ghastly but it was the most amazing piece of clothing. I wore it in New York and was stopped in the street and at the ballet several times with people wanting to know where it came from.

    • Reply Meet Me At Mikes January 4, 2015 at 9:59 AM

      Oh wow, Carol. Your coat sounds amazing. I don’t think fashion has the same sense of playfulness today as it did back then… I think we’d do well to wind the clock back a bit! Thanks for telling us about your Liberty connection! x

  • Reply Amanda January 3, 2015 at 7:08 PM

    Oh Pip, thanks for the series heads up! I adore Liberty, I could easily live in that building and when I lived in London many moons ago I would just walk in there and soak it all in. I bought my late Mum some earrings from Liberty, which she kept wrapped up and still in their packaging , must hunt them out… Cool change a coming!! Xx

    • Reply Meet Me At Mikes January 4, 2015 at 10:01 AM

      Ah the change is here! You must hunt down those earrings! They’ll be a lovely reminder of good places and special people. x

  • Reply CC January 3, 2015 at 5:33 PM

    Went to Liberty in London 20 years ago and was overwhelmed. Walked away with a tote bag that has been used for shopping, night duty work bag, knitting bag and baby carry all. Currently in storage with my favourite balls of wool in it awaiting cooler days. Also gave heaps of Tania Lawn off its from bsby blanket making days & just Rs entry I was given a Liberty hanky for Xmas. Oh the joy in that gift! It was a kris Zlringle and I couldn’t thank anyone !
    I am sooooo going to check out this series, thank you. Stay cool as you can.

    • Reply Meet Me At Mikes January 4, 2015 at 10:02 AM

      You must check out the series. I think you will love it! One of those shows you can totally immerse yourself in with a cup of tea and a slice of cake for company! x

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