Mary Quant at the V&A

February 3, 2020June 2, 2025 Julie Gardner1 Comment

gilhoolie is definitely getting out lots this month which is great for the soul! I think now my kids are older and more independent I’m realising I have a lot more freedom to go into London for inspiration; it’s only 30 minutes away after all and there’s so much to see and do on my doorstep, it just takes a bit more effort and planning.

I can’t say I know much about fashion designers from the 60s, or fashion designers full stop really but I’m definitely interested in textiles and clothes so I thought the Mary Quant exhibition at the V&A was worth a trip. (Thanks for the recommendation Sam!) It makes a change from all those hours I’ve spent with two small boys in car, tank and aeroplane museums (anyone with boys will empathise).

The ticket said to allow an hour but we were so absorbed in the display that nearly 2 hours passed in a flash. We wandered around looking at the many beautifully dressed mannequins in original outfits (sometimes with a photo of the owner) and black and white photos and films telling the story of Mary Quant. From her beginnings opening a small boutique ‘Bazaar’ on the Kings Road in Chelsea in 1955, to mass production all over the world. I loved the V&A curation of the display and the way it described the story of the Mary Quant brand. It must’ve been so exciting to be a young woman in the 60s, empowered by this new bold fashion.

I also didn’t realise Mary Quant had a line in makeup – below is a cartoon strip that was published to help girls see what they should be buying to add to their makeup collection and keep up with trends. Love this!

This dress ‘Alice’ was bought at the Chicago department store Marshall Field in 1971. It is made out of co-ordinated fine wool prints from Liberty and retailed for around £20 (about £150 today). I really like the cut, the sleeves and the length of this one. There were so many dresses I could see myself wearing today and ‘Alice’ is one of them.

Below are some of the shots I took on our visit. The exhibition finishes in a couple of weeks, so hurry if you want to take a look. You can read more ‘gilhoolie gets out’ blog posts here or subscribe to the blog by clicking the follow button on the right. Thanks for reading!

Love the red A line dress and the stripes too

gilhoolie gets out

Top Drawer 2020 – Jewellery & Ceramics

January 28, 2020February 12, 2025 Julie GardnerLeave a comment

This is the last of my Top Drawer roundups, phew! Just a few more of the lovely items that stood out for me at Top Drawer London a couple of weeks ago.

Top Drawer is really an event for wholesalers but it’s also great to go and have a look around for inspiration, I’d definitely recommend it. You know me, I always like to get out and about!

Read more ‘gilhoolie gets out’ blog posts here.

From left to right:

Alex Monroe wild strawberry oval cameo ring, Wolf & Moon wildflower necklace, Wild & Fine mussel pendant, Kate Welton mug, Ellul Ceramics tile, Virginia Graham Ceramics

gilhoolie gets out

Top Drawer 2020 – Art

January 22, 2020February 12, 2025 Julie GardnerLeave a comment

As promised last week, below are some of the artists that stood out for me at Top Drawer 2020. I obviously love drawing flowers and buildings myself so I was very drawn to these particular prints. You can take a look at the artists yourself, by following the links below. Enjoy!

From left to right:

30×40, Annie Dornan Smith, Catherine Ann Lewis, Laura Stoddart, Sam Wilson (lovely homewares too), Soodle Street

gilhoolie gets out

Top Drawer 2020 – Homewares

January 17, 2020February 12, 2025 Julie GardnerLeave a comment

Top Drawer 2020 at Olympia London this week was a feast for the senses; with over 1500 global brands and new designers. From homewares to gifts to fashion, craft and food, there was something for everyone. I came away with a notebook full of scribbles and a pile of postcards and business cards from my favourite stalls. I’ve decided to break it down into individual blog posts as I have so much to share! I love all things to do with interiors so let’s start with homewares.

Below are just a few of the homewares designers that caught my eye. You can see lots more on my Pinterest account. I’ll be sharing my favourites in ceramics, art and jewellery soon.

Links to all the designers pictured are below. Header image from Top Drawer.

From left to right:

Artisanne – love these Alibaba linen baskets, Bloomingville Interiors – I have followed them on Instagram for a while now, always beautifully shot images of lovely homewares, Thornback & Peel – the home of beautiful screen-printed tea towels!, Liga – got to love a cork placemat, Rediscovered By – reminded me of my drawings but with more patience!, Shepherd of Sweden – sumptuous sheepskin products and this gorgeous wool poufe, The Braided Rug Company – definitely going to buy one of their oval rugs for our house, Wonki Ware – amazing handmade dinnerware and Atlantic Blankets – I need one to curl up under!

gilhoolie loves...

gilhoolie loves… botanical prints

January 10, 2020February 12, 2025 Julie GardnerLeave a comment

I’m really loving all the botanical print wallpapers and fabrics available at the moment and I’m thinking about using some to freshen up our living room curtains. Coincidentally, I have also been working on some floral illustrations to liven up my website so look out for those soon.

Here are my favourites. You can see lots more botanical prints on my pinterest page, as well as more gilhoolie loves… boards, from wallpaper to chevrons to tea and print-makers, something for everyone!

Of course, if you fancy a botanical print bespoke lampshade you won’t find in the shops do get in touch.

From left to right:

Cottage garden wallpaper and fabric by Debbie McKeegan, Botanica wallpaper by Engblad & Co – Simplicity, Bloomsbury Neo Mint wallpaper by Graham & Brown, Removable wallpaper ferns by If Your Walls Would Talk on Etsy, Perdana by Nina Campbell and Bilberry fabric by Sanderson – Potting Room.

gilhoolie gets out

Handmade Chelsea 2019

November 12, 2019April 25, 2025 Julie Gardner

Last weekend I took time out to visit Handmade Chelsea with a friend. Great excuse to get into London on a rainy Saturday afternoon, and the perfect opportunity to take a mooch in the shops on the King’s Road afterwards. Time was limited but we managed to stop off at The Conran Shop, Anthropologie, Designers Guild and Silvera, before driving away from the big smoke and back home to rural Maidenhead.

I’m hoping to visit an exhibition, art gallery or museum monthly from now on, so look out for more posts under the ‘gilhoolie gets out’ blog category!

Here are my favourite finds from Handmade Chelsea 2019. Enjoy! (You can also see these on my Pinterest page, along with lots of other lovely finds in the world of interiors, art, lampshades and anything else that takes my fancy).

Links to artist websites are below.

From left to right:

Jaejun Lee Ceramics, Purely Porcelain, Helen Chatterton Textiles, Carolyn Tripp Ceramics (blues), Wytske Lazenby Silverware, Katie Putt Illustration, Byron & Gomez Furniture (Patria Cabinet), Byron & Gomez Furniture (Fold Floor Lamp), Carolyn Tripp Ceramics (greens).

Lampshades

Everyone loves a tapered drum…

April 1, 2019March 10, 2025 Julie Gardner1 Comment

Tapered drum lampshades have been very popular at gilhoolie lately. Either restoration of an existing lampshade (as it’s hard to find a replacement of the same dimensions) or made from scratch using a template.

I particularly like restoring a client’s tapered drum lampshade – it’s always a happy feeling when I roll it along the workbench to make a drum, with new PVC and fabric but reusing the existing rings. They look great in a contemporary setting, on a lamp base or hanging from a pendant.

Take a look at some of the ones I have made recently below. And if you’d like one for your home just get in touch.

Click here if you need help with choosing a lampshade shape or size.

2 recovered lampshades (the one on the right is made using a map)

Tiny candle clip lampshades in a turquoise tweed

Recovering a tapered drum lampshade using champagne embossed PVC lining

In-situ photo of two very big yellow tapered drum lampshades which were restored

Lampshades

Harris Tweed lampshades…

March 26, 2019April 25, 2025 Julie Gardner

I have always loved Harris Tweed so was delighted when a client in Birmingham asked me to use some to make two very big and two small lampshades to fit bases they had purchased from Loaf.com.

The fabric is about as thick as you’d want to go for a lampshade (you really need to consider how much light they will allow through, as well as the logistics of making a lampshade, tucking the fabric around the rings to make a neat edge). But the effect is great, especially with the added touch of Harris Tweed labels attached at the bottom of each lampshade seam.

If you have a favourite fabric you’d like to use to make a beautiful lampshade just get in touch.

Lampshades

Map lampshades…

March 19, 2019February 12, 2025 Julie GardnerLeave a comment

I’m at home with Arthur puppy today (just a bit poorly after a minor op). So I have finished off some lampshades for clients, but otherwise I plan to generally take it easy myself too (which is very rare!) I feel very lucky that I have the flexibility to be able to do what I do. To be honest, it’s a bit strange not having to go for a muddy dog walk this morning, but it won’t be long before he’s up and running again I’m sure.

So, it’s a good opportunity to post on here while Arthur is resting in his little t-shirt, (he hated the cone of shame!)

I made these lampshades using maps that showed a special area to my client, in France and in the UK. Maps are a really great choice for lampshades and always look really effective. They were neatly finished off with some pale blue bias binding on the top and bottom rings.

The tapered drum on the right was made using the old lampshade as a template – reusing the rings but cutting new PVC to give it a new lease of life.

Amazingly, you can buy a paper Ordnance Survey map based around a specific location, which can then be made into a lampshade at gilhoolie – have a look here.

They’d make a great present too – do get in touch if you have any questions or to order a lampshade.

Artwork

Arthur puppy is one!

March 5, 2019February 12, 2025 Julie Gardner1 Comment

It’s Arthur puppy’s first birthday this week, I can’t believe how fast the last year has flown! Life has definitely changed and to anyone thinking about getting a dog, (well a miniature schnauzer at least as I don’t have experience of any others) I would definitely say go for it. I can’t think of any negatives so far. Not particularly liking the mud at the moment but hopefully it won’t last too long…

Actually, I have just looked back at my blog posts and I haven’t written on here since we collected him last May so apologies for that! Here are some pics of the cheeky chap. Along with a little drawing of Arthur by me (one of my husband’s Christmas presents).

Now, the next blog post will be about lampshades, I promise! Things have been pretty busy at gilhoolie lately so lots to write about. And I’m trying hard to get back into drawing so I think posting on here will help motivate me 🙂