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5th February 2018
If you’re read about the Pre-Raphaelite movement, you’ll have heard of The Germ. A magazine established in 1850 at the beginning of he movement, it was set up by founding members Dante Gabriel Rossetti, William Holman Hunt, John Everett Millais and William Michal Rossetti who was known as the editor and historian of the movement.
The aim of the magazine was to circulate the creative work and ideas of the Brotherhood and it would contain poetry, literature and art – all important forms of expression and art for the members. At the end of each issue, their mission was printed, so it’s better to use their words here:
“With a view to obtain the thoughts of Artists, upon Nature as evolved in Art […] this Periodical has been established. Thus, then, it is not open to the conflicting opinions of all who handle the brush and palette, nor is it restricted to actual practitioners; but is intended to enunciate the principles of those who, in the true spirit of Art, enforce a rigid adherence to the simplicity of Nature either in Art or Poetry […].”
Though, as we know, the Pre-Raphaelite movement continued to develop for years after, The Germ closed down after four numbers; January, February, March and April 1850. The name even changed half way through to encourage more readers, changing to; Art and Poetry: Being Thoughts towards Nature Conducted Principally by Artists. D.G. Rossetti pushed all his enthusiasm into the magazine but it didn’t work out.
The name ‘The Germ’ came from the importance of nature to the movement and also from the phrase ‘the germ of an idea’ – it was supposed to be a seed from which future creative ideas would grow and flourish.
In a collaborative works, it printed contributions of works on art and literature as well as book reviews. Those contributors even included associates of the Brotherhood such as Ford Madox Brown. The issues each began with an original illustration. In one issue where Woolner’s poem ‘My Beautiful Lady’ was accompanied with a drawing from William Holman Hunt. It was Madox Brown who created a two page illustration of King Lear and his daughters for issue number three – this accompanied his article of the mechanics of a history painting.
Photo: The Germ: Thoughts Towards Nature In Poetry, Literature, and Art (2 Volumes). Art and Poetry: Being Thoughts Towards Nature Conducted Principally by Artists (2 Volumes). William Michael Rossetti.
Posted in News by Laura
Halloween but make it chic ✨ We love that our William Morris tablecloths can be dressed for every season, one purchase styled various ways year round 🌱☀️🍂❄️
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#strawberrythief #williammorris #williammorrisdesign #halloween #autumntablescape
Happy Halloween! 🎃 Use code; TREAT on our website for the last day of 15% off 👻 Don’t these colours just work together beautifully, our licensed William Morris Mallow Forest Green was a new colour way we brought out last Christmas, and we’ve used all year round it’s the perfect green ✨
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#williammorris #wmorris #williammorrisdesign #floraldesigns #autumntable
Team matching or team mix and match? 👻👇
Our napkins come in packs of 4, but if you’re a maximalist at heart, have a look at our sale section. We have packs of 1 and 2, so you can build your own beautifully mismatched set 🌸🎃
Shop via the link in bio.
#williammorris #maximalisthome #tablescape #halloweentable #laurasbeau
Cotton or heavyweight cotton? Here’s how to choose 🧵✨
All of our fabrics are licensed William Morris designs, digitally printed here in the UK. We offer two weights, so you can pick the right one for your project:
🌿 Cotton
Lighter, softer and easy to sew. It drapes beautifully and is perfect for:
- Dressmaking, like skirts, blouses and shirts
- Quilting and patchwork
- Pillowcases and bedding
- Bunting, lavender bags and small crafts
- Lightweight curtains
🌿 Heavyweight cotton
Thicker and sturdier, It holds its shape and stands up to light upholstery use, so it’s ideal for:
- Cushion covers
- Curtains and roman blinds
- Light upholstery, like chair seats and headboards
- Tote bags and aprons
- Tablecloths and placemats
Not sure which you need? Send us a message and we’ll happily help 💛
Shop by the half metre via the link in bio.
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#williammorrisfabric #cottonfabric #upholsteryfabric #quiltingfabric #laurasbeau
Re-introducing Charlotte Rose 🌹
Our very own design, taken from our French archive of late 1800s to early 1900s prints. We fell in love with these delicate sprigs of tumbling roses and just had to bring them back to life 💕
You can buy her ready-made as a tablecloth and napkins, or by the half metre if you’d like to make something of your own 🧵
Pretty, romantic, and made for long lunches and special occasions 🥂 Link in bio to shop. #charlotterose #frenchvintage #floraltablecloth #tablescape #laurasbeau
Your Strawberry Thief, cut to order ✂️🍓
Every order is measured and cut to order. We sell it by the half metre, so it’s ideal for small projects or big makes. It’s a licensed William Morris design, digitally printed in the UK ✨
Order yours via the link in bio 💛
#strawberrythief #williammorris #fabricbythemetre #sewingfabric #laurasbeau
Who else loves making their own cards and gifts? ✂️🧵
This sweet anniversary bunny was made with little scraps of our William Morris fabric. It’s proof that even the smallest offcuts can become something really special 💛
With Halloween around the corner and Christmas not far behind, now’s the perfect time to get crafting 🎃🎄 Think appliqué cards, fabric gift tags, lavender bags, bunting, Christmas tree decorations and pretty wrapping for presents 🎁
A handmade gift will always mean so much with the thought and time gone into it, but be sure to start well in advance so you’re not frantically sewing on Christmas Eve! ✨
What are you making this season? Let us below 👇 #handmadecards #fabriccrafts #williammorris #handmadechristmas #laurasbeau
Ever wondered why our fabrics look so good up close? 🔍✨
Every one of our William Morris designs is digitally printed and manufactured right here in the UK, and here’s why we love it:
🎨 Incredible detail. Every tiny petal, berry and feather comes out crisp and true to the original design. The colours are consistent and gorgeous.
🌈 Rich, accurate colours that stay just as vibrant as the artwork intended when Morris designed them
🌿 Kinder to the planet. Digital printing typically uses far less water than traditional methods, and we print in smaller batches, so there’s less waste.
🇬🇧 Supporting British makers. A shorter supply chain means we keep skills, jobs and quality close to home.
It’s a modern way to bring timeless designs into your home 💛
Shop via the link in bio. #digitalprinting #madeinbritain #williammorris #sustainablefabric #laurasbeau
Autumn is in full swing at ours 🍂
We’ve brought the season indoors with blackberries, rosehips and the last of the hydrangeas, set against our Strawberry Thief fabric. This licensed William Morris design is digitally printed and manufactured in the UK 🇬🇧
Those cheeky little thrushes look right at home among the berries! 🐦🍓
Shop via the link in bio 💛 Three sizes of tablecloth available - 147cm round, 132 x 178cm and 132 x 229cm ☺️. #strawberrythief #williammorris #autumntablescape #madeinuk #laurasbeau
What are you all dressing up as for Halloween? This was last years costume for Bertie, what can he be this year? 🎃🖤
He’s lounging on our Compton fabric, a licensed William Morris design printed in the UK. A pumpkin with good taste!
Tell us your costume plans below 👇#halloweendog #blacklab #williammorris #comptonfabric #laurasbeau
What would you make with this fabric? 🧵
Our Golden Lily heavyweight fabric is a licensed William Morris print, printed in the UK, and it’s a dream to sew with. Cushion covers, roman blinds, tote bags, a reupholstered chair… tell me in the comments what you`d make👇
Available now, we sell it by the half metre for £13.25
#sewingproject #upholsteryfabric #williammorris #printedinuk #laurasbeau
Setting up for an evening of crafting ✂️ These 20cm x 20cm squares we sell as bundles of 5 fabric pieces, they’re perfect for smaller crafts, what would you make from them? 🪡🧵
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#crafting #girlscraftnight #craftnight #fabricstash #williammorris
Cosy Sunday season is here 🕯️ anyone else constantly got a candle burning and a grazing board on the table at the moment? 🎃
On the table, we’ve got our beautiful Mallow Wine licensed William Morris design, a staple year round but especially this time of year 🤍
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#williammorris #williammorrisdesign #onthetable #tablescape #florals
October is for treating ourselves all month right? 👻 On the table is our gorgeous William Morris licensed Mallow Wine design, this time of year it’s rarely off the table! 🤍
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#williammorris #autumntable #autumntablescape #countrykitchen #wmorris
A fabulous way to display your best new tea towel; a tea towel bow 🎀 I’ve been doing these a lot lately, but I’m so excited for how festive they’ll look for the coming season! ✨
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#williammorris #wmorris #strawberrythief #smallbusiness #countrykitchen
We’re making some new fat quarter bundle sets for the website, let us know any combinations you’d like to see! ✨ We know lots of quilters like colour combos to match, do you prefer like colours or clashing? 🫶🏻
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#williammorris #wmorris #fatquarters #fatquarterbundles #quilterofinstagram
Autumn gardens are upon us! 🍂 anyone else just constantly brushing up leaves? 🙆🏽♀️ These Compton William Morris tea towels are our favourites this time of year, the digital print on them is so crisp 👌🏼
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#williammorris #compton #cottagekitchen #farmhousekitchen #autumngarden
New product! 🩷 Our Charlotte Rose French floral design is so beautiful, it’s from our French floral archive and we’ve just decided to do tea towels in it in time for the season of gifting 🎁 £10.99 each, available now on our website ✨
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#frenchflorals #frenchstyle #countrykitchen #countrystyle #countrystylehome
Bringing back the pumpkin napkin fold 🎃 Anyone want a tutorial on how to do it? ⭐️
This is our licensed William Morris Compton design, isn’t it gorgeous 🍂
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#williammorris #williammorrisdesign #compton #autumntable #napkinfolding
All printed in the UK, these are the licensed William Morris designs we cut today- can you name them all? ✨
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#williammorris #williammorrisfabric #fabrics #wmorris #smallbusiness
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