1st June 2016
On the 17th May, 1871, William Morris wrote to C.J. Faulkner, “I have been looking for a house for the wife and kids, and whither do you think my eye is turned now? Kelmscott, a little village about two miles above Radcot Bridge- a heaven on earth; an old stone Elizabethan house like Water Eaton, and such a garden! close down on the river, a boat house and all things handy. I am going down there again with Rossetti and my wife: Rossetti because he thinks of sharing it with us if the thing looks likely…”
The house and it’s contents were preserved after his death on the 3rd October 1896 by his younger daughter May, before being passed to the Society of Antiquaries. Today we turn our attention to Morris’ bedroom, immediately upon walking into the room, you’ll see the walls adorned with his ‘Lily’ design. Lily was first produced in 1883, although it is called ‘Lily,’ it actually contains bunches of wild flowers including bluebells and daisies. “A return to the simple ‘powdered’ pattern of Daisy: that is, the leading lines are not followed continuously by the motifs used in the pattern, but are only traced out in the form of dots or ‘powderings.'” (William Morris Wallpapers and Chintzes, Fiona Clark.)
The main feature in the bedroom is Morris’s early seventeenth century oak four-poster bed, pictured above from a visit we took to Kelmscott Manor. From 1891, the bed was decorated with embroidered hangings, which you can see, are the most striking feature. “In wools on natural coloured linen, they are beautiful examples of their kind and in remarkably fresh condition. The valance displays displays Morris’s poem ‘for the bed at Kelmscott’, composed in 1891, embroidered by May Morris, helped, it is said, by Lily, sister of W.B. Yeats. The bed curtains too are by May.” (Kelmscott Manor, The Society Of Antiquaries of London, 2004)
The bed curtains background pattern is based on Trellis which was produced in 1864, Philip Webb having drawn the birds within the design. “The bed spread with its naturalistic bouquets, delicate colouring and quotation from Morris’s poem ‘A Garden by the Sea’ from the Life and Death of Jason (1867) was embroidered by Jane, who signed it ‘Si je puis. Jane Morris. Kelmscott.'” (Kelmscott Manor.)
One of our licensed designs is the same Lily design as in his bedroom. We have always considered it one of his most loved designs for it to be in a room so personal to him. The tones and colouring within the design are so beautiful, they’re perfect for this time of year as spring slowly transitions into summer. The light green with the wildflowers are reminicent of a summers day, and are sure to brighten up your home! A top tip for during the summer is to purchase some of our PVC fabric which is sold by the half metre- if you’re having an outside BBQ or picnic, it’s great to pull the fabric out of the packet and place it straight onto the table; with the PVC fabric not fraying, it’s a perfect made-to-measure tablecloth that will wipe clean!
Posted in Lily by Laura
Golden Lily on the table today 🧁 everything should feel special even a little coffee and cake with friends, so we dressed the table up for it to make it extra special, isn’t Golden Lily such a beautiful William Morris design, one of our all time favourites ✨
•
•
•
#williammorris #wmorris #goldenlily #floraltable #floralprint
Gorgeous William Morris Sweet Briar fabric! 🌿 Love the green leaves and pink flowers 🫶🏻 We have it in cotton, heavyweight cotton, and pvc, so you’ll find the perfect fit for your project ✨ 🪡🧵
•
•
•
#williammorris #williammorrisdesign #fabricstash #ukfabric #wmorris
We’re having a moving sale over on our website! ✨ There are some absolute bargains to be had, including all these items! 🛒 Remember we offer free UK postage on all orders too 🌿 Plus we have a 15% off code running at the moment with code; JAN15 🫶🏻
•
•
•
#williammorris #wmorris #smallukbusiness #smallshop #floralprint
We’ve got some fab bundles on our Etsy - we have a lot of offcuts from end of rolls and floral fabric magic can’t be wasted so we bundle them up ✨ Perfect for crafting, we have heavyweight fabric bundles and cotton available now, but hurry, they always sell out quick 🥰
•
•
•
#williammorrisdesign #williammorris #wmorris #fabricstack #ukfabric
Guess who has a new bed for our new offices ✨ The king of naps, he will wake for biscuits, pets and little else during his day in the office 🫶🏻 His bed is covered in our licensed William Morris Willow Bough green and it looks so beautiful 🌿 The perfect bed to nap on all day ✨
•
•
•
#williammorris #wmorris #blacklab #blacklabsquad #dogbeds
Has anyone got any January crafts? ❄️ After we’ve settled in our new office, we’re planning some cosy January crafts whilst we hibernate a little! 🌨️ This board is a beautiful way to display photos and notes that was covered in a fabric we no longer loved so last year I recovered it with something we did like - a range of our exclusive quilting fabrics and now it hangs proudly on the wall, showing you can upcycle things to be something you really love 🫶🏻
•
•
•
#cosycraftclub #crafting #fabric #fabriccraft #upcycle
We’ve been a little quiet on here as we’ve been in the absolute trenches moving our office! ✨ Now we just need to settle in and find everything we’ve shoved in boxes and bags and then stashed in random places(!) but, we’re getting there 🫶🏻 Nothing will change for you ordering but we’ll have a new returns address 📮 It’s taken an absolute task force to move all that fabric and products and we’ve found some things for a little moving sale if anyone is interested… ✨
•
•
•
#williammorris #wmorris #smallbusiness #smallbusinesswomen #uksmallbusiness
Not long to go until Christmas now ✨ Have you got your Christmas table sorted and your presents wrapped? 🎄
•
•
•
#williammorris #wmorris #independantbusiness #christmastable #festivetable
The stockings were hung by the fire with care…✨ A week until Christmas Eve! 🎄 Still lots of time to order since we post the next working day with a 24hr service 🤶🏻
•
•
•
#williammorris #wmorris #christmasgiftidea #smallbusinessgiftguide #christmasstocking
One of our biggest sellers this year for Christmas gifts - our licensed William Morris oven gloves ✨ Practical and stylish, every home needs a set, hanging some Morris floral magic over the cooker 🎄 Lots of designs are still in stock and with our free UK postage being tracked 24 Royal Mail, there’s still quite a few shopping days left until Christmas 📮 (I’ll even gift wrap it for free for you as an option at checkout, even though my own Christmas gifts are all hidden in the wardrobe still to wrap 😂) 🤶🏻🎅🏼
•
•
•
#christmasgiftidea #ovenglove #floralhome #shopindie #williammorris
One pack of napkins folded four ways for Christmas tablescapes ✨ Which is your favourite? 🎄 We always love when a table set up comes with a little chocolate treat 🎅🏼 Beautiful Charlotte Rose is one of our favourites all year round, it can be dressed so many ways from Christmas to summer 🫶🏻
•
•
•
#floralfabric #floraltable #christmasnapkin #christmastable #smallindiebusiness
There’s still plenty of shopping time before Christmas with our free UK postage with Royal Mail tracked 24 📮 We’re also doing free gift wrap on our website as an option at checkout 🤶🏻 Take 15% off too until the 20th December so whether for a gift of Christmas hosting having beautiful florals on the table, use code; FESTIVE at checkout on our website 🎄
•
•
•
#williammorris #giftguide2025 #shopsmallforchristmas #christmasgiftideas #floralprint
Oh Mallow Forest Green, we love you on our festive tablescapes 🎄
•
•
•
#williammorris #wmorris #floraltable #preraphaelite #christmastablesetting
Obsessed with this tree with all the vintage ornaments on the tree this year ✨ They were all grandparents so very special 🎄 having a little coffee and cake whilst the lights twinkle is so lovely ✨ This is our William Morris Golden Lily tablecloth, beautiful year round 🫶🏻
•
•
•
#williammorris #vintage #vintagechristmas #vintagechristmasornaments #floraltable
It’s a blue and white Christmas over here 🙋🏽♀️ We went to the beautiful Christmas event at @harewoodhouse by the wonderfully talented @interiorcurve and we’re so inspired to have a themed blue and white tree and we’re so glad we did! 🤶🏻 This is our William Morris Merton blue, isn’t it beautiful, and so lovely to be able to dress it in various ways throughout the year, it’s so versatile ✨
•
•
•
#williammorris #blueandwhitedecor #floraltablescape #flowerarranging #floralchristmas
What design are you having on your Christmas table? 🎄 We’re debating a few - our new forest green colours, our strawberry thief red, or maybe a Christmas blue and white… ✨
•
•
•
#williammorris #christmastable #christmastablesetting #strawberrythief #floral
Christmas tablescaping all month long ✨ are you feeling festive already? 🎄 This is our Brother Rabbit blue design, isn’t it gorgeous 🌿
•
•
•
#williammorris #williammorrisfabric #williammorrisdesign #christmastable #floraltablescape
BLACK FRIDAY ENDS TONIGHT! ✨ use code; BLACKFRIDAY at checkout on our website to take 20% off everything - go, go, go! 🎄 We also have free gift wrap available at checkout so we can send gifts directly to loved ones or back to you gift wrapped and ready to go, we’re in the festive spirit so will gift wrap whilst we sing along to some festive songs 🤶🏻🎄
•
•
•
#blackfriday #williammorris #wmorris #morrisfabric #floralfabrics
A very floral Christmas🎄 Our William Morris Sweet Briar design looks so beautiful dressed up for Christmas! ✨
•
•
•
#williammorris #williammorrisdesign #sweetbriar #floralchristmas #christmastable
One thing that is wonderful about timeless design is that you can use it year round- dressed with Christmas candles and foliage, springtime blooms, summer florals and autumn pumpkins - it can see you through it all 🫶🏻 That’s why we want to show them in a Christmas setting so you can see they’re a perfect gift for your loved one or for your own table ✨ Which is your favourite season to dress your table for? 🎄
•
•
•
#williammorris #wmorris #timelessdesign #classicdesign #merton