Thursday, November 17, 2016

A Walk Down Memory Lane with Laura Ashley

Hands Across the Sea Samplers has a brief biography of Laura Ashley today that shows one of her needlepoint kits.  These were very popular in the late 1980s-early 1990s.
https://hands-across-the-sea-samplers.com/laura-ashley/

Here's a rose wreath apparently called "Country Rose."
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/410601691003840058/

This is a very lovely needlepoint floral.
http://picclick.com.au/LAURA-ASHLEY-CHEVELEY-FLORAL-TAPESTRY-NEEDLEPOINT-KIT-42cms-x-162206030007.html

I found another pillow design in this not very good photo from eBay.
http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/8kcAAOSwvzRX0c4u/s-l300.jpg

Another pretty floral.
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/LAURA-ASHLEY-TAPESTRY-CANVAS-AND-WOOLS-FOR-YOU-TO-SEW-SCARBOROUGH-FAIR-/192010785436?hash=item2cb4bc129c:g:AwoAAOSwLnBX4UTF

This is a pansy design stitched with wool.
http://swimtwobirds.com/gallery/

All the kits I saw from Laura Ashley in the early 1990s were screen printed and kitted with tapestry wool.  I stitched a small rosebuds piece myself that was probably intended to be a pin cushion.  I gave it as a gift so I don't have a photograph but I think this is it.  It may have come in a blue floral version as well.
http://geb.ebay.com/g/ImportHubViewItem?itemid=122045003229

This is allegedly a Laura Ashley needlepoint but I can't see the logo at the top of the page.
https://img1.etsystatic.com/000/0/6756680/il_570xN.319834931.jpg

These seem to turn up on eBay regularly.  If you love English style tapestry, keep an eye open for some of these beauties.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright November 3, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

2 comments:

wenhkc said...

What a blast from the past! I sewed a dress when I was in college, using Laura Ashley fabric. Unfortunately, I gave the dress away, otherwise I could have deconstructed it and used the very nice cotton for quilting. I do like English style tapestry (endless basketweave, but mindless for when I really want to concentrate on TV or am too tired to plan stitches for one of my hand-painted canvases).

The Chilly Hollow Needlepoint Adventure said...

I still have my two Laura Ashley jumpsuits. I even wear them occasionally. They are corduroy and will probably never wear out.