The Downton Abbey Trunk Show

If you're in the Manhattan through to 5 pm, Sunday, 22 December and you're a fan of Downton Abbey then drop by The City Quilter and see the Andover Fabrics Downton Abbey Trunk Show collection.

Maybe you've already heard about the new Andover Fabrics Downton Abbey fabric The Women's Collection designed by Kathy Hall, in collaboration with the Downton Abbey production team and maybe you haven't - if not, where have you been ;) ?  Let me update you via phone photos, which is such a shame but I was super keen to share this with you and didn't have a real camera with me at work!!!

This is a great first collection and last weekend I got to make up fat quarter bundles at The City Quilter based on each of the 4 Downton character's collections and including the companion prints detailed on their mood boards:

The Dowager - grey, purple and black

 

Lady Mary - burgundy, blue and green

Lady Edith - peach, green, blue and pink

 

 

Lady Sybil - sea foam, blue grey and mauve purples

 

You can check out each character's mood board, fabric patterns and character images here on Andover's blog.  In fact, Andover has got lots of great info going on via their website including free Downton Abbey quilt patterns and projects.

Here're photos of the trunk show pieces:

 Bags

Patterns available at Pink Sands Beach Designs

 

Storage boxes

 

 

 

 and even a tea cosy

and an ornament

pattern available at Sew Many Creations

along with clothes

Authentic 1920 Dresses and Hat

patterns available at eVINTAGEpatterns

 

 

 

and lots of quilts

9 Easy Pieces

pattern available at Mountainpeek Creations

Berkshire Valley Stars
pattern available at Kate Mitchell Quilts

Starlight in green

pattern available free at Andover Fabrics

 

 

Nana's Garden Path quilt

pattern available at Poorhouse Quilt Designs

Downton Queen

pattern available at Quilt Woman.com

Abbey Star

pattern available at Mountainpeek Creations

 

Counterpoint quilt

pattern available at Mountainpeek Creations

 

I've thoroughly enjoyed working with this collection - I'm a huge Downton fan and I've loved the opportunity to talk with store customers about Downton and also Highclere Castle where the series is filmed. 

Highclere Castle

From age 8 to 16, my daughter, Flicky, went to school at St Gabriel's close by Highclere Castle and, long before the Downton days we were involved via the school in events at Highclere.  Watching Downton brings back happy memories of home.

Flicky's school - St Gabriel's Independent Day School For Girls, Sandleford Priory, Newbury, Berkshire

Another small thing amuses me - Andover Fabrics make the Downton Abbey collection and Andover is also an English town close to Highclere and where I studied my foundation degree in Art & Design.  Life in America can be surprisingly unfamiliar on a daily basis with an amazing number of differences in the two languages and cultures, after two and a half years I'm still learning and small reminders of England are extremely welcome and fun!

Back to the Downton Abbey Fabric Collection, though, I'm really quite impressed by it.  I'm not one for buying collections, preferring to put my own fabric choices together but there's a lot about this collection that appeals to me in the prints and the muted yet strong colours.  Without a doubt, my favourite character in the show is Violet Crawley, The Dowager Countess of Grantham played by the wonderful Dame Maggie Smith.  Here's one of my favourite Dowager quotes - you've just got to love her!

 "I wonder your halo doesn't grow heavy; it must be like wearing a tiara round the clock"

 and interestingly my favourite character fabric collection is also hers - I love those designs and the purples, greys and blacks.  I hear some of the fabrics will be included in the fifth series, yet to be filmed - I'll be looking out for that.

Do you watch Downton?  I've seen the fourth series and I'm eagerly awaiting the Christmas Special -  I can tell all my American friends that you're going to love it :D  For those who aren't Downton fans and even those that are, you may enjoy watching the Snore (Downton Abbey) video and another favourite of mine is Downton Abbey sings One Direction's 'What Makes You Beautiful'!

Who's your favourite character and how do you feel about the fabric collection? - no spoilers though please as the show doesn't air in the States until January!!!

For details of other fabric, yarn, trim and notion stores that I've visited around the world along with the NYC stores I love, exhibitions and events I've attended and wonderful people I've been lucky to meet click the links below or in my sidebar :D

Disclaimer: This post is for informational purposes only, no payment or commission is received on click-throughs and opinions are my own.