'Floral Heritage' for Lewis and Irene

When you design collections a year in advance, it's really easy to lose track of time. At this point in my life I don't know which season I'm in, let alone year. He he! I had to just do a little mental arithmetic, because this collection is my sixteenth fabric collection in collaboration with Lewis and Irene, which is absolutely mind blowing! So without further a-do please meet 'Floral Heritage' which will be available from November 2026.

Inspired by perennial flowers which come back year after year, I wanted to focus on plants such as hydrangeas, peonies, carnations, roses and asters which also had a heritage or heirloom quality. I was intrigued by the concept of these perennials returning yearly, and what they must have seen since they were originally planted. I wanted to explore the idea that whilst each year they come back and are the same plant and identical flowers from the previous year, they are not the same, but echo's of a previous incarnation.

This concept grew further and evolved in my poem, where I also explored the idea that these new incarnations link us to the past as we ourselves are linked to our ancestors.

Under sunsets past and sunrises new,

Tended with love a garden grew.

A little seed buried deep,

No longer dormant or asleep.

Emerging from the earths embrace,

A floral notion in time and space.

From blushing pinks and purple hues,

That fade into softer, paler blues,

Hydrangeas gather their clustered heads,

As time speaks in riddles and woven threads.

Here they sprinkle petals on the ground,

Casting swathes of confetti all around.

Returning home year after year,

Inducing their eternal cheer.

Their legacy, a vibrant display,

A memory in bloom, lighting the way.

Linking us to past generations,

Connecting us to those who lay our foundations.

Look closer at the peony’s delicate face,

And where starshaped asters interlace.

These are not just blooms of fleeting grace,

But echoes from a prior time and place.

A scent of summers long since known,

From seeds of yesterday long since sown.

Each petal a chapter where stories unfold,

Love and laughter and memories of old.

Yet in their changes, a lesson lies,

Of transient beauty found beneath passing skies.

A living history for all to see,

This floral heritage passed down to you and me.

The colours of this collection were largely inspired by the colours of the flowers themselves, which is partly why I chose certain flowers over other heirloom varieties. I wanted this collection to have a nostalgic, soft quality to it, almost like you were glimpsing the past through the soft light of a summer's day.

This collection is a little break from my usual format of five designs in three colourways. For this range I have created four of the designs in three colourways with an additional different design in each of the colourways to make up the fifth design. I have also designed the sweetest ombre petal border print panel which I can see being used in so many different ways. This will make fantastic binding or sashing in a quilt, linings for bags, skirts, dresses, contrasting details in projects etc. The list really is endless and I can not wait to see how you use this as I feel it will be a really useful addition to anyone's stash, whether you buy the accompanying designs in the collection or use it as a standalone print.

All of the repeats in this collection, with the exception of the border print are tossed patterns. I wanted the designs to flow beautifully and feel like they were memories reaching back into the past.

I really hope this glimpse at 'Floral Heritage' inspires you with your project planning. I'm so excited to see how everyone interprets this collection and uses it in their own way.

You can find ‘Floral Heritage’ in all good fabric shops from November 2026. For a sneak peek of the full collection just click HERE.