FreeSpirit designer Odile Bailloeul shares her inspiration for her latest collection Language of Flowers - in stores now!

To make sure that our quilts are not only pretty but also carry messages of love and affection, I've created fabrics that can be used to show these sentiments.

I was interested in the language of flowers, which was once used by lovers to communicate their thoughts and emotions...

The Victorian era was full of these delicate pictures and floral cards. The world of William Morris and Beatrix Potter were also ideal sources of inspiration for expressing the symbolism of the era: highly decorative compositions, animals serving as messengers, graceful hands expressing friendship, hope and benevolence.

Isn't this a wonderful way of communicating, through bouquets?

So why not incorporate it into our quilts?

You too can compose messages for those you love: for new babies, for visitors coming into your home, for friends going far away, for cherished grandmothers... .

It will make your work all the more precious.

Alphabet
 

A fabric specially designed for writing dedications, messages, names...

Each letter is decorated with a flower with the same initial.

Hedgerow

Fairies and little animals appear at the edge of the path, hidden in this flowery border.

Both border colours are included on the fabric to match your creations.

Ideal for bordering your patches and plaids, the bottom of a garment or for making pouches.

Say It With flowers

This motif takes its cue from Victorian chromos decorated with delicate hands.

Here in the form of floral offerings symbolising perseverance, hope, joy...

Little messages of affection to incorporate into your textile creations.

Available in rose with a floral background or in a very Victorian black and grey/blue black.

January

Frail snowdrops, symbols of perseverance, create a graphic cameo pattern on this fabric.

A coordinating pattern that's a perfect match for the other designs in the collection.

Available in turquoise and orange.

Garden Secrets

What do the little fairies whisper to each other as they move from flower to flower at dawn?

A fairytale reference inspired by the pretty English illustrations featuring the spirits of the garden.

A fabric that invites you to take a poetic stroll among the pomegranate flowers...

Keys to Secrets

If flowers have a language, you need keys to decipher their most secret messages!

On a watermark of handwritten texts, keys and bouquets dance together, forming a charming multi-directional fabric.

Forest Taylors

Inspired by the world of Beatrix Potter, I took great pleasure in drawing these charming animals ready to help you in the craft room: hedgehogs, rabbits and magpies slip through the anemones to lend you a hand.

Perfect on an apron, a sewing bag or as adorable needle holders...

Under the Pergola

Fancy a fragrant siesta under a summer sky?

Choose this charming fabric that combines roses in full bloom, graphic flowers and speckled corollas, all interspersed with tiny floral details...

Braid

The cheeky little stripe that adds a graphic, contrasting touch to the other designs in the collection.

A colourful coordinate that can be used on borders, ruffles, matching piping...

Susan

A carpet of red flowers that will work wonders in combination with lighter fabrics.

Its dense range will add contrast to your quilts and bag linings.

Tea Time

A highly decorative composition worthy of a tea party in Alice in Wonderland!

An English tea room atmosphere perfect for making napkins, tea bags, kitchen aprons and original tablecloths.

Victorian

Inspired by the compositions of William Morris, this design combines stylised flowers and jasmine arabesques in a highly decorative motif.

Available on a soft pink background or on a smaller scale on a chic black background.

William

A nod to the great English designer William Morris, who peppered his creations with medieval references.

This refined little coat of arms is a coordinating element that will add contrast to your patchwork and other creations.

Learn more about FreeSpirit designer Odile Bailloeul here. View the collection here.

FB: @odilebailloeuldesign | IG: @odilebailloeul | Pinterest: obailloeul | Website: https://www.lapetiteboutiquedodile.com/en/