Come walk the streets of London with us. Everyone is bustling, people going home, journeying to meet friends. But we're heading somewhere particular. Somewhere special. As we turn onto Regent Street, what we notice first isn't the familiar black-and-white building, but the sky's sunset colors reflecting down from the dark timber-framed windows. Drawing closer, we're wrapped in the all-encompassing scent of flowers, blooming heralds of the beauty inside.

Approaching the open doors, adorned with those six colorful crests, we pass through time into another world. The bright evening light becomes softer. The scent of flowers gives way to the unmistakable smell of antique wood. And as we take the staircase up, up, up to the fourth floor, our hand trailing along the polished wooden banister, we dream of what new textile inspiration awaits us.

Regent Street is a celebration of where color and textiles meet Liberty's iconic Tudor Revival storefront.

Quilt Inspiration

While enrolled in Art School at Central Saint Martins in London, Lesley - owner of DuckaDilly and designer of Regent Street - spent her spare moments exploring and admiring the Liberty store. It was more than just a unique shopping experience - Lesley was captivated by the building's architecture and history. Regent Street captures the magic and quiet exhilaration felt upon first approaching and taking in Liberty's famed storefront. 

Design Process

Designing Regent Street was an immense undertaking, requiring more time to conceptualize and render than to actually sew! Lesley started by looking at photos of the Liberty store from various vantage points as well as close-ups of some of its characteristic architectural details, including the doors, wood carvings and timber frames, chimneys, and the weathervane. From there, she conceived a version of the building that could be both faithfully and whimsically translated into a sew-able quilt.

What was the overall vision for Regent Street? Instead of treating the storefront as a static facade, Lesley wanted Regent Street to evoke an experience, "I wanted to capture the pink rimmed sky at sunset, the reflection of the sun's pastel colors in the Liberty store windows, and the warm feelings that accompany approaching the majestic building." She also sought to create a sense of movement and dimensionality, so that the building appears to turn rather than sitting still on the surface. Presenting an opportunity to explore the different angles and perspectives in Regent Street would mimic the experience of approaching the Liberty store in real life.

What part of the design process was most enjoyable? Lesley lights up when discussing the fabrics featured in Regent Street. The design offers an opportunity to experience more than 100 unique Liberty Tana Lawn® prints, including several of Lesley's favorites that have been thoughtfully brought back from the archives for re-release! But the fabric decisions extend far beyond considerations of scale and color. To deepen your appreciation for Regent Street, look closely at the sky - Can you see the playful, subtle dragons inviting us to follow their quest? Delaney Dragon is a favorite of ours and elicits a lot of oohh's and aahh's. Lesley also added Betsy Mist to capture the warm blush of sunset, with its soft blue petals and slight touches of pink in the berries and buds. These are just some examples of the fabrics being reprinted specifically for DuckaDilly, each chosen to elevate the artistry of this iconic BOM.

What was the most challenging part of the design process? Achieving a seamless transition from the expanse of the sky to the structured geometry of the building, and finally to the organic composition of the flower boules required thoughtful planning and consideration. For the sky, Lesley designed templates with larger sections and leaned into a softer color palette, using fewer prints, to prevent the sky from competing with the building.

In contrast, the angular features and architecture of the Liberty store necessitated templates with more details (smaller pieces) and the use of a wider range of fabric prints and colors. Using darker and lighter print selections helped the building "turn" and added dimension to the quilt.

Finally, to draw the visual exploration of Regent Street towards the front entrance, Lesley accentuated the scale and curvature of the flower boules, selecting lush, vibrant prints to reflect the beauty and wonder of what awaits inside.

Advice for Regent Street Subscribers

Lesley's advice is simple: 

Celebrate your achievements and enjoy the FPP process. Each section you complete will feel like a mini reward as the quilt comes together!

Take your time and resist the urge to rush through the BOM. With over 4,000 individual pieces of fabric to sew, it might be tempting to sprint to the finish line. But much of the joy in Regent Street lies in the journey, appreciating the fabric prints and watching each design element come to life, whether it's the building, the weathervane, or the sky. To further elevate your experience, Lesley suggests a cup of loose leaf Earl Grey tea at your sewing table.