Our Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic Couture stores are open in New York and Los Angeles. Simply Shabby Chic treasures continues to be sold at Target.
And now, my dream of bringing a Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic Couture store to my home country, was realized last week. The final few days to get the doors open were filled with the usual challenges, from trains being cancelled and London pickpockets to say the least.
We have a wonderful upholsterer who has painstakingly worked through all our high standards and aesthetics so the brand has the same qualities as it does in our U.S. store.
Other than upholstery most of our other inventory has been shipped from America to London. We endured quite a few delays due to record snow falls in England.
However, what I think is going to be wonderful is the unique treasures that I can bring from my English explorations to Los Angleles and New York and the treasures I can bring from the U.S. to London. There are still things that are unique to different countries.
Art is still a lovely way to bring true cultural uniqueness into decor.
Portraits, landscapes and flowers are typical subjects for artists and bring such lovely diversity from location to location.
I stumbled across a box filled with sketch books at a local London Fleamarket. It was so cold my fingers were frozen and I fear I didn't get all there was. So I will go back in next month and see what I missed. These sketchbooks are true treasures. Someone elses passion to practice their art. As cold as I was, I was captivated with the studies.
As lovely as these treasures are, all goes wasted without the right lighting. This isn't as easy to send country to country due to wiring. We found a wonderful patient electrician who sorted out our "mixed wires."
This week I will take lots of lovely photos of the complete store, but just a few little moments of texture and invitingness for our english guests to enjoy.
My eyes have been fed well this week. So much inspiration to bring to projects not yet designed. I am learning more and more that it is our down time as artists that allow us to create magic when we create.
These times of creative inspiration for me feed my eyes and soul and fill me up to start again...
(Ladelle my thoughts are with you)
62 comments:
well it's testament to your strength and determination to go from the loss of SC, to the rise of couture. I am so pleased you have finally opened a shop here! I trust online shopping will be available?! I certainly hope so.
I find the photo of the upholsterers at work fascinating. That must be such hard work.
yes, it's been cold here. Apparently a cold snap coming back next week too!
Have a good weekend :o)
Congratulations! Your perseverance is to be admired, and as always, I wish you all the best.
*Congratulations*
This is truly wonderful news!
I am so glad there is finally a Shabby Chic store here in the UK.
Wishing you lots of luck & happines with your new shop.
love
Alison
x
Congratulations on your new shop Rachel! Can't wait to see more of it. Thank you for doing what you do and for sharing it with us all, you are a true artist, and an inspiring writer! Many wishes for much happiness in your world.
Paige xo
My brother lives down the street from your store. I must send him in, since I am in Northern California and have yet to see your LA store. :( I'll have him describe all the yumminess to me. :)
Sorry, I meant he lives down the street from your London store. :)
You bring so much inspiration to my life.
oh, i am so excited to visit your new store!! you have been such an inspiration to me from the time i had one of my first homes in los angeles...and now that we have started over here in london! thank you!
Simply Beautiful... hope to visit the store some day... Best!
Congratulations!!! I am so glad to know your website is back and the launching of your store in London!! WOW!!!!! Please continue to create and prosper. Hugs.
Congratulations! A lot of us have been waiting for one of your stores to open in the UK for ages. I can't wait to see the fabrics and upholstery. Good luck!
Can people in the US buy yummies from your store in England?
Rachel I am thrilled to see you are back... even better! I still miss seeing you on television. I loved your programs in 2004 I think was the time line. Would that be a possibility again?? Take care and thank you for your blog to keep us informed!
Funny what dates stick in our heads! But look at you, look what you have done!! You should be so very proud of yourself, I know I am. You truly are an inspiring woman for many. It was a wonderful post for me to read, I enjoyed each and every word. Take care Rachel!
Sue
Love your products, Rachel, and am so so glad that you are back in business!
Congrats your Faith! Great Faith! hold on and don't let go! ~lulu
lovely! so glad you are happy!
Congratulations on your new London shop! I cannot wait to go there and shop until I drop!
Morwenna x
Congrats on the new store. Best of luck.
Dear Rachel:
As usual, you rock! Your friends in the U.K. will love the shop. Best wishes to you and yours for this year. You always have such a wonderful spin on things and my praise for your ability to move ahead...
Valerie
Hello Rachel - the news that the shop is now open in Notting Hill is music to the ears of my Brit friends!! Funny though, it's closer now for me to go to Mercer St. NYC as I did in Dec. than to fly home to London!
Sending very best wishes for success in London - and make sure you take warm gloves for Portobello market - it's even cold there in Spring!
Wishing you great success in London. Miss the store here in MA! I also loved visiting your store in San Francisco too. Good Luck!
~jamilyn
Drooool over all those treasures. Rachel, you must talk to Target AUSTRALIA and get your Simply Shabby Chic range over here pronto. Even better open a store (in Melbourne preferably). Hope all this is not too much to ask ;0))
Alicia
www.time-worn-style.com
so happy you are back at your peak! And, thank you for the peek!
il va vraiment falloir que je retourne à LONDRES à défaut de nYC ou j'avais découvert avec une joie immense ce bel univers Shabby chic !
Tous mes veoux de réussite pour cette nouvelle page à écrire !
take care
Eiv
And congratulations !
I hope to take a train this year to ohio for a teaching engagement ,love the front of the london station and the little lamp makes my heart swoon!
I do have one little request,can we have more ssc items at target? pretty please, I miss the umbrellas and the rose covered boxes, the lampshades..etc..
Dear Rachel, Your posts which I have recently discovered have fed my heart and soul and I am so honored to know you even at a distance. I feel as though I am peeking into your heart's window and the Feminine beauties I long to embrace for myself are being discovered anew! ;) Thank you for sharing your gifts with the world, even on this blog! You are such a blessing and I appreciate you! You've become a natural mentor for me and I just wanted to say "Thank-you" from the light in my heart. hugs, Jenn
glad to see you back. will you be at marburger this spring? please come by my booth in tent H and say hello.
blessings,
shelley
sweet pea
No matter what has happened, Rachel, your influence has touched the lives of millions of people and has brought them the gentle feeling of the way life used to be. The softness and the beauty of what you give to the world is unforgettable and has blessed the world with a kinder way of thinking. Without Shabby Chic, life would be very different!! I am so grateful that you continue to bring such lovely things to us all!!
Debbie
I so miss your shop in Greenwich, Ct.That was a huge bummer.Glad to see you're starting up anew and will just have to make do with the SOHO store for now......
Go Rachael!!!! I have never been to London but would love to visit one day... and you know where my first stop will be? Yep you guessed it!!!!xooxox Laura (rosy girl)
The Best To YOU...I love it already!!!
Sherry
I am so happy for Rachel and I wanted to wish you luck with your new store, how exciting!! I sure wish you would open one in S. Fl. so I could visit and dream a little bit (:
Hugs~Kelly
"Keep Calm and Carry On"...and you DID! Loved meeting you in October at the Diesel book Store in Malibu. What a treat to see you and listen to you in person! You continue to inspire and delight me and so many others. good luck with the London shop. Can't wait to return to L.A. and visit the store there. All the best! Donna
Congratulations, Rachel, on your new store. I just opened up my own little casual european furnishings store in my town of New Orleans and know the feeling of utter tiredness but absolute happiness. You were an inspiration to me going from practicing attorney to designer of beautiful vintage treasures.
Hello Rachel,
I have enjoyed your Shabby Chic designs for quite awhile. I am mostly able to get a hold of your Simply Shabby Chic designs through Target.
I love to see what designers create. I'm interested in design myself. I'm wondering did you go to college for design? How did you get started in design? Any information about your design education/career would be interesting to hear about it.
Thanks
Angela R. Collins
Hello Rachel,
I have enjoyed your Shabby Chic designs for several years now.
I'm wondering how you got started
in design? Did you go to college and get a degree in a specific study of design? I know you have
done slip covers for furniture which I think is a wonderful idea.
I'm just curious more about your design education and career because I myself am interested in learning more about design.
Please keep designing. I love the work that you do.
Sincerely,
Angela R. Collins
Keep on keepin' on! Beautiful!
Hi Rachel, since my daughter has bought your latest book for me, I've been really fascinated with your work and your eye for details. Until recently I had been a "Bauhaus" fan with clear lines and reduced colours, but since reading your books my romantic side also comes through. Now I try to combine both styles. Please have a look at my new blog...
Thank you for your inspiration.
Kind regards, Marjan
Now the complete profile...
best regards
Marjan
welcome back !
I had no idea, I love looking at your things at target.
Good luck to you!
Prudence
www.avintagemom.blogspot.com
Rachel, when your UK store opens could you then think maybe opening a Australian store??? in Melbourne??? Oh that would be bliss....I have followed you forever with all your books on my shelves and dream one day to walk into one of your stores. I am so jealous of those that have a piece of you near them. Congratulations on all that you have achieved thus far and may your journey be smooth and forever growing. hugs.
Rachel, you make having a store look like fun again! I know having one was a lot of work so don't quite know how you do it all. Looking forward to seeing all your adventures. Best of luck and congratulations. I hope to get over to the store this spring and check it out!
It's so lovely to see your new shop. I visited your stores in Santa Monica and New York many times while on holiday. You have such a great talent for making things look beautiful and I am so glad you are back.
Kind regards
Mandy
HELP~HELP~HELP
Rachel...I am not sure if you read your blog on a regular basis but I desperately need some help.
I found a lone pillow sham today....at a thrift store. It is from your Simply Shabby Chic/target line. I do not know the name of the pattern..all I know is that it is discontinued.
The pattern I found...I fell instantly in love with. I want to cover my dining room chairs in this pattern and need 5 of the pillow shams....love the ruffle.
For all of you loyal Rachel Ashwell fans(like myself)....and fellow bloggers.
I am in desperate need/want for these shams. Anyone who has an idea or even some they are willing to part with...I would be forever grateful!
I have been searching ebay...no luck.
Please go to my blog.....www.pawshpoodle.blogspot.com
on the Feb. 20th post and you can see what the pattern looks like.
Thank you.....Rachel,please keep doing what you do~you are an icon :) Sheri
Rachel,
Glad to see your store is up and running again! I was sad to see the Natick Mass store close. Hoping to see you at Brimfield in May. After s a short hiatus to have a baby, my friend Amy and I are back on Shelton field in area B-57 across from where we were two Septembers ago. We hope to see you there again!! Keep up the amazing work! Happy hunting!
Keri Seery
Amazing Lady! Creative, Classy, and oh so Fabulous. Cheers to you Rachel.
thrilled that you are back but as you can see from what i did to my plain laundry room your inspiration has never left me. go here to see it.
would i loooove to work for you.
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.channel&ContributorID=42066666
Congratulations. I had no idea that your beautiful shops weren't already in the UK. I have followed you since the beginning. I think that I have every book that you have ever published. I was in search of chandelier inspirations and was sitting with a stack of your books today. I happened upon your blog tonight. I am so glad that you have realized one of your dreams. Your inspirations truly changed our style in America. I love everything that you design.
Karen
Wonderful, just the right mix.
Good for you, what a nice change of pace?
L.
Congrats on the new shop! Just bought a lovely coverlet of yours from Target, but was sad to see it is made in China. Thinking about taking it back. You have this wonderful authentic message and style, but I'm thinking this practice goes against your philosophy. I'll continue to enjoy your books. From Heather in Minnesota, USA
waterloo is my favorite! beautiful pics, by the way.
Welcome back Rachel! For all lovers of Shabby Chic, you never left.
I look forward to seeing you on your next trip to San Diego. It's an honor to see the vintage hatboxes and needlepoint pillows you bought from me featured in this blog.
XO,
Renée
Rachel everything you do is filled with love happiness and softness...
Its really a soothing affair to look at all the things. In fact it was amazing.
I know a guy who do all the same sort of upholstery and furnishings in linen and cotton.
In INDIA there is a whole lot of products and ideas to match the taste.
Congratulations and wishing you a great success.
Have a great time.
Anubhav
Congrats on the new London store.
Living outside of Boston I miss your Natick Mass store that closed.
Wish something were closer to me.
Can we order online or direct from
U.S. stores? Are you still manufacturing your couture bed linens. That is what I need now!
My 15 year old is doing her bedroom over in "shabby chic" style. What is a great pale pink color for her walls???
I'm sorry, I know this isn't the correct forum but I'm not getting answers from contacts at your stores. How is your company compensating those of us who have gift certifcates to your Natick Store that's been closed?
Rachel,
Thank you for your thoughts...the healing process is slow but through perseverence and positive energy from creative friends as you through your blog and inspiration, help immensely! Hope we can share a glass of wine someday in Santa Monica.
Ladelle
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Yes, please bring Rachel Ashwell goodies to Australia. I live in the Gold Coast, so anywhere near here would be fantastic!! Would love to see it in our Target stores over here.
All the best with your stores....
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