Sofa and Pillows and Privacy

My new Kivik Sofa!

Sorry for the lack of posts, with the new studio, I have gotten out of my " normal" routine and into a new one. The time I used to be in front of the computer writing in the morning, is now the time that I actually TAKE a shower and get ready for the day...my hair has been blown dry more in the past 2 weeks than in the past 5 years!  It is kind of nice having a place to go in the morning, but I miss my time writing and styling photos, and will try to get better and find the perfect time to get back on a schedule.  Always a work in progress:)

Speaking of work in progress, out studio space is coming along...that is why I want to spend so much time there, it just makes me happy.  My studio mate has been gallivanting the countryside of Argentina this past week.... and with no one to sit with and have our morning design pow wows,  I have been sprucing and zhushing while she has been away.  (maybe I could have been a better blogger during that time, hindsight:) 

So, back to the point of my post....My new sofa and Pillows! Last weekend, I gallivanted myself up to Charlotte and went to IKEA.  I have been dying to get a sofa for the studio and couldn't stand it any longer.  The space needed some weight, the room was feeling a little leggy!   I definitely wanted white!  The Kivik Sofa was the perfect match.  It has weight, is comfy, and can be modified from a sofa into chairs.  I am not a huge fan of the blocky arms, but luckily you don't have to use them!  And at $170 per chair and $29 per slipcover it was a no brainer!  And talk about easy to put together.

this is what it all looked like before!

AND I got my favorite go to RITVA curtains for the much needed privacy.  I love our 3 windows, but talk about a fishbowl.  So 3 sets of those were put up as well, and now I can dance around like a looney tune without anyone knowing...shhhhh, don't tell anyone:)

Serious bang for your buck...no excuses for no curtains....at $30 per pair they are perfect!

After my ikea IKEA trip...I stopped by Post and Gray in Charlotte.

Had me at Gray and a green door!

It was my first trip, and it was WAY worth it.  Not only are Kelly and her Husband more than gracious...they have tons of great, affordable pieces from a carefully selected group of vendors.  So....true to form, I picked up a few remnants of fabric for my pillows AND a piece of artwork.  Really, if you are in the area, you must stop by and see them.

My artwork holding court on the shelf.

There you have it.  I havn't dropped off the face of the earth!  Now, I must get to work!

My New Sofa!

This is what she looked like before...a little sad.

I finally got around to having my sofa upholstered. YAY!!! I found a great textural fabric that mimics the lattice on my chairs. 

Did you notice I had the upholsterer make the seat 1 cushion instead of 2, and he added a couple inches to it.  It really makes it feel a little more substantial, it is definitely more comfortable, and it looks really nice to boot!  Just because there were 2 cushions before, does not mean that you have to have 2 cushions.  You can have the upholster do whatever  YOU want! 

 

Another little tip, is that I had the back upholstered in a nice cream burlap, it was only $2 a yard, with my Joann's 40% off coupon ....compared to the $30 per yard fabric on the front, I saved a bit on the yardage that isn't really going to be seen....and it gives it a little bit of character too.  I am a huge fan of mixing fabrics on upholstery, adds character and is a good way to save.

Oh, and those pink and coral pillows.....those are going to be in my booth starting next week....along with a few other designs. The price will be $38.50 per pillow cover, $42.50 with the insert.  They are nice, self corded, with envelope backs.

Have a great day!

Silhouette Pillow....how to.

My Silhoutte Pillow

I have had this idea in my head for a while...and finally just decided to do get it done. With minimal sewing and cutting skills, even the most novice sewer can accomplish it.



Materials:
A pillow form
A piece of burlap
A piece of drop cloth (I have a lot of scraps from various projects)
Rick-rack (ribbon, or cording would work as well)
Colored Felt
Scissors
Needle
Thread
A printed out Silhouette of your choice aproximate size 5 X 7 (would keep it a fairly simple silhouette) 
(You can find them online, or if you have a good one of a family member it would be much more personal)

Step one
 
pin the silhouette to the felt

 Step 2
Cut out the silhouette

Don't worry I ironed the burlap after I snapped the pic:)

Step 3
Center the Silhouette on burlap (I used a temporary spray adhesive, but you can pin it as well.) 

sorry for the blurry pic, you can kind of see the image

Close up of what  the stitch should look like.

Step 5
Tack the silhouette down with a simple in and out stitch (I don't know the official term for this stitch)  But I just went in and out where the long stitch is on the other side of the fabric.


Step 6
Now just sew the pillow like you normally would.  I didn't take pictures of this process, but if you need to know how to sew a pillow, there are a TON of great tutorials online. 

There are so many ways you could customize this pillow...with ruffle trim, with a colored or geometric fabric on the back, with flange, etc, etc.

Happy Hump Day!

Skirt and Pillow talk...make it all better:)

I have been project slacker lately...just trying to keep up with the day to day.  Well, knowing that you have a few  old friends coming over for lunch, always puts a little pep in my project step.  So, I decided to do a couple very simple things to make the house feel a little better (to me anyway:)

First, was a little skirt on my desk.  I am tired of looking at the junk and wires underneath, and unfinished baseboard...So instead of cleaning it up, I decided to hide it!  I made a little skirt and attached it to an spring rod, with clip on rings.  (this way, I didn't have to be exact with my measurements, and could adjust the length....did I mention I was a lazy project doer too:)  I used left over drop cloth, and fabric from the upholstered inserts of my dining room chairs (I don't think I ever posted that project....will have to do that to:)

Here is the result.

Before, when you look down the galley into my little office.

 

After the skirt.... Forgive the photography, I snapped these this morning before good "light".

much better...notice the skirt is gone on the chair..I destroyed it in the wash (oh, vell:)

Love my new hiding place for junk:)  And hides the fact I haven't painted the baseboard:) Oh, and that painting, is another masterpiece of my mother's.  I love them over my desk.

And the other project was new pillows for the living room...pillows make it ALL better:)  Seriously, this took me like 10 minutes.  The lazy pillow I call it....the "I need a pillow STAT"....pillow.  The "I am going to sew this standing up pillow, because I have dinner cooking downstairs but have to have some pillows!".....pillows.  That is why they might be a little overstuffed....the measurements were shall we say.....fuzzy at best!!!  Did I mention I was lazy....

 

 

 

very sad.

Much better....the chair is much happier.  (Mr. O and My little man might think otherwise...they think pillows have a special place on the floor!

I had some left over dupioni silk hanging around begging to be used....I think this view is pretty too, no?

There you have it....my lazy projects.  These little projects took me maybe 30 minutes total to do....and make me oh, so happy.  Now I am off to cook for my little luncheon, more on that tomorrow:)

Happy Monday.

Learning from Osmosis

My new pillows for the bedroom!

 It is no secret that I love the color green.  It finds its way into many of my projects...just look at my blog design and you can see a trend!  I have been wanting to start my master bedroom design, (among MANY other things) it has been stewing around in my head for a while...white walls, white linens, with green accents...but the green has to be JUST RIGHT.  Well, the other day I came across these pillows done in a linen fabric designed by Victoria Hagan in early spring green! THIS is the color I have been looking for!!!  So of course I bought the pillows (something that I NEVER do, because I normally make my own...) but I just HAD to have that green.   So now I have my jumping off point....and can't wait to get started on the rest.  Now that I have these pillows, I started reading into the designer behind the fabric...I had heard of her before, but not looked into her website.

On to Victoria Hagan....a interiors super star, having been inducted into the Interior Design Hall of Fame to name just one of her accomplishments.   You can read more about her here.

Her rooms are just gorgeous....the way she uses a very clean backdrop for her designs, using white on the walls in most of her work.  However, you don't notice the walls are "just" white, or "just" woodwork because the rooms sing with what  really matters which is the fabrics and furniture and artwork.   

"I strive for graphic, elegant and appropriate interiors," says designer Victoria Hagan. 

I would say she accomplishes that!  NOTE: I did have many photos from her portfolio but the links are all broken....To see her portfolio go here.

I am going to try to channel her with my bedroom design....
Maybe I can learn from osmosis with my head on my  new pillows:)  I can try anyway:) 
Or I can buy her NEW book...

Happy Monday!

Sew HOT!

Made from Dupioni Silk  and Lawn Bias Tape
that I had for a top that was never made.

The Back is a sample swatch from Robert Allan.

My signature, I never quite finish anything. 
Mommy duty called, but it still looks nice.

t is so HOT here that going outside is miserable!  I thought I would have a sew day...or couple hours yesterday.      Since it is HOT, the children are inside, so my productivity level isn't exactly steller, but it made me happy, and it was just the punch of color my living room needed. As my daughter said.  "Mommy does that pillow stand for Ophganorse":)  Why, honey, yes it does!

Feeling very inspired by this room.

Melissa Warner's Rental Apartment
Photographed for the cover of House Beautiful May 2010 issue.

Have a great, and hopefully not as hot as it is here day!