Working on...

a banner made of vintage fabric

Speakers, Sofa Cushions, and Emily Chalmers

 It's been awhile, so I will try as best I can to remember the speaker conversation. Pretty sure it went something like this.

"Honey, do you remember me talking about how since high school I've wanted to own a quality set of speakers? You know the kind I mean - blow the roof off your house speakers." Then he is getting a call and has to get off the phone.

Then I get the second phone call. "Johnny was at a yard sale when he saw these speakers. He actually drove off and left them there. I told him to go back as fast as he could and get them." 

I remember having a fairly lengthy convo about said speakers, but I'm thinking you get the picture.

It's to hard to type inflection so you'll have to trust me when I tell you I recognized right away that I was being entreated. I do remember the punchline he said, "Did I mention that they are kind of big?"

Now I've widened my shot to include the speakers. Not only are they kinda big, they are kinda black, and sitting in the living room, that prior to their arrival didn't have a speck of black in the decor, at least not on purpose. So now I have a serious problem. These speakers are a force to be reckoned with. My first thought was making a big slip cover to camouflage them. Then I remembered the photos of the Emily Chalmers loft and her use of black as an anchor, or point of interest, in an otherwise white space. Viola. Decoration born of desperation my friends.

Oh by the way, he redeemed himself when he came home after the living room re-do and said, 

"I like it, it's very Anthropologie."

Curtain Skirts Re-visited

skirts made with vintage drapery fabric

Fine Design

 Some time ago I saved this photo to my desktop. I could not believe there was actually a kindred spirit out there, one who like me, had such obvious love of skirts made of curtains. In fact, I made a very similar skirt to the one on top. I've actually made quite a few skirts from vintage drapery fabric.  Time went by and I couldn't remember the source of the original image.

 Then in December I happened to be visiting the decor8 blog and the images of a stylist named Emily Chalmers almost took my breath away. You know the feeling you get when you see a space and declare, "I could seriously live in that space." Everything about it... just lovely. So I got curious about you Emily Chalmers. I googled you. I tried to find every image that was out there. So there it is. The image I found so long ago and loved is your closet, in an open loft, in London. I love your loft.

Then I discovered not only are you a stylist, you are an author, and shop owner - with adorable personal style to boot. 

So yep... I ordered your books, not all of them, there's a lot.  

these photos belong to Hilary Walker 

Simplicity 2591

View B Simplicity 2591

I've included the line drawing so that the side panel with side pocket application is visible. That sounds so professional (got it off the pattern back). I'm referring to the curved piece that hooks the front onto the back. The busy print on this fabric doesn't show off this design detail. If I make this one again I will make it in a solid, or at least a less busy print. I enjoyed making this and the unusual construction kept me entertained until the very end. I did not make this dress this fall (although it only recently has seen closet rotation). I have been lately referring to this dress as the suitcase dress.

I must be in a Fall frame of mind - I brought home a vintage dress in these same colors. Not on purpose. In fact did not even realize it until Jenny pointed it out. In fact she said, "Don't you already have a dress just like that?" To which I say, "Nope, this one has sleeves, and rhinestones."

Just for fun I found cute versions of this dress here, here, and here.

don't give up on me I'm still working on the pocket pdf.

 

Tulip pocket wrap-dress

 Working out the construction bugs. Another Swirl knock-off.

 Little different pocket detail.

In action. Modeled by my sister-in-law Jenny. 

I've already started another. :)

Vintage Suitcases

D: "You have twenty-seven suitcases, I counted."

Me: "They aren't just suitcases,(duh) they're vintage suitcases."(the duh is silent)

D:" It's not a problem, I'm just sayin' that's a lot of suitcases."

Me:" I need that many in case I ever leave you, I need something to pack my stuff in."

D: "You can only take whatever fits in your suitcases."

Me: ..........

I'm mentally counting suitcases (including the ones I'm pretty sure he didn't count).

Must. get. more. suitcases. ;)

all in good fun. this photo makes it look like I'm outta here (I'm so not). I actually found this from last fall. I never blogged this dress. It's a simplicity pattern that I'll post in the next couple days.