Sewing Lessons Resume

The pillows to be recovered, the backing fabric and essential tools for accurate grain line in Home Decorating Sewing

Next friday marks the return of a favorite client and project of mine. I have been working with P. for a little over three years now. She had retained me to assist her in designing and instructing her on the construction of her Master bedroom draperies. She had found a lovely spice colored jacobean floral on cotton. We did an oversized goblet pleat and they turned out beautifully. When it came time for her to take on her Living room and Dining Room, she was overwhelmed with where to start.

As I reminded her of my design background, she agreed to have me go to work and pull a look together for her.. The result is nearing completion now, as she and her husband will be returning from two months abroad, the valance for the dining room is all we have left.

We have had such fun together and have become quite good friends. She is truly an inspiration to me. So, P.D, this post is for you...

Here is a brief snapshot of the highlights of the project.. the living room at least... the Dining room will be unveiled as we complete the valance.

Pillow Fabrics, Top-backing, right, face fabric, back, welt fabric.

Client/Student cutting her own fabric, professional guidance provided by... me.

When I presented 15 different fabrics to her, she loved each and everyone, the next challenge was how to make them all work in the room without becoming to overwhelming. Because she and her husband are well traveled, she wanted a space that was eclectic, put together and expressive... she liked the idea of expressive. The walls are a wonderful creamy, peach based... pink. Originally the sofa was covered in a soft sage/celery green Corragio cotton damask. The two cane backed arm chairs had a deeper pink/cream plaid cushions.

The cushion body and silk bias welt for the cane chairs

The finished chair cushion- all of the fabric motifs speak to the small caning shapes in the furniture, while the stylized quatrefoil shape speaks to a more romantic time, coupled with the fern frond area rug.. it seemed a perfect, exotic marriage of texture, color and shapes.

The draperies were some that she had made herself, by following a Sunset publication. She did quite a good job on them. These are details of the new draperies.

 Notice the repeated 'caning' pattern.  This is another color way of Schumacher's Betwixt fabric. There are two color ways used in the room to create coherence. Changing color ways allows me additional control of 'painting' in color in the perfect promotion for the room.

The pleat detail of the drapery panel. The panels are 1 and 1/2 widths wide flat compared to the single widths that were  made originally by the homeowner. The new draperies are hand drawn with a wand...P.D. laughs and says opening and closing her draperies now is like magic... they have such weight to them as they glide along the rods. She says they are a pleasure to open and close daily. 

 I suggested multi fabrics on the deck and bolsters of the cane backed french provincial style sofa, a second fabric for the cushion and the four pillows in an embroidered silk of bright colors, a soft cotton tweed the same as the wall color was selected for the pillow backs to create a calm effect from the back of the sofa, when seated at the desk. But the front of the sofa, WOW, impact upon arrival into the room.

Before, Pink and green color scheme, all of the wood is dark.

The new Living Room, a more complex color scheme adds interest and keeps the patterns transitioning together. The bookcases were painted a creamy white to showcase the books and open u the corners. The drapery hardware is a silver leaf rod and verde rings and finials. 

 Looking forward to next friday and working on the Dining room.. here is a teaser...

In process photo of the Dining drapery panel.....