Frame-able Fabric

In my next life I want to come back as a textile designer. I love pretty fabric and would definitely consider framing some that I've found as art.
Like these!

I found all of these images on Luli Sanchez, Lourdes Sanchez's website. As an artist and textile designer, Sanchez works in hand painted watercolor media. Visit the website to see more of her work, including her fine art watercolors.

Darling Monkey Chair

We spotted this adorable little chair in Shelter Interior Design's portfolio recently and had to share:



Forget the nursery - we'd put that in the living room. Kids need a place to sit too! Oh - okay, it could be nursery furniture until the kids grew up. Then we could move it to the living room and call it a "family heirloom."

It's not like the chair is actually child size anyway... But THAT would be even better!

Frameable Fabrics

I think I may have mentioned how much I love fabrics here... Once or twice?

Anyway - I never tire of browsing through swatches or scrolling through online galleries and today I was doing just that at Clarence House.


I've often considered framing a favorite textile - but that would require procuring a remnant... So for the time being, I keep a mental list of the ones I want.

Any one of these from Clarence House would be super:

(very Key West)

(this one would be fun for a nursery - very unique and colorful!)

One great thing about blogging: you basically have a virtual idea catalog to reference. What was that cute Clarence House fabric with the birds...? Just search the blog and there it is!

And on that note, I'm off to the bus top to retrieve one of the three reasons I rarely get around to such projects... Have a great weekend!

Iron Suzani

This week, our blogger/photographer friend, Robin from Around the Island posted this beautiful image:


It's the back gate of the chapel on the Mount of the Beatitudes, but our first thought when we saw it was SUZANI.

While it's not a new popular decor trend, the use of Suzani textiles seems to be a lasting one.


They appeal to both minimalists looking for a punch of pattern and color to add to their otherwise spartan spaces...as well as to full-on bohemian enthusiasts who require at least eight exotic print pillows per couch.

Here are some pretty examples from our inspiration files:









Have you seen other non-textile examples of Suzani-style designs. We will now have our eyes out for ceramic, tiles and IRON!

Images via: Annechovie, Caitlin McGauley, Calico Corners, Chinoiserie Chic, House Beautiful, Jackie Von Tobel, Little Green Notebook, Style Court, The Decorista

Wearable Upholstery for Charity

In leafing through my decor magazines looking for post inspiration, I found myself sighing (again) at the Oscar de la Renta Home line advertisement for Lee Jofa.


The fabric itself is lovely - but oh, that image of heavy ball gown skirts and magnificent jewelry...

The skirts featured in the ad are actually wearable fashion. Just three of several pieces that will be auctioned off for charity. Proceeds of the auction will go to Casa del Niño, a child assistance service in the Dominican Republic. Each one of a kind item will be available for bid on Bidding for Good through November 30th.

Here are images of each:









This YouTube clip has some great close ups of some of the fabrics as well as a visual display of how his fashion designs influenced his home textile designs:

Opening bids are $750. But even if I could raise that kind of cash, I expect (and hope) that the designs will go for exponentially more than that, raising a lot of money for a very good cause.

The stars aligned for this one. I'm both enchanted and inspired. Who says fashion is a shallow industry!

(Find more details and images of the line in articles on elledecor.com and access.decorati.com.)

Seaside Inspiration

(We picked a winner for the birthday giveaway this weekend. Congratulations Averill!)

I was browsing through the Thibaut Wallpaper and Fabrics website this weekend and found many designs with sea inspiration:

Okay - those last two weren't particularly aquatic - but I just thought they were cute.

I really love textile design (another one for the list of parallel life careers - fabric designer!) and how better to view the various lines than in a beautifully styled room set?

Thibaut offers a great photo gallery for design inspiration. Or at least just a little eye candy - which is never a bad thing on a Monday morning.

Have a great week!