X is for Patterns

The ABC’s of window treatments………….
I couldn’t think of one window treatment word that started with “X” so I’m going with an X pattern, also trellis and diamond.  This bedroom has a great trellis pattern fabric.  Notice how they used draperies on the large window and roman shades on the small ones.  We do this quite often because a lot of times the bed is so close to the window and you might not want fabric behind the night stands.

                                                                        Source: decorpad.com via Tammy on Pinterest

Roman shades are a great choice when you want to really see the pattern, you never know what it’s going to do once you gather it.  This quarterfoil fabric happened to make an interesting pattern once it was pleated.

Bamboo trellis is still one of my favorite patterns.  It looks great on chairs and cushions.

Source: absolutelybeautifulthings.blogspot.com via Tammy on Pinterest

 
This Serena and Lily X bench is upholstered in a diamond pattern.  They are classic and I  don’t think they will ever go out of style.

         Source: stylebeat.blogspot.com via Tammy on Pinterest

I’m in the process of my staircase renovation and this is the carpet that I’m having made into a runner.  Hopefully, it will be finished next week and I can share it with you.

I’m coming to the end of my ABC series, If you have any ideas for “Y” please feel free to suggest them.

Custom window treatments can be the single most important element in pulling together your decorating scheme. 
Contact me to provide you with up to date window treatments that you are excited about.

Why you should work with an interior designer Part 2

Because they have access to “to the trade” fabrics like Schumacher’s Chiang Mai Dragon.  It comes in many color ways, here it is in mocha.

Now for the afters…………..

I made these euro pleated panels for a designer and her client. They are lined with a napped sateen, it has lining on one side and interlining on the other.  I always use lining plus interlining or the napped sateen to give body and protection from the sun.

                           

In the kitchen nook, I made straight valances with pleats on the corners and decorative braid at the top.

Custom window treatments can be the single most important element in pulling together your decorating scheme. 
Contact me to provide you with up to date window treatments that you are excited about.

Good News

  Image via Designspongeonline.com

I’m feeling so lucky and blessed lately.  I just found out that I won a trip to Creative Camp 2011 at the Custom Sewing Institute in Navasota, Texas !

                                                  Image via csisews.com

The camp was started by Susan Kostelecky and is 3 full days of hands on classes, seminars and camaraderie.  I am excited to learn new techniques like tufting, making cornices with firmaflex, workroom efficiency and much more.  Even though I’ve been fabricating for over 20 years I think there is always something new to learn and more education is one of my goals for this year.

I wanted to say thank you to Judith at Creating Balance.  She had a give away to celebrate her 50 followers milestone and I won $25.00 to a great online store….. CSN.  Her kitchen makeover was just featured on Tatertots and Jello, so be sure to check it out.

More happiness………… Elizabeth at Life of Style awarded me the Stylish blogger Award ! She is a designer in Raleigh and blogs about all kinds of stylish things so I’m honored that she would think of me.  Thank you !

Rules:

* Thank and link back to the person who awarded you.

* Share 7 things about yourself.

* Award 10 great bloggers that you have RECENTLY discovered

* Contact those bloggers and tell them about the award

1)  I eat chocolate almost everyday.

2) I don’t have any tattoos but I think this heart made of thread spools would make a cute one.  On second thought maybe just print it out and hang it in the workroom.  lol

3) I graduated from NC State University.

4) My goldendoodle rocks !

5) My family is warm, funny, supportive and I love them.

6) My first sewing project in jr high didn’t turn out so well.

7) I love my job.

I’d like to pass this award onto these lovely blogs that I’ve recently discovered.

Design Manifest

The Green Room Interiors

look linger love

Focal Point

(me) longings

design indulgence

Please stop by and see what these ladies are up to !

W is for WCAA

The ABC’s of window treatments

When you’re flipping through a magazine and see a beautiful window treatment do you ever wonder who made it ?  It probably wasn’t made in a huge factory by big machines.  Most likely it was hand made by a small one or two person workroom with lots of attention to detail. The roman shade and valance above was made by little ol me.  When you’re a small business it’s great to belong to a group of like minded people.

The Window Coverings Association of America is the only national non-profit trade association dedicated to the retail window coverings industry, including designers, workrooms and installers.

They have over 1300 members in North America and the Caribbean and they are launching the first Canadian chapter on January 20, 2011.  There are 30 local chapters across the country and I’m lucky enough to have one near me. 

What I enjoy most is networking with my peers and bouncing ideas off of each other.  There are so many talented ladies in our group. We tour businesses like Spoonflower, Virginia Quilting and Greeenhouse Fabrics.  We have speakers like Susan Kostelecky from the Creative Sewing Camp, Edward Walker from Trading Spaces and Jackie Von Tobel.  Some months we just get together and have book club or watch a fabrication video.

I was just elected vice president of the Triangle Chapter and this is our officer picture for 2011.  Bianca Henry/President, Me/ VP,  Ronica VanGelder/Asst. Secretary, Lisa DeVita/Treasurer, Jackie Soderling/Secretary.
If you are in the window coverings industry I encourage you to join and start enjoying the education and networking !

Custom window treatments can be the single most important element in pulling together your decorating scheme. 
Contact me to provide you with up to date window treatments that you are excited about.

Why should you work with an interior designer ?

They can visualize the end result.

I just finished a job for one of my designers that turned out beautifully despite the concerns that the homeowner had after she brought the fabric home.  They got a great deal on a very expensive fabric  but she was worried that she wouldn’t like it and could only focus on the birds in the print.

Her designer had the vision to see all the fabrics, paint and wallpaper come together.  We chose a quilting pattern that really highlighted the design.

Do you see one bird on these draperies ?

It’s now her and her husband’s favorite room in the house !

Custom window treatments can be the single most important element in pulling together your decorating scheme. 

Contact me to provide you with up to date window treatments that you are excited about.