Workroom Wednesday – Artisan Designs

I have started a series that will showcase a different drapery workroom each week.  These talented artisans can take an idea or a photo and a bolt of fabric and turn it into an amazing creation that adds so much to your home.

For the past nine years Annie Davis has owned Artisan Designs, a to the trade only workroom in  the Omaha area.  She loves to do hand detailing and specialty techniques because of her background in quilting. 
Cornices are a specialty of Artisan Designs.  These are shaped at the bottom with a banding and nail head trim.

Lambrequins are hard cornices that have longer legs that come down the side of the window. 

This cornice is custom designed to fit into a corner.  The detail on this one is amazing with banding, cording, two fabrics and tassels.

This is a very unique drapery panel.  It has a sheer panel inset into the fabric with bead trim at the top and bottom.

The panels in this bedroom are pulled back by a technique called Italian stringing.

Swag and horn valances are hanging from knobs or medallions.  This is a good example of keeping continuity by mounting all your valances at the same height in an open floor plan.


Using a fabric panel is a great option for making a closet door.

They also build and upholster custom vanity stools and ottomans.

This pillow is an example of the fine details in Annie’s work.  It has a hand ruched trim between the pleated banding and the center panel with a box pleated ruffle around the outside.  The origami flower is the center is called a fennel. It’s gorgeous !


Annie has attended many educational seminars and keeps up with all the latest techniques in our industry and that is obvious looking at her work.  She is also a member of the WCAA and is a Drapery and Design Professional Network Member.
To see more of her beautiful creations in her online photo album go to www.artisandesignsomaha.com

Office Space

I have my office space downstairs in the study and my workroom on the third floor.  Running up and down the stairs is a little inconvenient at times but it keeps me skinny !

I was over at Bryn Alexander’s and got inspired to finally cover my mouse pad with a scrap of my drapery fabric.  What….. your mouse pad doesn’t match your drapes ?

My Inspiration board with pretty images and sayings……… An inspiration board is a place where you can collect things that inspire you to create.  It can have magazine pictures, quotes, flowers, keepsakes, fabrics, poems  or anything that gets your creative juices flowing.  I have a tip on mine that says, “When opportunity knocks, open the door, for heaven’s sake !”

Flicker has a lot of photos to get you inspired to make one….

http://www.flickr.com/groups/inspirationboards/pool/

What about you, do you already have one ?

Scalamandre Le Tigre Silk

My Workroom Wednesday post will not be here today because of some technical difficulties with photos but it will be back next week.  We’ll call today, “What’s on my Worktable Wednesday”  and it’s a good one !

I’m sure you recognize this Scalamandre Le Tigre Silk velvet.  It is one of Scalamandre’s most sought after fabrics, retailing for $1500 to $2000 a yard !  It is hand woven in Italy made of 60 % silk 30% cotton and 10% viscose. 

I’m going to be making 6-8 pillows from this yummy fabric.  I had a pair of pants very similar to this in the 90’s….. Oh, I wish I had saved those pants so I could rock them while sewing these pillows.

Maybe I’ll at least play this song from Marie Antoinette while sewing……

Check out James Andrew lounging on the Le Tigre Silk chaise, no, he calls it a “Dos a Dos” throne wearing his Yves Saint Laurent aubergine “Eton” boots. 

Let’s face it, if you’re going to be lounging on that you need the aubergine boots on…………….. or nothing at all !

Do you love it ?

Thrift to Treasure

We took a trip to the flea market today and found lots of goodies.  I bought 2 of these cheap, gold frames and they were 25 % off.  We stopped by the hardware store and got more spray paint, dover white.  I don't know why I only buy one at a time !

Step 1:  Prime with Kilz and paint ( I used dover white)

Step 2:  Staple fabric to the back of frame.  I used the same silk that I made my roman shades with.

 

I decided to make this a necklace holder about this time so I had to find some way to attach hooks to it.  I wish I could remember where I saw this so I could link to it but I have no idea :(   Oh yeah, and I didn't want to make another trip out so I had to find some way to "make it work". 

Step 3:  Cut boards the width of the frame minus 1/2" each side.

Step 4:  Attach boards to the back of frame with 3/4" brads and a few staples.

Step 5:  I used tenter hooks because that's what I had on hand and staggered them across the frame.

Step 6:  Hot glue a sawtooth hanger on the back.

I hung it in my bedroom and filled it up really quickly.  It holds about 16 necklaces and I have a lot more so I will be finishing the second one exactly the same way and hanging it beside this one.  The top looked empty so I stuck a tassel on it..............

I think I read that pairs in the bedroom are good feng shui so off I go to finish the second one.  I'm linking to Susan's party at BNOP for Metamorphosis Monday,  The DIY Show off Party, and Tatertots and Jello's Weekend Wrap Up Party.......go check them out !