Sunday, January 27, 2013

Been really busy.....


 
Sorry if I’ve been really quiet of late but business has been calling me back to it. First with the Christmas rush and now trying to get my website updated.

 
All these pillows, forty in all so far, are going up on my website but I’ve run into a little snag with that…..my program won’t update so time for mister man to come see what is going on with that. Thank the heavens for a computer geek husband.

 
In the meantime I’ve been tossing my pillows into a pile and they’ll be going on the racks once loaded onto my website. It’s easier to keep them in a pile and take them away once they’re loaded so I don’t forget any.
 
 
Since I deal only in antique fabrics it takes a great deal of time to simply find them. Not like you can walk into a shop and find what I work with laying about. But luckily I have great dealers to source items from.

 
Once purchased about half require cleaning, restoration and then if they’re for pillows I have to make them up. I do all my own sewing, I’m a one-woman operation and everything I work with is time consuming. I even source out antique trims the one on the long tapestry pillow is 18th century.

 
This little putti guy needed a bit of restoration and that 17th century trim had to be hand sewn down first because it liked to move on the silk velvet when machine sewn. Everything took me two weeks just for this one pillow alone. But as you can see from the finished results it was so worth the effort and he might have to hang around a little while longer.
 
That simple looking striped pillow on the far right side is actually called Les Toiles Flammees or a cotton/linen ikat and it’s from the 18th century. The threads are dyed before weaving to produce the flame like color.
 
 
If you’re a lover of Fortuny fabrics I have a lot of early patterns going up this update and all pairs which designers love. I keep the pillows very simple since the Fortuny speaks for itself.


 
There are plenty of tapestry pillows too. The front one with the crabs in the crest is finely woven of silk and wool and once a chairback so it’s a very large pillow.
 

There’s even a 17th century Amice vestment pillow woven from silk and metal threads. An Amice would have been worn around a Priest’s neck during special services.
 
So that’s what I’ve been up to these past few months keeping my nose to the grind stone and minding business. If you notice anything that has caught your eye please don’t hesitate to ask.  
I hope you all are having a terrific start to the New Year and enjoying each day to its fullest.
 
XXX
~Debra~
 

41 comments:

Trouvais said...

Gorgeous Debra! Love seeing the jumble...all so beautiful together! Merci! Trish

Divine Theatre said...

I have MISSED you!
Those pillows are so beautiful I want to cry! Your soul is in them, Debra!

Kisses to Dylan Dog!

xo

Andie

A Perfect Gray said...

oh boy, how we've missed you. welcome back - I see you have been very busy putting those lovlies together...donna

michele said...

i love seeing your work, debra! i can see why these are so special to you--each has a special history which can live on because of the attention and care by you.

wish i could sew as you do!

happy sunday and sending smiles.

michele

Leslie said...

Hi Debra! So great to see a post from you and look at these pillows! They are gorgeous. I like the blue and gold .. wow! Stunning! I can't wait to see them on your website. Busy is good but I understand it's also exhausting. I blog week to week.. and can't imagine posting more than that with my schedule.

Take care and enjoy the rest of the weekend!

xxL

zanetastyle said...

Very very stunning and admire your skillful hands! If only i could Afford them, perhaps one day. (:
Will check your website for details once your mister man fixes it!

Hugs z

An Urban Cottage said...

What a beautiful pile! I thought I recognized someFortuny. The pale blue velvet also looks quite nice.

What beautiful work you do!

pve design said...

I’m a one-woman operation.

That speaks to me and says it all. I love seeing all the behind the scenes operations. Beautiful work.
pve

therelishedroost said...

They are all so gorgeous!! Love the m all, I hope I can incorporate into one of my projects soon!!'xo Karolyn

Acanthus and Acorn said...

A truly beautiful mess! I love these pictures so much I'm going to have to snatch one for inspiration! I LOVE the blue damask patter and the crest- sigh.
xo,
~R

Mona said...

Fabulous...fabulous...fabulous...every piece is a work of art...I'm really loving the 17th century Amice vestment pillow. Gorgeous!

Taylor Greenwalt said...

Debra...these are so beautiful! I want all of them!

Karena said...

Adore you beautiful hand-work on these luxurious fabrics and trims. I cherish the small precious pillow from you Debra!

Xoxo
Karena
New 2013 Artists Series

Greet Lefèvre said...

Hi Debra,
Nice to see you back here!
The pillows are all soooo beautiful! Oh dear that last one (Amice) is just amazing!!! Do you have any prices of the pilows?
xx
Greet

Victoria said...

Your work is magnificent. I especially love the putto and the Fortunys. Unfortunately, I have a dog who thinks all pillows are for her to nest upon.
Best...Victoria

LaPouyette said...

Fabulous, Debra!
I could just sink into this pile of wonderful pillows :)
Have a great and creative week,
xxxkarin

LA CONTESSA said...

LOVE THE AMICE!STUNNING.........

Anonymous said...

Oh, I wish I could buy all of them - so gorgeous! I hope you are taking some time for some R+R too - a good bubble bath, a cup of tea, a massage.... xo

Sharon Lee Johnson said...

Oh my goodness - I am literally drooling over these gorgeous cushions! I don't know how you find the time to do any blogging with such a labour intensive job! But I am glad that you do! xx Sharon

Garden, Home and Party said...

What beautiful pillows. You've been busy but very productive!
Karen

Yvonne @ StoneGable said...

Oh so stunning! I would choose any pillow... this is not helping my pillow addiction at all!
Beautiful... sigh!

The French Tangerine said...

Oh dear.. you are getting me in trouble.. I am in love with a pillow and emailing you right now!
XO
Jan

Unknown said...

Debra,
It's so fun to see what you've been working on! The fabrics are beauties on their own, but to see them so lovingly and expertly sewn into these stunning pillows...well, to say I'm impressed would be a major understatement!

The one with the Amice vestment is especially beautiful!!

xoxo Elizabeth

Fashion-isha said...

Yes! I've missed you. Those tapestry pillows are amazing. Many years ago I actually took an old tapestry, cut it up and made pillows with it!
xo
Sharon

Heather Robinson said...

Debra, your talent, knowledge and discernment never, ever cease to amaze me. And if you have been busy saving and giving new life to such amazing fabrics and tapestries, then good karma is headed your way too! Not to mention bundles of success. Wow. Like Karin, I would love to dive in to take a nap but oooh I think you would kill me if I did! ;)
Bisous to you and scratchies to DD,
H

Pura Vida said...

oh my word those look divine!

International decor said...

Thank you very much for sharing this post with us

Golden house said...

I love your pretty tastes and your fantastic ideas

Italian Corner said...

really you have great ideas and great blog

cindy hattersley design said...

Debra

You have some absolutely fabulous pillows there! Let us know when you get the website updated. THERE ARE A FEW CALLING MY NAME!!

Mary Ann Pickett said...

These pillows are the creme de la creme!!! Love the Fortuny.

sharon santoni at my french country home said...

Goodness me Debra! What wonderful work you do! I love the way your cushions look in a pile like that, just hope that Dylan isn't allowed near!
Look forward to seeing the new site
Sharon
x

Stacey said...

How exciting Debra! I am thrilled to hear that business is flourishing and I can't wait for you to have your site up and running. Beautiful pillows and you must be so proud of all your hard work! Way to go!! XX

Loretta Fontaine (EcoHappy Blog) said...

Debra- You have been busy! What a wonderful jumble all the pillows make gatheres together, but it seems the putti guy rules the roost.

He is magnificent!

Loretta

Woodside Park said...

Hi, Debra -
Welcome back :) I am now catching up after a short break myself. Gorgeous pillows. Just visited your site. So many divine Fortuny ones. I'm not familiar with many of the patterns (ex: Clamys). Just beautiful!
Happy Sunday~
Loi

debra @ 5th and state said...

just finished a post about how crazy busy i have been, but YOU! girlfriend, are quite industrious!
love the fortunies, the tapestries and to think a pillow took 2 weeks, stunning!
xoxo
debra

Ivy Clad said...

Debra, I'm over the moon for your gorgeous pillows. You are right that the Fortuny pillows speak for themselves; they are truly exquisite. I love the tapestry pillows too. I'm going to pop over to your website. These are really exceptional!

xo Keri

Elizabeth@ Pine Cones and Acorns said...

Hello Debra,

These pillows are stunning. I am speechless at the beauty of each and every fabric in this pile. I can see about 10 that I would love to own. I cannot wait to see your page up and running so that I can check them each out.

I hope that you are braced for the storm, I am sure that you are. Perhaps a little downtime with a book and a hot tea would be a welcome respite from all of the work and weather.

I am in Wisconsin visiting family and the weather is not too bad, hopefully we will get the 8 inches promised. It is snowing now and it is beautiful.

Take care, Elizabeth

The enchanted home said...

So..that's what you've been up! Knee deep in beautiful pillows....how fun! That is my kind of busy:) All for your pillows are simply spectacular Debra, and how fun if they could talk, wouldn't you want to know the history and stories behind each and every one?

I would imagine you are getting boatloads of snow up there? We are bracing for 12-20 inches, might be a record. A good weekend to hunker down and feast on comfort foods, catch up on movies and get lost in a really great book!

La Dolfina said...

There really are no words to describe the beauty that you have displayed here! I am so glad you described everything that goes into creating these works of art.
They are absolutely breathtaking. All your hard work and effort has paid off. To me they are priceless.
Thank you for sharing your talent and welcome back!
We have all missed you!!!
Love,

Terri

eLIZabeth Floyd said...

What beautiful fabrics! I just found your blog for the first time and I am in love with your pillows!

Liz

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