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~
Gorgeous Debra! Love seeing the jumble...all so beautiful together! Merci! Trish
ReplyDeleteI have MISSED you!
ReplyDeleteThose pillows are so beautiful I want to cry! Your soul is in them, Debra!
Kisses to Dylan Dog!
xo
Andie
oh boy, how we've missed you. welcome back - I see you have been very busy putting those lovlies together...donna
ReplyDeletei 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.
ReplyDeletewish i could sew as you do!
happy sunday and sending smiles.
michele
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.
ReplyDeleteTake care and enjoy the rest of the weekend!
xxL
Very very stunning and admire your skillful hands! If only i could Afford them, perhaps one day. (:
ReplyDeleteWill check your website for details once your mister man fixes it!
Hugs z
What a beautiful pile! I thought I recognized someFortuny. The pale blue velvet also looks quite nice.
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful work you do!
I’m a one-woman operation.
ReplyDeleteThat speaks to me and says it all. I love seeing all the behind the scenes operations. Beautiful work.
pve
They are all so gorgeous!! Love the m all, I hope I can incorporate into one of my projects soon!!'xo Karolyn
ReplyDeleteA 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.
ReplyDeletexo,
~R
Fabulous...fabulous...fabulous...every piece is a work of art...I'm really loving the 17th century Amice vestment pillow. Gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteDebra...these are so beautiful! I want all of them!
ReplyDeleteAdore you beautiful hand-work on these luxurious fabrics and trims. I cherish the small precious pillow from you Debra!
ReplyDeleteXoxo
Karena
New 2013 Artists Series
Hi Debra,
ReplyDeleteNice 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
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.
ReplyDeleteBest...Victoria
Fabulous, Debra!
ReplyDeleteI could just sink into this pile of wonderful pillows :)
Have a great and creative week,
xxxkarin
LOVE THE AMICE!STUNNING.........
ReplyDeleteOh, 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
ReplyDeleteOh 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
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful pillows. You've been busy but very productive!
ReplyDeleteKaren
Oh so stunning! I would choose any pillow... this is not helping my pillow addiction at all!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful... sigh!
Oh dear.. you are getting me in trouble.. I am in love with a pillow and emailing you right now!
ReplyDeleteXO
Jan
Debra,
ReplyDeleteIt'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
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!
ReplyDeletexo
Sharon
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! ;)
ReplyDeleteBisous to you and scratchies to DD,
H
oh my word those look divine!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for sharing this post with us
ReplyDeleteI love your pretty tastes and your fantastic ideas
ReplyDeletereally you have great ideas and great blog
ReplyDeleteDebra
ReplyDeleteYou have some absolutely fabulous pillows there! Let us know when you get the website updated. THERE ARE A FEW CALLING MY NAME!!
These pillows are the creme de la creme!!! Love the Fortuny.
ReplyDeleteGoodness 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!
ReplyDeleteLook forward to seeing the new site
Sharon
x
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
ReplyDeleteDebra- You have been busy! What a wonderful jumble all the pillows make gatheres together, but it seems the putti guy rules the roost.
ReplyDeleteHe is magnificent!
Loretta
Hi, Debra -
ReplyDeleteWelcome 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
just finished a post about how crazy busy i have been, but YOU! girlfriend, are quite industrious!
ReplyDeletelove the fortunies, the tapestries and to think a pillow took 2 weeks, stunning!
xoxo
debra
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!
ReplyDeletexo Keri
Hello Debra,
ReplyDeleteThese 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
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?
ReplyDeleteI 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!
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.
ReplyDeleteThey 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
What beautiful fabrics! I just found your blog for the first time and I am in love with your pillows!
ReplyDeleteLiz