Mad About Fabric: Spoonflower

One of my very favorite things about blogs is that they open up a whole new world of designers and products that otherwise, would get very little notoriety at all.  Blogging and social media sort of level out the playing field a bit, making it easier for independent creatives to gain the exposure their work deserves. I adore fabric from the major fabric houses but it's great to know that there is a way to see and purchase work from textile designers that aren't household names.....yet.

Over the weekend, I stumbled onto Spoonflower, a textile company that (in their words) "makes it possible for individuals to design, print and sell their own fabric designs".  The result, as you might imagine is a wiiiiide variety of patterns and styles all at extremely reasonable prices. I want swatches of EVERYTHING!

I spent hours this weekend looking at page after page and I feel like I've only scratched the surface.

I was especially drawn to this watercolor style collection called "Garden Lark".

I really want to use this one below on a pair of Bergere chairs:

I love the watery, dreamy quality of these fabrics! The designer of this collection, Vivian Ducas also has a beautiful blog that shows even more of her work. I'll be spending some time perusing all the products I can buy with her designs on them. There's nothing that makes me happier than accidentally stumbling upon some truly amazing textile goodness!

Some of my other Spoonflower favorites:

This malachite fabric is most certainly on order! The only question is do I get it on silk, cotton or upholstery weight twill?  That's right - you can pick the type of fabric to have it printed on. Pretty fantastic!!

If it's hard for you to visualize how a particular fabric would look on say, a chair don't sweat it. Spoonflower often displays project photos shared by customers. 

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Although this post may sound like it, it is in no way sponsored by Spoonflower or anyone else. If it were, please trust that I would state that openly and honestly. I have no issues doing sponsored posts for companies and products that I truly believe in but this isn't one of em! Today, I'm just sharing my enthusiasm with ya because I feel like it is so important to support creative-driven companies (that also use eco-friendly printing processes, hello!) like this one. 

As with any newly discovered infatuation, I'm kind of obsessed with all things Spoonflower. 

Mushy Schmushy Valentine's Stuff

Maybe I'm just being nostalgic but Valentine's Day was a heck of a lot more fun when we were kids, right?  No pressure, no unrealistic expectations of just the right person doing just the right thing at the exact right moment. Back then Valentine's Day was just a gluttonous celebration of candy, candy and candy.  

Even better than the sweets was the ritual of passing out valentines in class. Mostly because we all got to make one of these:

Remember these?  Oh boy.  I WISH mine had looked this good! As much as I loved making these valentine mailboxes, I was easily disheartened when I noticed a classmate's was neater and cleaner and therefore better than mine. I'm pretty sure this is exactly where my utter hatred of crafting began. I'm not a super neat person by nature. Supreme neatness requires a level of patience that I just didn't have the patience to develop. 

To this day, I cannot wrap a present nicely to save my life. Thank god someone invented gift bags!

Even though B and I don't do a whole lot to really celebrate Valentine's, usually making a nice dinner at home, I still love it.  I suspect it's still mostly because of the candy.  Oh who am I kidding...of course it's all about the candy!

Since I can't give each of you a handmade valentine, seeing how I've sold you on my killer crafting skills, I've put together a round up of goodies you can buy, create or devour as your heart desires. 

Buy it:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

For those who must craft, (know that I'm secretly super-jealous of you!) Valentine's Day can also be about creating something for that someone special.

Make it:

1.2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.

For me, it really is all about the sweets and treats that I give to that someone special but usually end up eating 85% of myself.

Devour it:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.

Thanks to all of you for stopping by and showing me some love! I hope your Valentine's day is filled with lots of love......and candy.  Always candy.

xo,

Sarah

Loving: White Interiors

As much as I love unapologetic interiors that smack you in the face with bold punches of color, every now and then my eyes need a break from all the intensity. Sometimes no color at all (wood tones, linen, concrete and natural stone being the exceptions) is so very nice.
 

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The key to keeping such a subtle palette from being flat and boring is to incorporate a variety of textures.  Mixing rustic wood grain, woven grasses, nubby linens, ceramics, natural stone and metal add visual interest and warmth to what can easily be a stark or cold look.

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Create a calming space for kids by using an all-neutral palette:

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 I'm kind of in love with this bathroom. So rustic and simple but it somehow feels very luxurious to me.

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What are the chances that neutral dining spaces would make for happier family dinners? It's hard to imagine anyone throwing down their napkins and stomping away in a huff at any of these tables.

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What's so ingenious about an all-white or totally neutral space is that, should you ever crave something more energetic, a little pop of color will go a long way. 

Like these candy-coated chairs:

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Add depth and an instant focal point by painting the back of cabinets in something unexpected:

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By now we all know that the quickest and most inexpensive way to inject a little energy into a neutral palette is by changing out the basics like lighting and accent pillows.

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For the price of a little paint, transform an all-white kitchen into an ultra glam showstopper. How gorgeous is the kelly green/tangerine combo below? 

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Could you live in an all neutral interior or would you give in and add punches of color?

Taking a Big Leap

I normally don't post on Thursdays but I had to share a little bit of exciting news:

I'm going to....

Which is AWESOME but at the same time has me feeling a little bit like Kristen Bell meets sloth.




As soon as I heard about it last month, I made up my mind that I was going to go.  No I don't know anyone else who's going and yes, that scares the everliving daylight out of me.  (Why do I go all hillbilly when I'm freaked out?  Must be the Arkansas-born part of me y'all) So when registration opened up Wednesday morning I was right there at 9:58, 9:59 and Bingo!  I registered myself for Blogfest at 10:00am exactly.  I was feeling pretty damned pleased with myself in that moment.

And then I looked up the itinerary and found out just who was going to be hosting the Kickoff.

Uh yeah.  That would be Margaret Russell and Jonathan Adler.  Then later there's a little cocktail party with, oh you may have heard of him, Thom Filicia.  All in the first day!!

What have I done?  I think I'm going to puke.

It's just too much, too much! I can't even deal.

To be honest, I'm a little bit terrified.  Which makes no sense at all because I have no trouble talking to people I've never met and I'm not someone who is so in awe of celebrities that I become a babbling fool in their presence.  In my furniture selling days I helped a certain Baywatch blonde (no, not Pamela Anderson) purchase a table and although I knew full well who she was, I acted all cool and normal. No way was I going to give her the satisfaction of thinking I was impressed by celebrity.  Puh! We're just the same, you and me blondy.  Except for the whole gorgeous, famous blonde part, exactly the same.

But these guys.....these guys are heavy weights in my profession.  I aspire to have the kind of success they've achieved and I'm so intimidated.

Another confession: I'm more nervous about the other design bloggers who will be there. Isn't that nuts!?  I follow a bunch of their blogs but don't know any of them personally.  I have to admit that I'm feeling waaaay out of my league here. What if I act like such an unsophisticated goober that they all shun me and no one invites me to their link parties anymore??  What if they're all super nice and I'm just way too sarcastic that I look like a big jerk?  

What if I make the "crazy face" that B says I must never ever make in public???

Back when I first decided I would go, I knew I would probably feel this way.  I knew that most of the other bloggers had been blogging longer, had more clients/projects under their belts, had a stronger presence in the design/blogging community and that I would feel like a desert-dwelling fish out of water.  And boy do I!

The fact that this whole event scares the crap out of me reinforces my need and desire to go.  There is so much I want to accomplish in my career and my life and I need to be brave if any of it is going to happen.

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So the way I see it, I can sit here for the next 3 months having daily panic attacks about how I measure up against all of the other bloggers and designers or I can anticipate meeting some pretty amazing people and hopefully making a few new friends.  I'm still scared to death but I'm choosing to be brave...to try to be brave.

Oh dear lord, what am I going to wear???!!!

Your Weekend - Recommended Blog Reading

Happy freaking Friday!  Oh I am so very happy the weekend is here!  I'm excited to:

1. Sleep in past 6am
2. Drink my morning coffee in a leisurely fashion
3. Stay in my pajamas until lunch
4. Meet some girlfriends for breakfast on Saturday
5. Pick out a paint color for our STILL builder-white laundry room because next week we'll be taking delivery of these babies:

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Yes, we got them in cherry red folks.  I was thinking graphite all the way but getting them in red (at a great sale price!) got us a higher quality set for our money.  Plus, red is so much fun and laundry is so....not.  I'm thinking this energetic color in the laundry room will make me smile when I'm sorting my whites from my colors. 

So a full on makeover of the laundry room is in swing!  This first stage will be paints and prettying up the storage situation with bins, jars and baskets.  Ultimately I plan on installing a countertop for folding, some artwork and a new shade for the window.  I'd love a little beadboard here too.  We'll see!  I'll definitely get you some before and afters along the way.

Well, that's my weekend plan. Oh, I also plan on cruising by a few of my favorite blogs to do a closer read (with pajamas on and coffee in hand) of some gorgeous and inspiring posts.  On my list:

Have a plain old tray that needs a glam holiday (or any day really) makeover?  Janell at Isabella & Max Rooms shares a super easy tutorial that will sexy up any bar area with a little gold leaf action.

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Have you always wondered how bloggers and magazine types take such dreamy photos?  Head on over to Centsational Girl for tips and "How To's" that will have you taking better photos in no time.

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I love fashion blogs and my latest discovery (thank you Pinterest!) is The Daybook.  Sydney is stunning, (that's her in the photo below)  hilarious and she has really great, accessible style.  Be sure to also check out her "Tutorials" page.

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The holiday issue of Rue Magazine is out!  I can't wait to sink my teeth into it this morning.  There's lots of eye candy.  A tease:

You read this blog so chances are you've probably reupholstered a basic chair seat or two in your lifetime.  No tutorial necessary for you guys on that thank you very much!  So how about reupholstering a picture-back chair?  Head on over to Design Sponge for a very helpful, step-by-step tutorial.

Made By Girl features the work of an incredible home stylist and decorator Ana Antunes.  I'm drooling over all the pretty going on there.  I am an absolute sucker for detail shots and she doesn't disappoint:

Have a wonderful weekend!

Patterned Sofas - Would You Ever?

Conventional design wisdom tells us that when it comes to upholstery fabric, solids go on sofas and those crazy patterns are for accent chairs. 

It makes sense really and it's one of those unwritten design "rules" that I usually follow.  Sofas are typically the biggest piece of furniture and they tend to be a long term investment piece for most of us.  So there's nothing wrong with following convention, nothing at all.  If you're like me, your style changes over time and the floral/striped/chevron/damask/toile/whatever sofa you bought 3 years ago and swore you'd love forever and ever....well, it just isn't "you" anymore. 

So it's wise to play it safe and stick with a solid fabric or subtle texture on your sofa.  I did it and I don't foresee a time (although you never know!) when I'll venture into patterned sofa land myself.  Commitment issues and all that. 

But it is fun to dream.

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You definitely need a really skilled upholstery person to match up patterns this well.

Can't commit to an all-over patterned sofa?  Ease ever so gently into bold territory and apply the pattern only to the outside body like this:

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Or only the inside (in leopard of course!) like this:

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Not all patterns have to be large scale and dramatic.  Try a small-scale geometric a la Kate Spade:

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Even more subtle is a white on white pattern:

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A modern take on the floral sofa (love the nailhead!):

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A little chevron love:

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Did you also catch those incredible floors above?  Seriously good.

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If it's in Lonny Mag, it must be freaking awesome:

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So what's your verdict on patterned sofas?  Would you try it?  Have you already tried it?