Currently on display in my workshop is my award winning parson's chair slipcover beadazzled with austrian crystals.  Soon I will pack it up and head west to Hickory for show-n-tell at the 2012 Slipcover Summit.  I'll be teaching a class on displaying slipcovers and will be demonstrating the beading technique I used in my slipcover design.  Class participants will  leave with their own beaded samples!  The class is Friday June 29 8:30-noon and class size is limited to 12.  For more information and to register visit slipcoversummit.com .  

Here are two of my favorite Slipcover friends.  On the left is Jackie Soderling, owner of "Running With Scissors".  And to the right is Lisa DaVita, owner of "DaVita Fabric Arts".  Back in 2010 we took a roadtrip to Prosperity and discovered we had a lot in common:  we have a passion for taking the scenic route, we love discovering local dining digs, we love toasting on the side porch, and we love all things slipcovered.  If you are in search of slipcover friends, come to Slipcover Summit in June!  Lisa and Jackie and I will be there.  Classes will be held in the Hickory Furniture Mart, where you can  shop for deals in between classes.   The Hickory Crowne Plaza is our Host Hotel, where you will find superb southern hospitality. For more information or to register for classes, visit SlipcoverSummit.com   .  

Wish I had a nickel for every time I heard my mother say "quit prissin' your fanny and be still so I can pin this hem level".  Mama is a woman of few words, but she knows just the right ones to say and how to say 'em so you know exactly what she means.  And I learned to be still from Mama.  As Mother's Day approaches, I am grateful for my mother who dressed me like a doll in her beautiful creations and instilled in me an appreciation for the art of the custom fitting.  Happy Mother's Day to you Mom.

Now is the time of year I am frequently asked “Can you make washable slipcovers?”  Well the answer is “Of course I can!”  However, fabric choice should be your first design consideration, and your cleaning style should influence your fabric choice.  Most decorator fabrics are labeled “dry clean only”, and if that is your cleaning style then you are good to go.  If the fiber content is cotton or a cotton/linen blend, then chances are the fabric will machine wash and wear beautifully.  Truthfully, the only way to know is to do a wash test, as machine washing can alter the hand of the fabric as well as change the color.  Certainly you will want to prewash fabric in order to preshrink the fabric if your goal is to be able to machine wash your slipcover.  So the next question I get is "So if I machine wash my cover, what kind of cleaner do I use?"  I use FOREVER NEW fabric care wash both in the prewashing of fabric as well as cleaning my own slipcovers.  The granular formula is biodegradeable and is made from a natural base of multiple sodas and citrus.  I have been using this product for about 5 years now and currently stock the line of cleaners and stain removers.  I discovered this product at the Bra Patch, here in Raleigh NC.  And in case you did not know, the Bra Patch is an East Coast destination for custom fit bras.  www.thebrapatch.com .  I purchased my first bottle of FOREVER NEW at the Bra Patch and use in handwashing all my delicate undergarments.  And for washing slipcovers.

  There are some wonderful cottons and linens available in a wide price range, many of which are made from organic fibers as well as  domestically grown fibers.  It is best to consult with your slipcover artisan before purchasing fabric, especially if you plan to machine wash your slipcovers.  

I've always known that slipcovers and dresses were kissing cousins.  So I finally decided to give dress making a try, and stitched up an outfit to coordinate with my parson's chair slipcover.  What I learned is I have a lot to learn about dressmaking.  And it's pretty tricky to pin-fit to your own body.  I can see why a dress form would be a good investment, and I now have a new appreciation for my mother, who for a very long time sewed all of her own wardrobe and looked just fabulous on Sunday mornings.  I've sparked a new passion for sewing fashion and I have already worn my new dress in High Point, and on Easter Sunday, and I'll wear it to my neice's wedding this Saturday.  Although my daughter has banned my teal tights.  
Next week I will show off my dress and slipcover at the Art to Wear Design Showcase in Reynolds Coliseum  at North Carolina State Univeristy.  Art to Wear is an educational event put on by the College of Design and College of Textiles students and attracts approximately 4000 attendees.  The Design Showcase is an opportunity for students and alumni to showcase their work.    For more information visit http://www.ncsu.edu/project/design-projects/art2wear/about/

In Chinese culture, the azalea is known as the "thinking of home" bush.  I could not agree more.   Back home in Tarboro, azaleas are planted en mass.  With these ornamental beauties in the background, the Easter morning photo shoot was a right of passage for my sisters and me.  Outfitted in dresses handcrafted by Mama (I'll talk more about that tradition in my next post), we would bunch up in front of the Azalea bushes, hoping Dad would hurry up and capture the moment with his Rolleiflex twin lens before the bees came after us.  Meeks Family continues the azalea photo shoot tradition.