This week I had just the most fun ever hunting at High Point Market here in NC. And was so excited to come across this little miniature furniture exhibit. Slipcovers for small scale furniture could be on the horizons. But most of my day at High Point was spent touching and feeling anything covered in cottons and linens, and I think I nailed a few more offerings for my custom cotton and linen slipcover line. I would say the highlight of my day was digging around the Antique and Design Center at Market Square and discovering a Vintage Fabric Vendor with a serious investment in old linens and cotton print, and bolts and bolts of potato sack cloth.
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I had a run on cushion projects this spring, and here is the one that stands out in my mind. This antique caned seat chair was brought to the shop along with a beautiful striped silk remnant. Since I work mostly with cotton and linen, it was fun to use this soft and silky embroidered material, and since the chair was for a guest bedroom desk, it is not likely to get worn out any time soon. It was requested that the dressing be prissy with gathered corners and bow ties. I loved this idea for this light and elegant piece of furniture. Fussy frills are the flat flange finish in seams and exaggerated corner ties which seem to be incorporated into the skirt. With typical stretching and sagging and holes in the seat, this beautiful chair was in need of new caning when she came in. I do hope that she made it to the chair doc after having a custom cushion created. Ladies know how important bone structure is to fashion. The only way to restore the seat is to replace the canework. And I know just the chair doc to recommend. Robert "Doc" Banzhaf of Antique Chairs of Boone can repair almost ANY chair! Cane, Rush, Reed, Wicker, Sea Grass, Splints, and probably more. Historic Boone is a great weekend destination, but pick up and delivery services offered in the Raleigh, NC and surrounding areas too. www.ChairDocOfBoone.com 828-264-2353 Because this chair had a little history, I wanted to use a traditional fill for the cushion insert. I prefer to use 100% organic US grown cotton for a firm traditional fill. A cotton fill works well when you want more of a chair pad look , as opposed to the more loftier look of a down insert. The insert cover is made out of all cotton Warm & Natural, and has a zipper so that the loft can be easily adjusted over time. Not only is cotton comfortable, but it is socially responsible. While I handcraft my own inserts for the more traditional furniture pieces, custom orders are accepted from my source for bulk cotton, White Lotus Home Organic Bedding Company. www.whitelotus..net The cushion insert cover shown was made of warm and natural and has a zipper in the back for filling with cotton. From The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams: "Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens when a child loves you. It takes a long time. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, you get loose in the joints, and very shabby." "Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit. "Sometimes," said the Skin Horse. "But when you are Real you don't mind being hurt." I am pretty sure that this child's rocker is real. Loved by several generations of rockers, this chair just needed a little love.
What better way to kick off March than showcasing slipcovers? Today's trade show was sponsored by Unity in Design, the premier event of the High Point Design Center. www.highpointdesigncenter.com On my travel adventures I always expect to meet great folks, and today was no exception. My trade show neighbor was none other than Todd Zagaroli, master designer and builder of heirloom quality leather furniture. Todd's booth was quite a draw as he was showing luxury products from Edelman Leather. I learned to appreciate the knowledge and skill required to work in leather long ago in my experience building prototypes of wearable computers for product development firms. Todd's knowledge of leather was impressive and his sign was really cool. The Edelman Leather logo was designed by Andy Warhol. Andy Warhol! Seems Andy worked for the Edelman's in the late 50's and 60's as their graphic designer. The marketing piece shown below is definitely a keeper. And I will need to get my hands on some of that luxury leather in the near future to create my very own luxury leather chair. http://www.edelmanleather.com I wish I had time to tell you about all the other great folks I met today in High Point but I'll just say my imagination runs wild and this is why designers must come together to share ideas and resources and attend events like Unity in Design. I took a little trip to High Point and visited the Bernice Bienenstock Furniture Library. It is a complete research center devoted to the advancement of knowledge of furniture. In addition to housing a remarkable collection for research, there are more than 800 titles available for sale, with topics that include interior design, textiles, home furnishings, furniture design, and history. I took this opportunity to restock my own personal library. My favorite find was "Textiles Today - a global survey of trends and traditions", by Chloe Colchester. www.furniturelibrary.com While I was in High Point, I met my friend, Jenny Brewer, for lunch. Since Jenny is a real estate agent and since I am a furniture buff we took the scenic route so I could see this really cool property. Ever dreamed of living in chest of drawers with socks? It is for sale or lease. Let me know and I will put you in touch with Jenny. She is the one waving in my bug. www.jennybrewer4u.com
I am pleased to announce I will be co-hosting Slipcover Summit June 2012 at the Hickory Furniture Mart. The only event of its type in the country totally devoted to the art and profession of making slipcovers for furniture. Organized by Karen Erickson, this event moves around the country each year, and I am excited to be bringing it to NC for the first time. http://www.slipcoversummit.com/ Destination: Hickory, NC, furniture capital of the world! After touring furniture factories and shopping at the Hickory Furniture Mart, our crew relaxed at The Inn at Hickory, a 1908 Georgian Colonial Bed & Breakfast which is furnished with the best of the area’s furniture makers.
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