CasaSugar

Home Library: French General: Home Sewn

CasaSugar — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 07:00:47 -0800

On Project Runway, co-host Tim Gunn's most dismissive comment on a garment was that it looked home sewn. Given this unfavorable recent pop culture reference, it's refreshing to see a beautiful book proudly bearing a title of the same name.

Kaari Meng, owner of the adorable Hollywood crafts and notion store French General, has extended her expertise to the book world with French General: Home Sewn ($24.95). The book takes readers through through 30 projects for the home, from scalloped tablecloths to luxurious toile shower curtains, and makes adding traditional French style to your home pattern-book easy.

To find out about Kaari Meng's book and Hollywood store, as well as to see more photos, read more.

With photography from Jon Zabala that will give you major home lust, the book includes six pattern pages, embroidery transfers, and color photographs, as well as illustrations. Helpful guides outline the difficulty level for each project, and the directions are simple and straightforward. Though this isn't a book the first-time sewer would want to tackle, anyone with basic curtain-making skills could easily excel at most of these projects.

If you're in the Los Angeles area, stop by French General for special events, workshops, or simply some fantastic browsing. And of course, even if you're halfway across the world, you can enjoy some of French General's goodness by browsing products online.

View 5 Photos ›

Sale Alert: Chronicle Books Friends and Family Summer Sale

CasaSugar — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 05:30:41 -0700

You've got friends in high places. Now through Aug. 5, Chronicle Books is treating its pals (you) to some sweet discounts on Summer reading. Just enter the code FRIENDS at checkout and you'll get 35 percent off all titles, and free shipping. Chronicle has a great selection of art and design books, as well as lifestyle/home books. Want suggestions before you buy? Read my reviews on Chronicle's titles Mexicasa, To Each His Home, Stencil 101, Home Sewn, Handmade Hellos, and Squeaky Green.

Inspired: Lizzie Fortunato Jewels's Campy-Chic Style

CasaSugar — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 10:00:25 -0700

I'm jonesing for Lizzie Fortunato Jewels's chic arts-and-crafty necklaces lately, which are made from a mix of new, vintage and found materials, including hand-sewn leather and fabric, precious stones, beads, and antique chains. The craftsmanship of the collection, dreamed up by a New York sister act, is unbelievable. I'm craving this Exile to Mexico II Necklace in particular. I love its nostalgic Summer-camp vibe and its balance of rustic and fine . . . it looks like something a grown-up Troop Beverly Hills girl would wear. I thought I'd use this necklace to inspire a living-room design, with a palette of natural tones, gold, turquoise, and deep orange, and materials like marble, wool, and wood. The Cavern Home Navajo Wallpaper ($155) shares the necklace's hues and that campy, outdoorsy vibe. To see other inspired products, read more.

Crave Worthy: Sea Urchin Poufs

CasaSugar — Fri, 15 May 2009 10:00:00 -0700

I think I have died and gone to heaven in the ocean. Poufs + sea urchins + yarn = three trends I love blended into one. I don't read a stitch of German, but I might have to sign up for Berlitz just to figure out how to get my hands on one of these Taschide Sea Urchin Poufs. Update: My German-speaking husband reveals that the description reads, "The pillows come in three sizes and several colors (presently: bright pink, grey, grey/brown). They are stuffed with wheat/spelt mixture, and the coverlet is hand-embroidered from wool. The coverlet may be washed. The pillows and coverlets are produced (i.e sewn, assembled and stuffed) in Germany."

The cozy creatures are utterly charming and would make sublime spare seating in my home, or even a footrest for my privileged feet. Beyond that, the palette is parfait, kind of like French macaroons - another love. Sigh.

Cool Idea: Tyvek Transitions to the Home Design World

CasaSugar — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 08:00:25 -0700

While you may use Tyvek to cover your car or construct your house, I doubt that you use any for home decorating. That might be about to change, though. Philadelphia design firm MIO has transformed this most utilitarian of fabrics into pretty designs suitable for use as decorative home textiles. The company's first Tyvek fabric design is called "Loop," and is printed with a pattern on one side and a solid color on the other.

For more photos and a complete description of this product, read more.

MIO describes the product thusly:

Loop By the Yard is a reversible textile-like material for all DIY projects. Each order ships with a prepaid envelope for shipping scraps or the actual project (when no longer wanted or needed) back to MIO for recycling. Designed as a free product take-back system, Loop is made from Tyvek, a spun bonded high-density polyethylene non-woven. This material has been actively collected and recycled for decades and now MIO will be employing this existing recycling infrastructure to complete and test a closed recycling loop. Each yard of Loop can be cut, sewn, wrinkled, folded, pierced, hung or hemmed like a textile. It is durable, breathable and waterproof, making it ideal for a variety of do-it-yourself indoor and outdoor projects.

Would you consider using Tyvek in your home? I love the design, as well as the eco aspects of the material, and just might have to experiment with it.

View 9 Photos ›

Source

Nice and New: Hable Construction Cayenne Birds Pillow

CasaSugar — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 06:15:53 -0800

There's not a thing about Hable Construction's new Cayenne Birds Wheat Linen Pillow ($130) that I don't adore. From the Thomas Paul-esque pattern to the hand-printed and hand-sewn material to the organically inspired colors, it's utterly charming. Its smart bird pattern is simple enough for a modern home but exhibits enough folksy flair for a country cottage as well. Its stuffer is made of feather and duck down too, making it a comfy accessory for an oft-used reading chair. And, you know I can't resist a good bird . . .

Weekend DIY Projects

CasaSugar — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 15:00:53 -0800

Many of you have an extended weekend, so what better way to enjoy your day off than to tackle some fun DIY projects? I'd start with this fun curtain project from Craftster member Petchy. I love the retro barkcloth print she used for her kitchen curtains. If you need instructions, pick up a copy of French General: Home Sewn for instructions on curtains and many other home projects.

View Slideshow ›

Casa Interview: Emma Gardner

CasaSugar — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 07:45:40 -0800

Designer Emma Gardner creates beautifully designed rugs and home accessories that feature nature-inspired patterns. A member of the RUGMARK Foundation, a global non-profit organization working to end child labor, Emma Gardner creates her vibrant rugs from her Litchfield, CT, studio. Emma recently took some time off from her busy schedule to answer some questions for us.

CasaSugar: You started your career as an illustrator. Is there a connection between your illustrations and your rug designs?

Emma Gardner: The style of illustration I do is very color-focused and tends to be quite graphic. I definitely think that sensibility manifests itself in the rug and textile designs I do.

CasaSugar: How did you get involved with RUGMARK?

Emma Gardner: I got involved with RUGMARK when I first thought of making rugs. I knew child labor was an issue where we'd be getting the rugs made, and had heard about the great work they do. I contacted them to find certified mills and from the large list they gave me I was able to find mills whose work quality is excellent and with whom we love to work.

To see some of Emma's rugs, and to hear more about her work, read more.

CasaSugar: What elements are currently inspiring your designs?

Emma Gardner: Lately I've been focusing on abstract elements in nature. A rug I just designed for next year is inspired by a shell I found this Summer, for example. I have also been playing with a palette of rich neutrals, gray blues, and light purples, and sometimes I get inspiration from the colors themselves.

CasaSugar: Your pillows and throws are very geometrically patterned, which seems a departure from some of your rug designs. How did you decide on these patterns?

Emma Gardner: You noticed! These designs were actually heavily influenced by the particularities of the material I wanted to work with, Sensuede. I loved the feel of the fabric, the colors they offered and the fact that it is made with a good percentage recycled material. I really enjoy the challenge of designing for a specific medium and manufacturing process. In this case, everything had to be quite simple and geometric because they were being sewn individually.

CasaSugar: What colors do you gravitate toward? What patterns?

Emma Gardner: I hate to narrow it down since I love so many colors and think they all have the potential to look beautiful in combination, but I do find myself unerringly turning to greens, even when I try not to. There are so many of them to love. Patterns could be anything, although I tend not to like things too regular or too small-scale, though I'm sure there are exceptions. I think I'm more influenced by color than pattern so if the color wows me I am not so fussy about whether the pattern is abstract, old-fashioned, or literal.

CasaSugar: What do you see on the horizon for your company? Any new mediums you’ll be working in?

Emma Gardner: I want to keep working on textiles of all types; upholstery, outdoor, whatever. I am continuing to do my illustration and hope that one day in the near future we'll be able to incorporate that into some interesting and different surfaces. We will also be announcing at least two licensing deals in the coming months.

View 4 Photos ›

Source

DIY: Handsewn Bird Mobile

CasaSugar — Fri, 30 May 2008 16:00:51 -0700

If you've never sewn before, this is a great project to start you on your way. No machine is needed, as everything is hand sewn. Hand sewing is a great skill, as you can use it to complete simple repairs on clothing, from patching jeans to sewing on buttons to hemming skirts. And what better way to get you on your way than with an easy, adorable home decor project? This bird mobile, from Spool Sewing, will look lovely in a nursery, craft room, or primary-color saturated kitchen. Since many of you admit that you're still in love with the bird trend, why don't you take some time this weekend to get started on this project?

What You'll Need

2 different fabrics
Scissors
Thread
Sewing needle
Stuffing
Sticks
Filament wire

To find out how to make it, read more
Here are the steps:

Cut the pieces out using this pattern.
Put the right sides (the sides that will be on the outside of the finished bird) together, and pin one edge of the belly fabric to the body fabric.
Sew the two pieces together, using a straight seam, from dot to dot on the pattern.
Pin the other edge together and sew it the same way.
Sew the head seam together.
Turn the bird inside out, so the right side is on the outside, and stuff.
Sew the tail closed.
Repeat this process until you have the number of birds needed for your mobile.
Sew the birds to a branch, or hang them from branches with filament, to approximate the mobile in picture.
Hang and enjoy!

Source

Roundup: Pintucks

CasaSugar — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 04:30:07 -0700

I'm totally loving the textural look of the West Elm Organic Cotton Pintuck Duvet Cover and Shams ($24 and up) that is achieved with pintucks, very narrow ornamental folds or pleats in the fabric sewn in place. Of course the 230-thread-count cotton has its own appeal, but it's really amazing how an easy tuck can really transform a solid fabric like this. I thought I'd see if I couldn't come up with some other pintucked home décor items that I love equally; it wasn't hard. To see my finds, read more.

Source

Cavern Home Navajo Wallpaper - $155.00	Steele Sofa - $1,699.00
Orange Nadu Wool Rug or Runner - $149.00	Gold Ceramic Stool - $250.00
Genova Table - $998.00	Tunis Chair - $798.00
Book Boxes - Turquoise Two-Stack - $44.00	Fluted-Glass Table Lamp - $149.00
Cape Cod Lantern - $425.00	Lacquer Bunching Table - $695.00
Umbra U+ Collection Triplo Side Table - $180.00