DIY Pillow Making Class in Lowell

The creative juices were flowing at R.A.W. Furnishings showroom in Lowell last night.  The DIY pillow making class turned out to be a mother-daughter event.  Pattern making, pinning, stitching and sewing skills were taught.  Not only straight stitching, these motivated ladies learned how to insert and apply embellishments of cording, bullion and brush fringe and even tassels. 

Congratulation to all these wonderful ladies for their custom pillow creations!

Decorating with Burlap

As fabrics become more expensive these days, one solution for the lover of more casual and natural designs is the use of burlap.  The natural texture creates a laid back, kick your shoes off kind of feel to a space.   Burlap's has been found to be used more in the past in gardens http://chiotsrun.com/2012/08/02/using-burlap-in-the-garden and on farms for packaging of heavy bulk food, seeds, grains, coffee beans and potatoes.  But more recently burlap is popping up on windows, chairs and pillows.  So many home decor items can be easily made. 

Burlap fabric is inexpensive and can be purchased by the bolt at your local garden center.  The fabric also stitches up nicely and is forgiving of snags and pulls from the needle as the texture hides and blends the already rough nap.

A burlap pillow cover can be stitched and stenciled or paint stamped to create a novel theme

Draped and swagged burlap side panels.

Burlap potted plant wedding or shower favors

Event embellished chairs tied off with burlap and baby's breath

Burlap upholstered chair or create your own slipcover

Burlap side panel window treatments

The summer burlap weekend bag

The slouch burlap potted plant

Veranda magazine's burlap covered wing back chair

Fraying of the burlap and the knotted tie off to create fringe

Easy to make round burlap tablecloths

Add texture to a stairway with a burlap floor runner.

I love burlap.  The texture and natural feel all falls into the category of casual for the not so formal living space.  Burlap is also a great use for the destination farm or country wedding and crafty sewing projects.

What projects have you created with burlap?

Chenille Loving with Sister G

Recently I've been bombarded with design projects.  All good and loving the consistency.  While designing at my laptop I see a scroll of emails beginning to pop onto my screen.  Hmm, my sister is having a design dilemma.  "Which white bedding should I buy to go with my new sea-grass headboard?"  OK not one email but multiple with multiple bedding links to view.   This has to wait I thought until I was finished with the project at hand..

Scrolling, scrolling and more scrolling the choices were all white and all the same with slight variation in design.  Nothing hitting me until I reached the last link.  OMG (did I just type that), Chenille!  "I love Chenille" was my return reply to Gina.  This set me off so here I go again on a sentimental journey down memory lane.

Matlessee with chenille trim and chenille pillows

The chenille yarn technique was believed to originate in France in the 18th century. Chenille was created and introduced in the 1830's by Alexander Buchanan who was a foreman who worked in a Paisley Scotland fabric mill.  Chenille consists of a pile of different lengths of yarn and twisted together.  This processcreates the softness that we see and feel in chenille bedspreads and robes.  Chenille is primarily made up of cotton and this style of the tufted chenille bedspread became widely popular in the US during the 1920s and 30s,

Chenille used as a slipcover with pillow

I remember the beautiful chenille bedspread my mother had when I was a child.  White with blue, pink, yellow and green florals.  It was so soft and cuddly feeling.  Her spread pattern was just like this chenille bath robe.

Beautiful colors of aqua and deep salmon chenille

Chenille patterns in aqua

Soft chenille morning jacket

 Not only was chenille used in home decor, it was quite popular in fashion.  Bathrobes, outing jackets and capes were a popular trend.

Chenille cape in white and blue sail boats

Creative DIY multi colored chenille Easter eggs

Chenille throw makes a quick chair slipcover

There are so many uses for chenille fabrics.  Accent pillows, slipcovers, and DIY craft projects become fun and stylish when using a fabric that has a history, a fabric from the past.  See what's in your mother's linen closet, I'm sure chenille will shine through!