Some women get excited about shoes, (which I am quite fond of) and others get excited about scrapbooking. My obsession is fabric. When I went to design school I was immersed into the world of High End Fabric and learned about color and weave and thread count and rub count. My eyes were opened up to a whole new world. Then I apprenticed in Las Vegas and my first task was to organize the fabric sample room. Boy, I think that was what made me hooked. There weren't bolts and bolts of fabric but fabric books. Each book contained a paper size sample of the different designer fabric lines available for that season. The colors covered the entire spectrum of the rainbow, as well as fabric type. I sifted through brocades, velvet, silks, suede, leather...the list went on and on. One day I told myself, I'll have that $70/per yard ultra suede on my sofa. I can dream right?After being on my own and starting my own business I began to look for more cost effective options to fabric, rather then the "sold by the trade only" designer fabric lines that I offered to my clients for their upholstery and drapery needs.I decided to explore a different fabric avenue- quilting and light weight fabric options. So, I went to the Northwest Fabric and Notions show in Seattle, Oregon. Wow! I was in heaven. There was booth after booth of color and the most fabulous designs, and I realized very quickly that I wanted to branch out with my art and Interior Design knowledge and start my own textile line.We are immersed with fabric and color every day in our lives. When you sit down on your couch, someone had to design the fabric you are sitting on. The same thing goes for your draperies, or your bedding. Again, someone had to creatively design the fabric. The most fun I have everytime I work with a client is when I get to design their drapery treatments. I sit on my living room floor with my sketch of the drapery design that I drew, and surround myself with fabric books, and then spend a joyous few hours choosing the perfect fabric.I feel drawn to it, and yes, perhaps a little obsessed. So, now I am off on a new adventure from the comfort of my home, and am able to be as creative as I want and be here for the kids when they get home from school.
We have made so many sacrifices for me to stay home with the children that I can't count since they were babies, but I don't regret it. My girlfriend once asked how we lived on one income. I simply stated that both she and I made sacrifices. She sacrifices time with her children, but has the nice home and the cars, and the camping trailer and so on and so forth. I sacrifice those things for the time with my children. It doesn't mean I need to sit lamely around waiting day after day,and do nothing but clean the house and watch the clock tick by. Indeed not. I have been involved creatively for years, and have even made some money along the way, and I'm still a stay home mom.
You went to design school? *just ignore the puddle of drool while I think of that* I love fabric too, and that top picture is seriously shouting my names because I'd love to have something like that. Tell me you made it, and tell me how I can do the same thing.
ReplyDeleteIt is really easy actually. You can grab the fun fabrics you have around the house, that you have been dying to use, and then pick up some styrofoam balls, or wooden balls, and modpodge the fabric. I suppose you could even use hot glue as well, although it might be lumpy. Another way to approach the project is to make color copies of some of your favorite fabrics or designs and layer it using the modpodge. You can change the balls out for holidays -so really the sky is the limit.
ReplyDeleteAwesome! I'm going to have to give this a try. How do you get things nice and smooth with the fabric? I am so not a crafty person, but I'm going to give this a shot.
ReplyDeleteWait a second, I just took another peek at it, do I cut fabric in strips first?
ReplyDeleteYes, I would make strips and overlap them (you can try to match up the pattern on your fabric if you like) or keep it random-notice how on the bottom it all seems to meet and it bunches a little? If you have ever done a paper mache' technique, you basically dredge the material in a modpodge solution and then smooth it out so you don't get the bubbles. When you place the decorated balls in your container,just arrange them so that the area that has the little bubbles isn't showing as much. You will do great!
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