Wednesday, September 3, 2014

TIGER FABRIC

With Honey's 80th Birthday Pow Wow written in the history books...I move on to the next fun thing on my agenda!

I will be hosting a baby shower for my sweet life-long  friend Denise and her sweet daughter and new baby granddaughter!

Wedding and baby showers are big stuff  around here
well attended and well gifted
we love to love our peeps in all their happy moments!


so what's the big deal about having a major remodel project 3 days before the shower?
Listen...with the scarcity of good carpenters around here...I take it any way I can
and often find myself using a shower as an excuse to get lots of things done that need doing!
by the end of today...these windows will be in this space

{{more about this project later}}


but one can't deny that my couch  looks very good with my new tiger pillow!

all prompted by the image below

from one of my favorite blogs
Cote de Texas

And here is the AFTER of her living room – it has a double height ceiling.  And here is the famous Lee Radziwill sofa.  Now – think about this, Lee moved into the Fifth Avenue duplex around 1964 – this makes the sofa around 50 years old!!!  Amazing!  It is faded, which only adds to its charm.  There were some torn pieces on the arms – but it looks like her interior designer bought new fabric and added it over the two arms.  Smart!   In the throw-away society we live in today – to have a 50 year old sofa still look this good, is amazing! 

This is the letter I wrote my daughters and sisters about this wonderful tiger velvet fabric...including a little swatch for them

Dear Sisters:

I must be getting sentimental in my old age or maybe it’s all the planning I’ve been doing for Honey’s 80th birthday….anyway wanted to share this sweet story with you.

I asked Mother the other day if Granny B and her sisters loved each other and she said very quickly…”YES….they really really loved each other” and I asked her where they lived and how they kept in touch…”

She told me they were all very close and they would write letters to each other all the time and in those letters would be recipes, details of their home life and children and even sometimes they would send swatches of fabrics or wallpaper they might be using in decorating their home or maybe sewing baby clothes.    I thought it was so sweet and while I am so glad to have the ability for us all to stay connected and wouldn’t trade it for the world, I can’t help but think how fun it would have been to wait on a letter from someone you cared so much about…wondering what in the world was going on with husbands, kids, and home.

The blog above is one of my favorites and not too long ago she wrote about a famous tiger couch in which the fabric back then cost about $2500.00 a yard…and this couch is still famous today.  She is Jackie Kennedy’s sister and the blogger included a link to purchase the look alike fabric…and of course I bought one yard to make a pillow.


Most girls buy designer purse knockoffs…I buy fabrics  so just for fun I am sending you across the miles, via the mail…a letter to let you know what’s up at 822 and most of all how much I love you!


since I can't sew (or weld)
I just hand stitched this yard of fabric into a pillow
to make it seem like I was accomplishing something besides
swatting all the flies entering into the space where the windows will be
**at the end of the day**

19 comments:

Optimistic Existentialist said...

Good morning! I hope the baby shower goes awesome :)

Row homes and Cobblestones said...

Gina I loved reading this post! So as you swat flies away waiting for the gorgeous windows to be installed today, you have touched us bloggers with a heartfelt post.

The legacy of the couch and tiger fabric story is interesting. I know you will have the yard stitched into lovely pillows for your enjoyment. Your letter to your daughters is music to my ears. Since we used to own a greeting card business and I designed the entire line, it delights me to hear of thoughts, ideas and loving wishes sent like a present in the mail.

Baby showers are indeed special and in 3 days your changes will look beautiful. As you will share the construction stories and they will fuse into memories of the day.

So Gina swat those flies and feel appreciated in your share of this day.
Vera

Anonymous said...

Gina you are so sweet to host my daughter's baby shower. I love that we are life long friends and to know that our sweet grand babies are going to grow up across the street from each other is so special. What a wonderful world.

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

Hello Gina! I have not seen you in so long; I have not been able to blog as often as I used to especially with school having started one week earlier! YOUR WINDOWS! We have leaded windows too, but still have a few windows to finish! We just had our exposed beams installed!!!!!! I am so excited. You are prepping up 822 so lovingly and I can just imagine that upon entering your home, your guests are welcomed in such a loving way. LOVE YOUR HOME!

chateau chic said...

Having a special occasion is always a great way to get a major project done. :-) I know your windows and home will look fabulous in time for the shower.
Mary Alice

Revi said...

Guests are great motivators! Your windows look like a great project...can't wait to see. I think that may be one of my fave Cote de Texas posts...definitely the most memorable for me. :)

Stacy CUrran said...

Oh my lord...$2500!? So glad you found a copy :)
Stacy

White Lace and Promises said...

Yey! You got finished in time for the shower. I love doing a shower-the fun, not the money:)

designchic said...

Aren't parties the best motivators - just love what you did. I am one of 4 girls and I can't imagine not having the easy contact with them but love the idea of letters that you can read and reread…

Karena said...

Gina so thrilled you found the Le Tigre (similar) fabric available, it really ups you game on the sofa! Joni's article was great!

xoxo
Karena
The Arts by Karena

Ivy and Elephants said...

So classy! Love those stripes, what a perfect color combination.
Hugs,
Patti

bj said...

All I can say is...
I am IN LUV with your pillow...:)

Marissa said...

The pillow looks gorgeous on your couch!
I followed the link and I was blown away with the whole post!
I have been searching for a royal blue velvet couch with the right comfort for a long time now.
So, I found this post interesting!
I am excited for you with new windows and a baby shower
I bet you feel really proud . YOU SHOULD..
You are a great decorator.

Debbie@Mountain Breaths said...

Your couch looks great with the tiger pillow! The pillows you have would work well on my sectional, so thanks for the inspiration.

Woodside Park said...

Those windows are gonna be fabulous!! And your new pillows, smashing! Good luck with the shower.

At Rivercrest Cottage said...

your back yard looks lovely if that's where you're having the shower. Looking forward to seeing your renovations.

Unknown said...

Love, love, love the pillows!! Hope the shower went well.

Brandi said...

I'm loving your new windows! Look at all that light pouring in. Your pillows are fabulous. Animal prints seems to be very popular these days.

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