Things I Want to Be When I Grow Up

Putting on my "war paint", as my Mama used to call it, this morning, I thought, "Girl, are you getting old"...and I am...well, getting older, and that's a good thing...think of the alternatives.

Taking a "design blog" hiatus, and just going with whatever comes to me for awhile..why?-why not? I did interior design for over twenty years, and I am moving through that...not sure where I am headed, but that's the exciting part!

I do know this...Life is not always just a bowl of cherries", or as my Czech friend, Vash, would say, "Life ain't no bucket of peaches" (no idea)...but, when one gets "older", one realizes how it all goes by in the blink of an eye, so one should damn well enjoy it...otherwise, one ends up on one's deathbed thinking, I wish I'd done this - or that - or gone there...

This is me - the little, stubby one, who can't reach the pedals - okay, I could reach them, but only on the "upturn"...just kept pushing, and pushing, but not moving forward.

I am tired of "pushing" and not moving forward...and what is "moving forward"? Well, there are things I still want to be when I grow up...novelist - fashion designer - jewelry designer - set designer (okay, I did that, but not on Broadway)....a world traveler - a wildlife photographer -

an accomplished chef - a great singer - I am sure I am leaving some things out here.

Being relatively new to the world of "blog", I have been reading-and-reading blogs..mostly design and fashion, some foodie, a few spiritual...and I see where some have literally thousands of followers, and are "connected" with the "successful ones"...

I often feel discouraged, especially, trying to do design blogs, when I think I've moved on...and I reiterate, not sure where I'm moving to....but, I have the opportunity to explore these options, and I am grateful every day for that.

So, my friends...think about what you want to be when you grow up...whether you are just starting out, or have been around for a very long time...make a wish, blow out the candles, and go for it....

When my husband was in graduate school in Boston for a thousand years, and I was slogging through jobs I hated in order to keep us going...he wrote the most wonderful preface and acknowledgement in his thesis: "For my wife, Jessica, who plowed the fields, while I was out chasing butterflies..."

It's my turn to chase butterflies...

Teaching an Old Dog New Tricks

Taking a few days off...my honey and I.....then, I am going to be teaching this puppy (that's me in disguise) a few new tricks....

Pillows...Endless Possibilities

I think that one of the most important things I ever did was teach myself to sew. Sure, there was "Home Economics 1", where we were taught the sewing basics...even made myself a beautiful, red woolen suit...However, in the beginning of my interior design career, I often worked with workrooms, especially, on window treatments, but as time passed, I found myself wanting to dive in, and do it myself...designing as I went along..tweaking, eliminating, adding features.
I love fabric...I have a treasure trove of fabrics, as when I see a bargain, even if I don't have a use for it at the time, I buy it, and I buy it all....nothing is more frustrating than not having enough fabric for a project that I've already begun. That said, I also learned the fine art of combining fabrics (at first, out of desperation, later - it was just fun).
I spotted this wonderful, fern fabric, along with the stripe, in an unfinished furniture shop, that had tried selling fabrics, as well, but decided to discontinue them. I had a wonderful day that day. I spent a great deal of money, but got some of the most beautiful fabrics at incredible prices.
When we moved to Texas, I made this fabric into a duvet cover....I love it...it doesn't matter how rumpled it gets, it still is lovely. Okay, you are thinking, "the title of the blog is "Pillows".....???"
I'm getting to them.

The very first Parade Home I visited in Austin had this wonderful pillow that caught my eye...I looked at the price: $350.00. It does have exquisite trim, and tapestry, and I am sure it was sold.
I was recently commissioned to do some pillows, along with window treatments for a client. When I went to the wonderful fabric store, I found the bird fabric...in two colorways. We went with the blue, and added beaded trim.

Self-covered buttons are a great way to make the pillows "upholstered"...in fact, my client has a Candice Olsen tufted headboard, so we echoed it with the tufted pillow.l This pillow is one of my favorites...it's in my bedroom, and I love it. I did a series of valences for a client, and I fell in love with the fabric. I always return all left over fabric to my clients...but, I also find myself buying some for myself...

This fabric was $75.00 a yard, my price...so, I only bought a couple of extra yards....I did pair it with the Waverly floral fabric...at $15.00 a yard. I love combining florals with plaids.

My guest bedroom is often occupied by my husband....what can I say...we snore, so one of us bails...he didn't want anything to "foofy", so I made a series of the bird pillows, and he loves them.

At first, he only wanted pillows that were "plain and simple", which is fine, but even he liked the fact that I added the trimmed out one, to punch it up a bit. Pillows and paint are the two least expensive ways to change the decor in your home...or to add "Spice".

I don't use pillow forms...I use fiberfill (unless a client insists on it)..I hate zippers in pillows...

I go to the Hobby Lobby website, and print out their 40% off coupon, and go to their sewing section. Up against the wall, where there are bags of fiberfill, often at $4.00 for just a bit, up high, there is a big, 5 pound box, that says Airtex Premium Quality fiberfill. It sells for $20.00, but with my 40% coupon, I get it for $12.00....Believe me, a five-pound box of fiberfill goes a very long way.

This pillow was one I made from a fabric sample. I used to work at Louis Shanks (very high-end furniture store in Austin - $20,000.00 sofas, etc., but the 106,000 sq. ft. showroom was just too much for me)...so...when fabrics are discontinued, I get a call from the librarian, and I go pick out what I want..she tosses the rest...

I found these pillows (just the forms) still in their packaging at the Goodwill for $3.00 each...I stuffed them, and they are a wonderful addition to the day bed in my husband's office....Never turn your nose up at the Goodwill...you would be surprised what one finds there!I made these European shams quite some time ago, planning to use them in my bedroom, but changed my mind...they seemed a bit too "quiet" for me......................

I found this broach, and decided to play dress up with the pillow....I like to "walk on the wild side" every now and again....why not?

Now, I need to find a friend for him../her...love the red eyes!!!