Friday Arts & Crafts: Stenciled Apron & Kitchen Towel

After my first experience with fabric stenciling I shared a few months ago (see Pillow Coronation) I went forward with making more projects. I decided to make an apron and a kitchen towel. While I designed my own crown stencil for the pillow, this time around I used the design of roses offered in Lena Corwin's book Printing by Hand. I applied Procion MX Dye mixture in Brilliant Orange to a striped cotton/linen blend fabric (I'll share the formula if you are interested). I love the effect the layer of dye created on top of the already-striped fabric! Unexpected details, such as the checkered ribbon loop of the towel and the bright print of the waist band of the apron, made these pieces very unique.

Stay tuned for more projects I'll be sharing in the near future!

Monday Style: 150 Years Of Fashion

I wanted to start this new week with the incredible book, Fashion: 150 Years of Couturiers, Designers, Labels, by Charlotte Seeling, which I received this past holiday season as a gift. A perfect coffee table book and an excellent reference for history of fashion and style, it keeps on giving endless inspirations.

When my friend Rhea Calpeno of Photosynthesis brought me a beautiful bouquet of White Irises, I immediately decided to include one flower in the collage. Its intricate shape is so reminiscent of many elements in fashion!

Photo of Gilbert Adrian (middle), the American couturier who designed for Hollywood during the fist half of XX century. Famous for his big-shouldered styles, he adapted the 'long white dress' which looked so much more glamorous on screen than the 'little black dress'. He also designed the legendary ruby slippers Dorothy wore in Wizard Of Oz. Joan Crawford (left) and Jean Harlow (right) both wearing his stunning designs.

Design*Sponge At Home

Today I attended a very special event at Plant Zero where I met Richmond native Grace Bonney, the mastermind behind the ever-inspiring Design*Sponge. She gave an incredible lecture about how it all began, what brought her to start the blog and how it evolved into what it is right now. She shared a lot of points from her personal experience, how she always searches for new inspirations, learns new skills, never settles for familiar, always takes risks. She has a mind of a businessperson; she grew through experimenting with blogging about what she loves, through collaboration and networking with others, through tons of research. Grace knows her audience well and it results in a tremendous following.

Energized by her story I return home with her new book, Design*Sponge at Home. It's autographed to navyblueshoe!

Alice In Wonderland

Grand Game Wallpaper, Cloud Bank Booties and Spinning Lace Dress

Diva Loveseat and Crested Fireback Wallpaper

Painted Owl Wallpaper, Rabbit Fur Felt Top Hat and Shrewd Stitches Stole

Calligraphy Bed, Atlantis Chandelier and Midsummer Night's Wallpaper

HB Cup & Saucer Set and HB Teapot

Gone Fishing

Goldfish Clutch

Lost Fish Book

Tetra Fish Glasses and Tetra Fish Pitcher

Koi Fish Ring

Biology Decoupage Switch Plate

Goldfish Bowl


Goldfish Vintage Brass Cuff Bracelet

From The Deep Salad Plate, Kissing Fish