ABC’s of decorating: the letter J
The letter J is for junk. We all have it—piles of decorating magazines we haven’t read yet; baby clothes we can’t bear to part with even though Junior starts college next year; books that we have read over and over…
Fall Style–2010
Fall Styles As usual, Pantone is letting us know what the top-fashion trends for fall will be. Skinny pants are in and so are oversized tops with dolman-sleeves. Dresses with dolman sleeves are also predicted to be popular. The bolero…
Stenciling, decals and other ideas: sometimes it’s OK to write on the walls
The “art” of writing on the walls goes all the way back to the drawings cavemen placed on their walls. They even stenciled using cutouts from leaves and bark as templates and dyes from vegetables and berries to add color. …
Fall Fashion Colors–2010
This year fashion designers are leaning towards practicality for budget-minded consumers. Leatrice Eisman the executive director of the Pantone Color Institute says “Mindful of consumers’ need for practicality, plus their desire for newness, designers offer many options for women to…
ABC’s of Decorating: the letter I
Why should you use an interior designer? That is the question for the letter “I”. There are many good reasons and, in the interest of full disclosure, I am an interior designer so my answer may be a bit biased. …
Sewing Glossary–Z is for zipper (U-Z)
Underlining: A lining used to give body to the garment. Understitching: A method to keep the lining or facing from rolling to the outside of the garment. Press the seam allowance and facing away from the garment and then sew…
Are you ready for some football?! Decorating for the games.
Like it or not, it is that time of year again—time for football. The season is a long one, 4 months, so it seems appropriate to decorate your family room, living room, basement or media room in a manner that…
Sewing Glossary–T is for thread
Tack: A removable stitch which holds sections together until they can be permanently sewn. Tailor’s tack: Tailor’s tacks are used to mark pattern pieces. Thread your needle and double the thread. Draw the thread through all layers of the fabric…
ABC’s of Decorating: The letter H
Wow…this is a hard one. What decorating term begins with the letter “H”? The one that keeps coming to mind is the big one, of course, HOME; your house, your haven, your hideaway. What is it that makes your house…
Sewing Glossary–S is for seam (part II)
Sloper: A fitting pattern usually made of muslin or gingham. Slopers are adjusted to fit your figure and then the adjustments are transferred to the paper pattern. Spool: Round cylinder on which thread is sold. Spools were once always wooden,…