Everything About Gardening

How about a little design history lesson for the letter “k”?  The Klismos chair is an ancient Greek design that began around the middle of the 5th century.  Oddly enough, the translation of Klismos means “armchair” but the design of the chair has no arms.  The most evident feature of the Klismos chair is the concave back area where a person’s shoulders would hit.  While the design of this chair has been changed over the years, it originally had saber type legs that splayed outward along with the curved backrest.

This ancient design has been remodeled and redesigned to fit into today’s modern lifestyle.  You can find this iconic chair in materials like wood, metal and acrylic with seat cushions in basically any fabric imaginable.  For a contemporary look you may want to consider the collection from West Elm.  This modern design offers the comfortable curved back but features straight legs and a solid wood seat.  A more classic version can be found at Bernhardt Furniture.  Their design features a rich wood finish and a fully upolstered seat.

It is always interesting to learn a little bit about where a furniture design originated; what inspired a fabric pattern or how certain color combinations became popular.

 We are all familiar with the cozy, inviting and friendly look of wingback chairs.  In fact, you probably have one somewhere in your home or, at the very least, your grandmother sure does.

Wingback chairs were designed to keep the cold draft off your back, neck or head during a time when homes and castles were very chilly.  Natural insulation can only do so much!  Placed near the fireplace the high back and turned in sides (the wings) kept you cozy and warm.

This iconic design has gone through several changes over the years to modernize it and make it work for current lifestyles.  Take for example, the mid-century version found in the Arne Jacobsen Egg Chair.  Tod

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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 jacket remains a favorite, while leather and tweed jackets in classic shapes are also in style.

The sleeveless blazer will be the must have vest of the season. Classic, but new, this is an item which can spark up your outerwear wardrobe and should stay in style for awhile. Intermediate sewers can easily make a charming sleeveless blazer; choose wool, wool blends, or even denim , canvas, or fleece .

Silk-like flowing dresses in all lengths will be popular. Some designers are using chiffon , a surprising, but lovely fall choice. Crepe will also be popular; crepe is very easy to sew and even beginners can easily make a luscious crepe dress.

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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, but are now usually plastic.

Stash: A sewer’s collection of fabric. If you sew regularly and your budget allows it, it is a good idea to stock up on basic fabrics.

Stay stitch: A line of stitching placed in the seam allowance before sewing the sections together. Stay stitching is used to stabilize the fabric at necklines and other places so that it will not stretch out of shape. Commercial patterns show the direction in which stay stitching should be stitched.

Stitch in the ditch: Stitching in the seam allowance to hold a seam down.

Stitch length: Most seams require 11-12 stitches per inch; this is set on the sewing machine between 2 and 2.5 mm. B

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Beacon Hill stripe

Remember the fashion rules of yesteryear?  Do not wear white after labor day–no white pants, no white shoes, no white handbags.  Well, as with most old rules, those days are gone and it is not only OK but trendy to wear white all year long.  The same holds true for your home.

White slipcovers have long been associated with summer decorating.  They remind us of vacation homes on the beach or the cabin by the lake.  If you use slipcovers in your everyday rooms there is no reason to change them out now that summer is over.  Warm them up a bit with cozy throws and pillows in colors of the season.  For example this Waverly fabric featuring a black and white all over pattern is very sophisticated and can be used year round.  If warmer colors are what you are looking for mix brown with turquoise, orange, red or gold for a real autumn feel.

If the idea of white slipcovers is just too summery for you, consider replacing them with off-white or an oatmeal color to achieve the same light feel in a warmer tone.  You could even keep the seat cushions white and use beige for the body of the furniture to create a two-tone effect.  This color combination can certainly be used year round.

White painted walls, a white porcelain collection, white lampshades, crisp white linens, white cable knit throws, a fluffy white tassel on a dark wooden door, a fluffy white shag rug to warm your feet—see–your home can wear white after labor day!  All of the fabrics shown are available here.

Combine this with white slipcovers for a sophisticated look.Beacon Hill

Webster’s dictionary defines faux as an “imitation” and comes from the french word for false.  We often hear it applied to animal fur as in a faux fur jacket.  But this word is also used in interior decorating. 

• Faux painting has been popular for many years and is used to replicate tuscan plaster, for example.  The process  can also be used to imitate wood grain, leather, suede etc. and applied to the art of trompe l’oeuil, mural painting and other wall treatments.
• For those of you interested in avoiding the use of animal skins (or the high price tag) there is pleather.  This is a vinyl type fabric that is supposed to look and feel like real leather.  It falls a bit short of the real thing but is a good substitute for an ottoman, bar stools, a headboard etc. where the look o

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