Helser Brothers Drapery Hardware Interviewed

I had so much fun interviewing Jay and Mark Helser of Helser Brothers today If you are involved with Window Treatments you should consider using their hardware. Take a few moments to listen. Here is the link below to the interview. http://www.allaboutdecorating.com/2009/12/we-talked-to-jay-and-mark-of-helser-brothers-.html Happy Holidays to All

slipcovers Trenton NJ

I am schlepping a van load up there every week, attending the WCAA groups for SE Pa and NJ...

looking to trade information related to slipcovering in an area between Valley Forge Pa. and Edison NJ.

I am up there once a week now, meet me for lunch and swap information ...who works that area, do they take furniture away, what prices, etc.

thanks in advance for your responses... slip cover lady at juno dot com

Live Textiles are Good for Your Health

I talked with Karen Dingmon of Live Textiles today on Home Fashions U Blog Talk Radio. I know I learned a lot and I hope you will too. Here is the link to the show
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Home-Fashions-U/2009/10/16/Live-Textiles--Eco-Fabric-for-OUR-Life

Enjoy

Karen Erickson www.homefashionsu.com homefashionu@gmail.com

ps... off to Kansas, Minnesota and Chicago would love to see you all.
Original Sewing and Quilt Expo

doin my happy dance !

Read the article on the link, more to come ! YAY !
click here

Listen to the Decorating Diva

Listen to the Decorating Diva

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AddThis - Sharing http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs038/1101643736208/ar...

AddThis - Sharing http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs038/1101643736208/ar...

Shared via AddThis

Sharing Just Finished Slipcover Job

in progress....

click title for link. I am finally getting organized.

This is reverse order for now, while I build the series, then I will put them in order for you. For right now, use the archive at left and click each title from top to bottom for correct order.

This is not a how to it's a can you ?? series. You sure will need some one on one help. Angie does a terrific job teaching this, and it's very easy to gain confidence and speed once you practice.

This blog is a work in progress, find by clicking title. You may comment, please do, for now, and for the rough draft. When I reverse the order of entry and clarify my language I may well use your suggestions. Say it better than I do, by all means.

Healthcare for Professional Sewing Workrooms

MaryAnn and Todd Page talked with HomeFashions U on BlogTalk Radio about WAA Health Plan that is now available to members. You do want to listen to this and go onto the website to check it out. We had a little problems with phone connections, but it gets better near the end.

http://www.WorkroomHealthPlans.com or call 866-706-8020 Here is the link to the show http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Home-Fashions-U/2009/08/21/Talk-with-WAA-About-Health-Insurance-Availability

Measurement Method - Learned at the Slipcover Summit

Sherree Salmon took Angie's "Measurement class" during the Slipcover Summit and look what she did? Yeah Sherree!

Sew Creative Slipcovers sherree@sympatico.ca

Talked with Liz today Details Pattern Co

Listen to Liz as she talks about her pattern company Details Pattern Co.

I could see this on a slipcover :)
Here is the link: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Home-Fashions-U/2009/08/19/Designer-behind-Details-Pattern-Co-is-Liz-Ware

Karen Erickson www.homefashionsu.com homefashionu@...

Creating PR with new ideas, why not ?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=400068303575&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

I imagine I will get few takers but lots of questions, and maybe referals for others.

You all can test me free. slipcoverlady@juno.com

Simple business model leads to Savannah success

Simple business model leads to Savannah success

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We Talked to the Well Dressed Window

Well Dressed Window on Blog Talk Radio

We talked with Cynthia Fields of The Well Dressed Window today on Home Fashions U Blog Talk Radio who's home based business is in Mt. Washington, Kentucky.

Cynthia recently had her workroom featured in WAA's Online June 2009 publication "Workroom Feature" and she was a scholarship awardee to the Slipcover Summit 2009 (Cynthia and Angie at the Summit) which was held in Seattle, WA.

here is the link to the show
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Home-Fashions-U/2009/08/12/Well-Dressed-Window-

Sending out samples of a poly velvet

Modelo, bought at Calico, but special ordered for the customer who found this on her own. I would have never never chosen poly velet, but it was surprisingly easy! slipcoverlady@juno.com

If you want a small swatch, email me, I will send that out to you.

Other new fun things I have played with lately...Blogger. Some things to look at when you have the time :

http://slipcovermakersblogtitles.blogspot.com/

http://easytoslipcover.blogspot.com/

WAA Talks with Home Fashions U BlogTalk Radio

Listen to Mary Ann Plumlee of WAA who is looking to form an Advisory Board if you are interested and in good standing with WAA as a member you can put your name in to be elected. In January 2010 there will be Online Conference for workrooms, if you would like to participate in this event showing others something you do.... watch for more info from WAA.

click here to listen to the show... today July 22nd.

such a silly thing! Thanks Susan T.

http://knittedchairs.wordpress.com/gallery/

gotta admire the persistance.

Join Me

Share your slipcover embellishments. What have you done new this year ?

I will be blogging my own efforts, quilting, painting, crazy seam placement, underwear done weirder than ever.

You got pictures ? Let's get them together in one place. slipcoverlady@juno.com

Anything will work here. Let's have some fun while business is slow anyway.

Slipcover Summit 2009

group on Thursday

Frank helped out while Mara was recovering

Home Decor Sewing Week

Living in the Northwest or want to plan a trip to the Northwest? It's Home Decor Sewing Week at Home Fashions U NW July 24th - 29th in Everett Washington.

click here for classes

Judit and I ...

...have been busy inventing and documenting strange cushions. Mouse over the post title, this is a link to the Cushion How To Blog which this week features a photo series instructions for the cushion pictured at left.

This pair of cushions made from scratch replaces attached backs on a rounded back sofa. Judit and I have been making photo instructional series of this and other peculiar cushions.

Invitations to Cushion How To blog available for the asking slipcoverlady@juno.com This is a continuing series, free to all who wish to visit.

I would enjoy teaching those things I have learned most recently at the Summit next year. This weeks featured cushion, the segmented and hinged cushion more reliably stands tall with the assistance of some hidden pellon bucram.

So much easier of course to cover a loose cushion than an attached back when slipcovering, but once we pulled the existing cushion out of the attached back upholstery casing it refused to stand tall and bend as required.

Look for zippers in your attached cushions, just pull the cushion out and cover it separately...that usually works without this fancy solution. This solution was about bending into the curve of the rounded back.

Using up scrap foam and playing with strange ideas for cushions which solve unusual problems, many of those are bendables. More exciting Cushion How To photos series to come !

learning new things

Having some fun today, remembering old jobs while I get new photos to update my website. Downloaded Picasa, trying to assemble folders ( for the first time ) and add descriptions to pictures. Have lots of new jobs going on, and a better camera to make them look good.

My hips are done and working perfectly again, can I brag that I feel 45 ? Does that sound right ? ( Ha ). Looking forward to challenging work and being as busy as I can be. Two years idle was quite enough !

Winners of Slipcover Design Contest 2009 are:

Slipcover Design Contest 2009 had 9 remarkable participants who submitted fantastically beautiful slipcovers.

Votes were compiled this year from Online Votes and also at the Slipcover Summit.

55 votes were cast and we had 3 Winners:

1st Place Winner: Krystal Close

KrystalsDesign.com in Mars, PA.

2nd Place Winner: Debra Fowler

Deb Fowler Designs of Sun City West, AZ

3rd Place Winner: Teal Major

CustomSlipcovers.net Berkeley, CA.

Vote for the BEST Slipcover Design 2009

It is time for you to vote.

This is a secret ballot -- PLEASE DO NOT POST YOUR VOTE IN THE COMMENTS SECTION!

Voting starts on June 22rd and ends June 26th at 12:00 noon.

To cast your ballot, please submit your top choices.

1st Place, Contestant ___ 2nd place, Contestant ___

Send your choice to slipcovernetwork@gmail.com.

Slipcover Design Contestant A

The special design feature is the lack of detail. It was important to keep the look of this contemporary chair as it was when it was new. The only detail is the invert pleat in the center of the back which hides the zipper.

The gold with red dot multi-purpose fabric is from Green House Design was used with a coordinating red and gold dot fabric for the lumbar pillow.

How to Vote:

It is time for you to vote. This is a secret ballot -- PLEASE DO NOT POST YOUR VOTE IN THE COMMENTS SECTION! Voting starts on June 22nd and ends June 26th at 12:00 noon.

To cast your ballot, please submit your top choices.

1st Place, Contestant ___ 2nd place, Contestant ___

Send your choice to slipcovernetwork@gmail.com.

Slipcover Design Contestant B

My client hired me to slipcover their 4 modern dining room chairs using Robert Allen’s Blue Paisley in an upholstered weight. The customer had already purchased her fabric prior to hiring me. To save on fabric we decided to use a small coordinating braid instead of making self piping. The challenge for me was sewing the tiny braid with only a ¼” flange onto the fabric. The braid is very stiff to work with. It took hours to go over each curve especially around the small areas of the front and back arms. I had to sew over top of the braid because the ¼” flange onto the fabric would slip out as I was sewing. I broke several needles on this job.

Also, the chairs are very delicate and the fabric very bulky. I did a lot of trimming and clipping to get the fabric to lay flat especially around the small tuck-ins of the chair. The end results are 4 beautiful dining room chairs. Outlining the chairs with the small coordinating braid looks lovely with the paisley fabric. The braid pulls the colors out of the fabric.

How to Vote:


It is time for you to vote. This is a secret ballot -- PLEASE DO NOT POST YOUR VOTE IN THE COMMENTS SECTION!

Voting starts on June 22nd and ends June 26th at 12:00 noon.

To cast your ballot, please submit your top choices.

1st Place, Contestant ___ 2nd place, Contestant ___

Send your choice to slipcovernetwork@gmail.com.

Slipcover Design Contestant C

The camel back sofa was a challenge. My clients wanted a slipcover for their sofa using their own fabric – 100% polyester indoor/outdoor fabric. They wanted their slipcover tight fitting – to look like it’s been upholstered. The problem area was the extreme curved back, concaved front arms, and of course working with slightly stiff fabric. To avoid puckering on the hump of the sofa, I brought the outside back up higher to meet the inside back avoiding the upholster line. With a lot of pinning, clipping, redoing a couple of times, I finally got the fabric to lay flat on the curve. For the front arms, I pressed a firm adhesive interface (washable) onto the back of the arm pieces. This works great. The interface is stiff enough to hold the fabric arm pieces in place. No puckers or twisting of the fabric.

Also, the stiff skirt was also challenging. My clients wanted a spaced boxed pleat skirt with 3” pleats and 2” wide spaces. What was challenging was to have the pleats look the same visually because mathematically the pleats and spaces never added up equally on all sides of the furniture. I worked each section of the furniture one piece at a time. With a little here and a little more there, I finally worked it out. Finally, I used a ¼” welt for all my slipcovers, but I found the ¼” looked bulky on the camel back. Instead I used a 1/8” welt, and it seemed to blend in nicely with the furniture, especially when using welt to separate the inside back pieces. My clients are thrilled with the end results.

How to Vote:

It is time for you to vote. This is a secret ballot -- PLEASE DO NOT POST YOUR VOTE IN THE COMMENTS SECTION! Voting starts on June 22nd and ends June 26th at 12:00 noon.

To cast your ballot, please submit your top choices.

1st Place, Contestant ___ 2nd place, Contestant ___

Send your choice to slipcovernetwork@gmail.com.

Slipcover Design Contestant D

Wingback Slipcover

This slipcover was done with “Balance” in Lemon Cream color from J. Ennis Fabrics located in Indianapolis. Great fabric to work with since it has a white backing – no show through from the original fabric pattern even though it is a lavender and blue stripe.

The “wings” were very curvy, so it was not possible to get them perfectly flat. The front of the arms came out and down giving the extra room needed to forgo a zipper but still have it nice and snug.

I used Angie’s totally awesome skirt application – what a timesaver!!! Kudos also to Kim for her self-facing zipper application for the cushion!!!

How to Vote:

It is time for you to vote. This is a secret ballot -- PLEASE DO NOT POST YOUR VOTE IN THE COMMENTS SECTION! Voting starts on June 22nd and ends June 26th at 12:00 noon.

To cast your ballot, please submit your top choices.

1st Place, Contestant ___ 2nd place, Contestant ___

Send your choice to slipcovernetwork@gmail.com.

Slipcover Design Contestant E

I used the pinning method for all my slipcover fabrication. This allows me to work on site, and the client does not have to live without their furniture. Cutting each side to size on site, then pinning each pleat in place in order to have each section fit properly achieved this look.

While in the workroom, I sewed each section together as usual. Because of the fabric thickness, I did not use welt. Once everything was sewn together, I then covered buttons and placed them in line with the pleats to allow the pleats to be open but tacked together. The bottom was banded and then tacked together again at each pleat to again allow the pleats to stay in place but yet open between the button and the band.

It is unfortunately, but I did this job several years ago, and I am unable to identify the fabric or banding used.

How to Vote: It is time for you to vote. This is a secret ballot -- PLEASE DO NOT POST YOUR VOTE IN THE COMMENTS SECTION! Voting starts on June 22nd and ends June 26th at 12:00 noon.

To cast your ballot, please submit your top choices.

1st Place, Contestant ___ 2nd place, Contestant ___

Send your choice to slipcovernetwork@gmail.com.

Slipcover Design Contestant F

Fabric – “Waverly” Home Décor 100% cotton. Base of the chair was twill fabric. Welting was made from fabric used on corners of inverted pleats. I made the covered button from twill fabric.

How to Vote:

It is time for you to vote. This is a secret ballot -- PLEASE DO NOT POST YOUR VOTE IN THE COMMENTS SECTION!

Voting starts on June 22nd and ends June 26th at 12:00 noon.

To cast your ballot, please submit your top choices.

1st Place, Contestant ___ 2nd place, Contestant ___

Send your choice to slipcovernetwork@gmail.com.