Paris Perfection

Ok, it may seem strange for an accessories designer to showcase another line ... but we are talking Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton with Madonna on a shoot in Paris! I absolutely adore Louis Vuitton and before I dove into designing my own line, from 1986 to 2006 I carried a traditional (now vintage!) LV Monogram 25 Speedy and of course I still have it - and it's in good condition! 

But I digress ... On to the video I wanted to share - and to be honest I was more smitten with Madonna's clothes in this shoot than with the jewelry or the bags. The fabric combinations are killer, and the style - divine - pure Paris. The kind of clothes I see and wish I had designed, just for the pleasure of creating such concoctions! Anyway ... enjoy!

Loving French Country Decor

Yep, I'm a Francophile! I've never been to France, but I'm just smitten with most everything French! I'm especially just nuts for French Country Decor ... it really speaks to my soul.

Have you ever seen the Pierre Deux catalog or website? I used to get it back when it was named French Country, and I am always so excited when a new copy comes in the mail.

I saw this gorgeous chair and ottoman on their newsletter and again the front page of their website and fell deeply in love. I don't know where my sudden infatuation with yellow/gold fabrics is coming from - maybe I'm just really craving Spring, but I do love this fabric!

I have a black armless chair and an ottoman that both desperately need to be slipcovered and I've been searching for fabrics for way too long for them. Seriously - right now the ottoman has a very sad country looking dusty pink slipcover that was on it when I snagged it at a garage sale. The ottoman itself has great bones and is perfect for the chair, which I also snagged at my friends furniture resale store for a song. I'm so sad that my friend had to close her shop recently. :(

So, I am inspired - I think this will be the new look for my living room chair and ottoman as soon as I locate similar fabric. Of course they do have this fabric available to purchase by the yard, but, um ... $80 a yard is not quite in my budget even if I sold 50 purses this month (which would be awesome!)  I did finally find the close up photos in the sales section (duh!) on the Pierre Deux website! I'm now on the hunt for similar fabric in my price range! Until my next yummy installment, enjoy the beauty and think Spring!!

Exquisite Embroidery

I'm so excited! My sweet, sweet, oh so talented friend Teriann has promised to come and visit me and teach me how to use my Bernina embroidery machine! What a treat - first of all just to have some time to spend with my friend, but to have her teach me what my machine will do is awesome! 

 Teriann is a machine embroidery expert and artist. She creates the most intricate designs and digitizes them so that others can download them and create with her designs too! Today I want to feature a breathtaking example of her custom work.

This 22 x 22 pillow called "Chanson Triste" was inspired by the French opera song, Originally created as a custom and very special Christmas gift, the design is now available special purchase in her Etsy Shop, Kitty Kitty Designs. 

This keepsake pillow is luxurious in every way ... from the special lyric surrounded by trailing cabbage roses and swirls to the rose crystal accents and fringe set on raw silk. The background is a lovely cotton rose motif and back of pillow is made from a soft dusty rose silk. The pillow is 100% goose feather surrounded by quilted 250 count cotton. It is also beautifully presented in this gorgeous custom created fabric covered box - what a fabulous gift!

Please visit Teriann's shop and her blog at http://asliceofpink.blogspot.com/ for more of her delightful designs. She has the cutest little Valentine Sprites you've ever seen!  Oh I almost forgot to tell you about her Kitty Kitty Designs Network - be sure to join!

Cinderella Dreams - Oh How Divine!

I just have to share ... I am so in love with these beautiful creations made by my friend and Pink Sister, Susie of The Polka Dot Rose!  Aren't these "Cinderella Dreams" altered art slippers just delicious?!

The detail and craftsmanship giving each perfect slipper it's own personality is truly amazing. Each is a one-of-a-kind original, so if you see one in her boutique that captures your heart, you better grab it while you can. 

I can see these adorning my vanity showing off my collection of hat pins, and one on my office desk to make me smile and display some of my lovely brooches! 

Wouldn't they make wonderful Valentines for your mother or sister, or someone else you love? I know I'd be thrilled if someone gave me such a beautiful gift! They even come gift boxed! And let me assure you, Susie's presentation will astound you! Of course if you like to help others out with gift ideas for yourself, you could always email a link  - you know I'm just helpful like that! I bet you are too!  Hurry, go have a look!

Ornate and Beautiful Organic Bedding

This new bedding from Pottery Barn has me longing for daffodils and Spring's promise of warmth and fresh air. I may have to rethink my color choices for my bedroom! I would love to make this my beautiful bed :) 

The fabric is 100%organic-cotton percale and the design is richly detailed golden yellow paisley that feeds my love for swirlies and leafy edges. I imagine it's soft and cushy goodness matches it's luscious design.  This is definitely on my wish list for Spring!

The Vintage Moth..: Antique, Handblocked Wallpaper

Ok so it's not fabric, but these wallpaper images could sure inspire some beautiful fabric designs could they not? 

I just discovered yet another wonderful blog - 

The Vintage Moth..: Antique, Handblocked Wallpaper and it's owner, Abbie, who offers amazing vintage clip art that I cannot wait to start using in some way. 

Somehow I've already spent several hours this morning just absorbed in blogland visiting my new friend (I hope she will consider me a friend) Dawn at her blog, The Feathered Nest, and that is where I found the link to Abbie's blog. I've already posted about Dawn's blogs over on my Mama's Pocketbook blog, so take the time to go over there to learn more about her talent and gorgeous art!

Meanwhile, join me in discovering the beautiful clip art you'll find on Abbie's blog! This is the most fun way to spend a Saturday morning when I should be working! Wait, it's research, inspiration gathering ... that IS work! I love my job!