My pagoda fabric

This screenshot from my Spoonflower page is a little difficult to see but it is my Pagoda fabric.

The process started with me drawing a pagoda and photographing it ( my scanner is not working) and then uploading it to Spoonflower.com

Mid-process of removing shadows

In order to get what you really want at Spoonflower you must be sure that there are not too many colors in a simple design like mine. This can take a while to tweak. I wanted a very small pattern on white ground. As you modify a design you can see the size in the "ruler" along the sides.

I have ordered a swatch--can't wait to see it.

Kravet and a project in my furture

T-J Toile is a sensational looking fabric from Kravet depicting many of Thomas Jefferson's buildings. Being a Virginia native and TJ fan overall, this held real appeal for me so I spent a good deal of time searching for a non-blue colorway to no avail. The blue is lovely and authentic blueprint color but I don't see it fitting in with my decor anywhere.

I searched for other architectural prints only to be disappointed.

I took matters into my own hands.

At first I had an idea to buy an antique (pre-1800) map of Virginia 

to create my own Spoonflower.com fabric because I saw one several years ago that has been on my mind since. Everything was too expensive for me so I bought architectural prints--lots of them!

 So many goodies.

 

The first Temple of Minerva print I bought singly
and then I found this lot of 64. Jackpot!

The ones that I don't want I will most likely resell in my, now empty, Etsy store.

 Can't wait to create my own architectural toile in a more subdued colorway.

I hope it works.

My tax refund fantasy

Just for fun, I put together a few things that I might spend a tax refund on if I had one and was totally impractical.

The first thing that came to mind was Brunshwig and Fils "Le Lac". I'd want enough for curtains in my formal living room or about 15 yards at approximately $6000.

I realize that there are finer chandeliers out there but I like this $1400 one from Ballard, darnnit.

These dining Chairs by Ralph Lauren, $1398 each from Horchow.

Phillip Jeffries silk wallcovering for my formal dining room. No price listed.

You know what that means.

I'd also love an aubusson rug that would cost more than anyone's tax refund.

Enough with fantasy-- I'm off to paint a room before the movers get here.

My-kat custom Ikat

This fun discovery began with a frustrating mail delivery of the wrong

fabric swatches and an even more frustrating trip to a local fabric shop.

I found a great chinoiserie toile on bark colored linen for the curtain to cover my sliding glass door.

They had a yard less than I need in stock and it was discontinued.

The store discounts decorator fabric and mostly does not list the manufacturer, even in their files so I was unable to try to hunt some on my own.

I noticed a Chinese import plate hanging on the wall at home and thought," I want that, but grayer and browner".

Long story-short, I found Spoonflower.com, a site that lets you upload an image file and create your own fabric.

photo of spoon-mirror repeat

It kept be very busy figuring out tweaks of photos, paintings and color.

If this sounds like fun to you get a babysitter and order pizza, whatever it takes to keep things going at your house because it sucks you in and you may not come up for air for days.

The basic repeat option is generally boring with most images.

The mirror repeat option is often the most interesting and how I made the first pattern above.

This one is a detail of a painting and it turned out resembling tie-dye.

Detail from the same painting with a half-drop repeat.

Its fun but I wouldn't fork out any money for this one.

If I liked it but wanted the flowers to be red, that can be done but it takes time.

The colors can also be simplified too. Again, lots of time.

This silhouette worked beautifully in several iterations.

As you can see, the mirror repeat adds decidedly different feel.

I took a photo of the detail on an antique mirror and made this one.

I took a detail of this painting and created this...

I actually like it but I can't think of anywhere to use it.

Maybe a fun pillow.

I had plenty of duds in this experiment that is one reason this little website swallowed me whole.

I  may be able to manage a few Christmas presents out of my creations but my sliding glass door is still bare.

Oh Dear! This chair needs help.

This chair came from England with my great-grandmother. I assume it was her mother's (see crazy lady post) as many things like this were. I need to repair the foot--easy. It's just the ghastly fabric that has to go. It really is the grayish, cadet blue damask that you see.

I am NOT a fan of Victorian furniture. I adore my other antiques and this chair does have its charms. For one, it is tiny like the diminutive British ladies that must have used it first.

My dilemma is in choosing the replacement fabric. I looked through all of my sample books and memos to no avail. I originally thought that a pale yellow taffeta or jaquard would be lovely, but not knowing the destination room for the chair has made me unsure.

Four bedrooms and five kids means we need a bigger house. In that case it would go into the baby's room.

I would not want a traditional velvet, mohair, or tapestry

soooo...

I thought something outrageous, like this chair from Anthropologie, might be best.

I found this interesting too.

I want opinions. Lots of them. What do you think? Can you recommend a large scale pattern that I might use? Or is that just garish and awful?