Tuesday, July 4, 2017

I LOVE Silk!





This spring Linda http://miraclechicken.blogspot.com/  kindly allowed me some space on her table at the Tom Bishop Show in Chicago. I wanted to try to sell some of the William Morris silk chairs I made. When I got to Linda's table she asked..."Notice anything?" I was shocked! The chairs sold within 45 minutes of the doors opening on preview night. WHY, Oh WHY, didn't I bring more!

No photo can convey how beautiful that silk fabric is. The way it takes dyes is magic.  So... I have decided to make a few more. Each pattern presents a real design placement challenge. I try to and make a mirror image on each side.  On both sides of the wings, both arms and the sides. That can make you say some very bad words while you are working.

This one has hand carved legs made by Linda Master. She is a wizard! How she carves two perfectly alike is a mystery to me.





Here are a few 1: 1 scale William Morris upholstered chairs I found on Google. The scale seems to be close to what my miniature ones are. 



Pepper https://mitchymoominiatures.blogspot.com/  very kindly sent me a gift of some beautiful silk she got at the York show in the UK. I was thrilled to bits! I have a very hard time finding fabrics. These are hand loomed. Just gorgeous!


AND... She sent me some Susan Bembridge silk in my favorite colors. I  LOVE the patterns! Thank you so much Pepper. ;-)


I am still collecting Terry Curran crocks. Here are a few new ones I found on eBay.


                                     


33 comments:

  1. Oh that chair is gorgeous! I love the blue and the way you've matched the pattern on either side.

    And the fabrics are beautiful. Can't wait to see how your chairs turn out.

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  2. What a fun surprise checking out blogger tonight! I am honored to have my legs on such a beautiful chair. The mirror image of the pattern has to be insanely difficult, yet you execute it perfectly. The new silk from Pepper is so nice and I can't wait to see you work your magic with it.

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    1. Thank you Linda! I so much appreciate you making these things for me. They are always perfect. YES! I am very excited about those lovely fabrics Pepper sent me. I will save them for something special.

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  3. Congratulations Catherine on the sale of your chairs at the Tom Bishop show! and What a great pairing up between you and Linda Master, because the quality of work that each of you do is a match made in heaven. :D
    It is such a bonus to have people scouting out resources for you and the silks from Pepper are BEAUTIFUL!
    I LOVE your crock collection but I don't know how you are able to find such Amazing pieces. I've looked but I've never see anything as fine as these-they're really Lovely and should fit in with your English Country cottage. :)

    elizabeth

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    1. Thank you Elizabeth.
      I had no idea Pepper was going to send me anything. It was a lovely, wonderful surprise.
      Now that Terry Curran has retired those crocks are starting to vanish. You can still find them if you hunt for them used on eBay.

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  4. Congratulations from me too but I'm not surprised because they are exquisitely made chairs

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  5. Su sillón es una obra de arte, no me extraña que la vendieras tan rápido,felicidades.Feliz día:-)

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    1. Muchas gracias. Tengo un montón de diversión haciendo estas sillas.

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  6. You and Linda make perfect partners. Linda, with her extraordinary skills with woodworking and you with a perfect eye for detail and colour. I'm not surprised the chairs sold so quickly. They're beautiful :0)

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  7. Your armchairs are amazingly beautiful, no surprise they sold so quickly.
    Geneviève

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    1. Thank you Geneviève. I have lots of fun making them.

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  8. Your chair is exquisite and your attention to detail is beyond belief. Linda's legs are the perfect finishing touch....how you can stand to part with it is beyond me!!! I don't understand why you would be surprised at your chairs selling so quickly....."quality sell"!!!!!! Well done Catherine, your work is ALWAYS a delight to see. X

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    1. Thank you Linda.
      I was very surprised those chairs sold at all frankly. Usually people want off whites or neutral colors. Something they know will fit into their rooms. These you almost have to build a room around. Which is exactly what the man who bought one told Linda he was going to do with it. That one also had a matching ottoman.

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  9. .....oh! I love that fabric (especially the 3rd one) that Pepper sent you! Yum!!!

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    1. YES! That is a gorgeous fabric. As they all are. What a wonderful surprise and most appreciated too.

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  10. Why am I not surprised that your gorgeous chairs sold out immediately? They are simply stunning, especially covered in Wm Morris's fabric.
    I am a great fan of all things Morris, and have visited his country house several times which is near to where I live - may be you would be interested to see the post?
    http://wherefivevalleysmeet.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/william-morriss-home-kelmscott-manor.html

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    1. Sorry the link is not working - it is taking you to A Sense of Time and Place, but I think that the Kelmscott post can be seen in the one of the four small photos at the bottom of that post in 'You might also like:'

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    2. Thank you Rosemary. ;-)
      How wonderful to live so close to the William Morris country house. I would love to see it. I will find your post about it.
      I have gotten to visit so many wonderful places thanks to your blog.

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  11. Hello Cathrine,
    I am not a bit surprised the chair sold so quickly. it was a real masterpiece. there is nothing like a beautiful silk. I can't wait to see what you do with the lovely ones sent to you by Pepper.
    Big hug
    Giac

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  12. Thank you Giac.
    I am very excited to work with those beautiful fabrics Pepper sent me.

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  13. what a wonderful chair, no wonder they sold out as soon as the doors opened. so whats on the agenda for the new fabrics I promise I wont tell a soul :)

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    1. Thank you Marisa.
      I have some of the same W M silk I have used before. Though at the moment I can't face doing another in the same pattern. I need a bit of space those before I am do them again. I look every day for a new W M pattern I haven't used before. :-) That is what makes it fun to do.

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  14. Votre travail de recouvrement et le choix des tissus font que vos fauteuils, Catherine, sont de véritables merveilles et il n'est pas étonnant qu'ils se soient vendus si vite.
    J'adore les nouveaux tissus et je suis impatient de voir ce que vous allez en faire.

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    1. Merci Jean-Claude. Je suis impatient de faire quelque chose avec ces nouveaux tissus magnifiques.

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  15. Hi Catherine! I am not at all surprised that your chairs sold so fast... they are Perfection in miniature and the patterns of the cloth are so beautiful and unusual! You really have made it into an art... sourcing the silk and applying it in the perfect matching pieces.... it boggles the mind to think of the care and time you put into it! If I were you, I would never want to part with them once I had finished! And to think that Pepper has sent you such lovely silks.... it is the generosity of mini bloggers all over the world that make this such a wonderful community! I can't wait to see your next pieces of furniture!

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  16. Betsy how very kind, thank you.
    I really enjoy the challenge upholstering them in that way.
    Pepper is incredibly generous. I am going to have to think very hard about something to make her for that beautiful house she is building. I am just not sure I could make a modern piece of furniture. I just don't know enough about that style. So it is going to be another challenge but a fun one. :-)

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  17. Dear Catherine! Beautiful chairs and fabulous fabrics. I'm glad that there is Internet, otherwise I would never have seen this beauty. I wish you much inspiration! Hugs, Julia

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  18. Thank you Julia. I am so glad you like the chair. ;-)

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  19. Cette soie magnifique est réellement mise en valeur par un très beau travail de tapissier. Félicitation!
    Nathalie

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  20. Merci beaucoup Nathalie. C'est très amusant de rembourrer ces chaises.

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