THE COOLEST THING -- MAYBE EVER

 I took this picture with my new camera (thanks, Bill!) a couple of weeks ago.  The orchids were awfully pretty on their own, but you know me and Photoshop.

This is one of the versions I came up with.  Not entirely sure how I got the colors this way, but I was thrilled with it.  The others were pretty nice, too.

This, though, is what is so cool:  I had fabric made with my photo!  Most everyone has probably heard of Spoonflower, the web site that allows you to make your own fabric.  Well, I finally decided to give it a try.  I am beyond happy with the results.  The best part is I can now offer custom fabric for my custom home furnishings!  Just imagine the possibilities - personalized, custom toiles; your own dog or cat or child on fabric for a favorite chair; your favorite picture from a trip forever memorialized on a duvet cover;  vintage photo draperies.  The possibilities are endless.  I am so excited about this.  All I need is a photo to begin the process.

THE TAVERN - CORONADO

One of the newest restaurants to open in Coronado is called The Tavern.  It is located across from the Hotel Del Coronado at 1310 Orange Avenue.  I had the honor of making the cushions for the banquets and booths.  We are talking 23 cushions, some quite long.  It was a challenge, but, it seems, most of my jobs are in some way a challenge.  An even bigger challenge was taking photographs once the cushions were in place.  The restaurant is dark, the fabric is dark brown (thank goodness for the contrast welt) and the wood is brown.  Still, it all looks great.

The table tops in the booth area are a beautiful turquoise.

 The floors are made from recycled basketball flooring.  Very cool!  And it adds some color to the space.

Had I made just one cushion here, it would have been 344" long!  Instead, I made 4 that were still 86" each.

The cushions in my workroom before being transported to their new home.

On opening night...Bill Harris, me and Laura Petersen.

ELEGANT ISLAND LIVING

Kim Kelly and Bella Rustica are at it again.  To get the entire story, go to her blog and read about the transformation of her new house on Saint Simons Island, Georgia.  The small part I played in the renovation is captured in the pictures below.  Although I haven't seen it in person yet, Kim's style is recognizable anywhere and, though it now has some beach touches that she didn't really use in her house here in Coronado, it is still pure Kim Kelly!

This is a shot from the living room into the kitchen, where the burlap (yes, burlap!) roman shade that I made is sort of visible.  Talk about a pain to sew.  Personally, I can't stand burlap to begin with.  I know a lot of people love it, but it's scratch-y and it comes in colors I am not crazy about.  And it is hard to sew.  It shifts and sheds and is generally more of a challenge than I like.  Still, when she ask me to do it, of course, I said, YES!  

 Here you can just see the bottom of the shade, but what's really cool is her new sink.  Love it!

 Another view of said burlap roman shade.

 Living room with ottoman I did before she left for Georgia.

Linen duvet cover on bed.

CLEARING OUT THE OLD, MAKING ROOM FOR THE NEW

Yes, it has been a very long time, more than 3 months, since I last blogged.  To say that I've been busy and otherwise occupied would be an understatement.  The truth is, I miss blogging and I miss reading other blogs.  But, most of all, I miss my blogging friends.  Part of what I've been going through the last, well, really, couple of years, is a desire to clear out the old to make room for the new.  Several weeks ago I held a (HUGE) garage sale in my backyard.  The pictures below are from that  Thursday (big garage sale day here in Coronado) and Saturday.  When it was all over, I did quite well (enough to pay for the new clutch and starter in my car) though to look around at the yard, it looked like I sold NOTHING.  I had sooo much to get rid of.  What was left was donated to Goodwill and to other worthwhile organizations.  My house and yard look like a 'normal' person live here, though my garage still needs a little work.  The biggest lesson from this experience has been learning that I CAN let go and release all of what I am not using and do not need.  I had literally 100's of yards of fabric (some calicos since 1977!) that were doing me no good, packed neatly away in various boxes and such.  The local puppetry theatre that got a large majority of it will benefit in ways that I never would have.  

You may have noticed, too, some slight changes in my blog design.  Well, the fonts anyway.  I would like to re-design the entire thing to signal the changes in my life, but too much all at once is more than I can handle.  Slowly, but slowly I am making the changes I need to make.  My blog will, no doubt, relect them over the coming weeks and months.