Blair's post about tufting the other day inspired me, in the way that I am often inspired when my thoughts turn to tufted things (which happens more often than you might think, especially because I periodically gaze lovingly at this sofa, which is like the tidy white antithesis of our rumply family-friendly thing & so I like to imagine how serene my life would be if I lived with it) to dig out this old issue of Marie Claire Idees (Spring 01) with the stack of lovely colorful thin tufted mattresses. (Also! There are no snow days during Le Temps Des Fleurs! No!)
Although, upon closer inspection + actually reading the directions for once, I now realize that they are not tufted after all, but wouldn't they be even more excellent if they were? After seeing the MSL camp furniture article from last summer (& that day bed needs some buttons too, no?), my thin tufted mattress idylls now combine the two ideas -- although, really, I can't imagine a tippier thing to bring into a house with two young hectic children, a folding camp cot topped with a tall squashy pile of probably-lopsided handsewn mattresses. Still, though, there's something about that MCI spread that particularly grabs me.
I finally started working on my big shade project this weekend, kicking things off with a 175" long pieced strip (I'm making five shades total). I thought about a few different techniques to get the no-repeat look I wanted, but in the end I just sliced up my strips & then pieced them together based on what I thought might look good next. I got a new sewing machine for Christmas (thanks, Mom!), & while it feels a little, um, daintier than my no-nonsense little Janome (& boy did I bend some needles while figuring that out), it's got a great piecing stitch that very grippily* & tidily makes a 6.5mm seam, & I sure do love the needle up/down button. I'm looking forward to trying out its quilting stitches on these shades, though first I have to finish wrestling with the stupid poly batting I bought for them (my thinking: poly = closer to fiberglass insulation (insulation being the whole point of the project) than cotton would be, but I may end up going back to cotton yet).
*not an actual technical sewing term, but maybe it should be.
ha! i was praying to the weather gods this morning, too.
grippily is an excellent term.
Posted by: meg | January 16, 2007 at 04:32 AM
Did you have the little 3/4 sized Janome? I have that machine -- well, the Kenmore version, which is identical -- and I love it! Great machine to learn on. And mine's blue, which is adorable.
I wonder what the world would look like if everything was tufted? Makes me giggle to think about.
Posted by: Sarah | January 16, 2007 at 05:25 AM
I am crying....crying you hear me?????
All those MCI and that patchwork all laid out looks so nice, I should be at your house for some proper inspiration today.
Posted by: Blair | January 16, 2007 at 08:15 AM
Your post today reminded me of a favorite Emerson quote that goes something like, ... what others can do for you is nothing compared to what you can do for yourself... I'm sure I've just about butchered it, but that's the idea. I love the blogs because it is so inspiring to see how many people are just trying things and learning things and lifting the world by making their own piece of it just a bit more beautiful. Your posts are simply lovely. :)
Posted by: tiffany | January 16, 2007 at 04:49 PM
hello sir/madam,
with ur regards to u and ur company, i am ken lukeman from USA and i will like to know wheather u do carry camp cot instock, and if yes i will like u to mail me with the types,price for one and the methode of payment that u accept so that i can let u know quantity and the type that i want...hope to hear from u soon....
Posted by: ken lukeman | February 19, 2008 at 11:50 PM