CasaSugar -- Home sweet home.

DIY: Cardboard and Fabric Magnetic Photo Frame

casasugar — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 09:15:36 -0800

How About Orange recently constructed this clever photo frame out of some items found around the house. I can't believe this is made from cardboard!

What You'll Need

corrugated cardboard
fabric
felt
cutting surface
scissors or other cutting tool
glue gun
magnets
cotton batting or fleece

To find out how to construct it,

Coveted Crib: Amy Butler's Studio

casasugar — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 07:00:03 -0800

While I've been a fan of Amy Butler's fabric, products, and patterns for some time, now I'm also in love with her studio space. Take the tour with me, and you'll be wishing for an Ohio fabric studio as well! Source

Cool Idea: Hooped Faux Tapestry Wall Art

casasugar — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 13:00:09 -0800

Browsing a fabric and coming upon a wildlife faux tapestry fabric, Poppytalk was enlightened with an idea that doesn't involve any sewing. I'm sold! By simply setting the tapestry fabric inside an embroidery hoop, she created three pieces of instant wall art, for the price of $16. In addition to the ease and affordability, I love the kitschy, lodge-y theme of this project. It really gets me excited to get outdoors this Winter! To see all three embroidery hoop pieces,

DIY: Fabric Wall Art

casasugar — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 07:45:11 -0700

One of my very stylish friends has assembled several cool stretched fabric panels, which are hung in her home. I love the big, bold statement that this fabric art creates, so when I recently found directions on how to do it, I thought I'd pass it along to you. This tutorial is for a 20-inch-square fabric art piece.

What You'll Need

Four stretcher strips, 20 inches long (prices range from $2-6 each), available at art supply stores.
One yard of fabric or a remnant of fabric approximately 30 inches by 36 inches
Flat top push pins, approximately 30
A hammer, which will help if you have problems pushing in the pins
Picture-hanging wire and screw set

To find out how to make it,

DIY: Fabric Pup Tent

casasugar — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 08:30:49 -0700

Whether you want to use it as a fun play structure for your kids, or as a cool design element at Park(ing) Day or on your porch, a simple pup tent will look stunning if you cloth it with an eyecatching fabric.

What You'll Need

Three yards of cotton fabric (upholstery weight is best)
20 half-inch finishing screws
Power drill
Four two- to three-inch wood screws
Four six-feet-long boards, anywhere between four and six inches wide
One one-inch square, five-foot-long board
A friend who can hold the structure as you're building it

To find out how to do it,

Guess Who Designed This Eyeshadow?

casasugar — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 07:00:23 -0700

Avon recently released some new eyeshadow compacts that are designed by a famous textile company. Do you recognize this famous company's floral motif here? (Hint: It's based out of Finland and often featured on CasaSugar.)

Nice and New: Amy Butler August Fields Collection

casasugar — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:00:27 -0700

Amy Butler has introduced a new home décor fabric collection for Rowan, called August Fields. The collection features four diverse color stories inspired by gardens and wild fields in "high season." Their natural prints and modern textures are easy to mix and match . . . which is good because you'll want to get your hands on every one of them. I'm particularly drawn to the pared-down, shell-shaped tile repeat pattern (top, second from left). But honestly, I just love how they all look together. The collection is available at Purl SoHo. To see more of the fabrics,

Nice and New: Joel Dewberry's Ginseng Collection

casasugar — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 04:30:16 -0700

Designer Joel Dewberry, whose eclectic modern textiles bring retro flair to the home, has a new collection of fabrics out. This collection is described by Joel as achieving the following:

"Ginseng captures the delicate beauty of the orchid while complementing it with a variety of sophisticated and elegant floral prints. With a subtle Asian influence, the Ginseng collection delivers a clean and memorable palette of designs and color that promise to bring beauty to your home."

The fabrics in the collection are making me anxious to finish my birds project and head down to my local sewing store to snap up a few of the new designs. All of the fabrics are available in cotton sateen in home-decorating weight, so they'd be perfect for placemats, curtains, or any other fabric-related home reno project. Do you like them, too?

Source

In the News: Sofa Studies

casasugar — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 05:30:38 -0700

Faced with renovating a crumbly brick townhouse in Manhattan's East Village, and building a home for her children that they could participate, ex Kate Spade partner Pamela Bell abandoned the tendency to create a "trophy home" and invited her daughter's 7th grade class to graffiti her John Derian muslin sofa with fabric markers. The result is an example of ideal imperfection, the kind that's engaging because of its flaws, that wins you over because it can't be reproduced. Bell's home is full of furnishings with this laissez-faire attitude towards design — spray-painted bittersweet from the farmers market for a chandelier, a pile of suitcases for a side table, walls embellished with Marimekko stickers, and a chalkboard-covered fridge — and it's all the better for it. Read more about it in The New York Times' "When Perfect Is Not the Goal."
Source

Midday Muse: Matchy Matchy

casasugar — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 12:00:11 -0700

I hate to be a downer, but I just have to say that there is nothing interesting about this matchy-matchy style of décor to me. I do love toile, florals, and gingham but seeing so much of them all in one space makes me sad. The lithograph prints hanging on the wall look like they could be beautiful, antique treasures, and the armchairs have an elegant, classic shape, but these great qualities are lost in the busyness of the patterns. To me, there's nothing creative or inspiring about using one fabric everywhere. Setting one of the gingham chairs in all-white room would have a significantly more positive visual impact. But, that's just me, and to each his own. If a bedroom such as this makes one woman comfortable in her home then I can't argue with that.
Source

Inspired: Matthew Williamson Tie-Dye Dress

casasugar — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 09:15:38 -0700

This dress, which FabSugar noted took tie-dye from hippie to hip, is from Matthew Williamson's Spring '08 collection. While tie-dye is nearly synonymous with hippies, the craft of tie dying predates Woodstock by centuries. Some tie-dye techniques and traditions include Japanese Shibori, Indian Bandhani, and African tie-dye. Tie-dye's unique look is accomplished by bundling or tying up the material before applying dye, which only allows the dye to reach part of the area to which it is applied. The boundaries of the dyed and non-dyed areas are usually somewhat blurred.

To see some home design tie-dye finds,

Inspired: Cameron Diaz's Reverse Appliqué

casasugar — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 09:15:56 -0700

Cameron Diaz's Oscar de la Renta dress, which she wore at the Women in Film Awards, reminded me of another beautiful lady who's fond of appliqué and reverse appliqué. In fact, this designer marks them as signature techniques in her fashion and home décor lines. I've featured her work a few times in the past, along with her inspiring book.

To find out who the designer is,

DIY: Iron-On Vinyl Coasters

casasugar — Tue, 27 May 2008 08:30:41 -0700

I spotted this DIY on How About Orange, and thought it was so cute and simple, so I decided I'd summarize it. The great thing about this project is that you can personalize it with any fabric, or by sewing or stitching an interesting pattern into the coaster. It's also a great housewarming gift that's inexpensive and can be customized to the color scheme of a friend's new home!

Supplies:

Heavy-weight fabric
Iron-on vinyl
Scissors
Fabric glue stick
Vanishing fabric marker
Sewing machine (or needle and thread in coordinating color)
Pinking shears

To hear the steps,

Guess Who?

casasugar — Fri, 16 May 2008 16:00:07 -0700

Keri Russell stepped out earlier this Spring with a casual hobo bag slung over one shoulder. The fabric for the bag was designed by one of my favorite Midwestern fabric mavens. Can you guess who designed the fabric for Keri's bag?

DIY: Embroidery Hoop Corkboard

casasugar — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 15:00:28 -0700

I recently fell head over heels for this hoop.dee.do bulletin board ($22), sending it to the top of my wish list. What a perfect way to add style and function to your home office!? So, when I came across a DIY on how to make them on my own, my excitement skyrocketed. I do love to support all the lovely hand-making Etsy studios, but sometimes it's nice to just have a project for myself. Luckily, this one doesn't seem too intimidating, time-consuming, or expensive. I'm thinking of making several hoops in varying sizes and patterns to cover the wall above my desk.

Supplies:

1 wooden embroidery hoop
Cork board (an old board, or cork board squares)
Pencil
Drywall saw or sharp craft knife
Upholstery-weight fabric
Picture-hanging tooth w/nails
Hammer
Staple gun
Glue gun w/glue sticks

To learn the steps,

Cool Idea: Subversive Lace

casasugar — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 13:42:03 -0700

Recently, I showed you one artist who was reclaiming crochet as a cool craft. Hot on the heels of this trend comes a new fabric design one of my favorite companies, Scotland's Timorous Beasties. The subtly shocking Devil Damask ($140 per yard), which is a custom cotton lace design, takes the established identity of lace as something dainty and ladylike and turns it on its head. I love the contrast at work here. How about you?

Cool Idea: Fabric Easter Eggs

casasugar — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 06:45:00 -0700

Kristin from Sew Mama Sew has presented an adorable project just in time for the Easter bunny. She writes,

A couple of years ago I started sewing fabric eggs. I love the feel of them and so do kids. When you get some in your hands you can’t help but toss, catch, throw and juggle. Every year I try to replace a few more of the plastic eggs that we use for Easter Egg hunts with cloth eggs.

Kristin has sewn secret pockets into these fabric eggs that can hold wee chocolate treats or coins. Ingenious! Have basic sewing skills and want to try this project? You can download the pattern here.

Source

Guess Who Makes This Fabric?

casasugar — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 08:15:54 -0800

This fresh, springy fabric costs only $5.99 a yard. Can you tell me which major retailer makes it?

Ask Casa: I Need Cool Nursery Fabric!

casasugar — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 06:45:38 -0800

Dear Casa,

I need serious help. I am decorating a nursery for my first baby and I don't know where to look for the fabric I would love to use. I don't want to go with a cutesy baby room. I want it to be vintage and fun and funky. I love the fabrics that Anthropologie uses for their chairs, but have been unable to find anything online. I want something bold, with large graphics, and kind of kitschy. Any ideas?

Thanks in advance,
Samantha675

To see my response, just

Nice and New: Amy Butler Spring Collection

casasugar — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 06:00:18 -0800

Amy Butler has just introduced her new collection of quilting weight fabric for Westminster & Rowan, which will be available in April, and I have Spring fever already! She says, "The line is inspired by the vintage-modern spirit of my lifestyle book Midwest Modern," (which, I might add was inspired by her own designs). Her palettes titled Orange Dahlia, Ohio Sky, and Pink Dahlia, renew many of her previous designs with a splash of Spring color. They can be used for fashion, quilting, or home-decorating projects, "everything you need," she says, "to create your own Midwest Modern style!"

To see two more of her palettes,

Midday Muse: Indoor Fabric Garden by Ted Baker and JAM

casasugar — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 11:39:07 -0700

This indoor fabric garden melds two of my favorite obsessions: sewing and gardening. Part hanging plant, part green art installation, this installation features lovely fabrics and plants, and the hanging containers are fashioned from reused lampshades.

Have you ever tried to make your garden into art?

via Inhabitat

Steal of the Day: Snap Purse

casasugar — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 08:28:17 -0700

I must have snaps on the brain. When I ran across this top snap pouch, designed and sewn by candyargyle, I knew I had to have it. I already use a couple of fabric zipper bags to organize my cell phone, iPod, lip balm, and other purse essentials, but this snap pouch would work just as well. It would also be adorable as a purse for a casual weekend brunch, or as a makeup bag in your bathroom cabinet. And at only $14, it's definitely a Steal of the Day.

Toile From Your Town

casasugar — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 09:43:23 -0700

I'm not the world biggest fan of toile, but I absolutely adore these patterns from Town Toiles. The Tampa-based company puts a modern twist on the traditionally pastoral designs, with geography-inspired patterns featuring iconic images from different cities. (Thanks to user Mademoiselle for bookmarking these!)

You can buy Town Toile fabric by the yard or choose from the company's assorted home accents, including tea towels, picture frames, and pillows. There's even a line of wallpaper. Tampa is represented, of course, as are San Francisco, New York, Boston, and a basic beach pattern. I think this stuff would be a great moving gift, either to commemorate the city someone is leaving or to represent their new home. To see a gallery of the toile patterns,

Midday Muse: Fire and Ice

casasugar — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 12:00:39 -0700

Though this Kassiopeia Fabric comes from Finnish brand Marimekko, it has a sort of Asian-inspired fantasy vibe. Together with the cool-yet-fiery color combo, the pattern is very unique. How could you use these ideas in a room?