Intrigue Designs

Colors?

2012-02-01T14:09:00.000-08:00

Have you ever thought about how do you like your colors? Not just what colors you like, but....do you like your colors, separated or all mixed up?

I first started to think about this when I was planning flower beds for our landscape clients, they would choose their flowers, but where do we plant them? Some like to plant in a very organized way, block style, masses of one color here and another mass of color there. Then there is the client who prefers more of a cottage style, all mixed up. Certainly two unique approaches to how do you like your colors.

So this started me thinking about the quilts I am drawn to.....the quilts that really catch my eye are all mixed up, the more mixed up the better!

So, taking it a step further, are you left brain? very logical, organized and good at math? or are you right brain, very spontaneous, unpredictable and a dreamer?

Have a great week!

Judy

Do you Spade Edge?

2011-03-12T09:09:00.000-08:00

Ever wonder what life is like off the blog? My blog focuses on sewing projects and lampshades, but while I'm not blogging here, I am a working crew member in my husbands landscaping business, Basic Landscape, yes a real worker bee!

Anyway, its that time of the year now, gardening season in suburban Chicago! August through January is pretty busy for lampshades when everyone is thinking about getting back indoors and focusing on the inside. As soon as March comes its back outside! So before I get all of the clients yards ready for Spring I do mine first. It is truly an all day workout, so you really have to start with shorter workdays and build up to 8 hours to get in shape. This year is going to be a little more difficult, I had broken my wrist at the end of last years season. So after surgery and rehab it has been 6 months since I last worked outside! Whew!

Anyway, this was my first week back and I am almost done prepping for new mulch in the beds. I have raked the leaves, cut back the remaining grasses and my favorite part spade edging! Why you ask? Its just something about the immediate gratification of that new, clean edge! Call me crazy, but I really enjoy it!

New spade edge!

Chrysanthemums....signs of life!

Xcalak, Mexico Beach Vacation February 2011......GORGEOUS!

Now its off to the Flower and Garden Show!

Vintage Handkerchief Aprons

2011-02-16T11:18:00.000-08:00

Have you ever wondered what to do with all of those vintage hankys you find at flea markets and estate sales? I have bunches of them......and decided to make aprons! What a perfect way to display all of the sweet and cute patterns.

I chose a strip piecing method used in quilting to design my fabric. First, lay out the hankys side by side matching like sizes, this will make sewing easier. Next, sew them together overlapping sides to reveal scallop or lace edges. Sew 6 or 8 in a row, then onto the next 6 or 8, continue until you have enough for the number of aprons you would like. Now, depending on the size of the hankies, cut this row of sewn hankies into strips. My strips are 2 3/4" wide, they can certainly vary though, it will just add more interest! So, now the fun part! Repiece these strips, mix it up.....lots of movement going on now! The seams were finished with a feather stitch and the scallop and lace edges on the sides. So dang CUTE! I used the leftover strips to finish off some of the bottom edges and some to make the waistband. Insert bias tape ribbon through the waistband and voila!

Scrapbook Paper Lampshades

2011-02-09T16:13:00.000-08:00

How much scrapbooking paper do you have? There are so many enticing papers available it can be quite addicting! I don't know about you, but I have stacks! So I thought, why not try making some lampshades! Since we never want to throw any scraps away, they can be easily sewn together to form one continuous piece.

The shades above are all from the gorgeous 7gypsies collections, Lille, Conservatory and Venice. The 2 in the background have been featherstitched together, and the 2 in the foreground are solid panels.

Since I didn't use an adhesive styrene because I wanted to see the other side of the double sided paper, I needed to try to make the paper a bit more sturdy. So I decided to use what I would use when making a botanical shade. I placed usiki silk over the paper and then applied a layer of usiki glue. I achieved my goal and a surprise! The affect of the silk and glue gives it the most incredible vintage feel! I was thrilled!

To complete the shades I used a variety of interesting trims, tree trunk wrap, crocheted hemp and Tim Holtz Traveler Tissue Tape.

See you soon,

Judy

May Day! Opening Day! @ The Bountiful Barn!

2010-05-07T05:49:00.000-07:00

AMAZING! SERIOUSLY......AMAZING!

With all of the excitement and anticipation building, opening day finally arrives! The day, picture perfect, and our guests arrive extra early just so thrilled to be shopping here again! We have shopped through the winter and spring, primped, poofed and poofed again! This is going to be a grand day! The shopping is non stop, friendships rekindled, time to catch up and just gossip! Everyone is so happy The Barn is open again for another season of treasure hunting!

A bit of history for you. The Bountiful Barn is now in its 11th year with most of the original dealers and a few newbys like myself. We are open May 1st through mid October each year, you see this is truly a barn......there is no heat!

As the shopping day continues, we are just beside ourselves.....we have totally exceeded our expectations! This day proves to be the BEST OPENING DAY in The Barns history! The Barn has truly become a DESTINATION and we sincerely say THANK YOU to all of our guests!

CHEERS to another fantasic shopping season!

And while you are here shopping in Glen Ellyn, please do stop in @ Vintage Living and visit with Rebecca @ her lovely shop.

Thank you again and have a delightful weekend.

SNEEK PEEK!

2010-04-20T16:53:00.000-07:00

AMAZING DEBUT For VINTAGE LIVING!

I was on my home from work today and just happened to be passing by Vintage Living in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. Do you know what an amazing shop this is! Well you will soon find out for yourself May 1st when Where Women Create hits the newstands! Rebecca had just received her copy of the magazine and I was so fortunate to get a SNEEK PEEK! An amazing 12 pages of glorious photos and writings from her quaint and elegant vintage artisan shop! Becky and I had a lovely conversation of happenings in the magazine as well as the shop! Its so exciting to see a shop and sweet person you truly know be published in such a BIG WAY!

I am sorry there are no pictures from the magazine, this was just a sneek peek for me! So until May 1st please just click on her blog she just posted Spring comes to Vintage Living for your sneek peek!

Thank you Becky for a delghtful converstion and a perfect way to complete my day!

Peace,
Judy

Getting Ready!

2010-03-07T13:44:00.000-08:00

Well, its official! I will be moving into a space at The Bountiful Barn in Glen Ellyn, Illinois! Such a fun shop! So, from May 1 through late October you can see my custom lamp shades and plan your shades with me. I have been working on a number of shades for the grand opening and will post them as I get ready, May 1 will be here before you know it!

The first one is just adorable, using vintage ribbon, gold bullion embroidery thread and vintage beads......be sure to go early, this one won't be there long!

Vintage crochet trim with gold bullion thread finish the edges.

Judy

www.intriguedesigns.com

A Shade Better ~ How to make a Box Pleated Lampshade

2010-02-26T08:45:00.000-08:00

Hello again everyone!

Jen @ Sanctuary Art is holding another makeover party, be sure to link in or just stop over to see all of the projects! So, my makeover is a current piece I am working on for a client. A box pleated, silk lampshade, this is a recover, so just replicate the original. It turned out perfect, I must say, so I thought I would take you through the steps.

But first, the before pics........

1. take apart shade, I always do this very carefully to preserve the lining and outside for the new pattern. Oopsy, sorry no pictures of this, too anxious to get started.

2. clean up the frame. remove any rust, glue etc.

3. spray the struts with an off white spary paint to prevent any future rust and to give a clean finish.

4. okay, we now have pics! wrap the frame top and bottom with seam binding, this provides a base to sew the lining and outside to. Make sure you wrap tightly! I measure the circumference and multiply by 3 to get the yardage needed to wrap.

5. If you were lucky to preserve the lining, trace the lining onto kraft paper, and voila the new pattern! Otherwise you will need to roll the frame and trace. Most likely adjustments will have to be made to achieve a taught lining. More on that in a later post.

6. Cut the lining, sew the side seams and trim.

7. Now to the pleating! This is time consuming and very tedious! But first a tip! When working with white silk, DO NOT wear MASCARA! Any little flake and you are DOOMED! Also, be careful sewing and pinning! OOpsy whats that BLOOD? Yikes! Anyway, you get the idea!
Cut your fabric and begin marking for the pleats. This shade happens to have 3/4" pleats, so along the top and bottom edges measure and mark every 3/4".

8. Begin pleating, match up the top and bottom marks, insert a straight edge and press. Go to the next set of marks, match them up and bring this pleat to meet the first, insert straight edge and press. Continue pleating until you have enough pleats to go around the top.

9. Machine stitch the top edge of the pleats to secure them in place.

10. Begin pinning the pleats along the top edge.

11. Now to the bottom. This step is time consuming as well. Begin placing the pleats and fanning them out. Even spacing is the key, this takes some time.

12. Sew your pleats to the frame. First the top then the bottom. Trim the excess fabric close to the stitching.

13. Back to the lining. Drop the lining in. A few cuts will have to be made to stretch up and over the spider wire. Pin the top, stretch and pull the side seams to the bottom and pin. I always go back and fourth top to bottom pulling, stretching and pinning to get it taught. Next, sew the top lining to the frame then the bottom. Trim the excess lining.

14. Finish the spider wire cuts with folded lining fabric.

15. Apply the trim and you are done! Voila!

PERFECT!

Have a great weekend!

Lampshades Finished!

2010-01-25T14:41:00.000-08:00

As many of you know, Jen of Sanctuary Arts at Home is doing a link up to The First Big Project of the New Year Party. So.......... this got me motivated.....thank you Jen! I have had a lampshade in a state of flux now for 2 years! and do you know why? its the trim! the very last step of making a lampshade and I have been so hung up on it! Well, that, and I wasn't quite sure of the lamp yet either.....so it just sat in the to do pile.

Anyway, did I say thank you Jen! Not only did I finish this shade, I completed 2 more as well! The only thing, there are no before pictures! But here they are!

Tapestries of Nature Challenge!

2010-01-22T09:23:00.000-08:00

Judy from Tapestries of Nature is having a really cool challenge giveaway! If you are familiar with Judys Art you need to check this out!

This is what you will get! Amazing and totally generous Judy! This is from her blog today........

THE TOTE THAT I SEND WILL BE HAND EMBELLISHED AND STUFFED FULL OF GREAT GOODIES THAT I HAVE MADE OR COLLECTED. (at least, a bakers dozen!) YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED, I PROMISE!

Take the challenge and then congratulate Judy when she reaches her 150th post!

Have a great weekend!

Etsy Now!

2010-01-19T13:53:00.000-08:00

So, after 10 successful years of selling on ebay, (kiwiandemory) and 2 years away.....I am now selling again, this time on Etsy! DesignsbyIntrigue. Well, Intrigue Designs was already taken, so I am DesignsbyIntrigue. Anyway, its such an easy site to use, and filled with so many talented artists! I'm glad to be back!

And since its a new year, I decided to go through my inventory and I can't even believe all of the wonderful things I have! You know, out of sight out of mind! Well not any more! For starters, I have listed the cutest, vintage patterns circa 1919. A little girls extra sweet bonnet and dress, and several boys clothing and cap patterns. Even if you don't sew, the vintage sketches on the envelopes are absolutely adorable! I hope you get a chance to take a look!

Peace,
Judy

FABRIC COLLAGE !

2009-11-05T16:14:00.000-08:00

Well we just had a wonderful time with Rebecca at Vintage Living ! Rebecca is hosting a series of hands on workshops this fall, be sure to check them out if you are in the area! Her store is an exquisite mix of vintage, art, home accessory and clothing..... just a dreamy delight for the senses!

Our class was held in her cozy studio just off the back of the store. The space is heaven for creativity. Shelves of vintage fabric, trims, buttons and embellishments, just about anything you could possibly imagine and Rebecca was so generous with our selections. A small, intimate class, just five ladies for the evening, including Judy from Tapestries of Nature , enjoying conversation and collage. We could have spent the entire night creating!

Thank you again Rebecca for a lovely evening!

Voila!

2009-08-17T11:51:00.000-07:00

You know how it is.....buying some things.......you look and look and look and then when you're not looking....there it is! It happens to me all of the time! A few years ago I bought this sweet, vintage, ceramic lamp at The Elkhorn Antique Flea Market in Elkhorn Wisconsin....just because......I didn't really need another lamp. Anyway, like I said, years have past and I am shopping for trim for another shade at Joann Fabrics and voila!......ding, ding, ding! Thats it! the perfect color for that lamp! Totally from memory, this silk dupioni is staring right at me.....PERFECT! And don't you just love the adorable, ruffle trim?

This is one of my favorite frames, The Rembrandt, with soft curves and elegance. Available in table and floor lamp sizes, truly a delightful shade.

holiday planning!

2009-08-15T11:56:00.000-07:00

August, August, August! Its that time! Time to start thinking about coming back inside, perhaps you're considering a new palette or maybe just adding the final touches. Anyway, August is definitely the time my lampshade business gets busy! Designers have been working with their clients and are now ready for the accessories. We begin to select the frames, fabrics, trims and embellishments...... with our goal of completion.......the Holidays and events to be!

Here is a shade I just finished using Printed Treasures pima cotton. The images are from The Botanical Fine Arts Weekly published in 1894. Wild Flowers of America.

Turn it on !

2009-02-05T14:05:00.000-08:00

Fanfare! Fanfare!

Welcome to my blog!

We will delve into the custom design lampshade business and more.