Creating the Award Winning Design - Day 1

With the big IWCE show in Vegas coming next week, I am going to continue my series of posts about creating my design that will be displayed there.  I can't believe the big show is here already! 

We arrived rested and bright eyed on Friday morning, eager to get started. 

From left - front row: Terri Booser (CHF), Elizabeth Gerdes (A Stitch Above); second row: Sue Fresconi, Liz Hawkes (Windows by Liz), Monique Becker (Becker Window Fashions), Debra Martin (Debra Martin Designs) and Sheri Stouffer (Finishing Touches)

When we entered in the CHF workroom on Friday, we each found a worktable set up with all our fabrics, hardware, and embellishments.  It was exciting to see for the first time the "ingredients" of all our treatments. 

Beautiful silk fabrics provided by Greenhouse Fabrics, hardware provided by Orion, and

 nailheads provided by Diamond Head UT

While I can't reveal my entire design until it's unveiled in Vegas, I can show you some of the components.  My design has BLING in it!  All of the fabric, hardware, and embellishments for our treatments were generously supplied by industry vendors.  My treatment included sparkly crystal nailheads which were supplied by Diamond Head UT. 

Diamond Head Upholstery Tacks

 

My treatment also has big sparkly finials!  When I designed my treatment, I knew immediately that I wanted to use crystal finials on it.  I was already familiar with Orion's products, having seen them in a design showroom and then using them for a client's project.  In my mind, nothing else would do but the Bohemia crystal finials from Orion.  I was delighted to find out they had agreed to provide them for me.



Beautiful crystal finials from Orion's Bohemia Collection

Did you know they make drapery hardware that looks so much like jewlery?  With hardware like this, I couldn't resist striking a pose!  It doesn't take much for me to "ham it up" for the camera. 



If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it!

Do you love "bling"?  I would love to create a spectacular treatment for your home!  Contact me at 314.324.5972 or lois@ryliemax.com to get started.

At last....embroidery!

For quite some time now, my emboidery machine has merely been a decoration in my workroom.  I finally made time to re-take the "learn how to use your machine" class where I purchased it, and am proud to announce that Rylie Max Studios now offers embroidery!

I learned that there's much more to creating successful emboidered designs than meets the eye.  You need to choose the proper stabilizer and thread as well as use the proper sized hoop for your fabric and design.    Who knew there were more than a dozen types of fabric stabilizers?

My embroidery machine does ONLY embroidery and no regular sewing - since I have 5 other sewing machines, I think I'm covered on the sewing part.  :)  As I wanted to focus mostly on embroidering words or single letters for my projects, I purchased special software to increase the capabilites of my machine.  So when I begin an embroidery design, I create it first on my computer, and then transfer it to my machine.

The pictures below show my first embroidery project after taking my class.  I had already done some window treatments and chair cushions for this client, and wanted to give her a gift to coordinate with her cushions.  What better than a small monogrammed pillow? 

Completed embroidery at the machine

Closeup

Completed pillow, ready to fill with pillow form

Can you see the zipper hidden in the bottom seam?

 

 Finished pillow

Mrs. "M" was very happy with her pillow.  And I am ready to monogram anything I can get my hands on!



A whirlwind Alumni weekend at CHF!

The Alumni weekend is over now, and what a weekend it was!  I had planned to blog daily while I was here but my computer caught a virus on the way out here.  It went to Best Buy on Friday for intensive care with the Geek Squad which resulted in me buying a new computer.  I just picked up the new one today and am very glad to be back online - I'd been having withdrawls!

Truthfully, though, we have all been very, very busy; I wouldn't have had much time for blogging anyway.  We've headed over to CHF each day around 8:00 am; on Friday we came back to the hotel at 8:00 pm, and on Saturday at 11:15 pm.  Sunday we got done around 6 pm and actually got to leave the building for dinner!

I've had a great time meeting all the other contest winners and getting to know them better.  A few I knew from the CHF Academy Forum, but I hadn't met any of them in person.  What a fun crew!  The CHF staff did a great job too, helping us work on our projects and providing great meals and ample snacking opportunities. 

The designs are great and are all quite unique.  We are going to WOW the Vegas crowd at the Expo in April!  I can't wait.

I'll post some pictures as soon as I can figure out how to download photos onto my new computer.  More soon!

Custom Home Furnishings Alumni Showcase Fabrication Weekend!

I just arrived in Charlotte, NC for the Custom Home Furnishings Alumni Showcase Fabrication Weekend.  I am SO excited to be a part of this!

During the course of this weekend, the 6 showcase winners and several industry experts will slave away at the Academy to create all the gorgeous designs.  The winners attended a webinar earlier this week where we got to see each other's designs and ... they are awesome!  I am really looking forward to see them all come together and to get to know the other talented designers who dreamed them up.

When I checked into my room, there was a nice gift bag from CHF waiting for me.....

Inside the bag was a comfy CHF sweatshirt and coffee mug.



I think CHF is trying to tell us dress comfortably and plan on drinking lots of coffee! 

I'll post another update when I can.  At the most recent webinar, we were told that last year everyone arrived at the academy around 8:30 am each day and didn't leave until about 11:00 pm!  So, I'm not sure how much free time I will have. 

Thanks for reading!

I've gone to the dogs!

OK, well, those of you who have known me for a while know that I "went to the dogs" a long time ago!  But this is a little different.

My good friend Leslie Gallager (owner of K9z Etc.,) has a very cute Dachsund named Claudia.

Claudia

Leslie found an adorable canopy bed online for Claudia and then it was my turn to create bedding for "Princess Claudia".  Leslie chose a great teal cotton print for the mattress and a shimmery, sparkly blue and green sheer for the canopy.  Here's what the bed looked like before.

First, I upholstered a board to lie underneath Claudia's cushion so she wouldn't fall through the metal bars.

Next, I made a cushion for her to sleep on and of course, a pretty pillow for a head rest!

The finished product with sheer curtains

Crown on top of bed with pretty sheer fabrics

When Leslie came to pick up the bed, she cried when she saw it!  The bed was a Christmas gift to her daughter, as Claudia is "her" dog. 

Do you know a doggie princess who needs a throne? Call me and I will custom design one for you!

To learn more about Leslie's pet sitting and training business, you can view her website at http://www.k9zetc.com/







Very exciting news!

In February I submitted an entry in the Custom Home Furnishings Academy Alumni Showcase contest.  I was recently notified that my design was selected as one of the winners!

I will be traveling to the Custom Home Furnishings Academy in Charlotte, NC at the end of March with the other contest winners to fabricate my design.  We will be treated like "Project Runway" designers and will have several industry experts from across the country assisting us as we fabricate our designs.

In April my design will be on display at the International Window Coverings Expo in Las Vegas.
 
I am SO excited about having been selected as a winner! I will be posting regular updates here during the coming weeks.  For now, I am sworn to secrecy and cannot reveal my design.  However, I will be taking loads of pictures to walk you through my experience and will post them when it's appropriate.

A great place to visit in Cape Girardeau

My local WCAA group (Window Coverings Association of America) took a field trip to Cape Girardeau this month. We visited a charming store called "Under Cover" which is owned by one of our chapter members, Debbie Bruns.

Under Cover custom slipcovers, 2117 Broadway Street, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701

573-334-8979

Under Cover specializes in slipcovers, window treatments and other home decor items. Debbie has some fabulous items on display in her store. From one of a kind fabric artwork to her lovely slipcovers, you're sure to find something to fit your tastes in her shop. Several of us from St. Louis took home one of her creations.

Lovely custom tableround - and elegant coordinating pillows right next to it!

I love this pillow.  I am SO copying this design.  Thanks, Debbie!

Adorable slipcovered chair!

Lovely wall art and other home decor items

I think many of us who own workrooms have the occasional wild fantasy about someday having our business in a retail space. Until now, I didn't really think it was a successful business venture. Visiting Under Cover changed my mind!

Owner Debbie Bruns, in the center, flanked by her two fabulous employees,

Audra (on left) and Candie (on right)

The next time you're in Cape Girardeau, stop by Under Cover and look around.  You'll be glad you did!