Showing posts with label Decor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Decor. Show all posts
Sunday, December 01, 2013
YazBerry Vintage Makes Appearance in "Flea Market Style" Magazine!
Monday, June 25, 2012
YazBerry Spring Candle Holders - Right on Trend
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| Star Tribune |
Just a couple weeks before I made some YazBerry salvaged spring candle holders. Mine feature very heavy springs and thick teal blue salvaged antique telephone wire insulators as the candle holder. I agree with Designer Kim Yeager of Lark Nest Designs, they can double as bud vases!
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| YazBerry Fashion Salvaged Spring Candle holders/Vases |
Stop in The Local Joint in Northfield, MN to buy a YazBerry Fashion candle holder/vase and save yourself the hunt for the parts as springs aren't as readily available as t
+he article makes them out to be. These springs are the first I've seen in my years of flea marketing.
*Images from the Star Tribune article are copyright their respective owners.
Saturday, November 07, 2009
Tutorial: Homemade Braided Rag Rug
I've just moved into an awesome new apartment and want to do my kitchen in Plum and Lime. I have some lovely dishtowels in this color palate that I based my window treatment choice on (vintage curtains!) and signature antique bottles filled with colored water to match the room they are in.
These bottles are one of my favorite decorating items as each has a story as to where I salvaged them...the river bed in the town I grew up, an abandoned house outside of Rome...They make great decorative items with colored water and unique vases to break up a bouquet of fresh flowers.
To my dismay, I'm the only one into plum and lime today as I was not able to find any decorative stuffs in pretty much every kitchen decor store I looked in. I desperately wanted a little rug for in front of the sink. So, reflecting on what my mom had in her kitchen while growing up, a large, circular wool braided rug, it occurred to me that I could make a rug! To my further disappointment, google yielded very few to no useful braided rug tutorials.
Yes, they tell you to braid a long continuous 3+ strand braid. That to me is a given. No one really seemed to be able to suggest how to assemble said rug. I tried the hack job way (which I thought would be quickest) of zigzag stitching it on a machine; to find that this resulted in a bowl!
As a result...I present you...a step by step, photographic tutorial!
Materials:
-Several yards of cloth (colors to your choice, yardage will vary depending on size. My rug is about 2'x 3' and I used about 3-4 yards. This is a great way to recycle old clothing...hence rag rug)
-Flexible feet, heavy object or helpful friend
-Strong darning needle
-Heavy thread
-Thimble
-Scissors
-Iron (optional)
-Large flat surface
-Time
1. Cut fabric into 2" minimum width strips. I cut mine on the bias (diagonal) because this ensures minimum (often none) fraying.
2. Stitch the ends of minimum 3 strands together. I read that it is common to make 4-6 strand braided rugs as well. Three strands are plenty :)
3. Begin braiding! You'll want a place to anchor the braid; if you are flexible, use your feet, if not, place it under something heavy, have a friend hold it etc.
If you are unsure how to braid, the best suggestion is start with all three strands laid out next to each other. Grab the left most strand, cross it over the center strand (it now becomes the center). Then grab the right most strand, cross it over the new center strand (it now becomes the center). Repeat until desired length.
Note: if you don't like raw edges, you may want to iron under the edges before braiding, also, I would cut your strips a bit wider if you intend to iron. Otherwise, you can do as I did and simply tuck under the edges as you go. The back will show some raw edges...but to me, it is simply the back :)
4. Once you have a couple feet of braid, begin laying it out flat in the desired shape (circle, oval and square are the easiest). I selected oval, as my mom thought it would fit best against the cabinets.
5. You will need a large darning needle, heavy thread and a thimble to start assembly. Start at the center and use a basic stitch to catch one side than the other. I suggest you stitch from the back side so you won't see the stitches from the top. (As the stitches are small, click on the picture to view it larger).
6. Alternate between braiding more length and assembly the rug. I find it is helpful to assemble as you go because you have less length to negotiate and you can control your color placement better should you wish to make it stripped etc. Be sure to always stitch on a flat surface, otherwise your rug will become bowled or lumpy. (Pardon the project cat, she felt this was the best place for her to be).
7. To finish, simply tuck in and under the loose ends and stitch to the rug.
8. Enjoy!
Here's mine so far.
P.S. What I really love about this type of rug is that it is a frugal choice, can be perfectly tailored to your design colors, is relatively easy to do, allows you to recycle fabric should you wish and thus is a sustainable choice! Love it!
These bottles are one of my favorite decorating items as each has a story as to where I salvaged them...the river bed in the town I grew up, an abandoned house outside of Rome...They make great decorative items with colored water and unique vases to break up a bouquet of fresh flowers.
To my dismay, I'm the only one into plum and lime today as I was not able to find any decorative stuffs in pretty much every kitchen decor store I looked in. I desperately wanted a little rug for in front of the sink. So, reflecting on what my mom had in her kitchen while growing up, a large, circular wool braided rug, it occurred to me that I could make a rug! To my further disappointment, google yielded very few to no useful braided rug tutorials.
Yes, they tell you to braid a long continuous 3+ strand braid. That to me is a given. No one really seemed to be able to suggest how to assemble said rug. I tried the hack job way (which I thought would be quickest) of zigzag stitching it on a machine; to find that this resulted in a bowl!
As a result...I present you...a step by step, photographic tutorial!
Materials:
-Several yards of cloth (colors to your choice, yardage will vary depending on size. My rug is about 2'x 3' and I used about 3-4 yards. This is a great way to recycle old clothing...hence rag rug)
-Flexible feet, heavy object or helpful friend
-Strong darning needle
-Heavy thread
-Thimble
-Scissors
-Iron (optional)
-Large flat surface
-Time
1. Cut fabric into 2" minimum width strips. I cut mine on the bias (diagonal) because this ensures minimum (often none) fraying.
2. Stitch the ends of minimum 3 strands together. I read that it is common to make 4-6 strand braided rugs as well. Three strands are plenty :)
3. Begin braiding! You'll want a place to anchor the braid; if you are flexible, use your feet, if not, place it under something heavy, have a friend hold it etc.
If you are unsure how to braid, the best suggestion is start with all three strands laid out next to each other. Grab the left most strand, cross it over the center strand (it now becomes the center). Then grab the right most strand, cross it over the new center strand (it now becomes the center). Repeat until desired length.
Note: if you don't like raw edges, you may want to iron under the edges before braiding, also, I would cut your strips a bit wider if you intend to iron. Otherwise, you can do as I did and simply tuck under the edges as you go. The back will show some raw edges...but to me, it is simply the back :)
4. Once you have a couple feet of braid, begin laying it out flat in the desired shape (circle, oval and square are the easiest). I selected oval, as my mom thought it would fit best against the cabinets.
5. You will need a large darning needle, heavy thread and a thimble to start assembly. Start at the center and use a basic stitch to catch one side than the other. I suggest you stitch from the back side so you won't see the stitches from the top. (As the stitches are small, click on the picture to view it larger).
6. Alternate between braiding more length and assembly the rug. I find it is helpful to assemble as you go because you have less length to negotiate and you can control your color placement better should you wish to make it stripped etc. Be sure to always stitch on a flat surface, otherwise your rug will become bowled or lumpy. (Pardon the project cat, she felt this was the best place for her to be).
7. To finish, simply tuck in and under the loose ends and stitch to the rug.
8. Enjoy!
Here's mine so far.
P.S. What I really love about this type of rug is that it is a frugal choice, can be perfectly tailored to your design colors, is relatively easy to do, allows you to recycle fabric should you wish and thus is a sustainable choice! Love it!
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
It was 25 Years Ago Today, Virginia Berry Taught the Band to Play!
On May 2, 1982, Designer, Virginia E. Berry was born...
on May 2, 2006, www.yazberry.com came to life!
Happy Birthday to Virginia & YazBerry!!!
So apparently I am now (*in big echoing voice*) a quarter of a century old! My mother so kindly reminded me of this on my Birthday. Actually, I think it's kind of clever...'so how old are you anyway?' 'precisely one quarter of one century old.'
It's amazing how quickly they grow in their first year! (~:o) ) YazBerry has doubled in popularity and size consistently each month. In the business world that is quite desierable. More trendsetters are discovering how great YazBerry goods really are.
In honor of such celebratory occasion, we have added several new items we know people will ask you about:
1970's Disco Bag
Dancing Queen, young and sweet, with her Disco Bag.
Click here to shop for this bag!
Green Cut-Away Placemat
Allow your table to peek through your placemat.
Click here to shop for this placemat!
Cloth Vines
Fabric leaves bloom out of wire stems with semi-precious stone buds. For those Dark Corners of the House that need Brightening Up.
Click here to shop for these cloth vines!
Handmade Purse from India
Can't decide if gold or silver is your favorite? Then this bag is for you; embroidered gold on one side, silver on the other -- for all your metallic moods.
Click here to shop for this purse!
on May 2, 2006, www.yazberry.com came to life!
Happy Birthday to Virginia & YazBerry!!!
So apparently I am now (*in big echoing voice*) a quarter of a century old! My mother so kindly reminded me of this on my Birthday. Actually, I think it's kind of clever...'so how old are you anyway?' 'precisely one quarter of one century old.'
It's amazing how quickly they grow in their first year! (~:o) ) YazBerry has doubled in popularity and size consistently each month. In the business world that is quite desierable. More trendsetters are discovering how great YazBerry goods really are.
In honor of such celebratory occasion, we have added several new items we know people will ask you about:
1970's Disco Bag
Dancing Queen, young and sweet, with her Disco Bag.
Click here to shop for this bag!
Green Cut-Away PlacematAllow your table to peek through your placemat.
Click here to shop for this placemat!
Cloth VinesFabric leaves bloom out of wire stems with semi-precious stone buds. For those Dark Corners of the House that need Brightening Up.
Click here to shop for these cloth vines!
Handmade Purse from IndiaCan't decide if gold or silver is your favorite? Then this bag is for you; embroidered gold on one side, silver on the other -- for all your metallic moods.
Click here to shop for this purse!
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Chchchch Changes...lots of new items for sale!
CHECK OUT ALL OF OUR VINTAGE AT YazBerry Vintage Picks
Wow, the arrival of our digital camera has brought on lots of amazing changes to the YazBerry website. We are now offering all sorts of amazing vintage pieces- many of which we found just this weekend. Vintage picks by YazBerry are really special vintage items that we hope you've never seen anything like and can't find anywhere else. We look for unique, classic, trendy, exquisite, special items that will leave people asking you where you got them! We offer everything from 100% Authentic Versace corduroys to hard to come by Mary McFadden Couture from the 1970's. We have beautiful a beautiful Gold Brocade Dress from the 1960's which is very Jackie Kennedy. And this amazing to touch and look at black and white pencil skirt from the 1980's which Virginia did not want to give up but does not fit into...damn my love of cookies and desserts ;)
Dan has mastered 'the pop-up' so you can now click on key images all over our site to see them enlarged...to capture all of the beautiful detail we put into every YazBerry item. We have given you a small taste of the juicy Fashion and Decor items we will begin selling in the next week or so. Be sure to send us your comments for things you would like to see on the site, features you wish were there to make your YazBerry shopping experience divine. WE LOVE FEEDBACK! Thanks everyone!
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