Fabric Shopping

Our  road trips are filled with inspiration and this one to Whole 9 Yards in Portland is no exception. We have always claimed that throw pillows are a Stager's secret weapon. With our fabric selections and our Sewing Chicks we have the freedom to design away.

Shopping in Portland

Our most recent trip was more about focusing on our company and getting inspired and less about shopping. That said, we filled the back of the SUV we drove. Here were some of our stops along the way.

Located in the Pearl District. Great Home store.

Super creative owners. We saw how they added trim to an already cool light fixture and make it even better. Beautiful new and old furniture and accessories.

Manor has beautiful Farrow and Ball paints, lovely books, bedding and furniture.

This is where we hit the inspirational jack pot. Beautiful beautiful furnishings. Incredible pieces from Oly that we have always coveted.

Out of this world fabrics and trims for the home. We picked out a few for the Sewer Chicks to whip up some pillows for us.

It is completely unsightly... Look past the big box vibe, head straight to the home décor area and you will find plenty to inspire you. We purchased fabric for chairs and pillows.

Often worth a stop. The no tax situation makes it an even better proposition. Purchased an acrylic console table and a piece of incredible art that we used in the next staging job.

Portland Shopping

We are longing to go back to Portland for another load from our favorite haunts. Note to self: bring larger vehicle. Our car was stuffed with furniture and items from: Home Goods, Z Gallerie, West Elm, & Fabric Depot.

We are going back for these bistro tables from West Elm.

I Feel Validated!

Thrilled to see my curtains in the February issue of Traditional Home (well a version of anyway.)

The cover was photographed by Emily Followill 

Here is my creation. Cloth from Fabric Depot and sewing my me.

Airstream Couch Inspiration

My original inspiration for the couch in my Airstream was a soft seaside look. I had light blue vinyl that I really wanted to use but things changed...

Found this poster in Sayulita Mexico and was led in a different direction.

Now the couch will be in the frosty cream vinyl and pillows in orange print. I think.

Portland finds

Fabric Depot has always been our first stop in Portland. I think we come away with a ton of inspiration that kick starts our shopping trip. We can and do purchase designer fabric from our local design center but this is a crazy extravaganza of fabrics in one room! The lines were long as well-love the fact that there are so many sewers out there.

 Hard see the vinyl above but it will be covering the couch in my 1962 Airstream. My original plan was squashed so this is my back up and I love it. Sister Ex pulled swatches in a multitude of colors for pillow possibilities and proved to me it was a very neutral way to go yet very hip.

 Purchased this fabric for a wall hanging for staging.

 Sorry for the blur from my crappy camera but wanted you to see all these fabrics. Sister Ex is problably getting the bird fabric below for some office chairs and 1 or 2 of the above for pillows. It all works so well together.

 Can you see a girl's bedroom unfolding? A bench at the foot of the bed will be covered in the pink and green. The print is Pottery Barn (I think). The pink will also be insets in a headboard. I'll have Sister do before photos so we can follow along.

Who can resist owls? This led to the purchase of a West Elm inspired owl lamp for a desk.

Portland Shopping-Fabric Depot

A necessary stop on our Portland "to-do" list. Fabric Depot! Mountains of fabric housed in an unremarkable space. It is so large that it has a "conceirge". I love that so many people are sewing, quilting and designing. A fabulous stop for inspiration and motivation.

Our inspiration for this fabric is the pillow in the next photo.

{Steven Gambrel}

Some of our purchases.

This fabric will be made into large 22" pillows.

Fabric Inspiration

Once again we road trip to Portland and land at our favorite spot-Fabric Depot. One of the largest fabric stores in the nation! It's really bad but really good. The store itself is visually uninspiring but the energy is amazing. "What are you making?" Everyone is inquiring! The person that cuts your fabric wants to know what you are creating, those that are standing in line and the person ringing you up. It's crazy with creativity!

Eventually we get into fits of laughter. It's what us sisters do. Everything has the potential for a good laugh.

Our finds: I bought white vinyl to (occasionally) cover my icey blue dining table and give it a modern look. I plan to set the table with my vintage china and POW! A collision of old and new. Way cool. Also, some Hollywood Regency inspired fabric for window panels that I will craft myself. I just need to pull out my vintage Viking sewing machine and I'm off!

My sister extraordinaire found some killer Robert Kaufman inspired navy & taupe fabric. A spring board for a new master bedding ensemble. Very current. She also purchased a chocolate & cream Robert Allen knock off that she has been eyeing for herself (oink) or a client (lucky dog). Tara also found (in a random cart pushed off to the side ) a modern floral for amazing throw pillows for her ever-so-hip office. Last but not least some designs that inspired her for the next production of her lunch bags. http://www.coolconservation.com/ .

Fabric Depot- http://www.fabricdepot.com/

Our young interns. Portland Rocks!