ruffles spilling over and waterfalling to the ground in a puddle
As most of you know if you have been following my Facebook page, yesterday was the last day for my display at the Marketplace Design Center in Philadelphia. I featured a year of couture delicacies and chose to highlight some of my inspirations as well as those of Deb Barrett’s in addition to the “belles oeuvres” drapery holdbacks of Rémy Lemoine. Incorporating a little French flair or what I like to call a certain “je ne sais quoi” was certainly what this space needed!
As you note by the photo below, this was the window before I took occupancy. It was a great location next to the coffee shop and was a corner unit so that those eating at the tables outside the shop could look into my display.
previous window display before
This is my first attempt at getting the draperies strategically placed so that they could be seen from all directions. See how bland the walls are and the door in the middle of the back wall? I knew I had to do something about this because I just wasn’t feeling “it.” As a drapery workroom, my goal for this space was to highlight the quality of my workmanship as well as inspire the designers who came into the design center. I wanted them to go in directions they might not ever have thought about before when it came to incorporating window treatments and accessories into their designs.
first try. first 6 month display
This is a closeup of the silk interlined panel hanging from a curved mounting board. I used an 8″ pencil pleat header and hand smocked the entire width. After smocking, I placed the beads randomly in the folds to add a little surprise detail. They reflect the lighting very nicely and coordinate with the bead trim on the bottom of the table scarf. I also used the PORAM by Rémy Lemoine, a wrought iron tree in which the panel lays on a branch and falls gracefully to the floor.
closeup of hand smocked header and beads
I love the story this vignette is telling. This gal and her husband have just come in from a soirée. She sits on the chair, removing her gloves and necklace and then kicks off her shoes, while her partner removes his cufflinks and bowtie. Glass of wine darling, she asks? Mais oui, he says smiling and winking at her! All the while, surrounded by a silk contrast pleated table skirt and bead trimmed table round, sipping from wine glasses I got for a wedding present 25 years ago and antique French chairs I got while on a trip to Paris!
lower display
This is a closeup of the gorgeous raw silk from Wesco fabrics in which I incorporated a 4″ banding on the leading edge inserted between 1/4″ cording. The panel hung from a shaped cornice and is gracefully held in place by the SOGNI Straw Marquetry holdback from Rémy Lemoine. I did a blog post
HERE about straw marquetry and the artist who made it. Believe it or not, I actually found that paisley fabric at Calico Corners along with the cording!
closeup of Sogni Straw Marquetry and Wesco silk fabric
These are my Princess Tulle panels. They are an interlined silk dupioni and each panel is different yet complementary. Who says both panels have to look the same?
Inspired by Deb Barrett, the left panel is 1 width wide and has 3 layers to it. There is tulle peaking out from behind the header as well as gathered and attached to a separate contrast lining. The top layer of silk graduates from the leading edge and is accented by fabric rosettes as it gets longer at the side.
The right panel is 1 1/2 widths wide and has tulle peaking out from behind the goblet pleat header. It is gracefully held back by the Murano glass EMBRASSE holdback by Rémy Lemoine.
side view showing Princess tulle panels
Now we get to the second half of the year’s display. Marie Antoinette was my theme. In keeping with Pantone’s color of the year, I kept the same fabric on the wall. I also wanted to incorporate the table again but add different elements. These elements being my own line of hardware, La Finial, custom painted mini finials and hardware for tapestries or other small projects.
This photo represents the display before the finishing touches had arrived. I wanted to display diversity of talent too and the “more is more’ effect is definitely felt.
Notice the blue rhinestone encrusted silk panel on the right. I used silver lamé as a contrast lining on the back as well as ruching running from the top of the panel all the way down and along the bottom edge. Then in the center of the ruching, I cut out a strip of the silk with a center bead of rhinestones. All hand sewn, all in the details!
I also hung a Mucha tapestry on the right side window of the display to highlight the different ways La Finial can be custom painted.
second display phase 1
I love this shot of my faux petits fours on the crystal plate holder along with my La Finial delicacies! It was rumored that Marie Antoinette said “Let them eat cake”, so this is my homage to that false account.
You can also see the side wall highlighting a layered treatment consisting of a back panel interlined and French pleated with bead trim on leading edge and tied back. The next layer has an English Bump interlined right panel with an inverted pleat header, a contrast hand pleated trim on leading edge with contrast welt between panel and trim, and hand sewn. The left panel is actually a long cascade with contrast ruched welt edge and contrast lining pulled back like a tent panel. It too is lined with English Bump.
The final layer consists of assymetrical swags and cascades and a center jabot custom monogrammed.
petit fours with La Finial
This side of the vignette features a chair and footstool upholstered in the same fabric as the window treatment on the side wall and a silk pillow with poodle trim, a lace fan reminiscent of Marie Antoinette and the video by Sofia Coppola. Excellent video and way more eye candy than my display for sure! The matching footstool is acting as a pillow for the MIROIR Murano glass holdback by Rémy Lemoine. I even found matching shoes too!
Don’t you just LOVE that ruffled panel? It incorporates 3 different silks, is interlined with a flannel interlining and has hand sewn side, bottom and top hems.
chair and footstool
Here’s a shot of the lower half of the display. You see a copper pot full of La Finials resting on a bed of hay in the lower right corner. This represents the hamlet Marie Antoinette had at Le Petit Trianon with her animals.
Also displayed is a picture of her private apartment at Versailles. My mother in law gave me this book which details everything about Versailles you could ever want to know. When I feel like brushing up on my French, I open this book and go to school, enjoying the many pictures along the way and daydreaming about my room in Versailles and what it would look like!
lower display
I hope you’ve enjoyed this trip down memory lane with me as much as I have. This was absolutely hands down one of the best experiences of my career as a master seamstress and designer of couture draperies. I continue to be the US rep for Rémy Lemoine so if you have seen something that has caught your attention or want to know more, please feel free to contact me!
I have gained some very good clients as a result and even on the last day, Tuesday, as I was packing up my van, a designer approached me and asked me for my card. She loved my display and explained that her firm designs hand painted fabrics and hardware and could tell from my display that I do the unique and unusual too. We exchanged cards and I look forward to working with her firm.
I can’t believe I actually rolled all those drapery panels up in an organized pile and now they sit in a garbage bag! Ah yes, one day they will come out and play again……..:)
aneyefordetail said:
Tammi: Fabulous, fabulous! Wish I had seen it all in person. Yes, those ruffles are to die for, as is the entire window display. Love that you put your wine glasses in there! Really gorgeous work my dear!
I’m going to Provence on the 29th…just can’t wait to get back there.
Hope you’re having a good summer: this has been one of my best ever, in every way! Keep in touch…
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Tammi said:
Hi Libby!
So nice to hear from you. I’m so jealous that you are going to Provence but happy for you at the same time. Oh if only you were going to St Chinian and you could pick up some fresh Herbes de Provence for me at their weekly market! I used the last of mine several months back and cooking hasn’t been the same!
If all goes as planned, I will be returning to Paris for the Maison et Objet in January.
Glad you are having a fantastic summer, me too.
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Lesa said:
Tammi your creations are absolutely stunning! Thanks for sharing these jewels!
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Tammi said:
Hi Lesa!
Thanks for your lovely comment! I enjoy sharing goodies and am glad you took the time to read this and comment. Makes me feel as if someone out there in cyberspace is paying attention 🙂
Tammi
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Brandon @ Southgate said:
What a beautiful showcase. I’m always just in awe of the talent it takes to put this together. And that hand smocking is something I have never seen before, but it is absolutely incredible!
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Tammi said:
Thanks Brandon!
I loved that hand smocking too and am looking forward to a job where I can use it, whether it be draperies, bedding or an accent on pillows.
On another note, I printed out the drawing of your Great Room and am mulling over some ideas similar to what we discussed. This will be an exciting project!
Tammi
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Ceil said:
Beautiful, Tammi, thanks for sharing the close ups!
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Tammi said:
Thanks Ceil! My favorite was the petits fours! They look good enough to eat.
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Judy Soccio said:
Thank you for the delightful “vacation”, Tammi. I love the photos and really enjoyed your discussion of the thoughts behind the design. I am particularly taken w/the smocked treat in the first vignette, and would love to have seen more photos of the blue, red stripe 3 layered affair on the side wall in the second vignette. Also, may steal the contrast pleated table skirt idea for my own home.
PS. Come home from Inspire via Washington, PA and come visit our shop!
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Tammi said:
Hi Judy!
Glad you like the “under story” of why I used what I did and what it represented. If you didn’t watch the movie “Marie Antoinette” by Sofia Coppola, a lot of things would go unnoticed. On an interesting note, a friend and I were in Paris the year it was being filmed but didn’t know what was going on until I watched the movie and said, Hey, I was there and I remember that! It was a very hot day and I felt bad for the actors all dressed up in that heat.
I tried to take more pics of the blue treatment your wanting more of, but the reflections of the light from the showroom behind me made it real hard to get a good shot without having me in the pic too! Feel free to steal anything you like! Just send me a pic of how you made it your own 🙂
What a great idea about stopping at your place on the way home from Inspire. It would be Sunday and I’ll mention something to the other designer traveling with me.
I appreciate your comments!
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Rebecca Grace said:
Beautiful, Tammi! I just had an idea — Keep an eye out for large posters of a beautiful view of Paris or Provence. Your drapery panels are gorgeous, but they would look even better if you could make faux “windows” to hang behind them, using the posters and inexpensive window grids from Home Depot. You could probably also find images for your view online that you could purchase large poster size prints of for this purpose.
I love, love the frilly curtains. Now I’m imagining them in my bedroom again… We may have to discuss this when I get back from Paris! 🙂
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Tammi said:
Hey Rebecca,
that thought of faux Parisian scenery did cross my mind so if I ever do another display like this, I”m thinking that maybe a street scene of you and Bernie in Paris would do nicely! Hmmmm….Rebecca and Bernie at the Louvre, at Versailles, at Monet’s Garden….. sounds good to me!
Yes, you must tell all when you get back. September in Paris is beautiful and then we can discuss some gorgeous ruffled panels. Maybe you will find a fabric while there to make it all the more special. 🙂
Bon Voyage my dear,
Tammi
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Kelly Newton said:
Oh wow! Those are absolutely gorgeous! I absolutely love the ruffled panel!
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Tammi said:
thanks Kelly! They are my favorite!
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AB said:
You are so very talented! Absolutely beautiful creations.
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Tammi said:
thanks AB! A labor of love that comes easy to me.
That’s why protecting my eyesight throughout my skin cancer ordeal has been of the utmost importance to me.
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