Vera Neumann designs reissued

Great news! F Schumacher, whom I have a trade account with, just released their latest line of fabrics and low and behold, Vera!  As a Big fan, I am totally stoked! I immediately ordered samples and they just started showing up.  I will be placing an order and welcome the opportunity to hook you up.  It is only available to purchase to trade account holders like me.  Here’s the deal.  2 yard min or a cut charge, I do pay additional shipping charges.  If you want me to order something for you, I can have your order shipped direct to you, payment required before I order.  All fees will be passed through to you and will include my markup.  I will provide you with a quote. If you want to split a minimum cut with me, I will consider that as well. I am definitely ordering lemons for my kitchen.  Still deciding on what else.  Last...Schumacher is crazy expensive.  It is not something you want to hoard without a plan. This line is priced $60-100+ a yard.  I am selling the Frank Lloyd Wright linens at $40 per 1/4 yard which is 9” by 52” width.  That is retail.  If you want to make pillows, you may want to only make the front panel with this and use a cheaper solid backer. Just a thought. Anyway, if you are a serious shopper and want me to price out your order and discuss any requirements, email me!  I will probably move quickly once the rest of the samples arrive.  Pics?  Yes please!!!

Samples I received so far. The two on the right are wallpapers. 

I can’t sell the husband on a contrasting wallpaper wall, but I am going to use this fabric for a valence.

What’s here so far?  

Thin linen.  

Thin linen. 

Soft cotton

Soft cotton.   

Chunkier linen, very large patten.  

Wallpapers.  I only ordered this and the lemons.  My husband hates wallpaper. 🤨 

Grapefruit and lemons. Lightweight linen. I am thinking about using a solid while backer for my valence. 

Chunkier weight linen. 

This is gorgeous.  Cotton chintz with a sheen. The full repeat though makes it perfect as curtain panels or maybe a bedspread. You’ll want that to get the full effect!

Everything is here!  Please reach out if you have questions or want to get in on my order!  Malissa

While we are working on ottomans......

Hey there! I realized how busy I was this week when I looked over last week’s post! So I had just finished up the bamboo ottoman.  I then grabbed two vinyl ottomans from my storage and was off running!  By Friday I was at my upholsterer getting him to make me a few buttons.  I have logged many hours on my sewing machine this week.  Here is a picture story of my creations. 

I love this Ikat fabric so much!  I sold the rocker and it is now at it’s new home in North Carolina.  I hear my client was thrilled! I have a trusted delivery partner who hand delivered to her for a very reasonable $185.  I could not drive it there for that price.   

I really took time to center the pattern and I am thrilled with it! The coordinating piping steps it up a notch.  It’s all about the detailing! 

Here is a look at the underside.  I reused the cardboard since it was in good shape.  

This beauty is listed and ready for a home!  Next I decided to glam up the round ottoman with that awesome pink velvet I used on the x benches!   

I made my piping this time.  The bench went smooth although sewing through the thick felted back velvet was challenging in multiple layers! 

Blush is such a great color! It looks good with neutrals, blues and greens.  A soft accent which you will pet frequently!  

This one is also listed and ready to go! ☝️

Next up I am working on perfecting my sewing skills so I can crank out custom pillow covers. I used the ikat for my prototypes.  Adding zipper access is important to me so I am working on my skills.  

One down! This fabric looks incredible with the cobalt couch!  I may just throw this set in for whoever purchases it.  My stitches are wonky and it’s not perfect around the zipper but I am pleased with the pattern.  I will be finishing up the second soon. 

The reason I was hot for pillows is I want to start making some for my Adrian Pearsall couch which I plan on picking up in the coming weeks. It needs a full restoration which I will be coordinating and I figure if I get the pillows made it will excite me even more!  

I posted a video this week where I was working on getting basement musty odor out of some 1971 Knoll yardage my aunt gave me. I used a vinegar steam and in 2 treatments, it is pretty much eradicated!  Stop by my Facebook page and have a watch.  The fabric is Dynamic, which was reissued a few years back and currently available at $165 a yard!!!!!  So before I cut it I wanted to clean it, now I am practicing pillows! Ha.  

THIS WEEKEND: I will be camping in the Catskills.....pretty much off the grid.  I may randomly get alerts or emails but I know for a fact there is no service in the campground.  I will respond to inquiries as soon as possible but after we arrive Friday through Sunday when we leave, do not expect a response.  All orders purchased after Thursday night will ship the following Monday.  I am pretty much shipping same or next day at this time so I would not say this is much of a delay, but just know it’s only because I am out of town. I am having an eBay buyer picking up some blow molds at our campsite to save him from driving all the way to PA from northeast of Binghamton! I love working work into my trips and glad to save him from a crazy road trip.  Plus Jesus, Mary and Joseph will be our copilots on the trip! 😂👌 Thanks for all your support!  I have been shipping out at least 2 orders a day recently! Lots of textiles on the move.  I just restocked Kantha Quilt placemats and have 7 more sets available.  There are some at my mall space locally as well.  

Have a great week! 

XO MALISSA

Another research day in the books.

Last week I got to spend a few hours in Philadelphia after picking up some new inventory which a past client sold me as he gets ready to move out of the country.  I decided to keep the dining table so will be offering up my Heywood Wakefield triple wishbone table and dog bone chairs shortly.  If you are seeking, I can sell this set in need of a little refinishing (6 chairs our of 7).    I am thrilled with the round Herman Miller Architect's table and it really fits my room alot better.  For as much as I loved the Heywood set, it really is a large piece even with no leaves inserted!  That said, reach out if it interests you!

The beautiful building of the Philly Athenaeum. The library is on the 2nd floor.

The finale of the trip was a Harvey Probber catalog on reserve at the Philadelphia Athenaem.  This museum is an architect's museum.  So you can expect blue prints, buildings and other items of interest.  Harvey Probber furniture is actually more transitional than MCM.  More like Dunbar and Edward Wormley designs.  These designers played on traditional designs so you will see modern elements-curves and angles in tandem with tradition materials like cane and lots of brass bling.  Check first dibs and you will see a Probber piece will set you back quite a bit.  So now you know why I spend so much time on authentification.  If it truly is a Probber, it is a rarer piece.  None of my comps have labels and neither does mine.  Rule #1 of MCM.....never trust it because you SAW it on the internet.  PROOF PROOF PROOF.  If you are spending your money on something of provenance and the dealer does not provide you with adequate proof of this, or at least a well thought out reason to why they believe it is legit....keep walking.  Unless you really love the piece and do not care if it's legit, of course.  

My suspected Probber piece.  The brass rod is a common thread with other Probber pieces.  I have seen magazine racks like this that do not have the table top.  None of my comps are labeled.  

The librarian was waiting with my materials when I arrived for the scheduled appointment.  The folio contained just a small catalog.  I was able to take pics (as is common with museums and collections.....they want to protect their collections and do not want bad photos published.  Makes sense.  Copy right protection is real.  SO I cannot share any pics with you of the catalog but she is safe there in Philadelphia waiting for you to sign her out for the hour.  It may have had about 50 pages, in black and white with some nice photography.  The really cool X or scissors chairs that have a brass rod similar to my table were in there as were some other things I recognized from around the web.  The note on the chairs said '...The new "Probber" chair is distinguished by its elegance of line, achieved through the application of new electronic laminating techniques used in its manufacture.'  Probber was young....like 15 when he started pitching furniture designs to companies.  He really was a go getter.  His line of modular couches were one of the first in the realm.  He had his own furniture company for many years, selling through designers and did a lot of custom work.  Classy is the best way I can describe his designs.  Innovative as well.  So my table or similar magazine rack was not in the booklet.  I was told about 2 places in Delaware where I can expand my search.  I plan on investigating the holdings at Wintethur and Hayley.

BACK TO THE CUTTOLI LEGER RUG..... 

I also received a few documents from my friend at Kykuit.  These were published by scholars and I could not find a free copy to view but she managed to get me a copy and I am ever so thankful.  The one I really thought would be a great read, in fact, was!  Published by Virginia Gardner Troy, 'Easel Tapestries: The American Reception of the Marie Cuttoli Tapestries 1930s-1950s' hit the mark.  Ms Troy really delves into the history of Cuttoli and her creations and then the element of reproduction of an artists work.  She works through the timeline from the original tapestry series of the 1930s through the exhibition and reception of the works into the 1960s editions.  I found what I was looking for when she touched on this specifically with the following regarding Nelson Rockefeller: “10 years later (1962) he purchased Matisse’s ‘Papeete’ and 2 Leger carpets from Cuttoli via her partnership with Galarie Lucie Weill in Paris.  Both tapestries were deaccessioned by the 1970s.”  The literal meaning of deaccessioned is when a listed item is removed from a collection most likely to sell to raise funds.  We know those rugs were not sold as they still reside at Kykuit and are once again on display to the public.  Amazing how much information gets lost in a relatively short period of time!  Troy cites documents from the Rockefeller archives which means the information exists but to reasonably piece this story together takes numerous sources of varying origins.  It is quite fascinating to discover this and now I have proof of what I figured out some time ago.  This chapter can now be closed and I can say without a doubt what I have.  As to which socialite and art collector owned mine.....I guess I may never figure that out. 🤷‍♂️

New acquisitions.

i have been adding some really neat items to my inventory.  Here is a quick overview.  

Contemporary Italian chrome bar cart. 

Amazing Morris of Glasgow (yes, Scotland) mixed teak and mahogany veneer credenza.  Designed by Neil Morris.  Features angled shelves and felt lined top drawer.

Unmarked teak danish style hutch.  Features glass doors (not pictured), 2 drawers and bottom cabinet.  Compact size to display your collections.  

Currently working on rebuilding this bench and I have a buyer who is customizing it with me. New strapping installed!

More coming!  I just sold the first danish style lounge and have another that I will be restrapping and making cushions for.  Keep your eyes peeled to my Instagram or Facebook so you don’t miss anything!

Have a great week!  XO MALISSA