NEW FORTUNY PILLOWS

I just added this pair of "Striped Lambale" vintage Fortuny Pillows to my inventory. This Fortuny fabric dates to 1954, just a few years after the death of Mariano Fortuny. It is an uncommon pattern--I love the two shades of gray on the ivory white background. The squirrel makes me laugh. These are quite generous pillows--I hope some one needs Fortuny with a chuckle.

And this is a pair of "Farnese Frieze"--this particular Fortuny was dated 1961 on the selvage. The mottled turquoise on gold color way is always a quick seller. Pam always does a spectacular job and I'm so grateful to have found her. I'll share her: Pam at finedetailsinc.com for the best pillows and custom linen embroidery. Hint: Ralph Lauren refers her to many of its clients. She also has many top designer clients.

Here is a double surprise present:

  

I bought this pair of lanterns a couple of weeks ago. I was standing about 60 feet from the auction block when I glimpsed this pair of lanterns being held up--no glass, just some beaten up looking frames.  But a little bell went off in my head--I though they might be chinoiserie--so I bought them sight unseen. When I picked them up, I was startled. Why didn't anyone else bid? It was immediately obvious that they were pretty great, even if they did need a bit of TLC.

Today I picked them up from my glass place (have been using Bouret's Glass for many, many years) and I discovered that they put in seeded glass panels (seeded glass is very expensive) as they just happened to have some left over from another installation, at no extra charge!  DOUBLE PRESENTS. Of course, Chinoiserie anything is one of my passions; neoclassical design is what I gravitate to.

These lanterns are English Regency-style (note the Prince of Wales feathers) tole lanterns of chinoiserie form (c. 1890-1910). To have a matched pair is quite uncommon. One of the lanterns needs to go to Carlos for a bit more minor restoration, but that is to be expected of lanterns of this age and use. 

Thanks for listening to my ramblings.

The temps. have dropped by almost 20 points and I am basking in the coolness. It's going to heat up again, but not quite so much.

Well, I'm off to bed with Jones,

Blessing for a perfect start to FALL in all of its glory.

Mary & Jones & Cole

I'M BACK.........

The second space is finally shaping up--I painted the walls a muddy, masculine gray. At first I was disappointed with the color, but with things hung and lamps lit--it's not too bad. Once I get the overhead lighting installed--changing from cold light to warm light it should be just about right.

May was a tough month: nothing seemed to flow (except for Mia's fantastic news) and there were so many unnecessary hurdles to climb over.  I have had to get a new restorer to redo most of the work of the last guy--time consuming and expensive and very frustrating.....well, I think I'll turn the page on that misadventure.

BUT LOOK AT WHAT I PICKED UP ON THURSDAY.

Yep, some of my new Fortuny pillows were ready when I popped in to give Pam 2 antique Japanese Obis for pillows (new experiment in pillow design).

These are just inventory photos--I'll shoot some better ones in a couple of days.

FIRST UP are the two pillows that I created with the mint c. 1920's Fortuny textile

In my opinion, there is nothing quite like the very early Fortuny fabrics--the handblocked design is rustic, but very sophisticated (the blocking is a negative--the light color is blocked on to the blue). I decided to make generous pillows--the Fortuny textile was very pricey and I was tempted to stretch it for three pillows--but they just didn't look right. And I chose a high-end silk strie for the backing. Not the usual "safe" plain silk option. I love the original Fortuny border on the edges of the pillows.

NEXT UP is another pair of antique Fortuny pillows fabricated with a textile designed and created by Mariano Fortuny in the early 1930's.

This fabric was woven on a small 28" inch loom which is a good indication of the age of the fabric. The pattern is an early version of "Peruano"--I love the unique color way with that "pure 1930's" green. I made one pair with a high-end green silk backing and a single with a complementary raw silk backing and welt.

LAST UP is a pair of c. 1960's "Campanile" pattern vintage Fortuny pillows in a peachy tone with silvery-gold. 

I love this very busy and happy vintage Fortuny pattern. It is still being made today, but new Fortuny is just not the same as the Fortuny textiles that were created during the life times of Mariano and subsequently his wife, Henriette, up until about the mid-1960's.

Pam still has a couple of pairs of vintage Fortuny pillows in the works, plus the 2 pairs of Obi pillows that I just ordered.

Well, we are starting the second week of June and I've had a few good One King's Lane and 1stdibs sales; so I do think things are looking up! Today a young couple came in who had bought several things from me about 3 years ago---I was so honored--they made the effort to find me at my new location and said I was the first person they had tought of when deciding to look for additional decorative elements.

Sending June and early summer blessings--it looks like we are going to have an "El Nino" year here in CA starting late summer--we need the rain so desperately. 

Be well.

Mary & Jones & Cole

LIFE'S GIFTS AND LESSONS

I've been working with my new camera---boy do I like it. Look at the photos of my Fortuny pillows.......

   

Crisp and clear with all of the detail. And the software does all of the focusing.

Over the past few weeks I've been on a quest to become more open and accepting of what is offered, perhaps it is simply to be more aware of the abundance that surrounds me. This is not some new quest--but this time something clicked. And things have indeed been opening up. I WON ONE OF "LITTLE AUGURY'S" GIVE AWAYS OF HOWARD SLATKIN'S NEW BOOK...Thank you Gaye and Howard!!! Plus the $700 camera for $200 and Amazon double shipped my order of water filters for my coffee maker!! (They do not want the extra shipment back)

My college room mate called me after many, many, many years of silence (not of my making). But all is not just peachy. I've also been given MANY opportunities to revisit decisions from the past. I would classify them as very counterproductive negative decision or ways in which I dealt with various circumstances. It's as if some one were checking to see if I were able to make more fruitful positive choices....I definitely am, finally, making some progress. Life is such a crazy journey.

I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings, as I have been dealing with the absolutely most difficult client of my 25 years in business. I'm just waiting for the breakthrough. We'll see. This one difficult transaction has made me so grateful for all of the many, many wonderful people I have met in this business and the ease with which most sales have been completed.

Jones can't wait to get to work tomorrow either.......

Be well.

Mary & Jones (& Cole)

NEW FORTUNY PILLOWS AND TEXTILE

Every time I pick up new pillows at Pam's shop I feel as if it were Christmas and I'm opening my presents. As usual, Pam's workmanship was perfection--I am so blessed to have her in my life. 

Here are a few photos of the newest additions

  

  

These "Farnese Frieze" pillows are my favorites (for the moment)--I love the vibrant mottled blue with the Renaissance Gold over stamping--the photo below shows the pillow taken with flash

(I'm getting a new camera and am taking a few classes on how to take better photos....)

I also picked up this little pair of lumbar pillows created with c. 1960's-70's vintage "Veneziano" that would work with many upholstery choices.

And I picked up this pair of green and gold very generous sized pillows created with yards of vintage "R" border...each pillow shows the old Fortuny stamp. Once again, Pam did a beautiful job--the rows of border are French seamed and to perfection.

And one more Christmas present arrived last week in the form of an unusual c. 1930's, narrow loom, Fortuny textile fragment. This Fortuny textile appear to be an early iteration of the "Peruano" pattern. The block is not carved in as much detail as are many Fortuny examples, leading me to think that maybe it was designed to originally print silk velvet??? Any way. I love it--that seafoam green and light brown is quite unusual......

  

This particular Fortuny textile will be turned into 4 long but short pillows in the not too distant future. Pam still has a few more pieces of Fortuny to work on before I take her this textile and we put our heads together for the appropriate backing silk.

MIA UPDATE

Mia is doing very well. I think there are about 10 sessions to go and then everyone will be home. The tumor has not grown and we are waiting to see if it will reduce. 

I think that Fall has shown up in SC--THANK YOU FOR TEMPS IN THE 70's!!!!!!!!!

HAVE A WONDERFUL  ALMOST FALL WEEK-END. This particular full moon is beautiful.

Be well.

Mary & Jones (and Cole)

UPDATE--NEW FORTUNY PILLOWS

I want to update last night's post with new photos of the pillows. When I took new photos in actual daylight, I couldn't believe the difference in the green and gold tones of the photos..............so here is what the Fortuny pillows really look like:

Quite a difference!

Tomorrow I start packing for the move....organization is the key and some how, I have lost my desire to be organized....

Have a wonderful week-end.

Mary & Jones (and Cole)

NEW PILLOWS IN VINTAGE FORTUNY --WITH A TWIST

Note:  I shot new photos of the pillows in daylight--the new images are in my next post....here's just one comparison:

(Please excuse the photo quality--I took them w/flash)  

I like tweaking the usual and customary format a bit....

I went to see Pam (my amazing pillows fabricator) today to give her the vintage c.1950's Fortuny that I scavenged last week from the sofa. I can get three good-sized pillows from that fragment and wanted to start the fabrication process immediately as the color and paleness of this Fortuny is what is being shown right now in most of the design magazines. (And besides, it is ice blue--perfect for summer or a 50's style)

To my delight, Pam had a pair of pillows ready for me--I've been a little conflicted over this design---but upon seeing the completed pillows, I think it works. I chose to use rows of c. 1950 Fortuny border stitched together to form the pillow face. There is a spot on each pillow face where you can just catch a glimpse of the the vintage Fortuny stamp on the border. Pam did a beautiful job--French seams on the border strips and, as always, perfect tiny welting.

Just look at this micro-welt

  

I'm highlighting this final detail of the gold silk backing to show how difficult it is to match the exact tone of the gold and texture of the backing to the tone of gold and the pattern of the Fortuny front. There are so many tones/shades of gold silk. Even the weaving of the silk affects the way the gold "reads"--there is a brassy yellow gold, cool green-hued gold, warm reddish gold and so many variations of each one. It is very important that the silk backing and welt not overwhelm the Fortuny fabric. I'm very fortunate to have Pam who either confirms what I see or (very quietly) nixes the mix.

We are having the most gorgeous summer weather--just grazing 80* with a bit of a morning cloud cover...maybe we will have a cool summer?

Have a great week-end--poolside or beach-side??

MIA UPDATE

Mia was released from the hospital yesterday. Grace and Mia are still at St. Jude's Children's in Memphis for further testing, but they should be on their way home by the end of next week. Miss Mia is back to her old tricks--stubborn, just like her Nana.

Mary and Jones (& Cole)