Banquet Seating [preferably not the vinyl type]

You know that feeling when you walk into a café/restaurant, notice they have banquet seated tables, go ‘yippee’ inside and make a dash for the one free and then fight your date for the bench seat rather than the chair? Well today it happened in Nandos of all places. All I wanted was to sit, slouch, and relax for five while I had lunch on the run, I made a beeline for a six seater table with banquet on one side and chairs on the other and enjoyed my little lonesome lunch.

Lunch got me thinking that although the vinyl wouldn't be my first choice I do love how relaxed and comfortable a bench seat makes dining feel and how inviting they are when you picture your friends and family all seated around. To me they evoke a relaxed, comfortable, long lunch feel, it’s not meant to be a quick stop! I think today cemented it, come kitchen/dining remodelling time I may just have to build one into the plan.

This is superb! A very refined approach to banquet seating. Love the studding and buttoning detail. Would love to see how they have made this work into the kitchen island behind.

This here would be the waste of a day for me, curled up, sconce light on, good book, coffee, biscuit and a throw rug please. I love that it's not meant for dining but rather a reading nook.

Perfect solution for the family beach house, would work brilliantly in Indoor/Outdoor fabric, wet bums are no problem!

This would have to be one of the best uses of a small space, that looks like dining for 6-7.

Gorgeous reading nook, love the contrast piping, just adds extra accent to the unusual shape.

I love the continuation of the cabinetry, great storage idea!

I love the colour in this image, it's not necessarily my taste but I love how all the different pieces, patterns and colours come together to create a very refined style.

A different take on the banquet, set extra high with a bar table for a relaxed entertaining area.

Not true banquet seating but rather loveseat sofas used to create the same look and I love it!

For more ideas on how you can build banquet seating into your interior, check out my Pinterest board http://pinterest.com/bobbinscissors/application-banquet-seating/

Monday's Lesson: Outdoor Fabric 101

See what happens, give the girl a reward and everything starts to slip, Monday’s traditional 101 lesson gets posted on Tuesday, it’s all downhill from here folks! No only joking, promise just the one slip up. I was out last night for a family reunion dinner with the lovely Scott family which was too good to turn down and hence our Monday lesson is posted Tuesday, can you forgive me?

Anyway back on topic, I thought we might take a break from pattern and have a look at outdoor fabrics. In our Australian climate they are something we should all be investing in for our outdoor living spaces but also for our sunny indoor light-filled rooms and high traffic areas like the rumpus. Advancements in outdoor fabrics have come in leaps and bounds so let’s look at what is out there.



Beautiful azure blue outdoor setting with contrast white piping. Love the yellow accent and the styling, simple, stylish and all completely outdoor!

The original outdoor fabrics were made from Polypropylene, a man-made plastic polymer that when mixed with a UV inhibitor and flurochemicals created a yarn suitable for milling into outdoor fabrics. Polypropylene outdoor fabrics are durable, UV resistant and some of the cheapest outdoor fabrics available on the market, however they are plastic to feel, rigid and limited in range.

Next in line is Olefin. A synthetic fibre similar to Polypropylene, Olefin creates durable, colourfast, mildew and stain resistant outdoor fabrics with a softer and more comfortable feel under hand. Olefin outdoor fabrics are priced reasonably on the market and are best utilised in protected outdoor situations rather than in direct sunlight for increased longevity.

For direct sunlight applications a 100% solution dyed acrylic outdoor fabric is the best option. They are a more expensive but will outlast any other outdoor fabric in colourfastness as well as being mould and mildew resistant, soil and stain resistant and most importantly soft, comfortable and breathable. Outdoor acrylic fabrics are often classified as indoor/outdoor due to their softness and ability to be utilised indoors without feeling like they should be outdoors.

Amazing outdoor conversational lounge upholstered in Trina Turk outdoor fabrics by Schumacher.

So there you have it, a quick rundown on outdoor fabrics. The most important thing to remember when working with fabric outdoors, particularly when upholstering is that the fabric is only as good as the foam behind it. Outdoor reticulated foam is essential and even though generally a firmer feel, it means that water will pass straight through rather than pool and cause mildew and mould.

Cote D'Azur Outdoor collection by Schumacher

Zepel UVPRO Get Out Outdoor Collection

Amazing Moroccan feel outdoor area, I love the combination of patterns and how the black grounds the whole area. The depth of the seat is great and so enticing to sprawl out and relax!

Even though this looks like an enclosed outdoor area it is still a great place to utilise outdoor fabric, fade resistant and stain resistant! Love the drapes also from outdoor fabric.

Contemporary outdoor setting, love the mix of black and yellow and the customised umbrella!

Trink Turk Outdoor Collection by Schumacher

Outdoor fabric is not just limited to upholstery, it's also available as sheer drapery and in decorative trim.

If you’re interested in more ways to incorporate outdoor fabrics into your space, check out my Pinterest board http://pinterest.com/bobbinscissors/fabric-101-outdoor/

My 1000 Page Visit Reward Present

As you know last week Bobbin Scissors Thread saw its first 1000 views cross the line and I promised myself a present as reward. Well I am checking in this week to let you know the decision has been made! Well multiple decisions have been made…… I not only found my present for the first 1000 but also the first 2000 and 3000. I did manage to control myself slightly and my 3000 page visit present is still in the shop but I have given myself my 2000 page visit present in advance, so if you want to help me out and not make me wait forever to really earn it keep checking back in regularly!

Okay so present number 1, the most sensational fabric. I have had my eye on this for so long and now it's finally sitting in my lounge room.  Mosaico in Green/Blue available through Releman & Son http://www.redelman.com/.

I have it just draped across the ottoman at the moment but I think it is telling me it wants to be a throw blanket, will keep you posted. I love the Chinoiserie influence in the pattern and the mixture of Petrol blue and Kelly green, it connects to my charcoal blue wall and green accent pieces. All I need now is perhaps one more Kelly Green cushion in the mix and maybe a faux fur to back the throw with. 

Present number 2, is an amazing handmade African tribal shell necklace on stand purchased at Affordable Decorators http://www.affordabledecorators.com.au/index.html . I love the little yellow pop it has and I am a sucker for anything tribal/African.

And this is how it all works in my lounge room [I am a horendous photographer!]. Still a little more work to do but I think my two new presents are at home. Thank you for helping me earn them!

Monday's Lesson: Pattern 101 Crewel

With the hot topics of Ikat, Suzani and Chevron ticked off the list what is the next pattern to tackle? Well with thanks to a good friend it was today suggested that we look at Crewel [it’s cool to be crewel!].

Crewel Embroidery or Crewel Work is a form of embroidery, specifically done using wool. The name translates to ‘ball of thread’ and has origins as far back as the 16^th century.

Original 16^th century Crewel work is often labelled Jacobean and refers to a recognisable arrangement of three specific patterns, being the ‘Tree of Life’ [a large trunk or stem filled with flowing leaves, exotic fruits and flowers], the ‘Elizabeth Scroll’ [sweeping large scale stems of leaves and flowers], and a ‘Wavy Border’ [a wave design enclosed by straight lines encapsulating a small design]. Jacobean patterns still today influence Crewel design however modern Crewel is now an array of all incorporating pattern and colour.

Nieman Marcus Crewel external back upholstered occasional chair, love!

Claremont Crewel By Schumacher

Tobi Farley Crewel upholstered dining chairs with matching drapery

Kravet Crewel.

Lee Jofa Crewel - Jacobean.

 

Beautiful double height Crewel drapery by Joe Nahem.

Williams Sonoma Crewel Bedlinen.

I love the contemporary Crewel of both the headboard and valance. As to what else is meant to be happening in that bedroom I am just not sure.

Chelsea Crewel by Jan Baker fabrics.

If you’re interested in more ways to incorporate a little Crewel work into your life, check out my Pinterest board http://pinterest.com/bobbinscissors/pattern-101-crewel/

For all of you existing and expecting mothers

I have no children as yet and as you know from previous posts we have our close friends and my sister in-law expecting in the coming months, and it would seem that everyone else around us already has one if not two!

I secretly can’t wait to decorate a nursery, so, to fulfill my little need and appeal to you existing and expecting mothers I thought why don’t we have a look at what’s happening in the world of children’s fabrics?

It’s no longer gingham, spots and stripes and certainly not pink and blue!



Far Far Away III Snow White in Grey Blue by Heather Ross [avalable through www.kelanifabrics.com.au]

Hokuo No Kodomo Alphabet in Blue [available through www.kelanifabrics.com.au]

November Books It's a Small World in White [available through www.kelanifabrics.com.au]

Pinocchio in Blue [available through www.kelanifabrics.com.au]

Far Far Away II Sleeping Beauty in Yellow by Heather Ross [available through www.kelanifabrics.com.au]

Designers Guild Around the World in Aqua

November Books Lace Stripe in Bone [available through www.kelanifabrics.com.au]

Designers Guild Chalk Farm in Linen

Lovebirds Red & Blue on White [available through www.kelanifabrics.com.au]

Far Far Away III Childs Play in Grey by Heather Ross [available through www.kelanifabrics.com.au]

My absolute favourite and I mean hands-down favourite are the fabrics by author and artist Heather Ross from her Far Far Away Collections. I think I might just have to buy some and tuck it away! After all I would hate to miss out on it when it does actually come time to decorate a nursery.

To find out more on heather Ross visit her website   http://heatherross.squarespace.com/.