Today I’m featuring one of my recent crafty projects. These pennant flags are about 3 x 5 feet and are currently hanging outside of a bar in Tucker, GA. I’m not sure of the name of the bar or the exact location.
I took the project because I was contacted by Heather, a representative for the television show ‘Bar Rescue’ on Spike TV. The are made with black, red and white material and felt. The letters are hand cut using home made stencils, and include the names of the major Georgia sports teams. For licensing purposes, we were not able to use the team logos. But, they look fabulous and will hopefully bring traffic into the bar since they can be seen from the road. Oh yeah, and they are double sided. Pretty awesome, huh!? Contact me and I’ll make you one, too. Or your husband. Lol.
I have always loved the idea of refinishing old and run down furniture. This barn red closet purchased at an auction at Paris on Ponce was one such piece. It was originally brown, and painted red (minus 4 inches from the bottom). It happened to look like it was dragged in mud There were nails askew and the hard wear needed updating. The door was also crooked due to the hinge being bent. It definitely needed a little TLC. I happen to have a partially used can of Robin’s Egg Blue Paint lying around, so I cracked it open, grabbed a brush, and got to work.
As I started to paint, I started to notice all the little cracks and chips in the wood. I wanted to keep these details noticeable so I carefully brushed over them with a dry brush to keep some of the red showing through. When I got to the door, I thought it would be nice to keep the red frame, as I thought the colors looked really nice together. The inside of the closet was a bar for hanging garments and a shelf above that. I decided to be a little anal and paint some of the inside blue as well. Then I got to the hard wear. I removed all the pieces to correct the bent hinges (by hammering) so the door would hang correctly and painted them taupe with gold shimmer glaze. I left the screws the original color.
Now, when I purchased the cabinet I had the mind to use it as a closet for myself. When I finally got around to painting it, I happened to be 7 months pregnant. What a perfect closet this would make for a baby! I didn’t know the gender, but on a hunch I purchased a wooden ‘S’ from the craft store to hang on the door. The ‘S’ for my baby girl name. I painted it the same color as the hard wear and dry brushed the ridges with the same red as the door frame. It was to hang on the door, covering an unsightly hole. The plaque above the door, featuring a quote from the beloved tale Alice in Wonderland, happened to be a gift for my baby and was given to me at my baby shower (which was mad hatter themed more on that later). It just so happened to fit perfectly there.
Voila! I now have a place to store baby things. And what a ca$h saver this project was!
The April/ May 2012 issue of Oz Magazine has a detailed article about Paris on Ponce‘s Marie Antoinette exhibit at The Next Cool Event. The work involved in creating the exhibit is described in detail as is the materials used. They also mention Knot Couture, my alternative bridal company with Erin Bohanon of RCB Fashion.
The article is found on pages 18 and 19. Click the image below to read the full magazine.
Then, pick up you copy at Paris on Ponce- and check out the PoP Marche while you’re at it
Here are the official photos from my recent project: a collaboration of talented individuals working towards one common goal. It was Paris on Ponce‘s exhibit for The Next Cool Event 2012.
Now, let me set the record straight and say that this exhibit not my vision or design. There is no possible way that one individual could have pulled this off. I was really honored to be brought on board and my creativity allowed to flow freely at times. To be able to construct a paper gown has always been a dream of mine one I gladly devoted hours and hours of my time to.
The end result was more amazing that I could have ever expected. The stares and gaping that the exhibit caused at the event was enough to make all that time and effort worth it. The experience of working with everyone as a team, and the inspiration that we instilled in each other will stay with me always. Below are some photos of the exhibit taken by the talented Christina Wedge. Enjoy!
If you haven’t seen it yet, pick up the Feb/March issue of Oz Magazine. They are featuring the exhibitor’s rendering sketches from The Next Cool Event. Check out page 33, you will see Nicolette’s sketch of Marie Antoinette for Paris on Ponce, and a little blurb she wrote about it. She credited my contribution to the project and mentioned Knot Couture, my company. Thanks for the love, Nicolette! <3
Yes, I have become an Instagram addict, telling everyone I know with an iPhone that they must, must, must get the app! I love to play with the different filters and experiment with perspectives. My friends at Paris on Ponce seem to feel the same way, because as long as we have been working on the Marie Antoinette exhibit for The Next Cool Event, we have been snapping away. I’m happy to share these photos with you, many of them showing behind the scenes action of everyone that worked on this amazing creation.
Tonight is a very important event for the film industry here in Atlanta. It’s called The Next Cool Event, and I will be attending the event with Paris on Ponce, a 46,00 square foot antique store in the heart of midtown. They showcase art, antiques, furnishings, ateliers, boutiques and the most amazing event space- Le Maison Rouge. In addition to all of the wonderful things that they offer, they provide prop rental for individuals or companies seeking to fill a space for events, display or films.
All the exhibits at this event are movie themed, and PoP has chosen ‘Marie Antoinette’. But, if you know anyone at Paris on Ponce, then you know how nuts those people are. That must be the reason why I fit in so well with them! They opted to create the entire display out of paper or paper products, including her gown and her giant curly wig, which is being carried off by corrugated cardboard die-cut bees as she is “bee-headed”. They asked me to assist in the creation of the paper gown, which was a vision that required hours and hours of thought and labor from Nicolette Valdespino (Pop’s manager) and myself. You can see the rendering sketch of all the exhibits for The Next Cool Event 2012 in the video below, including Nicolette’s sketch of the exhibit..
They also (very sweetly) credited my work on the signage and submitted it to Oz Magazine’s feature of the event! I’m stoked, since it’s the first time I’ve ever been published!
Model Robin Moss contacted me this past summer and convinced me to make her a wedding dress for a photo shoot she was organizing. Robin has modeled for me in the past for a Knot Couture shoot. As it turns out, it so happened to be with a photographer I’ve worked with in the past. His name is Kevin Voth, and he has contributed his talent to Knot Couture’s archives several times. He captured some great shots of Robin, and as always, I’m very happy with the results.
Model Robin Moss having her hair and makeup done.
Hair piece, handmade silk flowers with pearl and crystal accents.
A beautiful shot by Kevin.
Let me begin with the inspiration for the dress. Robin told me she wanted something flowy, so she can ride a horse in it . I decided to keep the design simple, and add an element to it that would suit this cowgirl’s style: denim. I know this was going to require a little work, as far a fabric manipulation to get it to look more elegant. I added a lace overlay and cut out the negative space. I then beaded over the lace with gold and rose gold bugle beads and gold glass pearls. The skirt was tulle and the body of the dress is made from silk dupioni. The sash is detachable and is made out of silk georgette.
Nothing inspires a new project like boredom. To me, it is all about the thought that I am doing something valuable with my time, that something is getting accomplished; that I am making something. After all, I never think I can do something I’ve never done before, until I try. This time, my undertaking was knitting a pair of socks.
Thanks to a series of helpful YouTube videos, and (rereading) the instructions to try to figure out the pattern shorthand, I finally made my very first sock… and it wasn’t until I was on the second, that it came naturally.
I have never had more of an admiration for knits as I have now. And, there is one more man in the world with warm feet.
A few months ago, I stumbled across this engagement video by a cute little couple here in the heart of Georgia. I shared it with all our Knot Couture friends. I’m sharing it again with you now:
Now, if you aren’t nauseous from that mushy stuff, you are about to be. But first, let me just say that the seamstress and designer did an excellent job on this custom designed dress. I happen to know them both personally. Bravo.
N. Couture
