07 Dec Texture Tuesday: Cheers to 7-10-14-17!

Look at all those shopping bags my friend Leslie Hyland Rogers is dashing out the door with!  Leslie, founder of Symphony of Soul, and countless other new and old friends, made my first Holiday Open Studio & Sample Sale such a success that I’ve extended it to four more times in December.  I haven’t had an Open Studio since 2011, and I think it will now be an annual or semi-annual affair.

Thank you so much to all those who braved the rainy cold weather to come see my work and celebrate the holidays together.  I had so much fun and it was fabulous to see each and every one of you!!

EXTENDED – Holiday Open Studio & Sample Sale. I’ve added this week’s Wednesday and Saturday and next weeks (hence the Cheers to 7-10-14-17) to accommodate all of you who could not make it last weekend. Same time, 12 – 7 p.m., Dec 7th, 10th, 14th and 17th, here at my studio, Deborah Main Designs, 1906 Collier St., Austin, TX  78704. And if you bring or refer a friend, you get an extra 10% off the already special pricing for this event.

Clockwise from top right: Moi with Jak Kesterson, Kathleen Hayden, Cheryl Bemis, and Laura Del Villaggio

Some of you brought along friends, or referred a friend, and that made it extra special because I was able to make new friends and new customers.  Artists always appreciate referrals, so thank you Christine and Leanne!!

Left to right: Julie Dzubas, moi, June Nichols and Christine Novak.

Here’s Christine and June (with my daughter Qin) staking their claim on their fave “Bathtub Bargain” pillows. Note they are not crammed into my bathroom and have plenty of room to look at all the pillows.

Another special aspect to this EXTENDED Holiday Open Studio & Sample Sale is that my daughter Qin (below) debuted her jewelry line, “Kumi Jewelry by Q”, for the very first time. Let me tell you, she’s been designing gorgeous jewelry for me for the past 7 years!! I’ve been so fortunate to wear her beautiful designs out to events and now she’s selling them to the public. Stop by to shop this budding fashion designer’s earrings and jewelry sets.

One new customer (below) spent some careful time considering the perfect pairing of pillows for his modern black sofa.  I’ve spread out black fabric on the bed to see how the aqua wave pillows would look on his black modern sofa.

Helping new friend and customer, David Boucher, make a decision are fellow Milli Starr hat wearer, Kathleen Hayden and interior designer Jak Kesterson.

David and I discussed all the possible options and combinations that would work nicely in his living room with a very patterned rug. Here’s a few things to consider when selecting pillow art to accent your sofa or bed:

• color and style of the sofa
• lighting, natural or position of lamps or chandeliers,
• wall color
• other home accessories,
• what kind of statement you want to make, bold with color, or more subdued,
• the pattern and colors in the main rug, and
• other art you have on the walls.

I love helping my customers either make lasting pillow art selections for their home or create the perfect custom order for them, as I have tons of new and vintage fabrics from which to choose.

Customer David and I discussing which color and size pillows will work best for his black sofa. He chose the aqua blue wave pair.

Here below are an array of newer pillow styles from mid-century modern to my new Linen & Wood Series. All of these pillows below have a lot of wonderful texture to them. On the back of the modern chain link mustard yellow pattern I have a bumpy faux ostrich full of texture. And I love how the smoothness of the wooden circles (handcrafted in the USA by friend Jeff Hornung of The Walnut Log) contrasts with the texture and color in the vintage French trim.

I feel so fortunate to have such a vast collection of vintage French trim from which my customers can choose.

Plenty of one-of-a-kind and limited edition “sample” pillows at special discount at my EXTENDED Holiday Open Studio & Sample Sale only.

Below are some fabulous, one-of-a-kind vintage Vera Neumann silk designer scarf pillows and other black, gold and red Silken Splendor pillows. (Not all are available on my website). Discounts apply ONLY at my Open Studio this week and next. Can’t get to my studio? Send a friend, a relative, or give me a call at 512.447.9807.

Here’s a peek above into all the yummy color and texture inside my tiny artist studio in a 1950’s bungalow cottage in South Austin. You should stop by this week or next.

Days and hours for my EXTENDED Holiday Open Studio & Sample Sale are:

• Wednesday – Dec 7, 12 – 7 p.m.
• Saturday – Dec 10, 12 – 7 p.m.
• Wednesday – Dec 14, 12 – 7 p.m.
• Saturday – Dec 17, 12 -7 p.m.

Cheers to 7-10-14-17! Please stop by as I’d love to see you!

On left, Anslee’s pining for Colorado with one of our collectible World Travel pillows made from a vintage state souvenir scarf. On right, June sasses it up with a fuchsia silk brocade pattern on our UnZipped Series. Zip it up. Zip it down.

Till then, Happy Holidays and stay warm cause that sun only came out today for about 5 minutes and now it’s freezing. Enjoy more photos below and info about my fabulous new hat I wore last weekend. Hope to see you soon!  XO PG

Left to right: Moi, Julie Dzubas, Jak Kesterson and Kathleen Hayden. NOTE: I only met Kathleen last weekend at friend Laura Del Villaggio’s trunk show  at Spring Frost boutique for her hand-blocked Milli Starr hats. Being Kathleen and I both bought hats I invited her to my Holiday Open House. It was so nice of her to stop by!

Fellow local artist and Art Career Success System pal, Denise Jaunsem. Want a portrait done of your pet? Denise is your gal. Check out her beautiful art on her website HERE.

Part of the evening gang from left to right: Anslee Connell, Laura Del Villaggio, Lisa Walsh, moi, Catherine Gerber, and Lisa Radebaugh.

Guests Karen and Christine enjoying the nibbles and libations.

If you have family silver passed down to you, think about getting your silver professionally polished. The staff at Michele’s were FANTASTIC!! I don’t know why I didn’t think of doing this earlier??

The Winter white Wonderland, styled by my sweet daughter Qin. Features my Ornamental Charm Series and The Alessandra and The Scarlett, two one-of-a-kind textile pillow art pieces I submitted to art exhibitions.

Me drawing a name for the 3rd door prize of the day!

Guest Kathleen Hayden (wearing her Milli Starr hat) won one of the door prizes.

The wonderful hand-blocked feathered fascinator I bought from Milli Starr, at her trunk show at Spring Frost Boutique. I’m learning to wear hats, so you may see me in them more often this winter. This black beauty was an absolute must, to go with my dress I had purchased for a family wedding from Springs’ boutique. It even has a pom pom and veiling. I LOVE it!!

Dear friends, Anslee Connell of Savannah Red Music and the expert milliner who made my fab fascinator, Laura Del Villaggio of Milli Starr. Thank you Laura for encouraging me to wear hats!  So excited to collect more of your beautiful work. Check it out HERE.