{friday finds: x marks the spot with cross-stitch}

This awesome painted cross-stitch mural caught my eye back in March of 2011 when it was featured on Bloesem. I’d never seen anything like this before; I was so inspired by Eline’s creativity I was going to paint my own cross-stitch mural. Well, that hasn’t happened… yet, but I’m still impressed and inspired by such lovely work. Wonderful cross-stitch pieces are showing up in the design and DIY worlds. Was Eline’s work the catalyst for this emerging trend? Or is cross-stitch gaining popularity because of the renewed interest in all that is vintage?

Cross-stitch carpets

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I can’t tell if Bambi is painted or stitched;  it doesn’t matter because it is so endearing. And paired with the crocheted throw…perfection.

Spring 2012 at High Point – from Gan

Close up of rug from Bliss 

Eline Pellinkhof via Freshome

 Eline’s painted cross-stitch patterns add a touch of whimsy to any room. Painting lets you customize the colors for any space in your home. Hang an empty frame on the wall and paint a cross-stitch project inside it. You can go big or small with picture frames.

Peg board cross-stitch project from Beci Orpin

Cross-stitch with the versatile washi tape 

Inge Jacobsen

*Explanation Required Pinterest Challenge with how-to steps

What’s old is new again. How fun to see the traditional cross-stitch design transformed into new and exciting pieces for modern day interiors. What’s next? This line from The Rocky Horror Picture Show popped into my head:  I’m shivering from antici—–pation.

Addendum: I found this very cool painted floor cross-stitch. Oh, the possibilities.

{friday finds: flat weaves}

There is nothing subtle about the new rug samples gracing the wall o’ flat weaves at Hirshfield’s Design Studio. The colors and Moroccan-inspired patterns of these flat weaves grab your attention and instantly the wheels start turning, “where can I put one these rugs in my house.”

What are flat weaves? A flat weave rug has no pile, it is thin, usually available in wool or cotton, and very durable. The rugs shown from the design studio are wool and reversible; kind of like, two rugs for the price of one. Different types of flat weaves are kilims, dhurries, and soumeks.

Flat weave rugs are versatile and can be used anywhere in your home:

• under a dining room or kitchen table
• layer a patterned flat weave over a solid colored rug or carpet
• a great statement piece for your foyer/entryway
• a patterned flat weave helps define a space
• updates the look and feel of a room

Also, if allergies are an issue, the flat weave doesn’t have the thick pile of a carpet so the dust and dander can’t settle in.

Hirshfield’s Design Studio has the intel on these fabulous flat weaves; use the expertise of Hirshfield’s  staff in selecting the correct size for your space. Don’t be cheap and try to go too small!

Images:  Hirshfield’s, BHG, House of Turquoise,

{friday finds: to market, to market}

The High Point Market is the largest furnishings industry trade show in the world bringing more than 85,000 people to High Point every six months. Greg and Kathy (Design Studio) attended this last market (October 22-27) and already the goodies are starting to arrive. Over-dyed rugs may not be for everyone, but I know they will be my favorites from this trip to market.

This rug is an over-dyed patchwork rug from Turkey. It is made of old Turkish village rugs that are not saleable because of their color and or condition. They are washed, bleached, cut up, sewn back together, and then over-dyed. The over-dye is usually a bright color which turns an old and tattered rug into a modern up-to-date focal point for any home.

Greg said this beauty is an Oushak (ooh-shock) rug, meaning it comes from either the city of Oushak, Turkey or the western region of Turkey. This vintage rug was dyed a deep turquoise color and somehow the original design is left intact and shows up through the over-dye process. Is this not a gorgeous piece of art? Smart thinking on the part of the Turkish rug makers; recycling at its finest.

What do you think? Do you like this look? What’s old is new again.