Show and Tell..

Hooray~~, I finished it.. oh. yes. I did.. It took me 6 weeks of 2hours of hard working.. My old chair is now wearing a haute couture..

Profile..

Back..

My working space at uphostery school.

My teacher is showing me what to do..

I have to tell you about Mr. Guido.. He is amazing, Master Uphosterer from Italy. He started his career when he was 15 years old. He is 70 years old now so do the math, yes, 65 years that how long he's been in same business. Actually Mr. Guido is a teacher of my current teachter Mr. Rob who was absent on the day I was finishing off my project. I was so honor to get tricks of trade from the Master. Lucky me..

My next project.. My DH's super, mega old Arm Chair..

xx

Julie

Rain Rain Come again..

We had a good rain today here in Melbourne. I was so so happy to see rain today, I never was a big fan of rain when we were in sunny California.

I love sunshine.. Its been almost 18 months since we moved from CA. Its very different life style here in Australia. We loved our beautiful little over an ACRE lot house here until we realized that there were so much work to do around the garden. Especially with water restriction here in Australia. I never had to worry about watering the garden in CA. never heard of water restriction.

Using the Sprinkler to water the garden is not permitted here.. grrrrrrrr

That's how I get to love Rainy day.. yes, I am loving rainy day.. However, our Fern garden next to the house is now totally gone with over 40 degree heat not long ago. We've been cleaning out the dead ferns over the weekend..

No more ferns left. All gone. its very sad.

No more green .. all very very brown at the moment.

I can't dare to take pics.. because its so sad looking now.

All gone..

We hope to see more rain soon.. or else.. I love to keep garden as pretty as it can be while we are here in Australia..because we want to keep the house here when we move back to US.. I sort of miss California.. but getting used to living in downunder too..

J.

New Project.. Here I come..

I mentioned in my previous posting I am doing something new from Feb. It is time to reveal what I am up to.. a part from my usual stuff. I love fabrics..They are so pretty to just look at but when you use them to create something its more prettier. I wanted to design my own fabric line, but I thought it was too big of Job to do that.. so I wanted to learn to screen print some of my designs which didn't happen yet.. but I know one day.. It will definitely happen..

Meanwhile, I got so lucky to work with textile company..doing and learning a lot of things.. They are setting up the branch office in Melbourne currently. I get to look at and feel the fabrics and wallcovering and trimmings all day long..(couldnt get better than this..). This is the blog I created for the company..

Ophir International is your one stop source for Fabrics, Trimmings and wall coverings. Here are some photos of their current product Lines..

I will update you more ... soon..

Julie xx

Job Well Done...

I've been busy setting this beautiful hair salon located in Melbourne, Camberwell to be exact. I took me 5 months from the signing of the lease to the opening the shop. Michelle, the owner of the shop is very talented hairdresser.

View from the street.

checking and checking ...

Beautiful vanity and the mirrors.

This is the pictures of shop we leased.. yikes..

Lounge area to be.

lounge area.. After..

I wish Michelle all the best with her business...

Julie xx

New found Passion.

I have neglected the blog for a while, since I have started a new project after I finished the beautiful hair salon set up and renovation in Melbourne. It took almost 5 months to start to the end. My client is very pleased how the shop came out. My next project is to set up an overseas textile company in Melbourne. As I love the textile I am in love with this project. I can't wait to show offf soon.(smile) in the meantime, I started one of my passion to do own upholstery project. Its been 5 weeks and I started my DH's ugly but comfy Arm chair and one of my French Louis chair.. I am proud how it came out so far..

My old louis chair. It was pretty as is but became my test object.

I stripped the fabric and painted white to achieve shabby look..

t took 2 lessons to do up to this point.

Making a pattern to cut the form inside to support the back.

Started to positioned the fabric. I am using "French Toile" English Country

Finished the stapling the fabric..

Added the strong fabric to support the back of the chair.

Voila!!!

Back of the chair is almost done, still need to hide all the staples with gimp.

Arm pattern is in the position.

I love how all came out together. It look very french shabby..(smile).Stay tune for the finish product..

Julie xx

Passion for Fashion..

Once upon a time there was a girl who loved to dress up all the time...

I love clothes, that is little girls clothes.(smile) According to my DH, I once was a great dresser... He doesn't have to finish his sentences.. I hear BUT coming from somewhere.. Ever since my little Princess arrived my passion for fashion has changed.. for good.

My Princess is wearing a very simple white linen dress with pink trim made by me. I have a exactly same dress which never won.. (crying~~) We have many same design clothes but I didn't get to wear mine.. Why.. why.. I don't know.. Did I mention that I was going to open online handmade girls boutique? I started many moons ago but never got to finished it. I am not sure what I am going to do with it yet.. maybe I will finish it or maybe not.

Princess Joy is wearing European Design Inspired dress by me. I love the color combination. Pink and baby blue are a few of my favorite colors after all.

I think I got bitten by "Inspiration bug" these days, everywhere I look I see something interesting which inspires me to go back to my sewing machine which has been collecting dust. See what I can do..

Julie xx

Follow Your Heart

I love fabric.. I used to make little purse and tote bags to carry my books when I was in junior high. I didn't have any sewing machine so everything was hand sewn. I don't remember how I did but I did it. I don't have anything that I made but only in memory. I guess that was my first love of fabric which I didn't know that back than. My love of fabric rekindled when my little princess was born. I made and embellished my daughters clothes, which I don't do too much these days.

I am taking upholstery class from end of this month. I always wanted to learn how to upholster professionally. It will be really fun. I have so many projects already lined up. I love studying anything and everything, if I can go back to school and study again. Interior Decorating, Psychology will be something I would love to study again. I am doing business consulting at the moment. My client is setting up beauty and hair salon. Its taking a lot of my time at the moment but interesting. We finally started remodeling and decorating the shop. I will bring some before and After pictures to show. I guess I am doing all the things I always wanted to do. Now I am involved with shop Interior decorating. You never know what's around the corner.. Just follow your heart..

one beautiful day

love xx
Julie

Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year!!
May all your wishes come true in 2009.

Please stay tune.. I will be doing something interesting in 2009, starting February, to be exact..(smile)

Best wishes to all of my friends..

Love xx
Julie