Me and my trims.........

What is it about editing, cleaning, and reviewing ones "stuff" that is so exhilarating? In the process of getting ready to establish my design studio in the retail store, I have been spending week after week sorting, tossing, reading, reviewing, filing, and, in general, being perfectly objective about the large mass of resources that I have amassed in my current design studio.

A lot like that long sentence, my nights have been a bit overwhelming! When the lights go down and the design staff leaves for the evening, I choose another area to begin culling. I have found it quite rewarding, although exhausting! (Sneelock might agree, as he is the one hauling box after box to the dumpster and returning the empties to me for another fill).

Tonight, after reading, checking for current dates and prices, and sorting the furniture and lamp library, I had a very private dinner in my office, and then dug in to the trim books! I had been dreading this particular part of my resource library, as I love passementeries of any kind, and thoroughly anticipated having an extremely difficult time sending any of them to the dumpster.

As expected, as I inspected and reviewed each trim book (could it be I have at least 100)?, I found myself reminiscing over past projects, ooo-ing and ahhh-ing over colors, textures and lush designs. I must admit that in the first half hour, I feared there would be none leaving the fray.

Luckily, my camera was close at hand. I'll share with you some of the beautiful trims that tugged at my heartstrings as I tried my best to edit and discard. When all was said and done, about 3 hours later, I did make some progress. I think I've kept the best of the best! Soon, you can review them for yourself!

A birds-eye view of the task ahead.......trim books stuffed in any available space, in any available angle. Oh my, where to start?


I thought it appropriate to begin the documentation with one of the classic standards of fine design--the Scalamandre label. Scalamandre is one of the finest high end trim and fabric houses in the industry. I recall one time that I was elated after finding the absolute perfect trim for a project I was working on, only to find out that the net cost was about $10,000.00 PER YARD (!) It had been created and woven for The Whitehouse! I went on to select another trim

One by one, I began opening each binder. As I tried to be objective, I started to see a small stack of "discards" begin to pile up. Others went in to a stack of "to be reviewed one more time", and still others went directly to the floor, my dumpster of sorts for the night.

This table has been my workspace for years. It is 12' long and almost 50" wide! It is an antique library table (as in NY Library) with fabulous horseshoe shaped stretchers. Note the drawers along the side! This table has served me well and held the most inspiring collections of fabrics, trims, furniture frames and drapery designs from my work. Several days ago, Connie and I cleared it to a state of emptiness. I'm not sure why I didn't document that, as I don't know when I have seen it in that state in the last 5 years! I had a current client in to review a selection, and just had to comment on the clean state of the infamously overwhelming normal look. I was quite proud of the lack of product, but she said, "Oh, I quite like clutter! It's a kind of like a state of creative genius". I like that thinking!

As I continued the sorting, these are some of the beautiful passementeries that stole my heart.


100% silk tassels in lovely hues of blue and gray/green---so delicate and soothing.



Double-sided pleated velvet trim and this densely woven chenille and silk fringe. Oooooh!



Silk pom pom fringe in every color combination! Alternating values of the same color....soft, soft, soft! (Not so soft on the wallet, but worth every penny)!

Occasionally, I came across a book containing memories of a past project---like this one with a sticky note and price penciled in at $95.00 yd! This is a personal favorite and one that I have used for many projects. Yum.


Sometimes, it's just a beautiful color combination that speaks to me. This happy bright pink and green in assorted styles made the cut. (I admit to having a sentimental love for this one, these are the colors of my darling granddaughter, Bella's room.


This assortment combines fabulous color (subtle olivey greens) with multiple styles of interest. Look at the organdy ribbon fringe! Delightful on pillows and shams. The eyelash fringe (so named for it's delicate and short fibers) is one I love as well. Then there is the assorted ribbon, chenille and bead trim! And you must realize that each of these beauties come in 6 or 8 colorways!

Thank heavens, occasionally there was one that I could quickly put aside as a discard. Like this one. The flat braided trim was sequin encrusted and I couldn't think of a design that I would wish I had an elephant motif! Off to the discard pile, quickly!

This one didn't make the cut either. I've never been a fan of the greek key motif. Away!

SO thrilled when I found two of the same book! An easy discard for additional space!

I thought I could live without this one.......until I read the color description "graphite". Oh, I do love the color graphite. Look for this color to show up in my designer room for the Bucks County Designer House! Yes, graphite always has a home.

Any book with the Kravet Couture label is worth a second look in my book! And look at the graphics they add to entice you! Kravet Couture speaks the language of style.

Do you love this sheer petal pink pleated organdy trim?! And check out the sweet beaded accompaniment. I could just imagine my sister, Denise, finding a use for this one on a gown. She once took one of my favorite silk drapery fabrics and made a prom dress for her daughter, Emily. Oh my! To die for.....the dress, and Emily!

The color is faded on this shot, but I wanted you to see the square beads and plaid flat braid trim. And what about this flat braid with tiny pom pom tassels. Lastly, the color combination is to die for!

I just love the detail in this tassel. The contrast in color and accent is fabulous too.

Yet another fine all silk tassel trim with the most sophisticated subtle pallet of butter and celedon. That Scalamandre has the touch.

I am sad that this one is so dark. The trim on the bottom is really cool rayon ribbon and the one at the top is panne velvet. Yes!

Not only pleated velvet, but what about these colors!! Is there no end to beauty?

This book brought back the fondest memories of the whole house project we designed for a darling client in Charleston, SC on the island of Sullivans Island. Many assorted wonderful trims were used on that project. A real keeper and fun to rethink.

These colors and the style combined just make me happy!

I couldn't possibly delete this giant rick-rack trim, or the beaded picot edge/rayon ribbon trim! And certainly not the frizzee fringe. Ah, the wonders of passementeries.

This collection feels as if it is begging to be in Michelle's scrap booking studio! So many ribbons and braids.

I just love the look of a new collection of trim books standing at attention and ready for the next big project! This set definitely made the cut.

This stack, on the other hand, did not! Bye bye!

So there you have it, a complete documentation of my editing and a peek at the final cast. I think I've saved the best and invite you to come browse for yourself and enjoy the true magic of passementeries! Come help yourself in a few weeks when I'm ready for company.

One more thought....I guess you can see why I haven't had many posts of late. That's the problem, I'm always home too late! This whole cleaning and moving thing is exhausting. I'm not promising things will get much better until the end of March, but I'll do m best.