09 Dec You’re Invited to Deborah Main Designs’ Studio for Holiday Cheer!

Friends, Vintage French trim, textile pillow art, vintage designer scarf pillows, Kumi Jewelry (by my daughter Qin) & more!

Cozy fire and hot toddies await you this Saturday at my EXTENDED Holiday Open Studio & Sample Sale, 12 – 7 p.m. I know….I know…you Northerners are looking at us as woosies, but anything below 60 and I’ve got a scarf on…seriously!!  Here I am going out last night to a couple local events with my new black Lambsy knitted by fashion designer Kristine Rodriguez of RESPONSIVE TEXTILES. And my neck surely stayed warm!

Me snuggled into my Lambsy Muff knitted by RESPONSIVE TEXTILES.

THANK YOU toso many of you have stopped by during the week. It’s been so wonderful to see you and celebrate the holidays together. Below, long-time friend and collector, Barbara Formichelli came by today and just happened upon one of my earlier pieces and exclaimed,

 “That will go perfectly in my new guest room with the Ralph Lauren bedding and dark green wrought iron bed frame!” – Barbara Formichelli

Barbara Formichelli with one of my earlier pieces, Vintage French Doily with Art Nouveau Brooch.

It’s amazing how perfectly it does go with her bedding. She whipped out her phone, and although it’s hard to see the colors on her phone…mostly red and blue, Barbara (who has impeccable taste) is pulling out the green and gold in the Ralph Lauren paisley pattern.

Barbara holding up a photo on her phone of the Ralph Lauren bedding she wanted this pillow for.

It’s so fun when someone spies one of my textile art pieces, falls in love with it, and has to have it! This one incorporates a vintage French green velvet doily and an antique gold Art Nouveau brooch into a very rustic look. Barbara was so excited, that later she texted me,

“I’m completely obsessed and can’t wait to put that room together now…your stunning pillow will be the crowning glory!” – Barbara Formichelli

I love it when this happens, because nothing brings me greater joy than to have my customers and collectors love the pillow(s) that they purchased. I can’t wait to see her before and after pics. Thank you Barbara! And to artists Meeta Morrison and Leanne Venier for stopping by too.

Friends Leanne Venier and Meeta Morrison hanging out by the Winter White Wonderland display m daughter styled.

So, please include in your weekend plans a quick stop to Deborah Main Designs studio between 12 and 7 p.m. to celebrate the holidays, warm your chilled hands, and perhaps find the perfect holiday gift for yourself. Who would have ever guessed that I’d have in stock one of my holiday ornaments, from my Ornamental Charm Series, to match Barbara’s animal print blouse. Love it!

In case you missed Texture Tuesday with a fun recap of last weekend’s EXTENDED Holiday Open Studio & Sample Sale, please see below.  And I know, I know…..this is all shameless self-promotion. But my work is at special holiday pricing, I need to make way for new creations, and I want to see you to celebrate the holidays together. I promise, that once my Open Studio is over, my blog will return to some Italian luxury inspiration and projects i’m working on in my studio!  Promise!! So please stay tuned, and hope to see you Saturday. If you can’t stop by then, please see below there are TWO more opportunities! Thank you for all your support! XO PG

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!