PORTFOLIO CURTAINS A Book Full of Ideas and Sewing Tips, Showcasing Designs In Maltese Homes
Mary Grace Pisani
CONTENTS Introduction
07
Contemporary Curtains
08
Upholstered Pelmet Boards
38
Special Pieces
60
Swags and Tails
70
Kitchens
98
Bedrooms
112
Corridors
128
Upholstery
132
Accessories
138
Acknowledgements
144
INTRODUCTION Each day, I look forward to the challenges that life brings. This book is one of them, catering to all those people waiting to explore new designs. All the designs centre around Maltese homes, each portraying a different style. Throughout the years, I’ve put into practice all that I have learnt in all the tasks I face; drawing, taking measurements, sewing and designing. One of the most important aspects of my design work is the interaction with my client, always adopting a friendly attitude and living by the maxim - ‘The customer is always right’. Before I start designing for my clients, I like to get a feel for who they are, I like to take in the ideas that they have in mind, but even more so, their personal tastes and personality, which play an important role in my designs.
7
8
CONTEMPORARY CURTAINS
9
10
11
12
Modern bedroom with minimal furniture and a lot of texture The ambience we create in our rooms depends greatly on our choice of colours. Earth colours, for example, create a warm effect, whereas bright colours exude freshness and can be dominant in some cases, and dark colours portray elegance. The image depicts a modern and smart main bedroom. The colours chosen for this room were inspired from the side panels of the walk in wardrobe. From the moment I entered the room, I immediately knew what sort of fabric would please my clients and after consulting them, I achieved this result with a simple design.
Double bracket holding transparent rod and chrome rod for sheer curtain.
13
62
Unique!
Organza embroidered fabrics and an oil painting The concept: In this section I am going to share a personal experience. Throughout the years spent working at my shop, I have met a lot of people, each with their own tastes and style. A client of mine, who is now one of my best friends, happened to be one of the people whom I’ve designed for. When she entered the shop with her husband a few months ago, the first thing she told me was “Good morning Mary Grace, I would like you to come over to my house to design some curtains. We are far from design-savvy, so we decided to leave everything in your hands.� This was not the first time that clients entrusted me with the design work, but in this case I was completely free to design as I pleased.
63
88
A modern touch to a classical design This image shows one of the most sought after designs due to the combination of fabrics and the gathered tail to one side. Such a design is suitable for a variety of interiors be it classic, modern or rustic. No matter the size of the aperture, this style is ideal to show off a beautiful view. The image depicts a combination of antique jacquard fabric, which suits perfectly the decor of the room. Hints The tie back holder holds the end of the swag, whereas the rod, fixed on two brackets, widens the size of the swag allowing the tail to fall from behind the rod. 89
A well kept kitchen deserves the best curtains As both the door and the window on the same wall are arched (refer to the image on page nos. 102-103), I used the same pelmet design and fabric for both apertures, with a painting in between. Because of the window, I could not go over the outer edge of the path, so I inserted the arched pelmets in the recess of the apertures. A double arched rail was used for the embroidered and plain organza. (Arch rails can be tailored to the shape of the chosen arch). Refer to the DVD to find out more.
104
InterlinED curtains Ensure that your measurements are correct before starting to sew. In order to achieve the best results it is important to take measurements from the runner of the rail to the desired length of the curtain. To interline the curtain you will need fabric, the interlining and the lining as shown in Fig. 1. Once you have taken the necessary measurements both in length and in width, follow the steps below: To prepare the edges and the hem of the curtain, mitre the corner (Fig. 2). Fold the hem and the side of the curtain by pressing them with an iron.
Fig. 1
Re-open the folds and cut the interlining under the first fold at both sides of the curtain. Cut the interlining where the folds of the hem meet. Double turn the curtain lining and sew the hem using the sewing machine. Fold the side of the curtain over the lining and blindstitch (Fig. 3). The hem of the lining must remain on top of the curtain as shown in Fig. 4. The lining of curtains may be viewed on the DVD. Be sure that on the right side, the curtain has no visible stitching lines.
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4 105
SPARE BEDROOM
122
A variation of pinks and embroidered organza combined with taffeta created an entirely new image in this room. I used the same fabric for the curtains and the throw over. To complete the look, matching cushions were scattered on the bed. A double-layered upholstered pelmet board added the right finishing touch to the room.
ALTERNATIVE DESIGNS
123