Divalicious - The Design Diva's Blog

Tra-la-la Divas and Divems! I bring to you the upcoming trenduendos for the summer season.....So let's get to it! Sheers.Yah! I know~ it's all about the sheers.... In different bold colors and prints and piled thickly on the rod.The look is a simple yet carefree one with just a twist of DIVA-VOOM! Hah! Just like the summer and what's better? You could totally pull the look off with out any help. ATTN:This requires no sewing whatsoever....

Cut sheers lengthwise giving an extra 18" for tying at the top. You should get three strips per width of the roll. Choose a hardware piece for the windows. Before installing the rod on the wall, tie on several strips of the sheers you can do bows or just let them hang.. You can even put a cute gimp around it at the bottom  of the valance just to show that you really do care...the rope trim makes really cute tied knots.You can use strands of sea shells for your beach house look or tie it in little bows for a little diva's room.The top/valance part is really how ever you choose it to be.

The drape/bottom part is really a cinch too. You can twist the sheers losely and tie them in knots. I have also seen the sheers starched straight and at the top there is a flat knot cut close with no funky valance type thing at all. It is quite the shabby chic look for the season.And quite sexy I might add. It looks great on a breezy summer day with the door left open to catch the breeze. In this case divas, the more the better. The thicker more lush of hang on the drapes the more dynamic the effect. Come on in to designdivafabrics.com We have what it takes to make your home as hot as the season will allow. It's time to step it up diva's! It's summer time. Get your nails done and your toes too! Oh yeah and REDECORATE!

x0x0x0x

Design Diva

The Color Red

Red is powerfully linked to our most primitive physical, financial, and emotional needs of survival and self preservation.

Tie a string around your ambitious little finger to remember these most divalicious tips to keep your Divalicious name on potential customers/clients tongues. Afterall word of mouth is the oldest and best form of advertisement. Check it out.

If you have an upholsterer to do any work on your project wouldn't it be nice to send them a thank you card? I mean especially if the job was exceptional and the clients were really pleased with the outcome. Maybe it was your own piece. You should let them know that they really did do a great job. I know you say it when you pay for it and pick it up but just think about how many people will see the newly finished chair and a half and admire that piece. The thank you card is a win/win gift. When every one appreciates your good taste you'll remember appreciating the upholsterer. The upholsterer can look at the card anytime for a little pick me up or ego boost... Or pehaps he has one of those showcases of jobs well done, that he post thank you cards and such on. Someone will read it in passing and see your name.Watch yourself now!There you go rubbing elbows again. Nice gesture like this can lead to future friends and allies in the trade.

Follow through on checking in with clients who were looking for a special product. It doesn't take much these days to google a product and have it delivered. If you find it you will be the 'go to' guru. Most people love to drop the names of people who make an impression on their ability to get things done. You know,this impression will at least be a good one. But what happens if its a wash and you can't come through? Even if it cannot be acquired you should still let the client know as the show must go on. I am sure they will appreciate your honesty and the attention to their desire.

Whenever you visit one of those home hardware stores don't forget to leave a few business cards on the cash register or bulletin board or even with the store manager. A really good place is in the store department that your field specializes in like bathrooms or kitchens. You would be surprised at how many people suspect store managers to be experts in certain fields and  ask them for referrals of all sorts. If they have a card on hand they can give out your name and number if its pertaining. If you can help them then the suspicions about the store manager could be right.

Might I also add a little fashion advice in this blogger as well? Wearing the color yellow is a great choice when you want someone to listen to you and pay attention. Think about a yellow blouse with a tan colored skirt and brown shoes for the ladies.  Maybe a yellow button up shirt for the men. A yellow tie would do the trick just as nicely. Yellow's close association with caution cause people to be on guard and therefore fully attentive when it's worn by someone whose talking to them. I'm not talking neon golden yellow or any bright flashy yellow by any means at all. A nice rich butter colored yellow or even a subtle pastel yellow would suffice. And as always a smile is worth a million words. Here's to happy REDECORATING.

xoxox

DesignDiva

Is it the trend of the new season that makes your ideas become real?

Or is it the desire of your heart to have fashion that you can feel?

Perhaps it was a painting you saw that made you love a certain color.

You like it~ even if your friends think the shade just couldn't be any duller.

Did you ever buy a trinket that reminded you of days way back when,

And used it as a centerpiece for a room that you just love to be in?

It comes in so many forms, one is never better than the other.

Just like the beautiful shade of brown in the eyes of your loving mother,

Inspiration from a simple thing can set your soul a blaze.

As you watch a room grow into a space in just a few days.

Find your inspiration like an artist does for his masterpiece work of art.

When it's just right you go with it as the force takes it off the chart.

Life is too short and precious to try to keep up with changing trends.

Just think if fashion and design was applied your family and friends.

You would never throw them out because they were so last season.

That is why inspiration can be drawn from anything from anyone and for any reason.

We all know some woman whom in the 90's was happily stuck inside of the 1980's

Now that look is all the rage and she's the fashion "go to" lady.

The retro look is good for some folks, maybe they like to be nostalgic.

Whatever gives you more quality in life is where in lies the magic.

I know that you can find fabric for every walk of life on the Diva website.

And you can re-cover a couch in something else if the first thing wasn't right.

I hope your creativity leads you outside of the box to do what's never been done

Your Mac, PC, GateWay or Dell can lead you to designdivafabrics.com.

xoxox

Design Diva

Gather around Divas and Divems.... it's storytime!

Once upon a divalicious time, there was a brilliant Diva who stumbled onto a fabric website. She loved what she saw there within the perimeters of her computer screen. The fabrics were not comparable to any fabric store that she had ever been inside of. The designer brands therein were those that all top designers sought out. One could only wish to afford these names in design, but alas the prices were so aggreeable that the Diva had to purchased a few just to see what they were like up close. After a few days, the fabric arrived and she was ultra-satisfied with the quality of her new found fabric gold mine. So she began to coordinate her clients' rooms one after the other. With each finished project the designer became more sought after as THE designer to use if you wanted a sophisticated and couture look. Plus, this Diva could really work it! She put toile on lampshades and rafia on the patio furniture.The Diva even reupolstered the futon of one client in Clarence House fabrics and mohair. One day well under budget and having finished up a client's home, the Diva sat in reflection as she awaited the clients approval on her project; "Wow", she thought;" How wonderful it was to find these fabulous fabrics and at such a great price, but there's just something missing, I can't quite put my finger on it but there is something most definetly missing in these rooms.... hmmm."she thought. Puzzled as ever, the Diva began to think long and hard trying to decide if she had indeed forgotten something. Afterall,her clients didn't notice, they were so pleased with the outcome of their rooms that they had given Diva an invite to join them for dinner that night.

This just so wasn't like her. She was usually so well prepared. This 'missing' something was beginning to make her feel unsettled. Diva scratched her head. She brought out her laptop and a meticulous check list that she used to coordinate the rooms. Once she found the fabulous website that she had been on to purchase the fabrics the Diva  went down her checklist, Faux fur rugs- check! Throw pillows- check! potted plants,water feature accent, candles.... check, check, check. With one French manicured fingertip on her chin,the Diva was beginning to think she was losing her Diva's touch. "It looks like I have everything on the list, all the way down to the draw back strings for the new window treatments. What on Earth did I forget to do?" she asked herself. She shuddered at the thought of leaving a job incomplete and well just not quite divalicious enough. " I can't believe this", she thought, "I must be out of touch". Diva had to decline the dinner invite, her stomach was beginning to swim. What if she was losing her Diva's touch that had once set her so far above the other diva designers? She quickly packed up her tools and headed for home.

That night as the Diva ly in bed she couldn't sleep as she ran the days event through her mind over and over and over again... Check. Check. Check... She felt so strangely as she stared out of her bedroom window. The moon was big and full as it shown down through her window panes lighting up the night and her room. It's heavenly omnipotence almost made her forget this past day's woes as she watched the moon light dance across the lake. She followed the moonbeam's glow all the way though the trees shimmering on the pebbles making them look like glitter on her walkway and made its way to the glistening Travers beaded trim on her Versace drapes that had caught her eye as it sparkled like the stars in a mid-night's sky. THAT'S IT! She sat up in bed. Trim! She let out a loud sigh of relief. She had forgotten to put the trim on the lampshades. Trim was the 'missing something' that she couldn't put her finger on.  With all the fabulous fabric to choose from she had in fact forgotten about the trim. Diva, now refreshed and feeling her divaliciousness tingle all over, jumped out of bed and popped open her laptop. She ordered some beautiful trim to put on the bottom of those marvelous toile lampshades. While she was at it she bought some tassle trim for those throw pillows too.The last click of her mouse had such a relaxing tone to it that she decided to go back to bed. She just knew it would be okay. Diva could rest assured that the good people at designdivafabrics.com would take care of her. They would be sending out her trim immediately. She bid the moon goodnight and thanked her lucky stars that she had discovered designdivafabrics.com. The end.

Don't you just love a Divalicious ending?

xoxox

Design Diva

It's definetly the hottest thing in homedecor these days,covering your walls in fabric, that is. It's just the best thing to do to optimize the divalosity of your rooms. When you match drapery fabric to wall fabric the look is incredible. Some people are taking it a step further and are making chairs and benches that are upholstered in the exact fabric that the walls and drapes are done in. And BAM! a fantasy type showroom of your very own. Note:you may have to kick a few people out of if they try to get too comfortable.

I find that the best fabrics to cover the walls are charming chintz, sultry silks and tantalizing tapestries. These truly make the best drapes too. If you can find one with a small print, 5"-10" horizontal and vertical repeat the outcome is usually so stunning that you will pinch yourself to make sure that you are not in Fabric Dreamland. It gives the room emmense style and class. You have to use the same fabrics though. If you mix prints, you'll probably overwhelm the space and go into a tacky overload seizure. This condition may cause you to really dislike your decorator and even your own eyes.

Covering the walls is waaay easier than wallpapering the walls. First of all wall paper can tear, or adheres wrong, may go crooked and sometimes just refuses to stick. With fabric,you simply don't have to worry about the waste. Simply measure the walls from ceiling to floor. Then measure windows for the window treatments.  Please make sure that you get enough fabric divas. The local hardwares store carries an adhesive called 30 weight clear carpet glue. It is tres fabulous! When you get the fabric measured out as you would wallpaper, smear the adhesive on the walls 54" wide down to the floor. You have to wait a few minutes for the glue to become tacky or stickable, a few minutes is all. Find the top of the fabric (make sure it's not upside down)and don't cut the salvage from the side that will have to be matched for meeting up the pattern this will give you a seamless appearance as you overlap the next 54" on to the salvage of the first. For instance if you are going from the left to the right side of the wall you would remove the left-side salvage and spare the right side for overlapping. Personally, I would start in the left corner, but only if the room's design permits. This is where the tiny print comes in handy. The small print is much easier to match up. Simply repeat the process applying the 30w carpet glue onto the salvage this time too, being careful not to go too far onto the fabric though.

Once you have allowed the fabric to adhere to the walls you may install your hardware for window treatments to the wall above the windows. If the windows are deep into the wall, fabric can be used to line the sills as well.  The only thing left to do is decide which colour you want to bounce off of to coordinate art and furniture to match. Voila-Ooh-la la-Wow! You have a divaliciously fabulous room that looks like it cost too much to ask! But you can tell them you got the fabulous fabric from designdivafabrics.com. I am so loving this! Happy REDECORATING!

xoxox

Design Diva

RRRRing rrrrrring...."Hello Design Diva Fabrics! How can I help you?"

Client:"I saw this fabric on the count down and watched it all night long.

It got within my price range but when I blinked it was gone.

Design Diva what do I do?

What happend to the fabric? Have you any clue?"

Diva:"Well my Dear, it seems as if you were smart but not quick,

someone else was watching this fabric too and beat you by a click."

Client:"Who got the fabric? What did they pay?"

Diva:"Its not that I won't tell you, it's just that I really can't say"

Client:"Is there anymore of the fabric can I buy a couple of yards?"

Diva:"No that was it. She bought the whole bolt by charging it to her card."

Client:"Aww man....What a bummer...Next time I'll be quicker!"

I'm going to set a timer right along with the ticker"

Diva: That's a good idea. I hope it works out for you. It was at a great price.

Client: If I get it the next time. That will be very nice!

Diva: I know what you mean the fabric was so pretty.

Client: I gotta go Diva- I can't let them get me.

Diva: Okay you better be quick!

Client: .......(click).........

The next Vote up count down fabric was indeed sold to this client.

and many more after that!

xoxoxox

Design Diva

Ok! Time for a Diva McVenting session....but first,I would like to thank everyone for making the last sale such a huge success for designdivafabrics.com. But now, we have to ship ALL of this fabric out, and we are slammed. Did you hear me? I should say SLAMMED!!!!! We are working night and day to get all orders out to you wonderful folks who have the style and taste of modern day kings and queens! Now if I could just get you all to acquire the patience of say a peasant, I would be so loving it! Most of the orders have gone out but there are still some that have not. If you need your order like ASAP please give me a call and we will do eveything we can to get it out to you sooner. In the future, Divas, if you are on a deadline and need to have your fabric for a particular start date, don't be bashful, call me and let me know. It's way better to be direct and forthcoming with us than to be late on an assignment. I love having open (sometimes unusual) communication with the Divas and Divems that use the site. Never hesitate to ask for assistance or expediant shipping! We typically use UPSGround to ship the orders, but on your request (and dime) you may have your order shipped with another carrier or even overnighted. I only want to see and hear you having a delightful time using the site and working with the fabrics. Being creative is a serious job, I happen to know this more than you may think I do. That's why I say "call,email,or fax us". Don't you dare just sit there wondering what you are going to do about the fabric taking longer than you planned for. We are here to help! But in the meantime please know that we are trying extra hard to get all of these order out and believe me when I tell you, they are going out by the truckload! We are terribly sorry if this causes any inconvenience for any of (((you))). Might I add that it is easier than going to school and waiting 4yrs for a decorators license to be able to shop in the realm of Clarence House and Thibaut. Not to mention avoiding the outrageous prices! Thanks again folks and again PLEASE CALL!!!!! That is if you need to get'er done and get'er done quick! I love you guys.....

xoxox

Design Diva

If you decorate your house in lots black, some would say that you are easily depressed. I have to agree.

I also happen to think that people who decorate their homes in browns are pretty boring folks like accountants or librarians.In fact, I tried to look up some fun facts about the color brown, I came up empty handed.

People who have white bedrooms are said to be very lame in the bedroom area...Not going to mention any names, but If you have a stark white bed room and the sun often beats your spouse home or you often find them looking at other peoples um...boudoirs, You should seriously think about adding a bit of flirty colors to heat things up a bit.(Some of those colors can be in the form of books on how-to in the bedroom) I mean too much white reminds me of Colorado... Cold, snowy, and very restricting and confining....don't dirty my bed? Oh PUH-LEASE! read between the lines. White screams out, "Don't touch me, and if you think your going to eat that jelly doughnut in the bed; I'm filing for Divorce"!

Greens and the lovely shades thereof are for the extreme optimist. You know the ones that are always saying 'let's make lemonade from the lemons'? This is also a good color for recent divorcees to use when redecorating the bedroom. It signifies a new start. That is unless the bed room was green in the beginning.

Red bedrooms are firey indeed! Red is synonymous for extreme sensual arousal! Sexy and spontaneous.Thrilling and daring. Red has the ability to stimulate the pulse, and raise heart rates. An intriguing color combination, if done carefully, can be Red and purple. What about blue bed rooms?

These are for the traveling mass. Those who are very seldom at home and just want something to relate to when they are there. That is usually the blue sky from flying, or blue sea from flying over it,or it could be the blue blanket from their favorite hotel room. Blue is a very mellow yet inviting color.

People who live in purple/violet bedrooms are said to be very passionate. But I hear they are also VERY permiscuous in nature! Mixing pink with purple shows soft ethereal wood-nymph feminine playfulness. A little fact: Purple was the favorite color of Egypt's Cleopatra.

I haven't heard anything about the orange bedrooms but I think that it actually sounds pretty cute. Orange is a very outgoing color. Right in between impulsive red and smart yellow, it couldn't possible be a bad influence.

I guess that's just the way it is. You know? The way colors effect the way people act? I hear people argue alot in yellow kitchens. We all know red kitchens make us eat. But I am not sure if this is true as my kitchen is done in pumpkin,fushia and chocolate. All we do in there is cook and try not to make a mess! So sorry if the truth in this makes you blush, but its not really gossiping if you don't say the names right? Oh well.....Check out the emense wealth of colors, textures and designers at designdivafabrics.com. I just know you will love it!

xoxox

Design Diva

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E- Embroidered silks so easy to purchase. Click Click Click.
D- Did you think Scalamandre stood alone at the top? Move over please as the new star rises!
W- What does He Who Designs have in store for next season?? Find out right here on designdivafabrics.com.
A- Award winning? He gets my Five star approval. And yours too I am sure.
R-Release your inner Diva with the help of Christopher Edwards and his fresh,new approach to home decor.
D-Don't think about it too long. Great designs wait for no one!
S-Sheers, Prints. Chenilles, silks what more could you ask for?

Well of course I am a little biased to his name but the quality and value will speak for themselves.
Put the letters all together and you spell 'absolutely fabulous down to the savage' Christopher Edwards.
How does he do all of this? Stay tuned. What an incredibly Divalicious job Christopher Edwards- Now I am impressed!!

xoxox

Design Diva

Greetings Divas and Divems! I hope this blog finds you all feeling your divaliciousness in all the right places! It's so much fun to be surrounded by lots of creative, artist people. The more I listen to my Divas the more I learn about them. Although most of my Divas are interior designers, a lot of them are not. Some of them make dresses for theatre, you know those turn of the century dresses. Some of them are artists and paint on my linens as canvas. One that has really impressed me with her charisma and charm is Mary Kaiser of MaryKaiserLTD.com.

Her website features so many divalicious things but the one that I am thrilled the most about is her using my fabulous designer fabrics as a backdrop to some amazing creative hand bags, purses and grab bags. Mary finds the most interesting ways to combine whismical and classy. Her bags are great for just about any occasion. All of you getting ready for the prom should take a look. Diva Mary told me that all of her bags are one of a kind and at the rate that she buys fabrics I think they probably go pretty quickly too. If any Diva or Divem that uses the fabrics from designdivafabric.com has a website or store they would like others to see just drop me a line and Let me know what you create out of the fabrics on designdivafabrics.com. It is such a wonderful thing. To create is to live!!! -I don't know who first said that line but if no one claims it within the next few hours I will claim it as my own divalicious quote! Diva-rrific job Mary. Your creations are marvelous. Let me know when you make a DIVA- BAG...

xoxoxox

Design Diva