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Monday, October 30, 2017

Monday Morning Inspiration/Not Your Grandmother's Fur

Monday is beginning on a rather gray note here in Chicago. Rain is supposed to move in. Gray days are great days to do a little cleaning, so always a silver lining :) 

Last Saturday, I was so honored to be the guest speaker for the Chicago Area American Sewing Guild Annual Fashion Show. I had hoped to video the talk, but the room was rather loud, tables being cleared, ladies getting ready for the fashion show. Some of you expressed that you would like to hear it, so I will video the talk. It won't be the same, but at least you'll have the opportunity to hear it :)

This upcoming Saturday, I will be in Indianapolis, Indiana. speaking at the American Sewing Guild Annual Meeting. One of the topics will be on repurposing fur. I did this for the Original Sewing and Quilt Expo in both Schaumburg, IL and Fredricksburg, VA. Everyone who attended the classes loved them. So nice :) One of the questions that was asked was about where to find inspiration. I've been working with fur for years, so ideas come naturally to me. But, I can understand how redesigning a fur could be rather daunting. So I decided to take a ride around Pinterest. I don't know about you, but that's exactly how I feel when I begin to look around Pinterest, it feels a little like a carnival ride, and I always walk away wondering how I got from one place to the next! 

I pulled out a few ideas that I especially liked.
Mixing real or faux fur with other materials, at least for me, makes the fur so much more interesting.

Here's an idea where those of you who have embroidery machines could put them to use. Embroider insets to stretch the amount of fur you have and create something spectacular.  


Leather is always a great resource for mixing with fur.


I think this is a fabulous example of mixing fur, trim, and wool for a spectacular outcome.


Many of us end up with a mink stole and have no idea of what to do with it. Love the idea of using it as a yoke, collar and cuffs mixed with wool, or tapestry. 


Another example of mixing fur with leather. This is snakeskin and not for everyone, but an embossed leather would be beautiful.


This is something that I had never thought of, but using a lace overlay on wool and then adding fur accents. 


Some fur trim mixed with velvet makes an amazing coat.


While this would not be a warm piece, I do like the idea of using the fur with 2 other types of materials. I just wouldn't use the open weave material. I need to be warm!


Another idea for when you just have bits and pieces.



Quite often, the shoulder area of a fur is no longer usable, but the bottom portion is in great shape. Mix it with a beautiful piece of tapestry or wool.


A spectacular collar with bits and pieces of fur made into a striking floral branch. So pretty. This would be a great piece to do with faux fur.


And finally, don't be afraid to mix furs, types and colors.


All of these ideas can easily be recreated with faux fur. I have a full length faux fur that I just can't seem to give away. A friend of mine gave me yards and yards of trim that she found on Ebay. I've decided to cut the fur apart and use the trim to make sections. Should be fun!

So now you see that the sky is the limit whether you are using faux fur, or the real thing. Just mix it with another material and have fun.

Have a great week!
Rhonda



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4 comments:

  1. Love these - what inspiration. Can hardly wait until March. Will get my pictures to you soon.

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  2. What beautiful inspiration. You can find old furs quite cheaply in the UK, or old faux furs and these are fabulous ideas. I love the first photo with the embroidered sections. Xx

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  3. Great ideas - thanks for looking for these photos and posting them.

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  4. These are great inspirations for fur - real or fake. Another way to use old furs - I know I saw yarn made of fur back when I was buying knitting magazines on a regular basis. It's been a while so I don't know if this would be a DIY project to make your own yarn.

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