The Whole 9 Yards

Pillows from Art

2011-11-11T14:21:00.000-08:00

SOOOO EXCITED about these new pillows!!! A wonderful company from Kashmir took the images of my paintings and produced these pillow covers! I think they did a FABULOUS job! These are hand stitched, made of wool on a cotton ground.

I have been grateful for the numbers of people who would have liked to buy these paintings, however they are not for sale, but the pillows are!! They are $75. a piece w/o inserts.

Finally, our drapes are installed!!

2011-07-21T16:31:00.000-07:00

The whole "cobblers kids have no shoes" saga is over and we have window covering in our upstairs remodel!! Those sheets were driving me nuts.

Now I have the daily pleasure of opening and closing our various window treatments. (And some privacy!)

My favorite of all...the sheers in the closet/dressing room, they blow gently in the breeze and bring a lovely calm to the room. It is remarkable how much coverage they provide. (with the right lighting). I now think everyone should employ this window treatment. I think not finding the right double brackets have held me back...but now that I have found them, we're all about the double rods here at The Whole 9 Yards!

So I have finally faced my, how shall we say, "focus" on hardware and am very happy with my selection of drapery rods. I found the perfect double bracket- no easy task, if you ever tried you know what I mean. The rings for this group have several styles. I used two different ones here. The more decorative, for the "leading" edge, the simpler for the body of the curtains. I was concerned it would be too much to do them all in the more decorative style- but isn't the detail of them FAB?!

The Roman shades above the window seat are perfect for the area. We needed something that would allow different levels of opening, depending on how full the trees are...this has worked out perfectly. I spend most every morning on the window seat with a great cup of french press (what a brat!).

(I really should have gotten a close up on the pillow on the chaise, also the pillows I have on the bed- Alice out did herself...next blog...Pillows!)

This is the Roman shade that is at the top of the stairs. We can see out this window from the shower. Because of the size of this shade, and the challenge of reaching it, I wanted it to be tailored and had the rods throughout the body of the shade.

So, in closing...get those window treatments done! You will be glad you did...it took us long enough!!

The Further Adventures of the Amy and Jamie Remodel

2011-03-15T18:42:00.000-07:00

Our remodel is getting close to finishing. Contractor Ben (971-506-7415) has done all his part, now I just have to get to the fun stuff....drapery etc.

This is a shot of the dressing room/closet in construction...

This is the case of " the cobblers kids have no shoes". In all this time I have not gotten around to selecting fabric and making the curtains. To be clear- I will not be making them! You want me for fabric selection- not sewing!

This is a shot of the closet finished! Looks too good to mess up with clothes! (Detail of the hanging light fixture below) Notice the "His and Hers wall paper...I love it!

Yummy light fixture from Rejuvenation House Parts salvage section. This has a twin and may still be over there!

The shower in process...

Shower finished!!! We have been using it and everything works great. Porcelain on the floor and wall, slate on the shower walls 2/3rds up the wall, white penny tile on the shower floor.

It is kind of hard to understand this shot, but it is in the shower looking out the glass wall and then out the stairway window. There is strategic measurements for the glass- for privacy sake!

french doors to dressing room


Door knobs, how I love thee...

Nice soaker tub.

plenty of room for a cup of tea and a good magazine!


window seat...site of future cat naps.

That's all for now. Next group of shots should have fabric in place!!

From Inspiration to Reality...

2011-01-25T16:41:00.000-08:00

Hey all Victoria here!

For those of you who haven't been into the store in awhile, I'm the new girl.... or well... I was new - about two years ago (my how time flies!). The lovely ladies here at the Whole 9 Yards hired me straight out of design school (the Art Institute of Portland, where I majored in Interior Design), and can I just say how much I LOVE my job! I am surrounded by some incredibly talented and interesting folks, and I get to play with gorgeous fabrics all day!

So on that note - here is a little something I have put together just for you! (And definitely keep watching this space, I think we are going to make this a regular thing!)

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When was the last time you fell in love with a picture of a room in a magazine? Did you stop and stare longingly at the beautiful colors, the patterns, the accessories, wishing you could move right in? Unfortunately for most of us “design junkies” it happens on a pretty regular basis. Just today in fact I was flipping through the November 2010 issue of Elle Décor, and saw this amazing living room designed by Miles Redd. This gorgeous room, full of rich color and layered textures actually made me a little weak in the knees, and I had to sit for a minute while I took it all in! (hint: click on the picture to make it larger - its definitely worth seeing up close!)

In my day to day design work with clients, you will often hear me urging a broader mix of patterns, a stronger embrace of color, and always a little splash of something animal! I believe that our rooms should cocoon us, should make us feel cozy, comfortable, and there should definitely be elements that make us smile!

This room has it all! Jewel tones that flatter the skin, layered textures that invite cozy afternoons, a playful mix of patterns, and of course- the fantastic tiger pillow (which just so happens to be the same amber as the glass hurricanes. )

In my humble opinion, Miles Redd is a genius (and his clients are rich… and I do mean rich). The walls are upholstered in designer silk. The rug is Persian, from 1880. The furniture is all antique. Another view of the room shows that there is a matching fireplace on the opposite wall, with an entire second sitting area.

So how do we, mere mortals, living here in our cozy Portland homes create this same feeling of luxury without breaking the bank?

Enter The Whole 9 Yards. Are you familiar with our store? We currently have over 1000 gorgeous fabrics in stock, and thousands more available for special order. Our staff is an amazing and eclectic group of artists and designers, and we LOVE to give our opinions! We also have a workroom that can sew up pretty much anything you can imagine. All in all it’s a pretty awesome place to spend a few hours!

Armed with my inspiration room, I took a quick perusal around the store, and came up with this richly layered and ultra luxurious combination. Watch out Mr Redd, there is a new genius in town!

The first element in the inspiration room that really grabbed my attention was the sofa. (You thought I was going to say rug weren’t you?? More on that later!)

I LOVE the gorgeous green velvet - it looks like a great place to snuggle up and read a book (oh – who am I kidding I mean watch Project Runway!), and the color is to die for.

Lucky for us, The Whole 9 Yards has an amazing velvet in stock. So plush it could almost be mohair, in the perfect color for only $16.99 a yard! Sold!

The second important element, in my mind, is the traditional floral print on the armless chair. I love that it has so much great color (there is that amber again), and an all over pattern that is visually interesting but yet still feels light.

I have been a longtime fan of this gorgeous linen (romantically named Vienna Flower, $29.99 a yard), and when paired with the green sofa, my heart starts to beat a little faster! The flowers are just lovely, the birds are whimsical, and the colors are just the right balance of warm and cool tones. Of course my pictures and your computer screen do not do this fabric justice – you definitely need to stop by and see this in person!

Now let’s talk about the rug. Did you know that the Whole 9 Yards carries rugs? Well, we do. And they are fantastic! Handmade using 100% wool these gorgeous rugs are so thick and comfy underfoot. And they are ethically produced as well!

The inspiration room’s rug is fantastic for a few reasons. The scale of the pattern is nice and large (and that is why it works so well with the smaller scaled pattern on the armchair), it has colors that speak to other elements in the room (hello couch, hello curtains, hello lovely navy-fireplace mantle), and it is large enough to really embrace the entire room. Can you picture it about then times smaller, just hanging out in front of the sofa - It would seem silly and out of place wouldn’t it?

I chose this Tapestry rug because I really like how the large scale dense floral plays off of the smaller scale of the Vienna Flower. I love that it has so many rich colors (again, your computer screen is not doing this piece justice. Come in and take a look in person. I also really like that it is has a slightly contemporary look. Notice how there is no border, and the pattern just seems to run right off of the edges. (This is a great trick for making a smaller space feel larger!)

And the best part? A 10’x14’ will only set you back $2965.

For the drapes I chose this really lovely Fortuny-esque screened silk in the most gorgeous shade of blue (that not only speaks to those charming birds, but also to the flower centers in the rug). This is another one that is an absolute must see in person - this silk has so much life to it when gathered up into softly folded drapes. At $39.99 a yard you can have floor to ceiling drapes (hang them “high and wide”) that only look like they cost a fortune!

I love how the luster of the silk really bounces light around the room, and definitely helps achieve that luxurious and grand feeling that our inspiration room had. I also love how the pattern helps to balance the slightly more contemporary feel of the rug, and just feels sort of unexpected.

Remember how I said every room needs a little animal? Did that scare you? Well let me put your mind at ease. We aren’t talking full on cheetah everywhere (although cheetah definitely has its place), it really can be as subtle as this oh so yummy mink ($44.99).

Toss a couple of pillows on the sofa if you are not so sure, or a full on throw draped over the back if you want to really amp it up!

And finally, this little burgundy velvet ($32.99) repeats the reds in the rug and the birds, plays ever so nicely with the green sofa, and will POP if placed in front of those lovely blue drapes!

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Victoria is a wife, a designer, and a mother of two cats. She loves magazines, good pens, growing tomatoes, and people-watching.

Sheet Rock vs Us

2011-01-18T16:33:00.000-08:00

It's us against the sheet rock dust!!! I have to hand it to the guys on this one...Contractor Ben is cleaning up each day, and Jamie has vacuumed almost every nite, ...but still, I think the score is Sheet Rock 3, Household, 1 !

I have been Swiffering and it seems pretty pointless. It is satisfying at the moment, but by the next day you'd never know I did it. I can't believe I am blogging about cleaning...it has come to this! Revise: Sheet Rock 5, Household 1!!

This is looking from the bedroom towards the stairs.

Bathroom: The tub is hiding on the left. There sure is a lot of work happening around that tub- makes me nervous! The shower is straight ahead. Next to the shower is a clear glass window- pretty excited about that!

Dressing Room: Can't you just imagine?!!! Really, you have to believe I have a vision here! Ben inserted our old dresser into the knee wall. It will be for storage, as clothes will hang in front of it. My goal is to get everything in the same space, instead of in various closets and boxes throughout the house.

Bedroom: There will be a window seat with shelves on either side. In the summer the trees out this window make it feel like you are in a tree house.

This is a pic of the stairs as Ben is adding insets to one wall. My idea is to put some art and objects in them. The stairway is narrow and I'm hoping this will give it a better feel.

I have been designing a lot around a particular wall paper. Today I found out that it was discontinued. The women who gave me the bad news was really grateful that I didn't flip out on her. I explained that I have been in her shoes and I will find another pattern. Good thing I know this is not brain surgery!

Amy and Jamie's Big Remodel

2011-01-04T17:19:00.000-08:00

We have been wanting to remodel our upstairs since 1991. Running the business, and life in general, have kept us from getting it done.

We have been living with a tiny bedroom with a closet the size of a couple of Kleenex boxes. I'm not kidding! After all, back in the 1920's when the house was built a person had their "Sunday best" and some work clothes and called it good. Clearly not adaquete for these times. I'm no Imelda, but I've got a few things!

The magic really started to happen when we met Ben Meoak. Introduced to us by our friend Emily Standish, we knew as soon as we spoke with him that he was the guy for us.

Upstairs "before" pics

There is nothing quite as wonderful as knowing that you are working with The Best. To me, "the best" means:

Expert craftsmanship
Great communication skills
Patience Patience Patience
Fair pricing
Someone who will see you first thing in the morning and is not frightened (and is not married to you).

I'm talking about our contractor, Ben Meoak. (That's Ben in the "before" bathroom picture.)

That I can speak so highly of Ben while we are mid-project speaks volumes of my respect for his work. Taking on a remodel of almost any size can be daunting. It takes buckets and buckets of money and load of energy. I am the designer on this project, so any problems with the designer only takes a look in the mirror to straighten out. ( More on that later......) Back to Ben:

A good contractor can make the difference in the success of the project, and also one's marriage surviving the process. So let's get into that first...

My husband and I have two very different ways of processing information. I'll remain diplomatic and not qualify our different styles, but suffice to say, Ben is able to flow with both of them. I'm still not sure how he does it, but he does it each day.

My husband and I both like that Ben will put his two cents in. When I come up with a design challenge, he understands my vision and knows how to make it happen. He always adds his technical advice, but he never steps on my design toes. He's Mr. Diplomacy.

It is also a reflection on Ben what kind of subcontractors have come into our home. We like all the guys who are working on the project. Ben knows that their work reflects on him, and at the same time, he will hold them to his standards.

So, if you have a project large or small I'd reccommend Ben. I love to see good people busy and the design karma that I'll get on this one should keep me golden for years to come!

To contact Ben Meoak call 971-506-7415 and tell'm Amy sent you!

p.s. Do you want to see more pics and "after shots"? If so, send me an email at info@w9yards.com

Fab Fabrics

2010-06-09T17:52:00.001-07:00

SPRING? REALLY? It's not that we are not used to rain here in the Great Northwest, but COME ON...along with the chilly temps the rain just keeps coming!

On the UP side, we have wonderful places to visit and FAB FABRICS to keep us happy! These just came in from Morocco, made with Belgium looms...O La La! Enjoy!

Thanksgiving

2009-11-21T12:59:00.000-08:00

Come on, this has to be the best holiday of the year. I love it all, the food, the family, the "what are we grateful for list". I love the list- it is not a hip or unique tradition, but it is a great one. I know that the "half empty" crowd may not think so, but they will grump no matter what.

I am one lucky girl in the friends and family department. If you knew me personally, you would know that it's true. I'm tempted to ramble on about my people- but I'm going to wait till another time.

I want to mention the first thing that always goes on my grateful list...I am grateful for indoor plumbing. If you do not think this is 100% true, you have not given it any thought. (Don't forget what a cold shower would be like in December, to name just one of the more descreet posibilities.)

It really is the modern conveniences I am grateful for every day. New to my list this year, is the GPS in my Honda CRV. I thought it was ridiculous to get one. I know my town, Portland OR, really well, why would I need one? But I have to say, this thing has lowered my stress. I drive all around to clients houses. I arrive a lot calmer, having been directed there by Carla, my GPS women. I love her. She even apologised for getting lost in the west hills and had me turn around. No prob Carla, everyone gets lost in the west hills. So GPS goes on my list this year, right after indoor plumbing, right above our electric garage door opener. Simple, wondrous, modern conveniences.

Here are other some things on my list...

1. We are still in business.

2. Our wonderful staff- truly talented, fun people to work with. They make it much more pleasent to deal with the day to day stresses of retail.

3. Every nice customer who comes in the store- whether they purchase a lot or a little- they make a big difference to our day.

4. The inspiration of beautiful fabric and the artist who design them.

Those are just a few. What are you grateful for?

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

2009-07-29T16:39:00.000-07:00

Oil cloth for outside and inside alike! Great for picnic tables, camping and under kids!

Hot enough for you?!!! I'll admit it- I've become a "weather wimp"! My hearty Midwest stock has crumbled in the face of temperatures exceeding 90 degrees. Back in my Chicago days the one liner was "It's not the heat, it's the humidity". Well, now it's THE HEAT!!

Most of us Portlanders do not have air conditioning in our homes. Thank goodness, we have it here at the store. So, if you are a Portlander, you are welcome to use us as a "cooling center"- a new term on our newscasts. But no kidding, you are more than welcome to hang out here during the day- browse fabrics, look at interior magazines...whatever.

Rumor has it that it will cool to 97 tomorrow. OY. I'm not sure what kind of mood I will be in tomorrow after a third nite of little sleep- so I thought I'd jot a few lines when I am still in good spirits! We may have to sleep here!

So, where ever you may be- hope you can beat the heat! P.S. remind of this when we are in winter!

2009-05-30T12:17:00.000-07:00

Evidence of spring in Portland- Iris in my yard

Hi All,

It has been awhile since I have blogged. We have the newsletter, and I am still mystified as to why anyone, except those near and dear to my heart, would be interested in what I had to say.

I am a little "old school" ("old" being the point), and am encouraged by my young energetic and hip staff to keep on with the blog.

Today, I am inspired. I just returned from what would have been all chore and no fun, but Portland being Portland, I am coming back to work grateful once again for living in this town. Our store, The Whole 9 Yards, is on East Burnside. The great road artery that runs through the city dividing north and south, traveling east and west.

All this to explain the little pocket of Portland that is S.E. from about 7th to 20th, between Burnside and Morrison. What is in evidence is the vital entrepreneurial spirit is growing in that cluster. It is another example of the best of what I see in the younger generation. Can't think of any other way to say it- I know it dates me terribly- but there you have it. These kids are kick'n butt, using their own steam to grow their unique vision. I love it, I support it and I hope you do in your area too.

I am off to a workshop in encaustic drawing/painting this coming week- yahoo! I hope I have something worth sharing upon my return.

Happy spring to all. Amy

Backorders, dye lots and delays Oh My....(think Wizard of Oz!)

2009-01-03T10:44:00.000-08:00

We all want things to run smoothly. No business, large or small, benefits if their customers are unhappy. In our world that can mean backorders, dye lots being off, workroom delays, just to name a few. Most people don’t know that these snafus are a part of our world. So, I offer these tips from the retailers perspective to help the design process run smoothly.

1. Ask yourself about time lines. Is there a party coming up? An in-law that is coming to visit? If time is an issue, as in “we need it NOW”, try avoiding special order fabrics. No vendor can predict shipping delays. We all want to, but the truth is all of us are at the mercy of shipping companies, importers, customs, all the things we can’t control. This is a perfect time to head to one of your favorite in stock retailers. There you have everything you need in stock, ready to go out the door to your upholsterer, or workroom. Most stores, like The Whole 9 Yards for instance, can ship the fabric anywhere you need it to go, saving more time and hassle.

2. Dye lot variance. (Which means the color.) All pros know the headaches of planning everything around a VERY specific color and having the fabric show up with 20% more yellow in the fabric yardage than in the sample. If I ran the world, no paint would go on the wall, or any other item purchased based on a fabric that you do not have in hand. If you are not fussy about the color being exact, you will not have a problem. If you are sensitive to color change, read on...

There are a few easy steps to prevent this problem. The easiest solution brings us back to the store that has the fabric in stock. If you are ordering, be sure that you can get a CFA (cutting for approval). To get a cutting, you need to know how much you need. Do not ask for a cutting unless you have decided on the exact fabric you are going to purchase. CFAs are a tool to assure correct color, not as a sample to ponder. There is usually a small fee for a CFA. At The Whole 9 Yards we credit that fee toward your order if the cutting is approved by you. I'm not sure if this is a universal policy.

Some of the best pricing available are fabrics that come direct from the mill. That is how I stock The Whole 9 Yards. These are fabrics that come by the bolt. This is a fantastic way to save money, but not an option for a customer who needs a CFA, because mills won’t do them. Mills are great for price, but not on the services provided by cut yardage vendors. So if you can find a fabric already in stock, that is the BEST way to insure that you are happy with the color.

3. Workrooms delays can happen. From small workrooms like ours, to large production houses, everyone experiences delays. What can you do to minimize them? First, be realistic about time. We are all so accustomed to the immediate gratification of the internet and mass produced products. However, in the design world, time is still a valued element. Craftsmanship takes time. If you need drapes panels by the weekend, head to one of the many places that carries them. The Whole 9 Yards carry some that we feel very good about, and I know there are many more out there. But those premade panels are not the custom work you get from your favorite workroom. Another tip, give accurate measurements to the workroom the FIRST time you hand the job over. Changing measurements mid job can be done, but they do slow everything down.

4. Educate yourself from the beginning. My experience has been that people really appreciate understanding the process. The Whole 9 Yards is staffed with people who are highly educated in interiors and they really enjoy the process. Whatever store you are purchasing from, take advantage of their experise. We can also reccommend a designer to come to your home for a fee.

5. Finally, if you are feeling overwhelmed by the decorating process, take a deep breath and do what I do...thank goodness that your big problem of the day is about decorating!!

Our group

2008-12-12T12:56:00.000-08:00

O.K., So, we are catching up with the holidays with this pic...This is some of our group here at The Whole 9 Yards. Let's see...Pamela is the kitty, Becky is the Devil (no suprise there!) I am the Witch (I believe is the queen of Halloween), Sandra is our Indian princess and Ms. Bee is Victoria.

Now we move into "The Holidays" with these fabulous birds! Victoria brought us a pattern to get started and she and Pamela have been obsessed with creating these new species, adding great additions and using our fabrics.

Victoria has done these lovely holiday windows. I am not able to get a great shot of these- too much glare on the windows, not enough talent in the photographer. But some of the details shots will give you an idea of her delightful touches!

Happy Everything! May all your holidays be bright!

See the light!

2008-11-20T16:49:00.000-08:00

Wow-feeling a little smug about your design skills? Take a look at Mother Natures design chops!

The upside of our rain here in the GREAT NW, are these amazing sunsets!! I was driving to the store and had to pull over and take some pics. All I needed was a soundtrack of a church chorus!

On the flip side...what the creative genius can do with plastic...check out this light I purchased through B.Rogers Gallery. I LOVE this light made by artist Dave Meeker out of San Fran. It is made from plastic straws! You should see his stuff (whoops- a r t) go to the gallery website...

http://www.brogersgallery.com

Oh baby, oh baby!

2008-11-19T15:59:00.000-08:00

Hi All,
Well, this is cool...a baby was born right outside our store last week in the evening! We will be getting details in the future, so far all I know is that it's a girl and she was 6 pounds. Tiny.

Since we have been open for 17 years, we have had a chance to truly see moms come in pregnant, see them as babies and watch them grow up...now that's what I call a regular customer!
Last month I went to a clothing store and the young women who waited on me I knew from her mom bringing her into the store...now she was helping me! (O.K.- I'm trying not to have that "I'm so old" feeling!)
Ah, the cycle of life.

Soaked to the skin! The Weather report

2008-11-12T16:43:00.000-08:00

Hi All, Today Portland is earning it's rep for being the wet capitol of the west! When friends come to visit me and comment on the rain, I usually reply that it's not really rain, so much as moist outside. Today however, it is WET.

Customers coming in today- only a few brave souls desperate to get out and see some color- look like drowned cats- soaked from the car to our front doors!

(this is a painting I did...City of Roses...another bonus of the rain.)

One of the only cool things about all this rain is the sound. We have lots of large sky lights on our roof and you can hear the rain pelting down...love that.

I think this weather is one of the reasons Portlanders are so crafty- as in creative- not the Snidely Whiplash kind of crafty (clearly dating myself). All this weather makes us stay in and get our brains and hands busy. And speaking of busy...our next classes have been posted at www.w9yards.com!

Time for me to do some "rainy day" jobs here at the store...the kind I usually avoid.
Be well- Stay dry! Amy

Color is my life!

2008-11-04T16:11:00.000-08:00

Hi All,

I am new to the blog world, so by way of quick intro my name is Amy and I own a fabric store in Portland OR called The Whole 9 Yards.

I am grateful that my day is surrounded by color and pattern, a staff that is brillantly creative and a customer base that appreciates our vision. I am a painter by backround and I consider the store a great big work in progress.

One of my favorite things to do are "Amy Chairs". They are one of a kind chairs that allow me to mix color and pattern- feels very much like composing a painting. Here are a few...

SPRING TIME CHAIR

LOVE BIRD CHAIR

PAISELY CHAIR

If you would like to know further details and prices of these chairs email me and I will send you our Newsletter along with a coupon!

I don't really want to ramble too much on my first time out...so hope to hear from the Blog world (I hear you are a groovy group!)

Yours in Fabric, Amy