Sketches of Arnold Scaasi

International Fashion Desk Diary

by

Shirley Kennedy

Very Vermillion: the classy strapless velvet gown with a swooping skirt decorated by a dramatic bow.

New Year's Eve: an array of fashions combine lots of glamour, elegance and total sensuality.

Go to great lengths: make an impact in a royal blue silk sheath with a front dip and back interest, body defining draping and a matching stole.

FYI dear readers, Arnold Scaasi was born in Montreal Canada in the early 30's and dressed First Lady Barbara Bush and famous gals such as Elizabeth Taylor &
Barbara Walters just to name a few.
Enjoy 

To see your vision come to life, email us about our design services at Peggy Braswell Design. 

You can purchase many of the items found on this blog, according to BRASWELL and much more at  BRASWELL. 

We will work with the trade. 

Shadow Drawing! Friday's tip

The shadow chandelier on my office wall gets many comments-

so here is a 

step by step - HOW TO

 make something yourself, dear readers!

1. You need a blank wall (or you could use a large piece of paper)

2. A good light to cast the shadow - I used a 6" toy elephant here to show how the light cast a shadow.

You could totally draw this shadow elephant or anything you fancy.
It is easy, you'll see (Big or Small item)

3. The tools I used -

 Xacto knife, 4B - 6B Graphite pencil, 
Blending stump(any smudging tool or fingers instead of a smudging tool),
eraser-that's important because I have to erase a great deal!

5.  You can use a graphite pencil  to lightly outline the object, just follow the line from the shadow to make your drawing.  I used latex gloves at this stage.

6. When you are finished drawing, smudge(blend) the lines with a blending stump or your fingers.
 

7. Spray the picture with fixative.This is an important step! 
Spray lightly about 2-3 coats about 6" to 12" away from the wall.

 Viola, you have a shadow drawing! - you made in 7 easy steps

Tell me what you drew & where as I am interested to know!

To see your vision come to life, email us about our design services at Peggy Braswell Design. 

You can purchase many of the items found on this blog, according to BRASWELL and much more at  BRASWELL. 

We will work with the trade.

DYI - Many uses of Joss Paper

Saturday - Tip 

One of my favorite things to work with is Joss paper. 

 Joss paper is paper printed with various representations of earthly goods, such as money, which is burned during ceremonies meant to honor ancestors in some parts of Asia. Paper designed to represent money is the most common form, although Joss paper can also represent houses, cars, credit cards, and an assortment of other things. It is typically made of white bamboo or rice paper, and may be decorated with seals or stamps. 

  Living in LA, I can buy Joss paper in China Town - (I am so blessed to have China town). You can buy Joss paper online here to those who prefer shopping online.

  Joss paper comes in a variety of heavenly (literally) images or plain with Gold/Silver leaf - in all different sizes. I adore all of it!

Notepad - I use Joss paper for taking messages.

Party favor - Here you see a stack of Joss paper wrapped with gold ribbon and a gold pen at dinner parties.
After dinner I ask the guests to write a wish and we burn them,so fun for everyone.  
Each new year, I write my wishes for the New Year on Joss paper and burn it, sending wishes soaring toward the heavens. ( I believe it works magic) 

  
Gift wrap - I use it to wrap gifts. It works for all occasions!

Decor - I put it on a framed mirror using Mod Podge.  If it is standing still I will cover it with Joss paper!

Recently, a group of my friends got together and covered blank notebooks in Joss paper to be used as "miracle books".

I will take you step by step through covering a book - Get ready!

 You will need a blank notebook with no spirals (I prefer lined paper - if not my writing goes all over the place), glue stick, Mod Podge (Gloss), sponge brush, scissors, ribbon and Joss paper of your choice. 

1. Glue Joss paper to the book (I use a glue stick), inside, outside and spine. You can trim the paper to the notebook edge or fold it inside and glue it.

2.  Use a foam brush and put Mod Podge all over Joss paper - It may create air bubbles but from my experience, the bubbles disappear once it completely dries.

 3. Put a second coat of Mod Podge once the first coat dries, stand the book and let it dry for 2 to 3 days. 

4. Put a piece of ribbon to use as a bookmark. (This is optional)

Here is the final product!

This process works for anything you would like to cover. Mod Podge is magic stuff.

 dear readers and let me know what you covered:)))))) 

For all of us who live in LA, CA-the 405 Freeway is closed this weekend sooooo this is a grand time to cover those books! Stay Safe + off the freeways.
I Surely AM!

To see your vision come to life, email us about our design services at Peggy Braswell Design. 

You can purchase many of the items found on this blog, according to BRASWELL and much more at  BRASWELL. 

We will work with the trade.

Murphy bed - for a small room, Pt. 1

Friday TIP DAY

 Making a Wow Murphy Bed. Where did the Murphy Bed originate?

According to Wikipedia,

William L. Murphy, who was born in Columbia, California, near Stockton on January 1, 1876, moved to San Francisco at the turn of the century where he met his future wife. He lived in a one-room apartment that had a standard bed taking up most of the floor space. Because he wanted to entertain, he began experimenting with a folding bed, and applied for his first patent around 1900.

The idea of giving a client
a great bed in a small room is exciting to me as a designer! Function then form.

On my website here is an example of a Murphy bed in a TV room. (#12)

Their bed is hidden in the middle (behind the split) of the real bookcase.

Items on the moveable bookcase(when the bed comes down) are secured with museum wax.

Each side slides over a stationary bookcase attached to the wall, a queen bed pulls down. 

Voila! The room becomes a guest room.

The furniture in front of the bookcase moves to the side when the bed is down, in this case, a chair & ottoman + Eames lounge chair & ottoman.  (Make sure there is enough room for the furniture to move to the side in your planning stage)  

Always include black out shade or curtains to block the morning sun for your sleep-overs. 

We have just finished another project which includes a Murphy Bed - based on the concept of the bookcase.  This time I used Wallpaper from Lee Jofa on 5 panels (3 sliding + 2 stationary)

A shot of the book case while it is in the shop with the wallpaper taped on the door (to see how it looks!)

Puck lights in the over head panel, before the back goes on (this is in the shop)

Don't forget to make a niche (sq.box) on the inside, for little items etc.  - I have stained the inside a dark color to match the floors.

 Here the wallpaper is applied to the stationary sides (you can see - one of the three sliding pieces that hide the bed to the left in the above picture.  

 

Now for the Murphy bed frame here. The company sends great instructions.
That is me reading the instructions.
Next post I will show you the finished project, it looks terrific! 
The Client is so thrilled, that is what counts. 

I can't wait to hear what you think,dear readers...
 

Happy 4th of July!

Dear Readers,

I would like to wish everyone a very happy 4th of July!

Love,

Peggy