Making Peace with Ornament
There are some Modernists (you know who you are) who, like Adolf Loos in 1908, equate ornament with crime. One interior designer we know, is proud that he designed an 8-year-old girl’s room in all taupe. “Now that’s a crime,” I thought. That’s when I knew that I wasn’t one of them. But I also knew that I had no tolerance for doo-dads or designer names mindlessly attached to things.
I think it was moving to our 1914 Arts and Crafts bungalow that helped me make peace with ornament. Here’s where I am now: If you’re going to have ornament, something that says “Hey, look here. A little closer. I have something beautiful to show you.” If you’re going to have that, it has to be really well-designed and well-made ornament to warrant the extra look.
Laura Foster Nicholson’s exquisite ribbons fit the bill. I first saw them when she came to our studio to rent our long-arm quilting machine. I immediately thought that I had to design something to use them to their best advantage. Now that’s good ornament for you. Good ornament is something that you want to design around. Laura’s ribbons are beautifully designed and woven, befitting an artist of her caliber.
I’ve put them on backpacks, purses and luggage tags so far. I’m planning some on pillows as well. They are so lovely they begged to be used. I try to design something to avoid having to deal with cut edges, but when that’s not possible, Fray Check can be applied to the cut edge.
Our daughter fell in love with these bug ribbons at a local fabric store and we made her this cool messenger bag with a ladybug lining to show them off. And by the way, her bedroom is a beautiful shade of robin’s egg blue and has Marimekko curtains.
May 16th, 2006 at 5:30 am
you’ve aptly summed up my feelings for all things ornamental– brilliant!
these ribbons are wonderful. I especially love the pears and the poppies– thankyou for the link!
May 16th, 2006 at 6:42 am
I cannot make the link work???
May 16th, 2006 at 7:08 am
link is fixed now
May 16th, 2006 at 8:25 pm
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the ladybugs!
May 17th, 2006 at 2:06 am
It was an arts-and-crafts creed to “have nothing in one’s house that one does not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” :) Good to live by.
May 19th, 2006 at 8:45 pm
Thanks for the wonderful writeup, Weeks! We do inspire each other as I adore coming out to your amazingly creative place and working with the quilting machine on other ideas about fabrics that I get.
Regarding the fraying on cut ribbons — I use a woodburner tool and a metal straight edge to cut them when I don’t want them to fray. It needs to be very hot and the straightedge is essential. I do it on a cookie sheet so I don’t wreck the work table. This seals the edges byt melting them and then you can use design bits for applique, etc.
May 19th, 2006 at 10:09 pm
We love Laura’s designs…..she is truly a gifted artist. Her ribbons can be used in so many ways…….wearables, notecards, quilts, handbags, tablescapes…etc. etc. Enjoy them and develop new ways to use them….
May 20th, 2006 at 11:37 pm
A friend once said that the world is like a Christmas tree. When the ornaments are all the same, it looks nice for a moment, but then you lose interest. When the ornaments are all different, we spend time looking, touching and getting to know each ornament individually. Those who appreciate people on this level will most certainly appreciate the wonderous objects we can create with items of whimsy. Laura’s ribbons, and the imaginative and thoughtful projects which incorporate them, beutify our world and our lives.