Spruce

May Upholstery Basics is Live on Design*Sponge!

meredith — Thu, 17 May 2012 15:21:52 +0000

Last month we finished up our beautiful boudoir. Now we take on the office! Spruce’s May Upholstery Basics post is live on Design Sponge, go check out here how to build from scratch your very own room divider!

All things needlepoint!

Katherine — Wed, 16 May 2012 03:42:11 +0000

You may have noticed a trend in the past 10 years. It seems that anything your granny did is now becoming cool. It started with the knitting craze and then crocheting and now we are seeing needlepoint all over the place. I am not one to be above trends. In fact, at the beginning of the year I made a very motivated trip to Hobby Lobby and got all the supplies that one would need to pose as a true needlepoint-er. Sadly, that bag is currently under my bed as we speak. I had good intentions…plus I figured, “why should I do all of this extra work when there is an abundance of perfectly good (better) needlework to be found at estate sales, vintage shops, Goodwill, or on the internet”. With the rediscovery of this art, we have noticed a bit of an increase in re-upholstery projects involving needlepoint. I really like this idea.

When I used to think of needle point and upholstery, the image of a formal chair with mauve roses came to mind. Similar to this…

Not that there is anything wrong with this but, I have since realized that there is a way to have a little more fun with needlework. Picture back chairs are the perfect vehicle to frame a funky retro wall hanging or even to use to make unique pillows. I am sure that there are endless ways to re-use vintage needlework but for now, check out some of these fun finds.

I hope that you are inspired to search for fun needlework. Beware…it can be quite addicting!

May Build Your Own Bench Class!

meredith — Sun, 13 May 2012 15:22:25 +0000

Another set of benches come to life! We have a rash of classes this month and had a fantastic time with the ladies in our “Build Your Own” Bench Class! We had some fun variations this time around as well. One of our students provided her own hairpin legs, giving the bench a new and different look, LOVE IT! This is a great reminder that you are more than welcome to customize your bench if you like. Just let us know and we can adjust the structure if possible. Take a look at how everything came together and drool over Katherine’s buttermilk pie. To die for!

Can’t wait for another round of redesigned chairs this coming week!

Spruce: In the Press and Around Town!

meredith — Wed, 09 May 2012 15:51:02 +0000

We are so pleased to toot our horn about being included in the current issue of Austin Monthly Magazine! We are listed as number 5 in the article, “112 Fun Things to Do in the Summer.” HOT DOG! Awesome sauce! We hope you’ll include us in your to-do list for summer and take a class, by golly!

Current Issue of Austin Monthly.

In other news, we were recently asked to participate in a grassroots campaign featuring local craftspeople, artisans, and business owners by our neighbors – tech/media software development gurus Red Method. Sprucettes and our class-goers were featured in a video to promote hand-made, American-made efforts. You can check out the video below:

Isn’t that special?!! You can see more footage of Austin locals by visiting the Red Method site here. Great mission from those folks: they are using current technology via apps to urge and enable us to buy local, create domestically, and pay it forward to ourselves and our neighbors. Great job Red Method! Thanks for thinking of us here at Spruce! We’re pleased to be included. Here’s a pic from the event…

Spruce girls at Red Method.

That’s that for now. Come on by the shop and reupholster local! We appreciate your support always.

Nugget of the Week: Canadian Tuxedo

Katherine — Sat, 05 May 2012 17:28:57 +0000

Have you ever heard of a Canadian tuxedo?…No? Well neither had I until Meredith enlightened me. For those of you who are uninformed, a Canadian tuxedo is when one wears denim on denim or a “denim sandwich”. Typically these are known as a fashion faux paus but Clar has been known to rock this ensemble from time to time. She too was unaware of its clever name. Luckily, Clar is just so adorable that she can make denim on denim cool. Take a look at our photoshoot from this past Wednesday.

I don’t know about you guys, but I am about to start breaking out my denim!

Bring Your Own Chair Class!

Katherine — Wed, 02 May 2012 02:30:45 +0000

It’s time for another installment of BYOC recap! After a brief hiatus from classes, Clar and I were happy to welcome a new group of eager upholstery enthusiasts into our class room. We had a variety of styles of chairs to work with and they all turned out beautifully. Take a look at the before and after….and everything in between.

If you would like to participate in the fun you see, check out the different classes we offer. I promise you’ll have fun!

Tip: Salvation For Your Wood-Framed Furniture

Clar — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 14:42:02 +0000

I don’t know why we haven’t mentioned it before, but we hold a couple products near and dear to our hearts here at Spruce. We use them daily to give new life to the most beat-up and dehydrated wood frames and tables that we encounter. Here they are folks:

Howard Products: Restor-A-Finish:

If you have a bunged-up stained wood frame with paint marks, dry patches, nicks, scratches, heat marks, water marks, etc., this is the product for you truly. We start with a super fine sandpaper and rub away all the paint marks left over the years on the wood frame. Sand away the paint as lightly as you can; no need to further mar the surface with a heavy hand. Douse a rag with any color of Restor-A-Finish that applies to your furniture (they offer Neutral, to Golden Oak, on to darkest Ebony) and saturate into the wood. Doesn’t hurt to use a good amount of product. Be liberal with your application. There should be a good juicy shine to the wood. Then wipe off with dry cloth or paper towel. The darker the finish you use, the more color it will leave, so be sure to remove excess Restor-A-Finish where it may come into contact with clothing or upholstery. This stuff works miracles! Check out this wood-framed wing chair that is getting the treatment.

My, how dry!

Wax on, wax off!

Parched.

Refreshed!

The Natchez Solution:

Here is a wonderful, natural, very green furniture re-hydrator. This product is geared for untreated and unsealed wood furnishings and objects. Made from beeswax, mineral oil, and lemon oil, Natchez smells great and does wonders to refresh the driest of wood bones.

A tip I’ve seen on both our supplier’s sites is the use of fine steel wool to apply the product. For both, apply the compound directly to fine steel wool and lightly sand and wet the surface of the furniture simultaneously. Always rub dry with a clean cloth or paper towel.

We are an official dealer of both products. They are at a super-affordable price of $10 to $15 dollars a pop. Both run circles around “Pledge”. Come and get it all at Spruce – you won’t be disappointed!

Fabric Finds: John Robshaw from Duralee!

meredith — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 15:15:41 +0000

So here on the Spruce blog not only will we keep you up to date on fabric trends and styles we heart, but we are going to start a new series called, “Fabric Finds”. We are always looking for more gorgeous fabrics to carry and are also inundated by others with new fabric brands and collections all the time. Enough to keep my intern, Gabrielle, busy AROUND THE CLOCK! An exciting new launch that I have been waiting to write about is a collection from Duralee. Often smaller designers will partner with larger fabric brands to create a larger, more widely distributed fabric line. When I heard that John Robshaw of John Robshaw Textiles would be launching a line with Duralee I definitely did a double fist pump. Booyah! John Robshaw has been creating beautiful Indian textiles as well as soft goods for some time now, but due to price and availability it has been difficult for us to snag. The textiles that he currently produces are stunning and made all by hand. Take a look at this video below showing just how all his wood block printed fabrics are made.

Now with the partnership of Duralee and John Robshaw you can access designs inspired by his own collections! The accessibility and price are both very exciting with this new line. Duralee has used their own mills to produce these prints, many of which are in the United States. All of his designs are inspired by his time spent in Asia learning various techniques used there for textile design. Check out this video giving you an overall look at the new John Robshaw Collection from Duralee.

Here are a few of my favorite prints from the group!

Knowing what so many of our clients request we think this is going to be a big hit! The samples are on their way to Spruce as week speak, so come by and take a look soon. Be on the lookout for more Fabric Finds coming up from Spruce over the next few weeks!

New Retail! Get ‘em while they’re hot!

Katherine — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 17:57:10 +0000

Recently many of our showroom pieces have found new homes. With so many spaces to fill in our shop we have been busy cranking out some new retail. I personally really enjoy working on retail pieces. I think it may have something to do with the stretch of time we spend with it. Typically we acquire a piece of furniture in some manor. Its condition is usually unfortunate. It usually hops in the queue (which is in one of our two sheds) with all the other pieces waiting to be picked for a makeover. When its number is finally called we get to use our creativity by picking fun and unexpected fabric choices. Eventually our creation makes its way to the showroom. When the day finally comes its rightful owner takes it home it’s like sending your kid off to college (okay…probably not but you get where I’m going with this, right?) Take a look at some of our new creations.

Before…

After!

I love this fabric…and so does everyone else at the shop. As a matter of fact, Clar just had a chair of hers upholstered with this stripe and Meredith and I have plans for using it in our homes too. The frame of the settee is great also. It has a slight mid century feel yet is still current. It is a flexible piece that can be incorporated easily into many interiors.

You may have noticed the electric pillows that are perched on this settee. A photo cannot do this fabric justice. This nontraditional floral is by Isaac Mizrahi (super chintz- citrus). These pillows can add a punch to any sofa. I have plans to use this fabric on a lampshade!

Before…

After!

We picked up these Parsons-style slipper chairs from our dear neighbors at Corner Collectors Market. These chairs went from frumpy to vibrant. We chose a cotton blend velvet in Cobalt by Fabricut. To say that these chairs are comfy would be an understatement. If you would like to meet this pair in person you can find them at Mercury in downtown Austin.

Before…

After!

You may have seen this ottoman before. It made its debut on Amanda’s monthly Design Sponge post. It once was a boring coffee table but now is a standout piece. The fabric is by Lulu DK (chant reverse- royal).

Lastly, we have a new pair of lamps with custom shades. The classic shape and neutral color affords endless scenarios for these lamps.

Amongst all of these wonderful additions, we also have some new wood pieces by a local craftsman as well as some lampshades made with custom fabric on the way.

Help find our babies a new home and come by the shop. OR check us out on Etsy!

Inspiration of the Week: Leather!

meredith — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 21:10:29 +0000

My own style is a bit of a moving target, but the one thing that continues to ring true for me is to MIX IT UP! Whether I am telling myself to mix it up in life (train for a sprint triathlon when I really haven’t exercised in eons, okay!) or with my own home, it almost always turns out for the better. A great way we encourage people to mix it up at Spruce is with texture! To create a layered look in your home often calls for different scales, different colors, and different textures. One item that I can’t seem to not want to throw in is leather! It is so many things…rich, homey, luxurious, comfortable, tailored, LOVELY! Leather can be appropriate in just about any design aesthetic. Mixed in with other textiles it will greatly enhance the “vibe” you are looking to put off. Check out a few knockout integrations of leather into a space.

Here are a few of some of the leather pieces I have been drooling over!

Check out these unconventional uses of leather. Don’t let the boundaries of convention stop you!

We all know that leather can be overdone, but a little bit here and there can’t hurt. Leather can be a pricey option, but have no fear! There are hundreds of faux leathers out there that are supple and look glorious. This is a great choice for those who for personal reasons would be against the use of leather as well. If you are having a design block and can’t figure out your next step, consider leather. It may be just what you need!