Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Satine: A Fashion Review

Hey Nesters! Since the next upholstery class post may be the last post about Satine for quite some time, I thought we could bid her adieu by getting to who "Satine" really is on the inside.   Except I suppose, since you watched me tear it down to the frame-work, we all know exactly whats really on the inside.  But let me be weird and personify her take a stroll down ficticious memory lane and see how she started out, only to reintroduce you to next Monday as our newly made over, uber chic gal.  So let's delve in, shall we?

Who was Satine before.....


 
At first, I thought she was a seedy relic; a dusty version of what looked like it once was a provocative piece in the salon of a brothel.  Hence the name Satine, a French "courtesan" played by Nicole Kidman in the 2001 musical hit Moulin Rouge.   She was faded magenta velvet, with buttons and boxy seams galore.  Not to mention her disheveled, ornate gimping.  She just had too much going on for her own good.  That, my friends, is what made her the perfect candidate for the My Fair Lady treatment.  She was in for a fabulous make over.  


 Oh shoot, did I just admit to you my affinity for mid-century musicals? Ratz!


I peeled the layers of crusty fabric and cotton to reveal her bare bones. Just the wood frame and springs. And suddenly she was again this beautiful piece. All those ugly clothes weren't covering up her beauty anymore.  We got to see that deep down inside... she really was stunning.




I couldn't deny her origins and with the final decision of sticking with her original fabrication of velvet, we paid homage to her past.  The color choice was to enhance the silhouette and curve of the back.  I thought it would look regal.  Little did I anticipate that it would turn out looking much more nautical.  Very much like the lounge chair in an elegant captains quarters.



By adding buttons and decorative nails, it's like spicing her up with some accessories, as I would with any of my own outfits. {Don't you love this necklace?! Swoon!}


Now I'm left to just put the last finishing touches on her.  It's almost like doing her hair and make up. The outfit's on it, now we're just polishin' 'er up! 

Now it's just a matter of time before I get to show you guys the official reveal! So exciting! So, riddle me this: Am I the only psycho that personifies their pieces that they create? To me they all have a personality and a history and deserve their own little made up back story.  I find it to be a fun exercise while I'm working. Or maybe I just have a totally overactive imagination...  You tell me, am I totally nuts-o? Or at least, are you nuts-o too?  Happy Tuesday, Nesters!

6 comments:

  1. Ohmygosh this post was too much fun! Love all the references and the little story =) Satine is kind of a famous little piece o-furniture now in blog-land! show us already!!! =)

    xoXOxo
    Jenn @ Peas & Crayons

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  2. Stopping by from Holyoke Home! Wow, Satine really is a stunner.

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  3. What a great post! I love your imagination and flair. I don't necessarily personify all my objects, but I always go through scenarios in my head about who has owned the piece and what has gone on around it for the last 60 years.

    Sometimes they tell their own stories. The undersides of my dining room chairs have all the names of the family members who owned them written in crayon, including all four kids and "Mom" and "Dad." I guess the kids wanted to make sure everyone sat in the right place.

    As for being nuts-o, I plead guilty. Hey, I just made up a story yesterday about how "C. Jere'" came about. What's life without a little make-believe?

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  4. I love this post--so fun!

    I don't always name my furniture but like Dana, I like to think about where furniture's been, what it's seen over the years, etc. This is fun to do with old buildings too :)

    Happy Tuesday!

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  5. Awe. Some.

    Awesome. Can I ask for bigger images when we get the 'after' shots?

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Heya Nesters! I always love your feedback! So dish, because we all want to hear it! <3