When I think of patchwork, I think of my bedspread as a ten-year-old girl. I have plenty of fond memories of my elementary school years but my decorating sense is not one of them. I have since graduated from rag dolls and country quilts but the decor scene is looking to bring me back. The modern patchwork seems to be popping up in various forms and some of it is actually pretty great (I am in love with this Curio Glass Mirror from Fringe!).
Maybe this patchwork trend is being sparked out of the green movement? Patchwork is built on the idea of piecing scrap materials together and there aren’t many practices greener than that. And be it green or not, if something looks green, it tends to look cool too.
When New York furniture designer Richard Wrightman told me he outsourced all of his chair production to the Amish of Lancaster County, I couldn’t believe it. But Richard, I asked, they don’t use electricity. This didn’t seem to bother him. It actually enticed him to use the Amish. He says their history of woodworking, strong work ethic, and integrity swayed him away from some of the more economical factories abroad and they do use some electricity.
I have been noticing naked mannequins in every store I go to—and these aren’t clothing stores. Small wooden or wire mannequins are being sold as decorative objects through all the home decor manufacturers and I don’t really know how I feel about it. The bare and sometimes faceless dolls are kind of charming yet creepy at the same time. I suppose one or two could be sweet in a dressing area or funky fabulous in vintage-style living room—you think?
