I’m a sucker for hearts, and I’m a sucker for doilies. I think they make great appliques. It must be my inner granny, who seems to be getting more pronounced every day. This velvet 1940s dress from liebemarlene vintage is a wonderful vintage example that might inspire you. I love those lacy hearts on the …

Where do you find inspiration for the things you make? For me, it often comes from the color color palettes used in the past. Sometimes they’re in vintage clothing or textiles, but just as often it can be an illustration, a postcard, a photo, or a book cover. They can be so fresh and unusual, …

Happy Friday everyone! What are planning to make this weekend? Any fun projects? Are you starting holiday gifts yet? Here are some fun project ideas I’ve seen around blogland this week: Placements crocheted from plastic bags don’t sound nearly as cute as they look. Pretty DIY patterned notebook covers that look really polished A roundup …

Have you seen this tutorial for fancy headbands over at A Field Journal? So so lovely and perfect for holiday soirees or gifts.

Lately, the internet seems to abound with personal long-term clothing experiments. You’ve probably heard of some of them, like The Uniform Project, or the many people (myself included) who have participated in Wardrobe Refashion. But MakeShift is particularly amazing. In her own words: “MakeShift is an art and research project that examines the relationships between …

Isn’t this gorgeous? It’s a lovely shaped cuff and pocket on a vintage 1940s jacket from ladyday0_5. The jacket looks like gabardine (which I love). But my favorite part is the top stitching on that pocket! It just makes the wonderful shape of that little divet stand out even more. This would be a very …

This week’s visual inspiration comes from the letters P and Q, as in pens and quilts. It’s fine to mind those p’s and q’s, but also to be a little bit of a smarty pants when you are making something you love by hand. One thing that greatly aids me in my projects, be they …

Moving to Barcelona introduced me to some of the simultaneously most fascinating and intimidating establishments I have ever encountered: Mercerias (Haberdashers)! Far more numerous than I have previously known, there seems to be a small Merceria on most residential streets, which are in addition to a few larger and grander Mercerias dotted about the city. …

Hi! I’m Rose and I’m an artist, designer, and writer living outside of Istanbul in Turkey.  I’m so excited to be here at Colette bringing you visual weekly treats about art, fabric, beautiful objects, and things that make our homes and studios come to life. There are so many things that make me feel inspired. …

Take a look at this little gem. It’s a book about pattern cutting, published in Barcelona in 1929, entitled ‘Corte Parisien Sistema Martí’, in other words ‘Martí’s Parisian Cutting System’ by Doña Martí de Missé. At this point, I must point out that nowhere after the front cover is there anymore mention of ‘Parisien’! I’m …

Have you seen these beautiful Chloe-inspired shoe accessories over at the vamoose? So pretty!

They don’t make things like this anymore, do they? This little kit of mending thread, hair pins, and safety pins in a gorgeous deco “handy pack” is just so cute. And the colors are pretty festive for this time of year. {image: deco haberdashery by ticking stripes on Flickr}

I love Halloween, but every year I run into the same problem. I always think, this year I will make myself a cool, elaborate costume. I will put my sewing skills to their intended use, making absurd outfits that you cannot buy for love or money, and I will celebrate my favorite holiday with style. …

I can’t stop looking at this rainbow of buttons from the always inspiring kitschen pink. I have a great deal of mismatched and one-off bakelite buttons. I’m not so much into button jewelry, but one day I’ll find a use for them!

I love the details that you find in vintage clothing. With some notable exceptions, it seems most of these details have disappeared from mainstream off-the-rack clothing, and are now only echoed in very expensive designer garments. That is, unless you can sew. There are a million ways to be inspired by beautiful vintage clothing and …

I just think this silk print from Thai Silks is amazing. I could see it as a gorgeous, simple sheath dress or the charmeuse version as an unexpected lining.

These gloves made by John Koch are breathtaking, aren’t they? There is a Gallery of Gorgeous Gloves by this master milliner over at Threads. Apparently, their latest issue features a demonstration on custom made gloves! I’m excited to get it, as I’d love to try my hand (ha!) at this skill. I even have a …

I have to admit, sometimes I wonder what was going on inside the heads of fabric designers in the 1950s. I’m sure there’s a theme to this fabric, I just don’t know what it is. Teapots + roosters + horseman with sword + vines = ??? But in any case, it works and I like …

Have you heard of Project 95? It’s a network of small shops dedicated to increasing awareness of local, independently run fabric stores. According to their website, 95% percent of fabric shoppers purchase from chain stores. We all know that isn’t good for local small business, or for getting the specialized selection we might want, so …

I recently acquired the gorgeous vintage dress, which appears to be handmade (looks like the early 1940s?). There are many reasons I love this dress, but first among them is the beautiful, bright, silky butterfly fabric. Excuse the wrinkles, it had just had a bath. So now I’m a bit obsessed with butterfly fabrics, especially …

I recently picked up a really pretty vintage pale blue velvet pin cushion with a base of scrolling brass vines (not pictured here). That has set me off looking for pretty velvet pin cushion. There’s so much that can be done with the design of pin cushions, yet everyone seems to have the same little …