Patchhhhhhhhwwwwworrrrrrk! Say it for the people! Say it for the children! Do you think Obama’s entire inaugural address could be set to the tune of Rhythm Nation? It’s undoubtedly best not to find out, but what a speech! It was especially nice to have a president acknowledge what every American already knows: hey, we’re all different, and that’s a good thing. So put away the one size fits all rhetoric of the past, and enjoy the pretty fruits of our collective, cobbled together heritage, design style.
Photo via Innumerable Goods
Patchwork quilts and pillows have long held the symbolic weight of history — a scrap of grandpa’s shirt here, a square of baby’s first blanket there, and in time a singular piece of fabric weaves together the stories of generations. Perhaps the zeitgeist of changing history is sweeping through the land, because patchwork is EVERYWHERE, but this ain’t your grandma’s country quilt.
Nosireeebob, patchwork can be modern, even mod. Arne Jacobsen’s seminal Egg Chair, reconfigured by artist Tal R, is bright, bold, and one of kind — awww, just like us. Look! There’s even a stars and stripes model. And that actually makes me… proud.
Patchwork goes haute in this gorgeous living room featured on Desire to Inspire. I will take the entire room, please, but the space would be bland city without the sofa, which looks like it was produced by Squint Limited, makers and purveyors of all things bright and patchy:
Can you even imagine all the labor that must have gone into the tufting on that headboard?! And I enjoy peeking into their studio in the background… I would love to rifle through their stacks and stacks of fabric scraps. But for me, the real prize is that kissing bench. Momma like.
This headboard featured in Living Etc is a little more DIY friendly, but still patchylicious. I love the tiny red buttons hidden in the tufts, like secret surprises only sleepers can see.
For some global flava, these patchwork couches made of treasured Turkish tapestries by Bojka are singularly spicy and delicious. Found on super blog, Double Takes.
Ok, this patchwork beanbag couch by Bertjan Pot is kind of like something my grandma used to have, but it’s so much more squishy and inviting than grandma’s hard, lumpy, bumpy seating. I envision a sleepover party with pillow fights and popcorn, but don’t eff up my rad duct tape rug, you messy beasts.
We can’t let fabric have all the fun. Welcome to the patchwork party, crazy case goods by Boca do Lobo (designers with a cute wolf logo). This inspires me to paint all the drawers in my buffet table different colors, although I think I might fail to capture the full range of awesomeness without some mad carpentry skillz.
Speaking of mad carpentry skillz:
I’m sure fitting all those tiny pieces of wood waste and off-cuts together into something — anything — was challenging. Making an actual load bearing chair out of scrap is pretty damn impressive. Good job, Amy Hunting!
Meanwhile, I have a minor obsession with vintage patchwork goodies, but not quilts…
I’m a woozy floozy for pretty much anything in Paul Evan’s Cityscape series. Super shiny patchwork metal casing + ultra square lines = unmitigated lust on my part. Meow. Both pieces available at 1st Dibs if you got the money, honey.
Yes, the times they are a changing. So why don’t we all sit down over some tea to talk about it? This Tea For Two set by Vika Mitrichenka is sure to get the conversation flowing. How about, you say “Toe May Toe” and I say “If you break my fancy tea set, this happy fun time tea party is over, pronto.” Oh, alright. I say “Toe Mah Toe.” Because, thanks to Obama I’m feeling warm and fuzzy like that.
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Oh fun! If done right patchwork can look great. No more granny squares here!
oh, i’m having a hard time deciding which is my favorite, this round up is out of control.
hmmm… ok, i think i love the patchwork mirrored glass the most
and the Bojka couch
and the squint bed
I agree – out of control awesomeness. That bean bag couch belongs in a seriously rad rec-room.
I’m all about patches, because I am basically a hobo, so I am very glad to see that they are going haute. Sweet!
So glad you posted about this. I have been on the fence, but now I now this look is rockin’. My favorite is the headboard, it’s so weird, yet chic.
The Paul Evans pieces are making me twitchy in my happy place. Another fabbo round-up, Miss Erin.
P.S. I have to give it to you. I couldn’t string two thoughts together during my pregnancy. Bravo, Mamacita.
Raina, I’m pretty sure it has become evident that I can’t, either
Stephanie, I feel a hobo chic post coming on… it would be so apropos to the times, don’t you think? Although kind of a downer, I guess.
Raina, the girl can still type, but give her a logic puzzle and it’s all out the window.
The headboard is hot.
Who do I have to screw to get that headboard and buffet table? Who am I kidding? Karly and I can whip that up in no time and it will save me having to make whats his face an over-rated breakfast which will force small talk when all I really want to do is part ways, shower and wonder why I had to have that extra shot of tequilla.
I think hobo chic will be the trend to watch. I christen it Hooverville redux.
If you need inspiration, try this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1JIa5r5nkE
Or we could do field research at the National Hobo Convention in Britt, Iowa – the second week in August, every year! Oh, yes.
I literally cannot wait until you come out to visit, Patrick!
Tam, the headboard is indeed popular. DIY post?
Karly, not all of us can do your silly Tangram puzzles. I say “silly” because they piss me off.
Love literally every single one of those sofas! Ah, the colors and patterns!
Stephanie, I love Hooverville Redux/Hobo Chic! It’s a little bit Grapes of Wrath with a dash of Dorothea Lange and a lot of cardboard on top. Oh, and patchwork, of course.
The honey and I went as 1928 and 1929 for Halloween; I was a flapper and he was a hobo (so on trend, right?). I need to dig up those pictures.
John Hodgman cracks me up. We have his book that lists hobo names… like Joey Stinkeye Smiles. Kills me.
ohhh, ixnay on the atchworkpay.
These are *adorable*. I want to quilt my life! First, I need to learn how to sew. Even though I failed HomeEc for this reason… *yipe*
Holy Shit, awesome post Erin. That third room makes me weak in the knees…
Welcome, Raezin! I’m not terribly crafty on the sewing front, either, so I am in awe of all the work that went into these objects.
ah..i love em all especially the headboard, the living room featured in design to inspire, and the Paul Evan’s series. Patchwork seems to be pretty popular and have been featured in so many blogs. Erin, but yours is a little different. You have included furniture, carpentry design and not just plain fabric patchworks. Great post.
Hobo’s … like clowns … are really quite scary. But I think you’re right: it’s all about reduce reuse recycle waste not want not love the house you’re in right now. Excellent post.
Thanks Anusha, and welcome Pam! I love your site on retro renovation because I couldn’t agree more and recycling and reusing… I’m still working on the reducing
Oh, and NO ONE likes clowns. No one.
Love love love this whole post, but especially the Squint Limited stuff, Living Etc. headboard and Bojka stuff. I gotta say though, the Egg chair loses something in patchwork upholstery… the upholstery looks loose, and the beauty of that chair is the pristine lines.
Stephanie, Hooverville Redux is genius.
I love so must, beautiful patchwork, creative and original, i am sorry but my ingles is not got i live in on island S. Miguel – Azores i am Portuguese. Congratulations
Hi Ana Cristina, and welcome! Thanks for the sweet comment, and your english is much better than my spanish
[...] tags: colour, pretty things by vintagegeekgirl I only just stumbled across this gorgeous seat at Design Crisis. Doesn’t it just make you happy looking at it? Imaging sitting on [...]
I go weak in the knees seeing these lovely patchwork sofas. wish there was somewhere in India that I could get these from. Your post is amazingly heartening..love it
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