Choosing Pillow Forms

by Bernie Iven

Do you like limp,loosey-goosey, slippy bannana pillows? Neither do I.

To get a plump pillow, insert a pillow form that is one to two inches larger than the cover.

It'l look plump, not loosey-goosey.

In case you forget, follow the rule in the photograph.

Cow Chairs

by Bernie Iven

Have you ever seen chairs made of cow hide? Of course you have, they call it leather. But what about cow fur? Well that's a little different. One of our customers recently had us do some chairs out of cow fur. For a few weeks we had them in the back room and other customers made comments. Some said, "Cool!" Others said, "Creepy!" But regardless, you have to admit they are unique. The top one comes from a "summer cow". The bottom one with the longer hair, according to our customer, came from a "winter cow". It turns out that she will soon be moving to Austin, Texas, where I suspect this type of furniture will fit right in.

Happy Upholstering

Snowbound

One of our customers sent me an email with pictures of her recent accomplishments during the snow days in Columbus this winter.

"I am attaching a couple of photos of what I made from your fabric.

I visited your store while the snow was heavy on the ground. I spent about 3 winter storms (or most of 3 weeks) constructing the bedskirt, bedspread, shams, toss pillows and chair cushions. I am very happy with how everything turned out. Carlie helped me pick out most of what I needed. Thanks so much for being there."

Thanks to Ruth Ann for this submission. If you have a project you are proud of and want to share, please send us a picture with a brief description, and you just might find your project on our blog! Send to kathy@fabricfarms.com

A Foam Analogy

by Bernie Iven

Did you know that foam can be cut with a bread knife? It can. And quite nicely.

Draw the line you want with a sharpie marker. Take a serrated bread knife. Rather than saw the foam like a piece of steak, score it lightly. Go over the score with several more light strokes until you are through. You’ll see that you’ve made a fairly smooth cut. Smooth enough any way.

If you have to cut a tight curve you can turn the knife vertically, being sure to keep it at a consistently 90 degree angle. Pretend like you are the power behind a saber saw and your knife is the saber saw blade. Make short, rapid up and down motions.

Some people tell me they use an electric bread knife. And that’s OK too--- just be careful you don’t cut yourself.

So I thought to my self, if foam can be cut with a bread knife it must be similar to bread. And you know it is?!

Of course it’s not edible, but it is cooked in a gigantic bread pan of sorts. It rises like dough. If it has more air in it, it’s softer like wonder bread. If it has less air in it, it’s firmer like pita bread. The big “loaf” of foam that comes out of the oven when it’s done is actually referred to in the industry as a “bun”. Then it gets cut into slices, just like bread.

It’s soft, cushy and springy like bread. When it comes to upholstery, foam is the bread of life.

Happy Upholstering.


Fabric Farms Interiors sells a wide variety of upholstery products including upholstery bread…. Um, that is, foam.

Upholstering, The Ultimate Benefit of

Double click the photo above to better read the words on the t-shirt.

by Bernie Iven

Among the many benefits of upholstering is the pride of being able to say you did it yourself, the joy of being able to save a lovely piece from the landfill, the ability to keep precious memories of family, the thrill of saving some dough, and picking out the perfect fabric for your décor. But the ultimate benefit for you, the upholsterer may just be immortality.

You see, "Old upholsterers never die, they always recover!" *

Happy Upholstering.

* Disclaimer: Fabric Farms Interiors urges you to understand that the above statement is mainly a joke and that we can not actually guarantee that old upholsterers will never die. But please, live long and prosper.