Vintage Metallic Trims...The Hunt

When I started making pillows I was always

trying to find the French and Italian

Metallic Gimps that go back through
 the ages.

I dream of the trims that I saw in 
paintings such as this.
Just look at size of the braids
on these uniforms! 
The metal thread is usually wrapped around
a coil to give it a raised look.

Metallic bullion..

always the perfect

 trim for

the ends of pillows.

Isn't this detail beautiful?  
And I love the worn and aged silk.
These trims are not only difficult to find, but are 

extremely expensive.  I found a real

nice lot at a church rummage

sale probably 20 years ago and

still use it sparingly. 

One of the best sources is vestments

and ecclesiastical religious items.

Pieces, just pieces.

  This Russian garment I found on

ETSY and if you just take the trims and bullion

off carefully it would be worth it.

The church never scrimps. 

A pillow maker I admire is

Rebecca Vizard.

Born in the south she knew how to

sew and sought out tapestries, trims

and textile elements at the

antique shops in New Orleans.

Her pillows I consider works of art.

In 1999 Rebecca got her first order for her pillows 
from Nieman Marcus, 
of course, 
and the rest is history.

She has such a brilliant style and her 

pillows are perfection.
Rebecca travels throughout
 the world looking for the exceptional
 historical pieces
that make her pillows so desirable.

Just the right balance of not too much, 
as the fabrics and the trims speak for themselves.
Each pillow has that incredible deluxe
look that you know when you see it,
 that Rebecca has created it. 

She works with Aubusson fragments, 
antique velvets, vintage Fortuny and 
saves these works of art
 for future generations to enjoy.

To the average shopper they look old
and used.  To the trained eye, with some
historical knowledge, they are iconic.

Her pillows run from the hundreds
 to thousands of dollars, but you know they are
 real treasures and one on a sofa
can "make" a room.

You can find replicas of metallic gimps
 and embellishments
 in the terrific
 trim shops in NYC and Paris, 
but I really enjoy the hunt to find
the real thing.

Is this the same as foraging for truffles?
Keep an eye out, you just never know
when you will find a piece to make
a pillow you will treasure forever.

My "Holy Grail" would be to find one

 of these wonderful royal banners.

Can you imagine this as 

a pillow?