Lust Worthy

Some of you may recall a shoot I mentioned doing a few months ago for Readymade Magazine. It is due to hit the stands today. I am so excited to be able to share my take on Sarah Kathryn Smith's metal diamond in the rough. I just loved shooting this project and capturing Sarah's fun, funky style. She hunted down the curtain fabric above after seeing it used on an episode of Madmen.

Sarah was actually shown her Lustron home as a "tear down" but she saw the potential and was fascinated by it's history. A former Scarlett O'Hara impersonator and owner of her own booming match making company, she is not afraid of a challenge. Above she wears a 50's tea dress from Witty Vintage.

She fashioned these curtains from two different sets she found at Target. The glass beads add a little sparkle with the afternoon light.

Working on a tight budget while trying to maintain the retro integrity was not easy. Especially in the kitchen which had suffered the most damage over the years. Here she opened up the kitchen by replacing the large built in with this cool industrial island. She used salvaged granite for the counters, IKEA metal cabinets and found her working vintage stove on the side of the road.

One of our many "cover tries"... I fell in love with this original built in shelve. Local Altanta bakery Sweet Pockets provided these very tasty props, red velvet cupcakes.

Sarah rocked this retro perfect dress by Lesley Evers which almost made the cover! 

This is the rough mock up (before retouching) I was sent, so kawaii! They decided to go with another shoot that illustrated the getaway theme of the issue. I have to admit it is pretty cute too. I love this mag, can't wait till they come out with an iPad version!

How do you hang a picture on a metal wall? Magnets of course! This lampshade makeover was a fun, easy, no sew project that I took to Whipstitch and they whipped together. I paid $3 for the lamp at a thrift store and only used about $3 in fabric so it is both cute and cheap, my two favorite things. You can get the low down on the "how to" here.

 

all photos & content © Lara Rossignol

styled by Christa Leveto ~ hair & make up by Faith Brooks

Sew Sweet

Whipstitch is the kind of store that makes you want to make something. So full beautiful textiles that even a non sewer such as myself wants to load up on reams of fabric and try her hand at a project runway creation.

The dream child of owner Deborah Moebes who admits she created it almost by accident. A very happy accident indeed!

Located in Atlanta's booming Westside Provisions District it is much more than a fabric store. I actully sought them out to help on a project for the Readymade shoot I was doing. 

It is unlike any fabric store I have ever been to before. I often buy fabric for backgrounds and sometimes feel underwhelm by the selection. Whipstitch is stocked full of unique options and so much more.

I was first attracted to these eclectic little bundles, I am guessing are intended to appeal to quilters. I thought they'd be perfect for table top work. 

They also sell patterns, have an etsy store, offer classes and workshops and there is even a book.

 

 

all photos & content © Lara Rossignol

Retro Lust

I had never heard of Lustron Homes till about a week ago when I was contacted by Readymade Magazine about doing a shoot for them featuring one. Introduced in 1947 they were a modern marvel at the time, a pre-fab house made completely of enamel coated steel. Both inside and out!

The company was based in Columbus, Ohio and shipped the homes, designed by Morris Beckman, all over the country. The houses originally sold for between 8,000-9,500 and were then assembled on site. Of the over 50,000 homes sold in the companies short 3 year existence, only about 2000 still remain standing.

Easy maintenance was a big selling feature but hold on...doesn't water + metal= rust?

They have now developed almost a cult like following with several sites devoted to the history and documenting of these little gems. I found both Lustron Connection and Lustron Preservation very informative. There has even been a film and books on the subject. 

Well at least one of those homes made it to the Atl and I am excited to be photographing it for Readymade's February/March issue. So fun and really, could it be any more up my alley?

content © Lara Rossignol