{"id":13461,"date":"2019-10-17T10:30:56","date_gmt":"2019-10-17T14:30:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/?p=13461"},"modified":"2019-10-15T09:26:26","modified_gmt":"2019-10-15T13:26:26","slug":"customer-spotlight-its-all-about-custom-with-patricia-marquis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/customer-spotlight-its-all-about-custom-with-patricia-marquis\/","title":{"rendered":"Customer Spotlight: It’s All About Custom with Patricia Marquis"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Five-star ratings. Exquisite fabrics. Quality soft\nfurnishings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s no secret we have a big thing for quality craftsmanship\nand taking time to make a long-lasting product. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So does Patricia Marquis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Patricia
Patricia Marquis, creator of Southern Shades<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

If you haven\u2019t visited Southern Shades<\/a> on Etsy, we recommend you take a look. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Southern Shades<\/a> is home to handcrafted pillows, window treatments, and assorted soft furnishings. Started in 2013, this company and its beautiful products are featured on Etsy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Custom
Schumacher Miles Redd Peacock Pillow Cover<\/a> with Self Cording from Southern Shades.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Our paths crossed with the owner and founder of Southern Shades, Patricia Marquis, when she purchased a new bed from DutchCrafters, shared some photos of it with us, and mentioned her company that designs and makes soft furnishings\u2026\u2026by hand\u2026..with customer involvement to help create exactly what they\u2019re looking for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Velvet
Manuel Canovas velvet pillow<\/a> from Southern Shades.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Patricia will only produce a quality product, and her work is so in keeping with DutchCrafters practice of authentic quality craftsmanship that we were intrigued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We had to know more and pursued Patricia to share what she does and tell us about her work with fine soft furnishings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Linen
Linen box pillow<\/a> from Southern Shades.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

DC:\u00a0 Tell us about Southern Shades? How did you get started making handcrafted pillows and window treatments?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PM:\u00a0 I was a corporate legal assistant for 23 years before starting Southern Shades Home in 2013.\u00a0I have always sewn for people–my mom said I would sit for hours sewing paper towels together when I was 5.\u00a0I made all my clothes growing up, cheerleading uniforms for my squads, dance dresses and then as I got older, I began sewing professionally at night and on the weekends.\u00a0I designed and made cheerleading uniforms, did women’s tailored suits, weddings and home decor–mostly pillows and drapery.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Soft
Gazelle velvet pillow<\/a> from Southern Shades.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

I moved to Maine in 2007. Having lived in the same city my whole life, it was so enlightening to change things up.\u00a0Maine is full of creative people and artists, and I found myself wanting to be more creative.\u00a0After four years, I moved back to Tennessee and to the same law firm but in a different field of law and I was so bored.\u00a0I was compelled out of boredom and creative compulsion to open an Etsy store in 2013 and thought I’d try to sell some pillows.\u00a0It immediately took off and after six months I was able to quit my legal position and create and sew full-time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DC:\u00a0 Can you tell us a little about the fabrics you use? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

PM:\u00a0 We make pillows of all kinds and shapes, window treatments and bedding from showroom fabrics.\u00a0One of my obsessions growing up was a weird fetish with fine fabric.\u00a0I used to spend hours in the better fabric stores touching and examining fabrics.\u00a0I was offered a job right out of high school by a fabric store that I frequented, which I regret not taking, coordinating fabrics for customers.\u00a0I just know what weights and types of fabrics work well for projects.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Custom
Schumacher Lotus Garden Pillow<\/a> from Southern Shades.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

When I started my store, I had no experience at all with showroom fabrics or the designers—It is a whole other world.\u00a0There are literally thousands of beautiful fabrics, and there are thousands of people who collect high-end textile products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I began, I used inexpensive fabrics for my\npillows, but they were tailored and made well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

DC:\u00a0 What do you draw inspiration from?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PM:\u00a0 Details have always been important to me—cordings, trims, top-stitching, hidden zippers, matched patterns around the products.\u00a0I’m drawn to more traditional, happy patterns.\u00a0I love working with good linen.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Custom
Greek Key Fretwork Kravet Linen Snow Pillow Cover<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

For textile choices, I pay close attention to\ntrends on Instagram and Pinterest and watch for the new collections from top\ndesigners to hit the market. I choose what I like–I never look at other\npeople’s products.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

DC:\u00a0 What makes your custom pillows stand out? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

PM:\u00a0 I would say the reason my store has been successful is because it is so difficult to find good quality products these days–things are half made and no one seems to care about doing a job right.\u00a0 The second most important is that we offer the customer the opportunity to be creative at no extra charge.\u00a0They can deal directly with me during the process.\u00a0People send me photos of their rooms from all over the world, and I help them choose textiles for their rooms.\u00a0We ship to people all over the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DC:\u00a0You recently purchased a new bed from DutchCrafters. Tell us about your vision for your bedroom. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Amish
Patricia’s beautiful bedroom featuring her new Amish Shaker Pencil Post Bed <\/a>and custom pillows and bedding by Southern Shades.<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

PM:\u00a0I wanted a soft, feminine bedroom.\u00a0I literally pulled my books and started with the Summerby Blue by Colefax & Fowler.\u00a0Then I settled on the duvet fabric, a sturdy light blue stripe by Kravet.\u00a0The small monogrammed lumbar is white Kravet linen with green embroidery.\u00a0All of the pillows have a 1\/4″ French flange edging.\u00a0The bedskirt I made from Kate Spades’ new collection.\u00a0It is called Sneakpeak, it’s an embroidered lace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Custom
Exquisite custom pillows by Patricia Marquis.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"Custom
Custom pillows by Patricia Marquis.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

DC:\u00a0 What made you select this style bed? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

PM:\u00a0 My home is used in a lot of my marketing posts.\u00a0I have always loved Shaker or Amish furniture, and I wanted a pencil post bed—tall with a natural finish and very clean lines.\u00a0I couldn’t find one anywhere.\u00a0I stumbled upon DutchCrafters’ website while searching on the internet for pencil post beds.\u00a0I loved the look because the style is universal–it can be traditional or rustic contemporary.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Amish
“DutchCrafters natural cherry pencil post bed<\/a>. Most amazing quality! A piece of furniture to pass down for generations.” Patricia Marquis<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"Amish
Amish Shaker Pencil Post Bed<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

DC:\u00a0 Tell us about your experience ordering from DutchCrafters. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

PM:\u00a0 I called and spoke with one of the customer service representatives at DutchCrafters.\u00a0She was so helpful when I told her I wanted the bed to be natural and matte, not varnished or stained.\u00a0She suggested a natural cherry, unstained.\u00a0Of course, it takes a while for the product to arrive but knowing it was being handmade just for me made the wait worth it.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Custom
Custom pillows and bedding by Southern Shades.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

DC:\u00a0 What was the delivery experience like?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PM:\u00a0 I was so excited–I embarrassed myself—when the delivery men brought my bed.\u00a0It was so perfect and pristine.\u00a0The finish feels like velvet.\u00a0I had my brother, who is a master carpenter, come and inspect it, and he was so impressed with the quality.\u00a0I mean, there is no metal on this bed.\u00a0It is a solid piece of wood–a true work of art in a day when everywhere you turn there is veneer and resin furniture.\u00a0I am so impressed!\u00a0It’s a piece that can be handed down for generations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Amish
Patricia’s new bedroom with custom made furniture, pillows and bedding. <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Facts about Southern Shades on Etsy:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n