Terrific Tassels

Figure A

Sometimes little touches are real attention grabbers. Tassels add interest to lamps, dressers, clocks, window treatments and armoires and their popularity is on the rise.

• Tassels are an elegant yet basic finishing touch. People buy all shapes and sizes to suit their tastes (figure A).
• One trick is to use pillows to accessorize for different seasons. Incorporate natural fabrics like jute or cotton and beads for an airy feel during spring and summer. Look for holiday designs and darker colors for the colder months.
• Tassels have been around for centuries and the current range in colors and fabric options makes them one of the more versatile decorative accents.
• With the return of looking to textiles to add depth, color, texture and warmth in home decor, tassels are yet another way to embellish a small space or piece of furniture.

Figure B

People used to wrap a small tassel around a gift package instead of a bow. Today, decorative tassels are so popular and beautiful that they make a great housewarming or hostess gift on their own.

To make a basic tassel, wrap ribbon or embroidery thread around an index card and tie a knot at the top with another piece to hold it together(figure B). Cut the thread at the bottom and tie another piece about 1/2 inch from the top to shape the tassel.

Figure C

For a fancy tassel, paint a wooden candle cup or beads as desired. Thread a tassel through the hole(s) with an embroidery needle (figure C).

watering can with tassels, birdhouse with tassels, gold and green tassel on night table knob, gold ribbon tassel (Calico Corners)

tassels from New York Gift Show (displayed on a large black background) (Lina's Interiors, Inc.)

wall of tassels with gold background (D'Kei Incorporated)

green chenille and gold tassel hanging from sideboard table, tassels hanging from chandelier in red room, red and gold tassel around crystal vase, tassel hanging on grandfather clock (Belle Maison)

Resources
home furnishings - Belle Maison
Belle Maison
100 Leverington Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19127
Phone: 215-482-6222

tassels - Calico Corners
Calico Corners
Website: www.calicocorners.com

tassels - D'Kei Incorporated
D'Kei Incorporated
PO Box 3042
Lisle, IL 60532
Phone: 630-963-2093
Toll Free Phone: 800-535-3534
Fax: 630-963-5861

tassels - Lina's Interiors, Inc.
Lina's Interiors, Inc.
525 South Main
Greenville, MS 38701
Phone: 662-332-7226
Toll Free Phone: 800-459-5462
Fax: 662-332-1170
Email: linas@tecinfo.com
Guests
Michelle Keating
Owner, Belle Maison
100 Leverington Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19127
Phone: 215-482-6222

Craig Karlson
Lina's Interiors, Inc.
525 South Main
Greenville, MS 38701
Phone: 662-332-7226
Toll Free Phone: 800-459-5462
Fax: 662-332-1170
Email: linas@tecinfo.com
Also in this Episode

Smart Design : Episode SDN-205
•	Furniture Style: Mission
•	Bathroom Escapes
•	Pillow Talk
•	Terrific Tassels