The Gift of Thrift: Birds of a Feather

Sometimes couples are destined for each other, and that's the case with Jonamor Decor's Senor Amor and Miss Jonona. Their personalities mesh perfectly, and their zest for life is obvious in everything they do. Whether they're decorating Go-Go's Jane Wiedlin's apartment in Los Angeles or throwing their own wedding just last week, everything they touch is kissed with individuality and personal charm.

So months ago when I was trying to decide what to offer them as a wedding gift, for some reason I decided to hook them a rug. It didn't take me long to find a design that fits their personalities to a tee -- a gigantic purple and blue peacock, standing proudly in all its beautiful glory. I had hooked a rug once when I was a child, so I didn't really think it would be such a challenge. It really doesn't take much skill, but it certainly requires patience and careful counting to make sure the right colors of yarn end up in the right place.

I started the rug back in February, thinking I had all the time in the world to finish. I hooked here and there, and made plenty of mistakes, requiring whole blocks of colors to be pulled out and replaced. While promoting my book, The Find: The Housing Works Book of Decorating With Thrift Shop Treasures, Flea Market Objects, and Vintage Details (in which the Amors are prominently featured), I let my handiwork lapse, and a week before the wedding, I was barely one-third finished. I almost gave up, until Veli told me that I had to finish it. And he was right. I had worked so hard to accomplish that third of the rug that it would be a pity to give up right then.

I started hooking. Seriously hooking. For five days straight I hooked 10 hours a day. My shoulder ached from the strange hooking movement, and my eyes crossed when trying to figure out the difference between dark cornflower and deep purple. To make a long story short, I finished that rug and here are the results. This is the photo of it before I brought it to LA for the the Amor's wedding. The newly wedded couple are away on their honeymoon and will return tomorrow, giving me just enough time to sew fabric taping on the back before offering it to them.

To see Jonamor Decor's work, pick up The Find: The Housing Works Book of Decorating with Thrift Shop Treasures, Flea Market Objects, and Vintage Details at Borders, Barnes & Noble, Amazon or Powell's.

Now that I'm off the hook....

The Elegant Thrifter

Always Frugal, Always Fabulous!