Rainbow Draperies is a huge supportor of local community, and one way we like to show that is by connecting and giving back to local organizations.

This month we are highlighting the Connect Society. “Founded in 1963, Connect Society exists to strengthen connections among Deaf, hard of hearing and hearing people. They are a nonprofit community agency providing individuals and families with resources to help them fully participate within families, relationships, and the community. They believe the ability to communicate fully is an essential and basic need. This is their purpose.” Taken from the About Page on The Connect Society’s website

Textiles play a role in our sensory experience, This was first brought to my attention when Louise Berezowsky first came into Rainbow Draperies. Her eyes were as wide as saucers as she took in all the many samples of gorgeous textiles, colours, patterns, and textures everywhere. Louise was at Rainbow a little over two years ago to take photos for a mutual client that was capturing the images of locally made hand crafted fabrications and how this related to her business. As Louise took in all the interesting textures at Rainbow, her mind started going a million miles a minute and spontaneously declared one day we should do a “Sensory Gala” together.

As a self-identifying visionary and dreamer, I instantly shared her thought process. Without ever connecting the dots before, Louise created a direct path for me to understand the importance textiles play in our daily lives, which goes far beyond beauty. We at Rainbow get obsessed with function and form, precision and solutions all day long, but on this particular day, the concept of senses and how touch, sight, sound, smell, and sound (or lack thereof) can all impact our quality of life, at the risk of sounding dramatic – this changed me forever. I never thought about it from a sensory point of view before. Sure, touch has always been a factor – and when I think about it, sight has always drawn me into a pattern or colour palette and, at times, almost forced me to touch it. But this was taken for granted, almost as tho it was instinctual, not personal, or intentional. Do you know what I mean? Often creatives do that, tho, right? Take for granted what comes naturally to us; the secret sauce is taking that gift and positively impacting others. Especially from an individual point of view. It hit me that this is the bottom line of what custom design truly is. Making a plan specific for someone.

It became instantly obvious that textiles play a role in our sensory experience and should be considered this way in the design process. Who will be touching it, looking at it, and operating the beautiful custom fabrications? What impact does that have on the overall user experience? These are the questions I now ask every time I have the opportunity to get to know the beneficiary.  When we think of the person who will benefit from good design, perhaps better materials will be selected, and better function will be incorporated. For the love of people, it’s a whole thing, and I am here for it.

Okay so back to that fateful day with Louise, well her vision came true! This year, The Connect Society is hosting a fundraiser Gala Called Sensory on April 4, 2025

For more information click here

They are even hosting a FREE ENTRY Day On Saturday April 5, 2025

I am so excited about this and about my small role in it. Rainbow Draperies donated cut-offs and roll ends, and labour to The Connect Society, each piece more textural, and beautiful than the last. Showcasing such exquisite textiles to the community has been so rewarding. As I watch eyes illuminate with expression over the different pieces of cloth, I am humbled and honoured to be a part of it all.

We are passionate about inspiring future generations on the importance of maintaining high standards and preserving the artistry that defines custom design in the interior design industry.

We also strongly believe in what goes around comes around. If you are looking for something to do this weekend, consider the Sensory Gala and open your mind to an immersive experience. It might just change your life. To get more involved in how textiles can play a role in your next design project, please reach out.

Honorary Skirts – women in the arts

Since the beginning in 2013, SkirtsAfire has had an Honorary Skirt. Each year when it is considered who should be chosen for the next Honorary Skirt, Skirtsafire looks for a woman who is well known for her work, accomplishments, and community spirit; who inspires greatness from other women. Someone passionate and connected to the community she serves. This year’s Honorary Skirt is Catherine Vu. For more info on the past Honorary skirts visit Skirtsafire.com.

The first “Skirt” in my life that I would like to honor is my Momma, Cheryl Meiklejohn. Without her unparalleled generosity, talent, and unconditional love and belief in me, I would not know how great it is to try hard, believe in miracles, and experience the world to its fullest. If I had a creative idea, without even asking “why?” Momma C would often say “Yes, you go girl”. And I have A LOT of ideas, so the bandwidth on this was large. Over a decade ago, I asked Momma C if she would sew costumes for my theatre friends, and she said yes. She barely knew the girls but she knew they were important to me and that was all she needed to justify the hours of handcrafted time and talent she donated to make these costumes.

Since then my eyes have been opened up to countless women in the arts.  I see talented seamstresses working with their hands every day to create custom drapery and bedding for the home, and I see women who are providing for their families through freelance business models. At the same time, these ladies are quietly curating safe and comfortable spaces for their neighbours and clients. I am grateful to be surrounded by such extraordinary women. As we approach International Women’s Day and celebrate Women’s history month, I can’t help but feel proud to be a woman. Surrounded by women. Raising young women. I honour all of you.

A trip down memory Lane

The first year I participated in the unconventional skirt challenge, my mind was blown wide open by the possibility of what can be done with materials. I was overwhelmed by Jane’s ability to manipulate such a rigid material into a “textile” for a skirt. I was officially hooked on Skirtsafire and the community that it connected me to.  This raised my bar instantly. I knew what could be done with a needle and thread, but now the sky is the limit, and understanding what materials you want to work with is just the beginning. If you can drive down Whyte Ave,  look in the window at Gravity Pope, and see another skirt by Jane Kline made up of recycled mirrors.

A few of my creations

That first year I participated in the festival, I was inspired by the theme “In her closet,” I went to my closet and pulled out dusty boxes of old keepsakes that had been stored, untouched for years. I created petals with the grommet cutter at Rainbow (Sorry momma, probably dulled the blade that year).  All the circles were made of theatre ticket stubs, playbills, and other memorabilia. Then died pink and assembled into an asymmetrical skirt, worn by my niece Shae Lanovaz.

One year I even reluctantly modelled my skirt! Talk about nerves, to create and model! That was next level comfort zone push for me! But I feel stronger for it. I gathered necklaces from all kinds of relationships I had made a long the way. Some came as far away as Africa, that a close friend donated from one of her trips. I love the thought of how each strand tells its own story and how connected they create a movement.

Another year I made a skirt out of drapery cardboard tubes. I cut them into 1/2″ circles and then sewed them together to create a new textile. Adorned with a box of old ribbons that had been given to me by a friend a few years earlier. She told me she “knew I would use them wisely one day”. Modelled by another niece Taylor Thiessen.

The next year I asked that same friend who donated the ribbon, Erin, to model. I had a very difficult job go sideways because of discontinued fabrics and it caused a lot of stress. I worked through the project as I always do with determination, and in the end made this skirt out of that sample book. A make lemonade situation. It was while I cut the squares out of the book and sewed them together to create a new textile that I released my frustration and anger towards things I could not control. In the end, the client cried over the use of the discontinued fabric and we positively connected over the stress. It was truly transformative. I added some pleated sheer headings from another job to give it some extra movement. This was February of 2020. So I fondly look at this photo with great understanding that we don’t know what is just around the corner and it is truly how you handle it that matters.

2021 Covid changed the way theatre and events could be hosted, so the live runway show changed to a still display in a retail store front window on Whyte Ave. We adapted the competition to a challenge, bringing artists together to create and display. I am very proud of this shift I helped influence. The Skirtasfire festival always screamed community and coming together for me. Now we were coming together over the challenges and creating as a greater whole. The director Annette Loiselle and manager Breann Jang couldn’t agree more, and away we went with window displays showing off the challenge of working with unconventional materials, keeping the skirts element of the festival alive and well despite the Covid restrictions.

From creator to curator

In 2022, my role changed from creator to curator, where I worked with the artists that were hand selected from previous years to create 4 window takeovers on Whyte Ave. Rainbow even created some window coverings to create backdrops and a reveal on opening day!

The giant red curtain created a backdrop between the front window and the store at The Paint Spot, It was all closed off until reveal day and then opened up to reveal the skirt for all to see. Got to love a good theatrical drama moment. I mean, theatre and drapery go together like “warm weather and cold ice tea” Mark Ambor. 

Okay, last look at some fun creations by Rainbow Draperies, check out this mountain curtain installed on a curved rod to create a window backdrop.  Ibeam was mounted into the ceiling and the drape was patchworked to create a mountain range. This drape was made entirely out of cutoff fabrics and discontinued hanger samples. Because the window had a reveal, the drape was designed to hide the skirt and was completely hidden inside, and then swooshed open to reveal the display on the day of the launch. It was such a gas to hear the oohs and awes! After the festival, the drape was gifted to The Quiltbag as a room divider, and change room!

After taking on such a big project, four windows, four retailers, multiple artists, it was time for me to take a step back. So, the next year I designed a mini mascot using a decorative finial and the cardboard shoe inserts from Gravity Pope. She is cleverly called “Fini the Mini” and I adore her. The buckle is an old hardware sample, and the belt was made from Holt Renfrew trim. I had a client many years ago who wanted valance boxes accessorized with the signature ribbon used at the till to wrap the garments. Obviously, I held on to the role of ribbon. I won’t reveal how I got it, but I am proud of my crafty ways. If I can see your vision, I will go the mile to see it come to be.

For more info on Skirtsafire

The festival starts March 6th – 16th and hosts a variety of shows. For more info check out their website here: www.skirtsafire.com.  Our skirt will be on display in the lobby of the main stage play “Dance nation” at the Gateway Theatre. Thanks for reading my post, your support is more meaningful than you can ever imagine, it’s the invisible threads of community.