Distressed antique ecclesiastic
Rebecca Vizard measures an antique tapestry fragment to be regally recycled into a on-of-a-kind B. Viz Design pillow in the studio.

While sourcing for an interior design job in New York City in the early 1990s, Rebecca decided to make her first antique textile pillow. She scoured a flea market and found a gold filigreed curtain panel and the trim from a tattered vestment; using the two, Rebecca created a more clean-lined alternative to what was available and her pillow was an instant hit.

Antique Ottoman Empire raised silver metallic embroidery on Aqua velvet created by B. Viz Design

"At that time it was impossible to find an antique textile pillow without gobs of passementerie. I felt like the actual handmade textile should be revered and not overshadowed."

Antique tapestry fragment pillow bordered with antique gold metallic galon on Dark French Blue velvet by B. Viz Design

"At that time it was impossible to find an antique textile pillow without gobs of passementerie. I felt like the actual handmade textile should be revered and not overshadowed."

Antique European raised gold metallic embroidery on Natural Linen by B. Viz Design
Antique Carnavalet Fortuny bordered with silver metallic galon on Silver velvet by B. Viz Design
Antique Ottoman Empire raised gold metallic
Vintage Kuba Cloth backed with Natural Linen pillow by B. Viz Design

Overcome with ideas and inspiration, Rebecca returned home and promptly enlisted the assistance of Belinda Prudhomme - her former housekeeper (who is now the Head of Production for B. Viz Design). Soon enough the orders began flowing and Neiman Marcus picked up the collection. As the years continued, business flourished and the team has grown to include other extraordinarily talented local seamstresses to fulfill ever growing demand.

Distressed antique ecclesiastic embroidered

Belinda, with nerves of steel, uses tiny cuticle scissors to meticulously cut around each hand stitch of an embroidered appliqué - she must be careful not to snip a thread lest it all unravel.

Distressed antique ecclesiastic embroidered
Distressed antique ecclesiastic embroidered

For the embroidered pieces Belinda, with her nerves of steel, meticulously cuts around the hand stitches with tiny cuticle scissors, careful not to snip a thread lest it all unravel.

For the embroidered pieces Belinda, with her nerves of steel, meticulously cuts around the hand stitches with tiny cuticle scissors, careful not to snip a thread lest it all unravel.

Distressed antique ecclesiastic embroidered
Distressed antique ecclesiastic embroidered
Distressed antique ecclesiastic embroidered
Distressed antique ecclesiastic embroidered

After the hand embroideries and goldwork have been removed, Rebecca measures each remnant and draws the pillow’s design while calculating the cost per square inch. All components are then collected for each seamstress so they may complete the painstaking handwork and repairs from home.

Antique embroideries are painstakingly hand stitched to each B. Viz Design pillow
Rebecca Vizard lays out the design of an antique Ottoman Empire embroidery pillow in the B. Viz Design studio in St. Joseph, LA
Rebecca Vizard carefully measures antique gold metallic galon to be sure nothing is wasted in the B. Viz Design studio in St. Joseph, LA