Erin Dollar

See me on Creative Thursday

November 18, 2014

There’s a first time for everything: this week, a film crew came to visit Cotton & Flax HQ to record an interview for Creative Thursday! I was so nervous (and I spent a lot of time tidying the studio to prepare), but the conversation I had with the Creative Thursday’s creator, Marisa, was really honest and fun! We talked for over an hour about what it’s like to run a creative business, and how to handle stress as a solo entrepreneur.

The video will be available to watch early in 2015! I’ll be sure to share it here when it’s available.

7 Holiday Snail Mail Tips

November 17, 2014

Are you sending out holiday cards this year? Maybe a party invitation or a thank you card for a fantastic gift you received? ‘Tis the season of snail mail, and if you’re staring down a stack of holiday cards with no idea where to start, I’ve got some tips that might help.

Find your holiday cards early! Stores have the best selection of holiday cards in early November, so don’t wait to buy your cards. My favorites are from The Good Twin and Small Adventure.

Don’t forget thank you cards, too! You know you’re going to be receiving a gift or two this season, why not stock up on some thank you cards now, so you’ll have them ready to send?

Buy stamps online. Unlike individual post offices, USPS stocks all their stamp options online. Waiting in line at the post office during the holiday season is the worst, so save some time by having them shipped to your door.

Make note of USPS shipping deadlines. If you live in the US, the last day to ship Christmas cards to US destinations is Dec. 20 (although I’d send everything out earlier than that, in case of inclement weather). Keep in mind that the post office is extremely busy this time of year and you don’t want your cards to arrive after Christmas day, so err on the side of being a little early.

Short and sweet is A-OK! Don’t stress yourself out or feel like you need to write a novel to everyone you’re sending a holiday greeting. Sending best wishes for the year to come will always be appreciated, no matter how simple the gesture.

Consider sending a photo to family members. You don’t need to spend hours staging the perfect holiday photo to send to your loved ones. Find a photo from earlier in the year to send along with your holiday card – grandma will love having a simple 5×7 of you to put on the fridge.

Always include your return address on the envelope. Including your address ensures that the recipient has your current address every year – they can use it to send a card back to you!

Need more snail mail inspiration? Check out my 6 tips for writing letters to friends, or check out my favorite snail mail ideas on Pinterest.

Cotton & Flax in your home

November 13, 2014

I love when my customers share the ways that they use Cotton & Flax goods in their homes! These photos were shared on Instagram by @jojotastic, @laurejoliet, and @withlovefromding. Those waffles look amazing, right?!

You can tag @cottonandflax in any photos of your home that feature Cotton & Flax pieces, I’d love to see them!

New Holiday Edition Tea Towels!

November 12, 2014

Another favorite from the Fall/Winter collection are these Holiday Edition tea towels in special yarn-dyed chambray linen. I printed our ever-popular plus pattern onto blue and black chambray towels, made from our standard Linen/Cotton blend fabric. This fabric is long-wearing, absorbs water better than cotton alone, and only gets softer with age.

These new tea towels are printed in eco-friendly, non-toxic ink, and come with a corner tab for easy hanging in your kitchen, just like our standard tea towels. Later this month, I’ll be sharing more furoshiki gift wrap ideas for these towels, too!

These two new colors are available for a limited time – they are Holiday edition only, and so they’ll be leaving the shop after the new year. Grab one for your kitchen here!

More desktop wallpaper downloads!

November 8, 2014

I know you love all the phone and desktop wallpaper downloads I post here, and this week I shared a huge batch of desktop/laptop/tablet wallpaper downloads over on Design Love Fest! Hop over to their site to download them all!

10 DIY Holiday Gift Ideas

November 7, 2014

It might seem early to be talking about holiday gifts, but if you’re like me, you take the partial DIY approach to holiday gift giving (aka: buy a few, make a few!) Making gifts by hand can take a while, so I’m getting a jump on my DIY holiday gift projects now.

In case you need some DIY inspiration, check out this roundup of 10 projects that would make perfect holiday gifts!

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