Erin Dollar

Things have been quiet here on the blog for a while, but I’m excited to be back! Much of what’s been keeping me busy was just standard-issue holiday craziness: craft fairs, pop-up shops, as well as an influx of holiday orders – thank you for all the support in 2013, by the way! Cotton & Flax is still primarily a one woman show (although I am extremely grateful for the extra help I received over the holiday season), and I’m still trying to find the best way to keep in touch with all you awesome folks when things at C&F get busy.

I know you’ll forgive my temporary absence when you see all the projects I’ve been working on. Unlike previous years, I had a few exciting side projects piled on top of the holiday sales madness. Those projects are getting finished up this week, and I’m really looking forward to sharing the final products with you soon.

Now that things are starting to return to normal around here, I’m dreaming up all sorts of new products and fun collaborations that I’ll finally have time to pursue. Is there anything you’ve been dying to see in the Cotton & Flax shop? Something you wanted to see documented here on the blog? Let me know in the comments!

Happy 2014 – may it be a fruitful and creative year for us all.

You may have noticed that I launched the fall/winter 2013 additions a couple weeks ago! I am pretty excited about the new things in the shop, but as with many things in this business, it was a struggle to get everything ready to debut. I was working overtime the last few months testing out new colors, patterns, and designs, and I finally decided on a handful new pieces to share.

First, the hotly anticipated Azure coasters! I asked my helpful readers to vote on their favorite color to add to the collection of coasters, and between the votes counted on Facebook, Instagram, and the blog – Azure was the winner! I love this color, too. It’s a gorgeous bright indigo, and the patterns just look superb as a contrast.

I kept the new felt trivets under wraps until the debut – no sneak peeks of these guys! I thought it would be fun to add a new item using a slightly thicker 100% wool felt – this material is such a pleasure to work with. I developed four new trivets for the shop, and I can’t wait to see how you use them.

The blue triangle pillows aren’t exactly a new addition – they are a reboot from when I first had them available in 2011. But taken as a whole, the collection of small pillows has a whole new look. While I’ll miss the bright poppy red, I am really enjoying this new palette.

Finally, the patchwork pillows from my One Kings Lane sale sold out so quickly, I knew I needed to add a few more to the shop. I’ll be adding new patchwork pillows every month, and each one is one-of-a-kind, never to be replicated.

I want to take a moment to say that I am very thankful for all the support you have shown me this year. Every kind word spoken in person, every like of my photos on Instagram, each time you recommend my work to friends and family – it means the world to me. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for supporting my creative endeavors – I couldn’t do this without you!

I learn something new with each collection, and this fall/winter launch was a lesson in patience. It took me quite a bit longer than expected to release these new products, and I’m hoping to find a way to start a bit earlier on the next collection. Life throws curveballs at you sometimes, and I’m still learning how to make the most of the hours we get each day. I’ve already got a plan in the works for the Spring 2014 collection! Until then, enjoy these new items, and keep an eye out for new patchwork pillows every week through the end of the year!