I’ve been folding lots of newly printed tea towels lately, many of which are already in the shop. There’s something so satisfying in making stacks or piles, especially if it’s of things you’ve made by hand.
I’ll be spending some time this weekend testing out new products that will debut in the fall – this year is flying by!
I’m happy to share another lovely stockist of Cotton & Flax goods: Mignon Kitchen Co. This online-only shop carries a selection of curated goods for prepping, baking, serving, and sharing food, from everyday tools to indulgences. It certainly lives up to it’s name, which means “cute” in French.
You’ll find coasters and tea towels available at Mignon Kitchen Co. If you’re looking for a simple gift for a friend or a co-worker, I’d pair this adorable heart shaped tea infuser with some loose leaf tea, and a set of Cotton & Flax coasters for a charming gift.
I’ve been thinking lately that I haven’t been sharing as much of the dark side of running your own business here on the blog. That might be because it isn’t so much dark as it is boring (who wants to read my thoughts on business bookkeeping, really?!) When I first started the Cotton & Flax blog, I wanted to share the ups and the downs, so I thought today I would share a very honest recap of this week.
It’s been almost two weeks since I participated as a vendor at Renegade Craft Fair in San Francisco, and almost three weeks since I did the same in Los Angeles, so you’d think I’d feel recovered from the (fun!) craziness of craft fair weekends. But I’ll be honest: I’m still feeling exhausted. I’ve been training myself to wake up early all summer – I realized that if I start my workday at 6am, I can get a lot more printing done before it gets too hot (by 2pm, all I ever seem to want to do is drink ice water and take a nap). Between my early-bird alarm clock, catching up on production after two big craft fairs, and the work I’m doing to plan for the Fall/Winter collection, I’m pretty tired.
I’ve been thinking about wanting to take a little vacation, just a few days to reset my brain. I always find that taking even a little road trip can really boost my creativity and make me feel refreshed. I’m totally inspired by this photo of Joshua Tree, taken by Kate Miss (you can buy a print, too!) I haven’t been to Joshua Tree in 5 years, and I think the desert is calling me… I have been so inspired by the colors of Southern California, it might be just the right time for another research trip.
P.S. Thanks to everyone who offered their opinion on which color I should add to the coaster collection. Aubergine was the clear winner here on the blog, but over on Instagram, Azure was the frontrunner! I’ll post photos once I’ve added the new color coaster!
I’m getting things ready for the fall/winter collection for Cotton & Flax, and I can’t seem to decide what new color I’d like to add to the coaster collection. I already use three wonderful colors (shown above): gold, charcoal, and latte. I’m hoping to add a rich, dark color to the collection for fall, perhaps you’d like to help me choose between these four?
[polldaddy poll=7293038]
My trip to San Francisco was incredible. I always look forward to doing in-person sales in the bay area, but this trip was really exceptional. My customers in SF are so enthusiastic, and are always excited to talk about how my work will fit into their homes. Such a unique pleasure to spend a weekend interacting with so many creative people. Plus, I got to hang out with Keiko from Small Adventure and Elinor from Krank Press (two of my favorite LA makers) all weekend long!
Thanks to everyone who came out and said hello, it was great to meet you all!
If you live near San Francisco, come down to Fort Mason Center Festival Pavillion (Marina Blvd. and Buchanan St.) for Renegade Craft Fair this weekend! I’ll be there both Saturday and Sunday, from 11-7 each day, selling pillows, tea towels, coasters, postcards, and a few one of a kind items that will not be appearing online.
Come walk around and see what San Francisco’s makers have to offer! Don’t forget to stop by my booth and say hello, I’m at booth #71 (along with Small Adventure!)
