Erin Dollar

Snail Mail Saturday – International Snail Mail

April 27, 2013

After a long hiatus, it’s another edition of Snail Mail Saturday!

Do you have any international pen pals? I have a few friends abroad that I like to write to from time to time, and I love receiving mail from them in return. Receiving stamps from other countries is a special pleasure, but I was surprised to see that USPS has stepped up it’s game a little bit for 2013 in the international stamp department.

USPS has just released a new international rate stamp for first class mail… and it’s round. I love that the imagery, a photorealistic depiction of Earth, isn’t centered around North America. For a stamp that is meant to travel around the world, it’s nice to see a non-US centered perspective. While I question whether a round stamp is the most eco-friendly option USPS could produce (lots of wasted space on the sheet of stamps), I hope that this beautiful new addition will encourage more people to write letters to their friends and family abroad. There’s really nothing like receiving a letter from some far-off place.

On Sharing (and Distractions)

April 25, 2013

I’ll be honest: if I had a lot more time in the day to share my work online, I’d prefer to share it here on the blog. I prefer the longer format, and I like being able to share more than a few sentences about the ideas or process behind my work. When I share on my blog, I hope to give you all a sense of the work that goes into building Cotton & Flax, and person behind it all (hello, that’s me!) I think the work I’m making deserves more than 140 characters!

However, I’ve been enjoying sharing little snippets of my day to day on instagram, facebook, and twitter. I have a love/hate relationship with social media, particularly because I don’t like feeling distracted. Too often, I log on to Twitter to share something I’m working on, and then fall down the rabbit hole of endless scrolling. But I do love being able to snap a photo with my phone, and share it immediately, though; it’s nice to get instant feedback. I was thinking about my instagram followers this morning, and how much encouragement I’ve received after posting in-progress photos there… it really does help to keep me on the right track.

I’m curious, for those of you who are on lots of social media platforms: how do you strike a balance between socializing online, and getting completely distracted? Any tips for this social media newbie?

Spring/Summer collection from Cotton & Flax

April 22, 2013

The Spring/Summer collection from Cotton & Flax is here! Shop the collection, and scroll to the bottom of this post to learn more.

Cotton & Flax pillows

Cotton & Flax DNA Pillow from the S/S Collection

So excited to finally share the Spring/Summer Collection for Cotton & Flax! Many of the most popular colors and designs are sticking around, and the lovely mint green fabric, which was retired for many months, has returned to the collection (on pillows both large and small). I love all the color that has been packed into this collection, it really is just the thing to ring in this late-coming spring.

By popular request, coasters are back in the shop, including a lovely new latte color. I am still so in love with that wool felt material, it’s really a perfect blend of casual class for easy entertaining.

As I mentioned, I worked extensively with Hollin Brodeur to photograph the new and continuing products for this season. Photos 1, 3, 6, and 14 were taken by Hollin, the rest are my own. Thanks for scrolling though this photo heavy post, I hope you’re as excited about the new look as I am!

Cotton & Flax business cards

April 17, 2013

I’ve gotten a few emails about my business cards this month, so I thought I would feature them again. I wrote about the process behind them back in September when I first watched them being made, but for those who missed that post, here are the basics.

My cards were letterpress printed here in L.A. by LuluDee Design at Dee & Lala Press.
My logo was also designed by LuluDee Design.
The patterns you see in the background were printed using a process called blind emboss, where the plate is pressed into the paper without ink.

These are hands down the nicest business cards I’ve ever had, thanks to Laura Carignan from Lulu Dee for creating them for me!

Cotton & Flax visits Common Thread Studio

April 15, 2013

In my continuing effort to highlight the best fabric and craft shops in LA, I am excited to introduce you to Common Thread Studio! This unique little shop in South Pasadena is part fabric store, part sewing and screenprinting studio, and part gift shop. Even if you don’t know how to sew, this shop is a great place to pick up a gift for your best lady friend, or just to grab a few rolls of washi tape for yourself.

If you do enjoy sewing, you’re in for a treat, because Common Thread stocks a well curated assortment of fabrics. Jin, the owner, has a great eye for patterns, and always carries a great selection of fun prints. The shop also has sells all the sewing accessories you’d expect – thread, needles, and even a fun assortment of imported buttons and harder to find sewing patterns.

Common Thread offers a range of sewing classes, and if you’d prefer to learn at your own pace, they offer private lessons, as well. Their workshop space offers both regular sewing machines for beginners, and professional tools and industrial equipment for professionals.

Common Thread turns four this month! Help them celebrate by stopping by and checking out this great independent fabric store.

Looking for more great sewing resources and fabric stores in Los Angeles? Check out my visit to Sew LA, or my first and second posts about the Fabric District in Downtown LA!

Weekend work

April 15, 2013

Another busy weekend taking photos of the Spring/Summer collection, with help from my friend Hollin. So excited to share the photos she took (soon!)

Left: the view from my table at Eastside Handmade, right: ties from Scout Ties.

Thanks to everyone who came out to Eastside Handmade, it was great to meet so many creative people this weekend. Reminded me of all the things I love about doing in-person events like this. Hoping to do more handmade marketplace events this summer, I’ll be sure to post info here on the blog for the next sale.