Blog - Cotton & Flax

Erin Dollar

My Patterned Security Envelope Collection

I don’t collect many things, but I happen to collect patterned security envelopes. You know the ones: they come with your junk mail, your bank statements, pretty much any official document that might have an account number on it comes in a patterned security envelope. I find the patterns totally inspirational, and often turn to my collection for ideas when I am designing for Cotton & Flax.

I am totally fascinated by them. Who designs these intricate patterns? Why are there so many different designs? Is there a reason so many of them are blue? Why are there no pink security envelopes? So many mysteries behind these patterned beauties. Of course, approaching them from an artist’s perspective, some envelopes are better than others. I’ll take a beautifully executed wave pattern over your standard crosshatch pattern any day. But each envelope has it’s own appeal, and taken as a group, it’s hard to deny their charm.

Free Patterned iPhone Wallpaper – Mountains

As a thank you to everyone who has been keeping up with this relatively new blog of mine, I wanted to offer another thank you gift for your support. Thus, I will continue to share a free, downloadable iPhone wallpaper every month, featuring a new pattern that I designed for Cotton & Flax.

Click here to download the Cotton & Flax iPhone wallpaper for October.

This month, the wallpaper background is a stamped repeat V pattern, which I created using a hand carved linoleum stamp and an ink pad! Just a simple, handmade pattern to make your phone a little more fun.

This wallpaper should work for most cellphones, not just the iPhone (although it may get cropped depending on the screen size!) In the future, I may even create wallpapers for your computer desktop or iPad, too!

To Download: Click the link and it will take you directly to the image. If you are on your phone, you can simply save the image to your phone, and set it as your wallpaper in the settings area of your phone. If you’re on a computer, save the image to your computer, then email the photo to yourself. Open the email on your phone, save the photo to your phone, and set the photo as the wallpaper!

Wait, there’s more! Check out our full range of iPhone and desktop wallpapers available to download!

Studio Tour: BT Livermore at Magnetic North

photo taken by BT Livermore

In an effort to stay close to my roots as an artist working in the real world, I want to begin a new feature here on the Cotton & Flax blog: studio tours! While I was visiting Portland, Oregon a few weeks ago, my friend BT Livermore gave me a tour of his new communal studio space in NE Portland, Magnetic North.

BT Livermore is a talented printmaker, sign painter, and illustrator, who I met back in my beard-obsessed post-college days (BT co-owns a moustache wax company called Man’s Face Stuff along with Evan Dumas). He recently moved into a new studio space, called Magnetic North, that also serves as a studio space for artists Mary Kate McDevitt, Fred DiMeglio, KB Sawyer, and Lacey Van Nortwick.

Magnetic North is a great space for these creatives, they have space to tackle a wide range of projects. In addition to having their own desk area, there is space to screenprint, a tabletop letterpress complete with type, a small laboratory corner for creating moustache wax, and lots of table space to spread out and draw or paint.

Printmakers require ink, certainly.

photo taken by BT Livermore

Another of BT’s hand painted signs. And below, a large hand painted sign in progress.

There is a small retail space up front, which sells original art, prints, and even moustache wax.

And outside, you’ll see more hand painted signage inviting you into the shop. Mary Kate McDevitt and Fred DiMeglio created the beautiful window, made using windows reclaimed from a 100+ year old house in Portland. It lets in lots of light, and lends charm to a space already loaded with personality.

Check out the Magnetic North Blog, or visit BT Livermore’s Website, Blog, or Twitter.

Snail Mail Saturday – Letters of Note

If you’re a fan of snail mail like I am, you’ve probably heard of Letters of Note. If not, you’re in for a treat. Letters of Note is, “is an attempt to gather and sort fascinating letters, postcards, telegrams, faxes, and memos. Scans/photos [of the originals] where possible.” In essence, the editor, Shaun Usher, finds amazing letters from people of all walks of life (actors, scientists, writers, artists, musicians, philosophers, and on and on), and shares the transcripts on Letters of Note. I have been captivated by what I’ve found there, and have (on more than one occasion) found myself laughing or crying over the amazing letters Shaun features.

The letter above was written by Mark Twain, and you can read the transcript on Letters of Note.

Print of the Week – Linocut by Elizabeth Catlett

Cotton & Flax - Elizabeth Catlett - Print of the Week

Elizabeth Catlett, while more widely known for her sculptures, made a number of beautiful prints during her lifetime. This linocut, titled, “Sharecropper,” was made in 1952, and is a beautiful example of the detail and gorgeous textures that can be achieved in this medium. I greatly admire Ms. Catlett’s ability to capture subtle, but vital details in this portrait, which help to bring a sort of heroic meaning behind the image. You may want to read more about Elizabeth Catlett on Printeresting, or read more about “Sharecropper” on the LACMA blog.

Modern textiles at LACMA

Modern Textiles - CA design at LACMA

I can’t believe it’s taken me so long to post these inspirational patterns. I spotted these two textile designs at the California Design show at LACMA a few months ago, and I just love their strange, imperfect repetition. The pattern on the left is called Incantation Textile, and was designed by Alvin Lustig in 1947. The pattern on the right is an Eames pattern, if I’m not mistaken. Did anyone else happen to see the CA Design show? There were so many great pieces featured in the exhibit.