I’m thrilled to see that Cotton & Flax’s zero waste initiatives are highlighted in an article in San Diego CityBeat this week. They rounded up artists and designers from around the city who are reducing their consumption and waste, and moving towards a zero waste lifestyle, and it’s amazing to think about what these efforts could achieve. Proud to be featured alongside these sustainability-focused business leaders!
Erin on the Creative Biz Rebellion Podcast
This week, I’m the featured guest on Creative Biz Rebellion, a podcast that tells the stories of creative business owners, and goes behind the scenes to share what it’s really like to live a creative life.
In my interview, I share a lot of the knitty gritty of what goes into my work as a designer. If you’re curious about what I’ve been working on lately, listen to the episode now!
Introducing Balboa – New Linen Fabrics for Robert Kaufman
I’m thrilled to finally share Balboa, my second collection of 29 new patterned linen fabrics, created in collaboration with Robert Kaufman Fabrics in Los Angeles! This collection was inspired by my explorations into the world of textiles, featuring pattern motifs that echo Anni Albers’ weavings, Sashiko mending techniques, endless spools of cotton thread, and traditional woven baskets from around the world. The color palette is drawn from my life in my new city: San Diego. Lots of beautiful blues, sandy tans, and even a little green. I named my first fabric collection for the Arroyo Seco where I’d hike in LA, and Balboa is named for the park that’s just blocks from my new home — a beautiful place of inspiration in my daily life.
I was excited to collaborate with a few of my favorite makers to create sample projects for this collection! I worked extensively with Meghan from Then Came June to mock up her gorgeous quilt patterns with Balboa fabric. The quilts above are called Meadowlands and Double Mountain.
My friend Kristyn sewed up this cute Gemma Tank from Made by Rae, and I’m in love! Gonna make so many tanks with Balboa for those late summer heat waves. She also sewed some Noodlehead wallets for me, which I’ll be sharing over on Instagram soon!
I designed a special quilt for this release, which I called “City Blocks.” It will be available to download for free from the Robert Kaufman website once the fabric begins to ship to stores later in the Fall!
The marketing team at Robert Kaufman created this beautiful Cora Bag from Sotak Handmade out of the Spools fabric in Chambray. Such a dreamy tote for all your crafty gear.
Balboa will begin shipping out to fabric stores later in the fall. If you’re excited to sew with Balboa, let your local fabric shop know, so they can order it! Sharing the love for this collection is the best way to make sure it ends up in more fabric stores near you.
I’m so excited to see what other makers will create with these new fabrics. The biggest thrill of releasing a new fabric collection is seeing my work take on new life as creative sewists make something new with my designs. If you create something with Balboa, tag me on Instagram, and use the hashtag #balboafabric!
Interview on Coffee + Conversations Podcast
Katie from Hatched Collective here in San Diego recently interviewed me about my creative journey for her new podcast: Coffee + Conversations. The show is an audio off-shoot of her popular meetup groups, where attendees gather monthly to discuss their struggles and accomplishments as creatives and entrepreneurs.
This series is a must-listen for anyone interested in following their own unique creative path. Explore the archive of Coffee + Conversations episodes, and reach out on Instagram to let me know what you think about the topics we explored in our chat!
Moving into our new studio + showroom
It’s been over a year since I moved Cotton & Flax from LA to San Diego, and I’m excited to share that I’m moving into a lovely new studio in the Normal Heights neighborhood of San Diego this month! The new space has tons of natural light, and will be a great place for hosting events and workshops. I’m really looking forward to meeting more creative folks in my new community.
I can’t wait to show you the new studio space! Follow along on Instagram for sneak peeks as I get the new space set up. Be sure to sign up for email updates to get the latest on store events, sample sales, and more!
Linen Napkins for Sustainability
Sustainability advocate Sara Tso wrote an illuminating article about her zero-waste kit, the tools and supplies she uses on a daily basis to reduce her consumption and waste. I was delighted to see that Sara recommended our linen napkins, which she uses in place of paper towels in her lunchbox every day.
“Cloth napkins are multipurpose. Use them to dry your hands (no more paper towels!), for any wipes or spills, or for grabbing a cookie from the local bakery. Splurging on a cute one will ensure its place in your kit.” – Sara Tso
Read more about our focus on sustainability, then browse our natural tabletop goods to create your own zero-waste kit!
