Blog - Cotton & Flax

Behind the Scenes

End of an Era

Cotton & Flax in San Diego
Saying goodbye to Cotton & Flax on Adams Avenue

After two years of creating a special space for up-and-coming artists and designers in San Diego, I’ve decided to close the store on February 28th.

I’m so grateful for your support and encouragement as Cotton & Flax has grown and evolved. This experience has connected me with many amazing people, including the artists and designers whose work I was honored to stock on my shelves.

It’s bittersweet to say goodbye to my tiny store, but I’m looking forward to new collaborations, and supporting my creative community in new ways.

Starting today, enjoy 40% off in-store and online — no coupon code needed. The online shop will remain open with ready-to-ship pieces from the Cotton & Flax collection.

Live nearby? Visit Cotton & Flax at 3180 Adams Ave. San Diego, CA 92116 Open: Wednesday – Saturday, 12-5pm until February 28, 2020.

Wool Felt Patchwork Pillows

Grey wool felt throw pillows

I’m debuting something brand new today: wool felt throw pillows! Created using offcuts of wool felt fabric left over from manufacturing coasters, this very limited-edition collection brings Cotton & Flax one step closer to a zero-waste studio.

Minimal bedroom with gold wool felt throw pillows

The subtle patterns of the sewn patchwork panels are very different than my usual approach to textile design. It was fun to think creatively about how to use smaller pieces of this beautiful fabric to create something impactful.

Grey wool felt lumbar throw pillow

The photos for this collection were shot at The Tuberose Studio, a beautiful airbnb filled with artisan-made decor. Such a perfect match!

Visit the online shop to snag one of these handcrafted pillows.

Best of San Diego

Best of San Diego - Cotton & Flax in San Diego Magazine

This month, Cotton & Flax was named the best fabric shop in San Diego by San Diego Magazine! It’s such an honor to be embraced by the local community just two years after arriving. The encouragement and support I receive from my San Diego neighbors means everything to me.

If you’ve visited the shop this year, I’d love it if you left a review! Positive reviews help me reach more local design enthusiasts and spread the word about the retail store and my creative classes.

You can find the Best of San Diego issue on newsstands now!

Interview on How She Creates

Erin Dollar in her pattern studio

I was delighted to chat with Lauren from the podcast How She Creates, giving her an overview of my life in the studio. We talked about my process as a pattern designer, and my experience as a creative teacher, both in online venues like Creativelive, as well as through workshops in my studio in San Diego.

This interview was recorded last summer, right as I got ready to open the retail shop in San Diego! It’s kinda fun to hear how much has changed, and how much has stayed the same since then. Tune in and let me know what you think!

What is surface pattern design?

After being profiled by Uppercase Magazine last month for their Surface Pattern Design issue, it’s been great to connect with people from all over the world who have a love of repeat patterns!

You might be wondering, what is surface pattern design, anyway? As my creative work has expanded beyond my own product collection for Cotton & Flax, I’ve been working more as a freelance surface pattern designer. I use the term surface design from time to time, forgetting that it’s “insider” terminology.

Surface Pattern Defined

Surface pattern design is artwork that I create specifically to be applied as surface decoration. This could include patterns, illustrations, hand-lettering, and artwork in all sorts of styles, as long as they’re made to enhance the appearance or functionality of a product. For me, this usually means a two-color minimalist pattern design, but the style options for pattern design are endless.

I usually design patterns for use on fabrics — this is why I call myself a textile designer and a surface pattern designer interchangeably. My patterned home decor products, as well as the fabric yardage collections I create for Robert Kaufman Fabrics are all examples of my surface pattern design work. Surface pattern designers also create artwork for use on stationery, apparel, book covers, and gift items. In fact, I’d argue that murals are also a form of surface pattern design!

My creative career covers a lot of ground: business owner, artist, teacher, textile designer, and surface pattern designer. Having my creative work highlighted by Uppercase Magazine made me realize that I haven’t talked much about my transition to focusing on surface pattern design for select collaborations. I’m hoping to share more of my experience as a freelance designer here, especially with more partnerships in the works for 2020!

In the meantime: see more of my pattern making process, and explore my roundup of contemporary fabric designers!

Karina Bania at Cotton & Flax

Karina Bania paintings on display at Cotton & Flax in San Diego

I’m excited to host a show of new paintings from Karina Bania at the shop this month! Karina is a talented local artist, and her abstract mixed media pieces feature beautiful pigmented washes and expressive textures.

We’re now displaying some of her newest mixed media paintings, which we hung in time for Art Around Adams, a two-mile art walk around San Diego’s Adams Ave! Her four original paintings are hung throughout the shop, alongside our range of handcrafted home decor.

Come discover the range of affordable art we carry in-store! Plus, you’ll find new arrivals from Melanie Abrantes Designs, Wolfum, Fruitsuper, Knit Wit Magazine, and more.

Cotton & Flax
3180 Adams Ave.
San Diego, CA 92116