It’s so exciting to see your Arroyo sewing projects start to appear on social media — thank you so much for sharing your projects with the #ArroyoFabric hashtag. I wanted to share some of my recent favorite projects that have been shared to the feed! If you’re sewing anything with Arroyo, I hope you’ll tag me in the photo on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook.
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I’m always so happy to see Cotton & Flax pieces in use in your homes. Today I’m sharing some recent customer photos I spotted on Instagram! This first snap of an impressive coaster pile is from Cotton & Flax stockist Hop & Dox.
I’m happy to see more photos of my new stockist JOIN Shop starting to appear online. If you live in Seattle, stop by and check out Cotton & Flax tea towels, and tons of other beautifully designed home goods and gifts.
I love grapefruit (pamplemousse, anyone??), and this lovely shot from customer Amanda Krovic makes a minimalist breakfast look so beautiful. I love that Cotton & Flax tea towels are used for everything from drying dishes, to an informal oversized placemat.
This beautifully composed shot features Cotton & Flax trivets, paired with beautiful ceramic bowls made by LA-based artist Linda Hsiao. I love seeing our work together!
Finally, this gorgeous place setting features our bestselling charcoal confetti coaster, along with other artisan-made tabletop goods (and a perfectly ripe avocado). A big thank you to Carrie from Half Hitch Goods for sharing this photo.
More beautiful projects created with my first fabric collection, Arroyo for Robert Kaufman! This quilt was designed by Nichole Ramirez, and sewn and quilted by Erica and Heather Cartwright. This beauty was featured in Today’s Quilter Magazine this month! So cool to see the wide range of possibilities of what you can create with Arroyo.
Want to see other projects made with Arroyo fabrics? Check out the #ArroyoFabric on Instagram to see more beautiful DIY pieces created with my fabrics. These fabrics will be available in stores soon ⏤ ask your favorite local fabric shop if they’ll be stocking Arroyo!
I was so thrilled when Craft Industry Alliance invited me to teach an online workshop for their community this month! I presented a hour-long webinar called Ready for Wholesale: Introduction to Wholesale for Creative Small Businesses.
The class features my tips and tricks for selling handmade products to brick and mortar retail shops, and how to grow wholesale clients in a creative business. I love sharing my experiences with fellow creative business owners, and getting the opportunity to teach what I know.
If you’re an artist or maker who wants to sell their work to retail shops, sign up for Craft Industry Alliance, and check out my Intro to Wholesale class! There are tons of webinars on other relevant topics in their archives, but you have to be a member to access them – if you’re looking for a community of makers to connect with, this might be the place for you.
One of the products I was excited to debut back in 2014 were the 100% Marino wool felt trivets. The material is so wonderful to work with – thick and luxurious, with super saturated color.
It quickly became apparent, though, that my friends fell into two camps: those who owned and loved a handful of trivets already, and those who immediately asked me, “What is a trivet, exactly?”
Trivets are similar to drink coasters, in that they protect your furniture from heat or condensation. At it’s simplest, a trivet is an object placed between a serving dish and your dining table, protecting the table from water rings or scratches. Trivets have been around for centuries, in both utilitarian and incredibly decorative designs.
I’ve found that trivets can pose as helpful design elements beyond the dining room table. I’ll also use them under a vase of flower or a potted houseplant, protecting my coffee table from scratches. Plus, they come in handy for entertaining – they are just the right size to hold a fresh batch of coffee brewed in my Chemex, or a pitcher of lemonade.
Cotton & Flax felt trivets beautify your table while protecting your table from heat and condensation and preventing scratches. Find our beautifully modern trivets in our online shop!
I often mention how Cotton & Flax textiles are made with linen/cotton blend fabrics, but you may be wondering, “What’s so great about natural fabrics?”
There is a long, rich tradition of using natural fibers in fabrics, and I find that connection to our roots meaningful. Linen in particular has been used since ancient times, often for clothing, and was even used as a currency. In Ancient Egypt, linen was seen as a symbol of purity, and was worn as a display of wealth. I love creating linen throw pillows with that rich history in mind.
Natural fibers have the potential to be grown in a sustainable way, which contributes positively towards my goals of running a green studio. I’ve read studies that show that flax (the plant used to make linen fabric) requires much less water, and considerably fewer pesticides and fertilizers than other crops, which means less environmental impact overall. Only the best flax fibers are used for making linen textiles, but no part of the plant is wasted in the production process, and the leftover seeds, oil, straw and fiber are used to make many secondary products, like soap or paper. Few products are so efficiently used as Flax.
Natural fabrics, and linen in particular, have all sorts of great properties. Linen doesn’t pill or produce lint, which means your textiles will look newer, longer. Linen tea towels are easy to launder, and become softer and more absorbent with each use. Since linen is made from plant fibers, it is recyclable and biodegradable, but since linen textiles look and feel timeless, they won’t be hitting the recycling or compost bin anytime soon. Plus, linen has a uniquely luxurious look, which is why I love using it in so many of my designs!
