New Coasters – Cosmic White

April 5, 2016

I’m excited to debut two new coaster sets in a beautiful new colorway: cosmic white. I’ve been wanting to experiment with tonal printing for a while, and spring felt like the perfect time to freshen up the coaster collection with a bright new addition. I chose the name cosmic white for these new coasters, riffing on this amazing scientific color that piqued my imagination last week.

I worked with my friend Jessica Comingore to photograph these new additions, and her photos are simply lovely. You’ll find them peppered throughout the site.

These new coasters are made from the same designer-quality wool felt, and will add a subtle, modern touch to your coffee table. Find these new coasters in the Cotton & Flax shop now!

Seconds Sale on Coasters

April 30, 2014

Just launched a seconds sale on coasters! These “seconds” are very nearly perfect, just a little smaller than usual – 3.75″ rather than 4″ square. This sale is an incredible value, and since there are limited numbers, I am listing them all in the shop as a flash sale.

This is a great time to stock up on coasters for all your Spring and Summer cocktail parties, these coaster sets are on sale for 30% off! There are limited quantities available, so shop now!

Why wool felt coasters beat ceramic coasters (the answer may surprise you!)

August 30, 2013

A few weeks ago, I took some time to detail how Cotton & Flax coasters are made. One thing I didn’t really dig into is why Cotton & Flax coasters are made from 100% merino wool felt. It comes down to a few different reasons, some more obvious than others.

I prefer to use natural materials. If you’ve read this blog before, you’re probably noticed that my love for natural fibers has no end. They are often the most sustainable option (especially when compared with fabrics and materials made using petroleum or plastics), and I prefer to use natural materials in homegoods, because who wants something in their home that might be leaching or offgassing a toxic chemical? Not me. I prefer to stick with natural fibers, which are kinder to humans, and then environment as a whole.

I also love the huge range of colors available to me when using fibers. Wood and ceramic options just didn’t measure up in terms of the wide variety of color options.

Finally, I just love the experience of using them. I’ve had customers tell me that they prefer the wool felt coasters just because they are quieter. Imagine that! Comparing the experience of setting an icy glass down onto a ceramic coaster, and onto a Cotton & Flax wool felt coaster – there’s really no contest. The wool felt muffles the sound, and protects your furniture just as efficiently. There are lots of other reasons to prefer felt coasters, but those subtle improvements are really the biggest reason to make the switch.

VOTE – Fall Coaster Colors for Cotton & Flax

August 1, 2013

I’m getting things ready for the fall/winter collection for Cotton & Flax, and I can’t seem to decide what new color I’d like to add to the coaster collection. I already use three wonderful colors (shown above): gold, charcoal, and latte. I’m hoping to add a rich, dark color to the collection for fall, perhaps you’d like to help me choose between these four?

[polldaddy poll=7293038]

Taking a break with a summer cocktail

July 16, 2013

I’ve been hard at work preparing for Renegade Craft Fair the last few weeks, which means long hours cutting fabric, silkscreen printing, sewing, and ironing. Don’t get me wrong – I love my work, and the feeling of flow I get while I’m working is incredibly fulfilling – but it’s also pretty exhausting when I am preparing for a big show.

One of the hardest things about that grueling schedule is that LA has been pretty darn hot lately, getting into the mid 90’s most days. I drink lots of ice water during the day to stay cool (the AC unit in the studio is unreliable, to put it nicely), but in the evenings, I’ve been cooling off with my favorite cocktail, a Moscow Mule. While I don’t drink it in a copper cup, which is apparently the traditional presentation, it’s just as cool and refreshing in a regular glass.

The recipe is simple: 1/2 ounce lime juice, a few ice cubes, 2 oz. vodka, and 4-6 oz. ginger beer (not ginger ale)

I may even make a non-alcoholic version to enjoy during the day! A little sparkling ginger lemonade sounds pretty good as well. If you have a drink to recommend to help me stay cool, let me know in the comments!

How Cotton & Flax coasters are made

July 15, 2013

When I sell my work in person, the felt coasters are always the most fondled item of the whole collection. Everyone seems to want to pick them up and touch them! I can’t say that I blame my customers for being curious, the thick wool felt I use really is appealing. Today, I thought it would be fun to take a peek into how Cotton & Flax coasters are made.

Cotton & Flax coasters begin their lives as raw wool, which is milled in Germany. The photo above shows the mill which processes the felt I use. Kind of picturesque, wouldn’t you say?

Wool felt is one of the oldest man-made textiles. To produce felt, raw wool undergoes a wet “felting” process, which involves matting, condensing and pressing the fibers. You can see a little of the milling process below, I find those giant machines fascinating.

The felt I use for Cotton & Flax coasters is high quality, eco-friendly, comes in highly saturated colors which are a perfect canvas for my bold patterns. The high standards for fabric dyeing in Germany make this felt safe for everyday use in your home, and safe for the Earth! I order several yards of this luxuriously thick felt at a time, and then hand silkscreen print my patterns onto the felt before cutting it down to size.

So there you have it, a glimpse into how Cotton & Flax coasters are made. You can find lots of fun patterned coasters in the shop, grab a couple sets for your next cocktail party!

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