Los Angeles

Cotton & Flax visits Sew LA

March 25, 2013

Sew LA is one of my favorite local fabric stores, and I’ve been visiting them a lot more often since they moved to their Atwater Village location. The shop is small, but they carry a great selection of designer fabrics, and some fun Japanese imports that feature really unique patterns and colors. They carry one of my favorite fabric designers, Naomi Ito, so it’s always a treat to see what they have in stock.

They offer classes, too, and their studio space in the back is pretty dreamy. The classes range from beginner (learn to use your sewing machine!) to advanced (fitting and patternmaking). I envy their giant worktables, I’d love to have a big, open workspace like that to use every day while I’m making work for Cotton & Flax.

For any of you LA readers, have you been to Sew LA? Taken any classes? I’d love to hear what you made with fabric you bought there!

Cotton & Flax at Oh Hello Friend in Fullerton

February 8, 2013

You can now find a selection of Cotton & Flax pillows at Oh Hello Friend‘s new retail shop in Fullerton, CA! I visited the shop this afternoon, it’s filled with lovely things, both vintage and handmade.

The owner, Danni, has such a great eye for merchandising her shop. The displays are just as beautiful as the products, and Danni takes care to stock her shelves with all sorts of affordable gifts.

Don’t you love the vintage cash register? Visit Oh Hello Friend at 122 N. Harbor Blvd. Suite 103 in Fullerton, CA.

Modern textiles at LACMA

September 26, 2012

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.

Cotton & Flax visits the LA Fashion District

August 16, 2012

I made another trip to the Los Angeles fashion district, where there are blocks and blocks of fabric stores overflowing with things to delight even the most seasoned crafter. I was just picking up some small samples of some of the fabrics I’ll be using for my Fall/Winter line for Cotton & Flax, but I took a few shots of beautifully patterned fabrics with my phone to share here.

Most of the bolts of fabric were not identified by brand, but hopefully I will find some time to track down the makers of these fabrics soon.

These ones I do know… Liberty of London!

Fabric Shopping in Downtown Los Angeles

July 6, 2012

I have only been living in Los Angeles for a little less than two years, so I still feel like a newbie in a lot of ways. Back in Portland (where I grew up, and lived before I moved to LA), I had a handful of favorite fabric stores that I’d frequent on a regular basis. After moving to LA, it has taken me quite a while to find my favorite spots, and I still feel like I’ve barely scratched the surface of what LA has to offer.

A couple weeks ago, Keiko of Small Adventure invited me to go explore the fabric district in downtown LA, and I gladly said yes! Michael Levine, one of my favorite fabric shops is located down there, but Keiko showed me around to a couple other of her favorite spots as well. I have to say, though, that Michael Levine is still my favorite in the fabric district. I’ll always stop in just to gawk at the beautiful Liberty of London printed fabrics they keep in a display case… so beautiful, but so expensive.

(Photos above from Danni of Oh Hello Friend)

I grabbed a few swatches while I was shopping – I’m trying to develop an idea of my color palette for my newer designs, excited to branch out into some bright colors (maybe even a neon!) If you’re an Los Angeles local, let me know your fabric store recommendations over on Twitter, I’m @cottonandflax!