I’ve got about a million updates to post here on the blog, but for now, I’ll just share one big piece of news. I’m excited to announce a new stockist who I’m absolutely obsessed with: Need Supply. They’ve just begun carrying a collection of designer homegoods, and I’m delighted to have Cotton & Flax tea towels, napkins, and pillows in the mix, alongside gorgeous cork vessels from Melanie Abrantes, and modern planters and cups from Yeild Design.
Shop the collection here!
I’m looking forward to hosting a pop-up shop at West Elm in Santa Monica this weekend! If you live in LA, stop by the store on Saturday, Nov. 19th to shop all my handmade table top goods, and get ready for entertaining friends and family for Thanksgiving!
Cotton & Flax goods are also stocked at West Elm Palo Alto, LA, San Diego, Costa Mesa, Mill Valley, and Emeryville. If you’re out shopping at West Elm, snap a photo of our goods in the LOCAL section, and tag @cottonandflax on Instagram or Twitter!
Editors note: Today we’re welcoming a new contributor to the Cotton & Flax blog: Alexandria Austin! She’s a maker, and a small business strategist currently living in Portland, Oregon. Check out her shop filled with handmade products of her own, Midland Co. You’ll find her inaugural post below. -Erin
Small Business Saturday will soon be here, and in the past few years, we’ve been hearing a lot more calls to “Shop Small” and “Buy Local.” For many people, Small Business Saturday signals a return to supporting small businesses, and an effort to make more thoughtful purchases. But some of you might be thinking, “What’s the big deal?”
Supporting small businesses like Cotton & Flax makes a huge difference, and the holidays create a perfect opportunity for you to choose meaningful gifts. Here’s what happens when you shop small:
You encourage creativity, diversity, and higher quality products. When you make a purchase from an artist or maker, you are voting with your dollars to see more of their goods in the marketplace. Shopping small encourages businesses to offer unique products, and supports companies that are doing high-quality work.
You strengthen the economy and your community. Shopping small allows a small business to create jobs, and make purchases from other small businesses, strengthening your community. When you buy from Cotton & Flax, you’re also supporting dozens of other USA-based companies who supply everything from our fabrics to our shipping supplies.
You’ll receive great customer service. This is where a small business can do amazing things! Small businesses depend on word of mouth, and are often run by a very small team, so they can provide friendlier and more helpful service.
You’ll have a unique story to tell about where you found your gifts! When you shop small, you’re purchasing a gift that has a unique backstory. Your purchase from a small shop is more than a run of the mill item that was made in a factory, it’s a thoughtfully-designed, handmade piece that is rich with meaning. A gift from a small shop like Cotton & Flax carries with it the story of the maker who created it.
You’ll be putting a smile on a business owners face. When you shop at a small business, you’re sharing in someone’s dream. Every single sale encourages their creative work and shows them you support their vision. While you may not see this smile in person, I can promise you that your purchase made their day!
So, how can you shop small for holiday gifts? There are many small shops that stock beautiful, meaningful pieces that would make great holiday gifts. Online shops, like Cotton & Flax, make it easy to shop directly from an artist, and provide a variety of gifts that can be wrapped and mailed straight to your friends and family. If you enjoy buying in person, you can stop by a local craft fair, or visit one of our stockists, where you’ll find hundreds of artisan-made gifts.
We hope this gives you some insight and inspiration as you hunt for gifts. In case you’re looking for more inspiration to shop small, check out our archives of amazing Cotton & Flax stockists! We’ll continue to highlight our favorite small shops and stockists as the holiday season goes on, and don’t forget to share your favorite Cotton & Flax gifts by tagging us on Instagram!
I’m pleased to add another beautiful shop to the list of Cotton & Flax stockists: Cedar & Hyde in Boulder, CO. This lovely boutique stocks all sorts of rare finds, and they act as a modern day mercantile, offering everything from high-quality clothing to handmade home goods.
Cedar & Hyde is focused on beautiful curation, cohesive design aesthetic, quality and ethically made items, and stellar customer service. Run by sisters Christie and Poss Lambert, this shop sets itself apart by featuring goods from up-and-coming brands, and highlights forward-thinking designs from dozens of independent artists and designers.
If you live in Boulder, stop by this lovely shop! Visit Cedar & Hyde at: 2019 10th St. Boulder, Colorado, 80302.
Can you believe it’s already November?! Where did this year go? I didn’t have much time to blog in October, so I thought I’d recap some of the highlights from the last few weeks.
Cotton & Flax was a design category finalist in Martha Stewart’s American Made awards!
The American Made awards wasn’t my only brush with Martha this month… I had the opportunity to share my advice for throwing an impromptu party, and how to keep your cool while you’re hosting a last-minute get together on Martha Stewart’s site.
As I was flipping through Rue Magazine last week, I was delighted to discover a Cotton & Flax Hills + Valleys pillow in Maia’s picks of the month. Plus, I can’t forget to include the gorgeous tour of Vane Broussard’s living room — featuring our zig zag pillows.
Cotton & Flax also has two new retail stockists to announce this month: Arroyo General here in Los Angeles, and Land of Salt in Salt Lake City. I love working with small independent shops like these, and I hope to highlight more of my stockists soon, to give you ideas of where to shop small for the holidays.
As for the studio side, it’s been a busy month prepping to launch the Holiday Collection! Lots of time spent getting all the little details in place for the launch, so I’m extra glad to see the new pieces up in the shop. I’m looking forward to getting feedback on these new pieces during the next few weeks, as I participate in some pop-up shops and holiday markets. I’ll be sharing lots of updates on Instagram, so join me there if you want to see what’s going on day-to-day!
Happy to announce another awesome LA stockist: Arroyo General in Highland Park! This shop is super fresh, they just opened in 2014, and they carry a delightful assortment of gifts, home goods, and fresh produce. I love this combination of delicious treats and gifts for the home — you could easily assemble a fantastic gift basket in this shop.
If you find yourself on the Eastside in LA, stop inside this adorable little shop! Visit Arroyo General at 5028 York Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90042.
(Top three photos by Anne Sage, final photo from Arroyo General’s Instagram)
