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round up

How to shop off-registry for millenial weddings

March 27, 2019

Millenial Wedding Gifts

I’m in the season of life where every summer is filled with weddings. I’ve been lucky to travel all over the country to attend some pretty memorable wedding receptions (and after-parties).

I’ve noticed that lots of my friends have not signed up for traditional wedding registries. It might be a generational turn towards prioritizing experiences over things (a typical Millenial stereotype) or the reality that many couples live together for years before getting married. Regardless, it seems like many of my friends already bought that Kitchen-Aid mixer one winter when they got obsessed with making every recipe from the Tartine cookbook… so what else could I get for my favorite couple that will help them start their next chapter together?…

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Filed Under: Inspiration Tagged With: gift guide, home decor, round up, shop small

Best Home Decor Books of 2016

March 9, 2017

Simple Matters by Erin BoyleI was hoping to share my favorite home decor books from 2016 before the end of the year… but better late than never! These books are just as relevant as ever, and I think you’ll find lots of great decorating tips and interior design inspiration in each of these picks.

Living with Pattern by Rebecca Atwood

Living with Pattern: Color, Texture, and Print at Home by Rebecca Atwood

I love Rebecca Atwood’s painterly prints, and this book was a lovely peek into both her life as a textile designer, as well as a handbook for adding pattern to your home with style and flair. The watercolor illustrations totally charmed me, and I relished seeing photos of her studio and pattern making process.

The real-world examples of homes brimming with pattern were beautiful, and I loved the way she broke down how to decorate with pattern, while still maintaining balance and keeping a room from looking too busy. The DIY projects felt advanced, like upholstery projects and dying fabrics, but I still felt confident that they were achievable — It’s nice change to feel challenged by projects like this, rather than underwhelmed.

Simple Matters by Erin Boyle

Simple Matters: Living with Less and Ending Up with More by Erin Boyle

I pre-ordered this book back in January, because I’ve been a fan of Erin’s blog, Reading My Tea Leaves for quite a while. Her perspective on living minimally, and making thoughtful choices about everything you keep in your home is so valuable. The book is divided into nine chapters, and my favorites were the sections on decluttering, simplifying, and decorating.

Erin’s personal insights on small-space living and conscious consumption were really compelling. We agree that it’s important to adopt sustainable approaches to living, and that those efforts are beneficial to both the environment and our own well being. Her thesis is a powerful one: that “living small” is beneficial and accessible to us all—whether we’re renting a tiny apartment or purchasing a three-story house.

The Finer Things by Christiane Lemieux

The Finer Things: Timeless Furniture, Textiles, and Details by Christiane Lemieux

This lovely gilded tome is a comprehensive guide to selecting heirloom-quality pieces for your home — the unique, and well made items that imbue enduring style into your home. This desk-worthy reference helps you select, install, and style high-quality  decorative elements in your home, from wallpaper, art frames and floors to furniture, fabrics, light fixtures and more.

The World of Charles and Ray Eames

The World of Charles and Ray Eames edited by Catherine Ince

The more I learn about the Eames’ influence on the world of design, the more I realize the impact they still have on the design world have today. I’m particularly drawn to Ray Eames’ textile designs, and this impressive archive of their work was fun to pore over. The book contains handwritten notes, sketches, and snapshots, as well as beautiful photos of those modern interiors and furniture that we know and love.

The Best New Home Decor Books - Cotton & Flax

Filed Under: Behind the Scenes Tagged With: books, home decor, interior design, pattern, round up

10 DIY Holiday Gift Ideas

November 7, 2014

DIY Jams and pickles

It might seem early to be talking about holiday gifts, but if you’re like me, you take the partial DIY approach to holiday gift giving (aka: buy a few, make a few!) Making gifts by hand can take a while, so I’m getting a jump on my DIY holiday gift projects now.

In case you need some DIY inspiration, check out this roundup of 10 projects that would make perfect holiday gifts!

…

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Filed Under: DIY Tagged With: Arroyo Fabric, diy, holiday gifts, round up

Southern California Breakfast

July 1, 2013

so cal breakfast

Going out for a light breakfast is one of my favorite treats. I don’t go as often as I did when I lived in Portland (a city where the breakfast options are legendary), but since I moved to Los Angeles in 2011, I’ve found quite a few local favorites to add to my breakfast routine. Here are a few of my favorite local treats.

1. Handsome Roasters Coffee – so delicious it doesn’t need cream or sugar
2 & 3. Small espresso cup and Mug from Heath Ceramics – each piece is made in CA
4. Cotton & Flax coasters – handmade in Los Angeles, of course
5. Sqirl Jam* – the Seascape Strawberry & Rose Geranium is my favorite flavor, best on a thick slice of brioche toast
6. Moon Juice – Their flavors are amazing, and the juices are freshly cold-pressed from 100% organic fruits and veggies

*I’m feeling extra motivated to try different flavors of Sqirl Jam after attending a recent Creative Mornings event where the owner of Sqirl, Jessica Koslow, was a speaker. She spoke with so much passion about her work, I love encountering other creative folks who are pursuing work that they love.

Filed Under: Inspiration Tagged With: recipes, round up

A Luxurious, Bohemian Studio

March 18, 2013

bohemian decor

I’ve been mentally rearranging my living room a lot lately, I’m really itching for a change. I put together this little collection while I was imagining the perfect bohemian corner where I could sit and sketch out new ideas for Cotton & Flax patterns.

  1. Satellite 3 Light from Schoolhouse Electric
  2. Honeycomb Pot from Terrain
  3. Torque Stool (used as a side table) from Anthropologie
  4. Cordage Chair from Anthropologie
  5. Gold Triangle Pillow from Cotton & Flax
  6. Kasbah Wool Rug from West Elm

 

Filed Under: Interior Design Tagged With: home decor, interior design, round up

Officially Obsessed with Falconwright.

March 12, 2013

Falconwright clutches

Falconwright debuted their spring line yesterday, and it just confirms what I’ve known all along: these ladies are brilliant with patterns. I want all four of these clutches… I might have to treat myself to an early birthday gift.

Filed Under: Inspiration Tagged With: round up

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A textile designer’s journal

Welcome! I'm Erin Dollar, the textile designer behind Cotton & Flax. I create patterned home decor that's rooted in creative exploration.

Here I'll share peeks of my design process, creative inspirations, decor ideas, and more.

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A textile designer’s journal

Welcome! I'm Erin Dollar, the textile designer behind Cotton & Flax. Here I'll share peeks behind the scenes, recent inspirations, decor ideas, and more. Read More…

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