You may remember my love letter to Plover Organic awhile back? Well now they’ve given me even more reason to be a Plover lover.  I just got word that Plover Organic is gearing up for a HUGE Online SALE! On August 4th, 5th and 6th all non-sale items will be 50% off! That means you can find fantastic deals on their block-printed, vintage inspired bedding, throw pillows, fabric and table-top accessories.  If that isn’t good enough news already, they will also give 1% of the proceeds to the National Wildlife Federation to help clean up the tragic oil spill in the Gulf.  You better check it out before I snatch up all the good stuff!

Marimekko “Taikamylly” fabric designed by Sanna Annukka

Donna Wilson Owl Cushion

Jaclyn Mayer “Leonora” necklace made from climbing rope and a steel chain.

Iso50 “1971″ Giclee Print. Check out their Tycho Music site too for cool grooves.

Erica Weiner Solitaire Emerald Ring

PataPri Sweet Home Hand Towel

How great are these bags from Flowie? I love the hand-dyed prints and the shape of the bags and of course the price – $66.  All of these designs are made with love in the Bay Area by textile designer Yaling Hou.  She also has a line of home accessories and gorgeous fabrics of her original designs perfect for your own home decorating projects.  See more from Yaling here.

I’m so glad Irene from Bloesem took a break from her blogging sabbatical to share the gorgeous designs of Santiago, Chile based textile designer Karen Barbé.  Karen designs screen printed cotton tiles and then sews them together to create beautiful quilts, duvet covers and pillows.  Keep track of Karen and her latest lovely designs through her blog.  She is working to develop an online shop too so that those of us up North can someday wrap ourselves in one of her cozy creations.  I’ll let you know when her shop is live!

When I was in High School the girl with the most style hands down was Ramey Griffin. I loved sleep-overs at Ramey’s Dads fabulous home with the biggest kitchen I’d ever seen stocked with treats, a real jukebox in the living room and a swimming pool out back. But best of all was Ramey’s bedroom.  It was the type of bedroom every girl dreams about. Not only was the room from bedspread to curtains covered in precious patterns of pink and green but she had a tv inside an armoire and her own massive bathroom! I was lucky that Ramey and I were friends so I got to spend lots of time in that dream of a bedroom.

It’s no surprise then that Ramey, now Ramey Caulkins, is now an interior designer who’s Maine vacation home was recently featured in the July edition of Coastal Living.  I was so happy to see the photo’s of her home and see that she still loves pink and green! Ramey has filled her home with the cheerful fabrics and wallpaper of Sister Parish Designs to give her home that “loose and livable” style she favors.  You’ll have to pick up the magazine for more information about her fabulous home.

]]> http://littlewillow.com/2009/07/14/ramey-caulkins-and-sister-parish-designs/feed/ 6 http://littlewillow.com/2009/06/24/cloud9-fabrics/ http://littlewillow.com/2009/06/24/cloud9-fabrics/#comments Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:30:17 +0000 lilwills http://littlewillow.com/?p=3194

Cloud9 Fabrics is the newest line of fabrics from the über talented Michelle Engel Bencsko. I’ve written about Michelle’s Cicada Studio in the past and she’s also a Frillow! She started out making sweet smelling lavender sachet’s and pillows and then in 2008 she decided to devote herself to Cicada Studio full time and create a printed textile business.  After much success with Cicada Studio she is now expanding her business again with the help of partner Gina Pantastico (love how it rhymes with fantastico) to create Cloud9 Fabrics!

The unique thing about Cloud9 Fabrics is that they are printed with Oeko-tex certified dyes on 100% GOTS certified organic cotton and not only that but for $16.95 a yard it’s affordable organic fabric! These adorable patterns from the debut collection My Happy Garden are the perfect prints to upholster a glider rocking chair for your babies room.  I know they’ll be on my list of fabric choices when my times comes.  You can find Cloud9 Fabrics and My Happy Garden collection after September 1, 2009 at these locations. Keep up with Michelle and Gina on their blog Floating on Cloud9.

While tweeting this morning with @design_sponge about bedding, I was reminded of Kerry Cassill, one of my favorite textile designers.  It had been awhile since I’d visited her website so I was thrilled to find out she has finally added heavy weight upholstery fabric to her growing range of textiles (below).  If you like the beachy California bohemian look then Kerry’s prints are for you.  Check out her boutiques link to find a shop near you.

I’m in London this week! The hubs had to come for work and I got to tag-along to play. Between my friend Maglie’s suggestions, Tea for Joy’s London Guide for Design Sponge and Gywnnies GOOP guide I’ve got plenty to do, see and eat.   After a morning run/walk through Hyde Park, we had an amazing porridge and coffee at the TomTom Coffee in Belgravia (my favorite district so far) then we watched the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace before the hubs had to leave for work. In the afternoon I toured around Notting Hill and the fancy shops there.   I had a chance to visit Toast which has the most gorgeous catalog. To tell you the truth the live version was a bit of a disappointment. The clothing, although made with fine linen and silk was very bland and the home decor selection was also a bit of a snooze.   It just goes to show that excellent photography can do wonders.   I also dropped into a TopShop and tried on a few items from the Kate Moss collection. Boy was that depressing. Apparently you can’t have bones if you want to fit into anything Kate Moss designs. Fortunately for me I have bones, so that didn’t go so well.

The highlight of yesterday had to be my visit to Robert Kime’s textile shop.   I have been salivating over his fabrics for weeks and couldn’t wait to see these lovely designs in person. Emma was a massive help and I think she might have had as much fun as I did choosing patterns for my three re-upholstery projects. I took a few of pictures of the shop to share with you.

 Ok I’m off to the Victoria & Albert Museum now and then to the National Gallery to visit my friends the Arnolfini’s.   Ta ta for now!

Ooooh ahhhh, I love these patterns from UK textile designer Charlene Mullen.   Inspired by everything from Victorian christening gowns to prison tattoos, Charlene draws on these ideas to create her intricate line drawings on cushions, blankets and clothing. Learn more about her here.

I love these bright fabric swatches from Free Spirit. Free Spirit is an online fabric gallery that takes a modern approach to quilting by offering unexpected and bold fabric designs to help you create a quilt unlike anything your mother used to make. No longer relegated to the older generations women of all ages are taking up quilting and even going away to Quilt Camps!

Hmm this is making me think joining a local quilting bee might be a good way to meet people in my new town. I can finally crack open that quilting book Haley gave me for Christmas years ago! Thanks to Molly for sending this link my way.

Happy Friday! I spotted these fabrics from Melbourne, Australia designer PippiJoe on designer Shannon Fricke’s site and fell in love. This just might be the inspiration I need to take up sewing.   They would look great on my Ozzie friend Maglie’s rabbits too. In addition to her fabrics PippiJoe makes totes, pillows and greeting cards in her sweet patterns. Check out PippiJoe’s blog and Shannon’s blog too while you’re at it for more inspiration.

I had the best experience on Monday buying a new couch! When was the last time you heard somebody say that? Instead of settling for any old straight-out-of-a-catalog or this season’s Pottery-Restoration-Sonoma-Pier-Macy’s-type couch, I did a bunch of research and found a way to make my own. Yes, I actually used the resource section of my new Domino Book of Decorating and found a furniture manufacturer that allows you to select from a wide range of couch styles, then let’s you choose the fabric and hardware. I went to Hamilton Park Interiors here in Utah and worked with an awesome designer named Kathryn who helped me pick a Drexel Heritage settee. I have to say it was more fun than I imagined. The possibilities were endless (thank God the hubs wasn’t there — I imagine it really would’ve felt endless for him).

In the end I fell in love with the ladylike scalloped back and the antique look of the turned legs in the above design, though the combo of the rich blue fabric and the jacquard silk floral pillows with a little fringe made it a show-stopper for me. Of course now I have to wait until January for it to arrive but looking at this mock-up of the final couch will help keep my eyes on the prize until then. Below is a photocopy of the fabrics but once the real deal is in I will repost for your viewing pleasure.

I am loving the handmade textiles and tableware collections from Jacaranda Home. I love the bold colors and the happy designs. The beautiful au natural cotton canvas is embroidered in the traditional style by Mexican Otami Indians and can take up to three months to make! I also love the various ways you can use the textiles, from pillow covers to shower curtains or as framed wall decor. As usual they have been all over the design nets and design mags but yours truly is just getting hip to them. If they’re new to you too enjoy!

Needs some inspiration for reupholstering your Sunday Flea Market finds? Head over to the incredible Lotus Bleu for designer Jeannie Fraise’s boldly reupholstered vintage furniture. Jeannie travels annually to France and Southeast Asia to gather her beautiful fabrics for custom upholstery, cushions and curtains. I’ve got my eye on some bedding from India and I’m definitely filing this place away for my next upholstery project. Bonus for me, Jeannie’s store is in San Francisco!

Also peeped in Domino this month, Carolina Irving Textiles! Her gorgeous patterns are hand-printed on 100% hemp and have a casual Indian vibe. I definitely need to hit some flea markets for a hidden gem to upholster with these beauties. The Peak of Chic, another obsessed fan, wrote a post on how to find these fabrics until Carolina’s website is more complete. If you live in LA, you can find her prints at Hollywood At Home. (LA friends we’re going there on my next visit).