First and foremost, there is no "right" way to wear one of these wraps. It all comes down to a matter of personal preference and, in a time-starved pinch, they can just be worn as a regular scarf!
To get you started, we have outlined our favourite way to wear one of the long wraps in the photos/steps depicted below.
1. Hold wrap horizontally in front of you, with loop in left hand.
2. Position toggle near left shoulder.
3. Wrap right side around back of neck. (You may want to tuck the right end into your collar at this point)
4. Wrap the left end around the back of the neck, across the front and secure the loop over the toggle.
5. Adjust the wrap to your liking. We like the toggle on the left side of the neck, with the corner pointing down and the top edges folded over to show a little bit of the lining.
Enjoy, and stay cosy!
]]>
Happy Easter Weekend!
It may be early this year, but Easter still means that spring is really here (in my mind anyway!)
But because Easter is early, and since the weather for the weekend does not look particularly "springy", we may have to do a spring-time cheat!
I am thinking wonderful spring colours and motifs of birds and flowers BUT all in practical, aka warm, ways. Layers still rule, as do the likes of flannel and velvet and maybe even - gasp - fleece!
Enjoy your time with family and friends this weekend xo
]]>We have been getting a little taste of spring here in Southern Ontario, but on this first day of March there is more cold and snow on the way.
If you are like me though, you are finding the winter decor and clothing accessories are getting a little tired. (Or maybe it is me who is tired, I think the pillows are just fine.)
Which makes me think, we really have another season here. Where winter things are too..."wintery" and it is still too cold for "spring" things.
So, shed the black and grey, buffalo plaid and heavy knits, with these clever ideas that will help you embrace a bit of spring, in a practical sort of way:
1. Bright Colours & Winter Cosy: This first one is obvious, and general, but not always easy to pull off since spring-like colours and winter-like fabrics do not always go hand-in-hand. Wherever you can, work the two together, like in the examples below.
2. Velvet Scarves: Yes, we still need scarves. But a velvet number in spring tones has a plushness that feels cosy but a freshness that screams spring.
3. Spring on the Outside, Winter on the Inside: Neck wraps with bright colours and floral linens that are lined with micro-fleece check all of the boxes at this time of year.
4. Velvet Cushions and Lined Throws: We all know the quickest way to change a room for the season is by switching out the accent cushions or throws. Ready to pack away the buffalo plaid and chunky knits but not quite ready for summer linen? Enter velvet and heavily textured fabrics and throws lined with micro-fleece or minky, all in lighter, brighter colours, of course. Like the scarves above, the weight and feel is cosy but the look is all spring.
5. Flannel Pillowcases: Really a year-round favourite, except maybe the dog-days of summer. Endless colours and prints make it super easy to lighten the look and change with the season. (Sidenote: these are great for camping and cottaging too)
So my friends, stay cosy for the next couple of months but do it in spring-like style!
]]>
The Maple Leaf Tartan was created by David Weiser in 1964 in preparation for the 100th anniversary of confederation in 1967 and became an official symbol of Canada on March 9, 2011.
The Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages at the time, the Honourable James Moore, summed it up best: "Our national symbols express our identity and define our history. The Maple Leaf Tartan represents the contributions that the more than four million Canadians of Scottish heritage continue to make to our country,".[1]
The colours of the tartan are inspired by the colours of the maple leaf through the seasons: the green of summer leaves, the gold of early autumn, the red of the first frost and finally, the brown tones of the fallen leaves before winter.
And so today, as we celebrate the opening of the 2018, Olympic games, it is fitting to note that along with the traditional read and white and maple leaf motif, the Maple Leaf Tartan was included in the closing ceremonies of the 2010 games in Vancouver.
Another way to spruce up your fan-wear! Go Canada!!
Endnote: In Canada, April 6 is Tartan Day.
[1] www. cassoc.ca
]]>
]]>
The word turquoise is derived from the French for Turkish “turquois” as Turkey was the most likely entry point of the gemstone into Western Europe.
Throughout history turquoise has been held in high esteem. Among the first gems to be mined, turquoise was a talisman or holy stone to the ancient Egyptians, Persians, Mesopotamians and Aztecs[1] and was believed to bring protection both to the living and in the afterlife. Perhaps the most well-known example of this is the burial mask of Tutankhamun.
In Persia and India, turquoise was used extensively to adorn buildings, both inside and out, most famously the Taj Mahal in India. In Iran turquoise was used on the ceilings or roofs of domes and palaces to symbolize heaven on earth.
In more modern times, the colour turquoise was prized by the Victorians and saw another surge in popularity in the Art Deco era and again in the 1950’s. It continues to appear in everything from fashion to home décor to corporate branding and pairs surprisingly well with many colours.
“In terms of color psychology, turquoise – because it sits on the color scale between blue and green – radiates the peace, calm and tranquility of blue; the balance and growth of green; and the uplifting energy of yellow. Turquoise is thought to enhance the ability to focus and concentrate, assisting with clear thinking and decision-making, and the development of good organizational skills. It is also thought to have a calming influence, helping to heal the emotions and restore depleted energies.”[2] Sounds like a Caribbean vacation to me!
But for me the colour turquoise will always, first and foremost, be the colour of the vinyl covered banquette in my grandma’s kitchen when I was a little girl. Talk about a feel-good colour.
[1] "China Exhibition". Washington, D.C.: National Gallery of Art. 1999. Retrieved 2006-09-23., via Wikipedia
[2] Sherwin-Williams.com
]]>
It is definitely back and It is popping up everywhere! Browse any magazine or social media feed and you will see velvet cushions, throws, headboards, jackets and scarves.
But this time around it is used sparingly and is at the same time fresh and cosy. Perhaps appealing to our present fondness for Scandinavian style and hygge. But all of this takes a back seat to velvet’s most enduring quality. That which is the result of the weaving process that makes velvet, velvet and that can only be experienced through touch. Velvet is the feeling of luxury and it is unparalleled.
It nods to the past, of royalty, prosperity, decadence and luxury.
Velvet is staying current, with the traditional jewel tones of winter being swapped for lighter shades and even pastels, taking us right into spring, and likely summer, without skipping a beat.
In the new age of velvet, it is appearing in unexpected places; cushions on a modern sofa, a throw in a boho bedroom or, my personal favourite, a scarf worn with a jean jacket. The resulting tension creates bold and dramatic results and hints at a certain confidence in the person that dares to embrace it.
]]>When Pantone released their colours for Spring 2017, I was at first thrilled - 3 blues! But quickly my elation turned to despair - 2 greens. And not only that, one of them was chosen "Color of the Year".
The funny thing is, toward the edges of the green spectrum lie some of my favourite colours: teal and turquoise, even chartreuse and lime. But mid-spectrum green? Not so much.
Short of surrounding myself with plants (which is not a bad idea anyway), I am deciding whether I should just dabble in green or completely break away from my comfort zone and embrace it? An all or nothing kind of approach.
I think I may start with baby steps, a bit of "greenery" and another of my not so favourites - pink (like Pantone's "pink yarrow"), with a lot of white and black. It may seem small, but for me using green and pink, together no less, is huge.
]]>One thing that I have discovered is that I LOVE sweater pillows! The way they look, the way the feel, the absolute cosiness of them... And as much as warmer weather is in our immediate future, winter will still be with us for another month or so. The idea of possibly saving an old sweater from landfill is almost an added bonus. I had a few old ones kicking around that I loved the knit of, but not the style or fit. Some have/will become pillows, and I have a few others earmarked for a throw.
And the souvenir T-shirts, saved by their owner for over 25 years, delivered to me in pieces, have been transformed into a pillow that will find a new home in a renovated studio/music room (a far cry from the plastic bag, in the closet, where they have been stowed all these years).
Photos of both projects are in the Custom Gallery.
That the next inspiration may be tucked safely away in a closet or drawer has me almost wanting to spring clean! Almost. Happy purging!
]]>Now we have added a gallery to the website, showcasing some of those items!
We hope it will inspire and give a little more insight about us and what we do. The best part? So many of the products you see have come about through collaboration with our customers - a truly creative and inspirational bunch.
We will be adding new photos and ideas regularly, so be sure to come back and visit again.
]]>Even spoken they invoke a unique connection, but written - like on a card, a piece of jewelry or a keepsake item - those special words become sort of magical in their permanence.
While there is never a bad time to re-connect or cherish the relationships you have with those you are closest to, the time leading up to Valentine's Day seems especially fitting. Strengthen your special bond with your special people by capturing your own couple-isms.
Share the love this season.
]]>Several months ago, while considering the possibility of re-locating, we took a good look at what was and wasn't working for us in our house as our needs and those of our boys, now aged 7-14, had definitely changed. The end result was a plan for what we consider The Reno, really more like a re-decorating project, but after so many years this is a big deal.
What the time has allowed, is for us to hone in on our style. Still eclectic, with tendencies to industrial and post-modern, but with a little of just about everything else mixed in. There are basically 3 rules: quality, functionality and we have to love it.
Those who follow textile on Instagram have already seen the newest addition to the mix, the beautiful credenza in the photo, which perfectly fits the space dedicated for it and perfectly holds every piece of stemware, china, cutlery and linen we need it to.
With most of the furniture moved, the spaces are taking on their new roles. Next up is some re-painting and then the fun stuff - artwork and textiles! Accent cushions, window coverings...
The trouble, of course, will be choosing from all of the fantastic fabric designs out there. Wish me luck and stay tuned for updates.
]]>Having your table linens or accent cushions custom made gives you freedom to choose the "just-right" fabric or opt for an off-beat combo that you will never find in stores.
Or maybe there is some fabric memorabilia tucked away waiting to be re-purposed into an everyday item (see our last blog post).
"Contact Us" and share your ideas. Together we can design the items that will finish off your space and make it truly yours.
]]>Instead of packing them away again, I want to finally find the time to re-purpose my collections so they can be appreciated more than once a year. After all, if it is special enough to keep, it should be seen. And it is all fabric and I can do fabric. Transforming something old(er) into something new, to be cherished in a whole new way, is exciting and rewarding.
As an added bonus, it will free up precious closet space for some of those special holiday gifts.
]]>