Inspired - CLOTH & KIND

Inspired: India With Ace & Lotta

March 2, 2013

I lived in India for a year as a child and am fairly convinced that the entire experience had a rather profound effect on me, instilling in me that irrational obsession for vibrant textiles with a global aesthetic. I have not been back there since I was in the third grade, but have long dreamed of the day I’d return. Truly, I thought it would happen before I had children but for one reason or another it never did. Michael and I had lots of other wonderful travel adventures during that time, but India wasn’t one of them. For the last 5 years, I haven’t ventured away from the kids for much longer than a few days at a time, and have always been within a quick plane ride home… nor would I have wanted to. Luckily, CLOTH & KIND has been instrumental in my life by helping to fill that international travel void. It has allowed me to spend my time dreaming about and posting on the very textiles and far-off locations that I hope to one day visit (again). However, I do believe the time has come to make my deep-rooted love of global travel spring back to life.

All of this is to say that when I saw the news of this journey to Jaipur, India with textile extraordinare Lotta Jansdotter and Angela Ritchie’s Ace Camps there was this huge light bulb that went off in my head. I could actually do this! The kids are old enough… I have a wonderful and very capable husband and nanny who would easily be able to manage the kids… (I have intentionally not yet thought to how much I’d miss Alex & Tahlia, and for the sake of this fantasy I won’t yet go there)… It’s kind of the perfect time in CLOTH & KIND’s life cycle as well. The blog has grown into, dare I say, a somewhat well-known & respected design platform and my interior design business is actually more than I could possibly ask for, for which I am beyond grateful. So, yes, the timing is right and stars are aligned.

Now, if only I’m able to a) figure out how in the heck I’m going to pay for this and b) snag one of the coveted 10 spots. I’m already dreaming of the incredibly creative and talented people I’ll meet on this trip. Will you be one of them?

Categories: Inspired, Multicolor Textiles, Textile Designer, Travel

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Inspired: The Beauty of Arizona

February 25, 2013

I’m fresh back from a blissful week with the family in Scottsdale, AZ. Can I just tell you how much it was needed?! I feel like a new woman, all rested & relaxed. And who wouldn’t be with views like this…

But of course, I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t stop to drool at some of the fabulous design elements along the way. Vacation or not, it’s impossible for me to turn off the textile-addicted side of my personality. In particular, the vintage textiles they used to make these stunning pillows from at our resort blew. me. away.

As wonderful as the break was, I’m happy to be back in the swing of things. Does that sound crazy? This vacation has accomplished all it was supposed to – uninterrupted days with the kids and hubby, decompression time for all of us, a break from the chill temps in Ann Arbor – but I’m not one for sitting still for too long (as you may have guessed).

This week in particular is going to be a great one on the blog, with two new columns from guest editors debuting – Curated, by Tami Ramsay (who you already know from her stunningly beautiful Anatomy of Flora column here on CLOTH & KIND) and Deconstructed Kitchen, by my incredibly talented photographer and passionate home chef friend, Bonnie Berry. Art and Food. I mean, really, what could be better? I’m also quite excited to share some new Show & Tell with you. The accomplished interior design duo, Andy & Cara from Ore Studios, will be here to show us their favorite textile-based design items in their homes. So check back frequently this week… Lots going on and I want to hear what you think about it all!

PHOTO CREDITS | All photos taken by moi, via Instagram. Follow along, why don’t cha?

Categories: Inspired, Interior Designer, Photography, Pillows, Social Media, Travel, Vintage & Antique Textiles

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Inspired: ofANTIQUE

January 17, 2013

Every once in a while I stumble across a company that is doing such unique and beautiful things with textiles that my breath is taken away. Something tells me you are going to feel the very same way about ofANTIQUE.

Birth Bag

Yoga Mat Bag

ofANTIQUE is the brainchild of a creative and talented woman named Rita, and was born during a voyage to South East Asia that she took with her children. While in Thailand she discovered a wonderful world of antique textiles made by the sublimely talented hill-tribe women whose cultures are rich with the ancient traditions of textile production. The result is a stunningly beautiful selection of handmade bags and garments made using original antique textiles. You can also choose your own vintage textile from Rita’s stash to create a custom bag of your choice.

Happy shopping.

Categories: Fashion, Inspired, Multicolor Textiles, Shopping, Travel, Vintage & Antique Textiles

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Inspired: Amy Sklar

December 18, 2012

I was just introduced to Amy Sklar by a friend of mine and was instantly enchanted with her incredible design aesthetic. Her recent installation at Woven Accents in LA, especially, had me drooling.

Amy shared some insight on this project with me…

“The Woven Accents showroom is such a great place, they recently moved into a beautiful expansive gallery space across from the Pacific Design Center, and started inviting designers that they have worked with in the past to curate the front area using their incredible rugs as backdrops.”

“A fantastic rug can sometimes be the most important (and sometimes costliest) element in a room, so I really felt like a kid in a candy shop!!! They gave me free rein with their inventory, and I was able to collaborate with one of my favorite furniture showrooms in LA called Lawson-Fenning. That combined with items I had collected over the years, and kids collections from Little Nest and Bla Bla Kids, we were off and running.”

“Abraham Moradzadeh and his son Sam have such a great eye, and the collection in the showroom is really, I think, one of the best in LA.”
- Amy Sklar, Amy Sklar Design Inc.

Categories: Bedroom, Inspired, Interior Designer, Kids Design, Living Room, Rugs

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Inspired: Meg Callahan

December 12, 2012

I get really super excited when I find talented people reinterpreting old art forms. Meg Callahan is a perfect example.

She studied at the Rhode Island School of Design where she discovered her interest in the value of the handmade, as is evident in the beautiful quilts she’s designing and producing. They are timeless and still manage to look totally fresh and modern in spirit. So, so good, don’t you agree?