Joanna’s recent post about the perfect packaging for Mother’s Day gifts reminded me of The Link Collective, which produces beautiful furoshiki (Japanese wrapping cloths). The Link Collective was started by two friends living on opposite ends of the world; one in Japan and one in the US. They’ve invited other designers to participate in the collective as well, and the online network of women has come up with a handful of elegant, modern designs.
While their collective is very 21st-century, the methods they use to produce their products have stayed true to traditional Japanese techniques. Each furoshiki is hand printed by a family of craftsmen in Japan who’ve dedicated themselves to keeping their art alive. The Link Collective recently put together an online tour of the printing facility and the pictures and story are really lovely. While you could use one of these furoshiki to wrap a gift this Mother’s Day, I think it would make an excellent gift on its own!
{Images via The Link Collective}
Much to my husband’s chagrin, I am always on the lookout for great wallpaper designs—even if I don’t actually have a place in mind for them yet. My latest obsession? Hygge Cooperative. It’s the brainchild of Christiana Coop and Aimee Lagos, the duo behind Ferm Living US and Hygge & West.
Hygge Cooperative specializes in wallcoverings from designers that are usually hard to source in the US. I love that every product description includes the story behind the pattern. There are so many beautiful options! I’m particularly fond of the hand-printed wallpapers by Lake August, such as the above Flock in Flight. One of the designs shown here is definitely going up in my house soon.
Garden Wall
Highland Cable
{ All photos via Lake August }
You’re a good kid. You’ve got your Mother’s Day gifting strategy planned to a T. The perfect gift purchased, all that’s missing is the vessel. You know, the accoutrements, the cherry on top … the packaging! With May 12th just around the corner, here are a few wrapping ideas to brighten her day and earn you a few brownie points.
Hand-folded paper flowers make for the perfect tie-on. These pastel pretties are from West Elm.
Perennial favorite Rifle Paper Co. offers the perfect amount of print to spruce up any parcel. I love their bakers twine topped gift tags, especially the pink ombre!
{top images via Mochi Things and L’art de la Curiosité}
While researching parts for a lighting project I’ve been contemplating, I came across the work of Brooklyn-based Bec Brittain. She has several beautiful lines—the Axial light, A Shades, and mercurial Maxhedron are all worth looking at—but the SHY Light is really a showstopper. Each fixture, inspired by crystalline structures, is a series of component parts including hubs and thin LED tubes. The parts can be configured and reconfigured to create a light that suits any individual space. And as Brittain puts it: “Like crystals, each can be different while sharing the same structural foundation.” The bulbs and hubs have a utilitarian quality to them, but the compositions are so elegant and beautiful.
{Images from Bec Brittain}
I think it’s safe to admit that the norm is for guests to peek in the hostess’ medicine cabinet. However, what catches my nosy eye are the towels. Maybe it’s the textile designer in me, but I tend to judge a home by its towels. Step aside looped terry cloth towels with corny sayings, there’s a more sophisticated option in town: woven hand towels. Often found in a neutral color palette, woven hand towels absorb water, dry quickly, and feel soft on the skin. The Turkish towels from Coyuchi are among my favorites. Woven using the traditional khadi methods, these organic cotton towels are slightly textural, lightweight, and oh-so soft.
If airy, preppy stripes are more your speed, these hand towels from West Elm are a bold alternative. Just a bit summery, wide stripes offer the perfect canvas for monogramming. After all, it is your house!
Lastly, if you’re more of a traditionalist, these Turkish towels from Harabu House are made using traditional weaving techniques and boiled in olive oil soap. Edged in the most darling hand-knotted fringe, they make for a versatile and sumptuous addition to any bathroom.
