The Fall Trends are everywhere....

As my kids get ready to go back to school and there are no more vacations on the horizon, I find myself starting to look forward to fall. Don't get me wrong, I love summer and the easiness of it, sundresses and flip-flops never get old, but I also like when the weather cools down and I can get back into a great trouser and a comfy sweater. Tonight I decided to take a look and see what Fall 2013 holds for me. While I don't redo my wardrobe every season, I do update and add a few new fun pieces. Take a look at what the "experts" are saying. While not every trend works for every body, there is definitely something for everyone this Fall. I am really excited about some of the trends this Fall and can't wait to bring them to you in our projects coming soon.

• Here are the colors that we will be seeing this Fall. Everyone is still talking green. From emerald to olive, green is hanging around a bit longer. Beside green, head-to-toe black knocked prints off the runway, while pink, orange, and red really warmed things up. Cream and camel provided palette cleansers, while moody moss-green and inky sapphire brought sophistication.

• Outerwear is in. Try it in houndstooth, plaid, velvet, fur or leather. All these fabrics made an appearance on the Fall 2013 runway.

• Leather never goes out, but this Fall try it in a deep blue, moss green, or burgundy.

• Embrace a classic print. From plaid to houndstooth, these classic prints are out in force. Like leopard, houndstooth, as well as other classic prints, pretty much go with everything. They really are a neutral. I love what Glamour says, "An old school menswear pattern in a 2013 cut is a recipe for chic if you ask me. Look for a houndstooth blazer for the office, which you can also wear with skinny jeans on the weekend." I definitely think this is one trend I will jump on.

• Not having a good hair day? Hats are in. Cool caps made an appearance at just about every show, including Kate Spade and Tracy Reese.

• Despite its not-so-cool reputation, the plain old turtleneck is back in style. Think about it, , it keeps you toasty without adding bulk. Thanks to Glamour for "5 new ways to wear a plain ol' turtleneck".

• BCBG, as well as others, say layering in going to show up this Fall. While some of the runway combinations were a bit unconventional for my taste, I did like that they did keep the print and color to a minimum. Also since none of the pieces were bulky, the effect was still very streamlined. This trend may be one I have to think about.

• Dare to wear white. According to the runway, winter white will make a huge presents this Fall. Remember, as long as the fabric is appropriate, leave your lighter textiles, such as cotton, linen, and seersucker in the closet, and think more wool, cashmere, flannel, silk, and leather, you will be right on trend. Try a chic coat for the office, a chunky sweater, or a wool dress.

• High slits and skirts below the knee.

• Fur, I say go faux, was hot on the runway. From a vest, to a hoodie, to a full jacket, fur is making a comeback.

Wow, there are lots of great ideas to take away. I will be spending some time over the next few weeks talking to Robin and figuring out what new fabrics we have coming in for Fall and what projects we want to show you. Should be fun!

Enjoy!

Pillow, dog bed, or kid magnet?

When "Best In Show" came in, we all thought it was a great new Home Decorating print. Robin thought it would make the cute dog bed, so off she went.  She combined it with our brand new chenille fabric and a winning combination appeared. Making a pillow or dog bed is a pretty quick project that can infuse some pattern and color into any room. Here are a few pictures of the pillow coming together....















As anyone with children knows, the best toy is something that was not intended to be used as a toy. It can be the shoe box from you new shoes or the work pillow I brought home to photograph. I came home and left the pillow on the fire-place to photograph later that day. When I came downstairs this is what I found...



It immediately became a great place for Sarah to play. Before I knew it the doll was out and the pillow was not mine any more.  As you'll see below, she took her dogs and gave them a dog bed. Needless to say it took a few days to get the pillow back to work with. It is now in the window for you to see, but let me tell you Sarah was  not happy about it. While the intention was a dog bed, it would also be a great throw pillow if it was a bit smaller, but for Sarah it was a great comfy new play place. I guess you'll have to make up your own mind, dog bed, couch cushion, or perfect play place?



Enjoy!

Fabric Friday....

I can't believe how fast the week has gone. We've had the best week here. Honestly we just spent time together, took in the island, and ate.

It is so nice for us all to slow down. No baseball or gymnastics to get to and way less work to be done. I'll be back in the office next week, but as soon as I hit the post button I'm back outside for my last few days. Oh yes, just a little tease, we will be making an exciting announcement the week after next. We're getting really excited to welcome a new addition to our social media/project team.  More information to come about her. Have a great weekend and I'll be back Monday with a quick home decorating post. We land at 5am Los Angeles time, can you say jet lag!

Here are a few new fabrics that have come in since last week...

From Moda, comes Winter's Lane. It's a modern Christmas print with a current color pallet. I see a beautiful tree skirt, a table runner, or even a fun circle skirt from the light blue & red print.  The possibilities are endless

I know we're only in August, but before we know it Halloween will be here. We're still in the process of adding to our Halloween section, but here are a few items that might get you in the mood...

Another great new product we have is a leather shaper. We're in the process of making a purse/tote and using it for the bottom. We have 3 different weights depending on your project, the weight of the fabric, and the support your project needs.

Don't forget to take a look at our cotton prints section. We have been updating it for the last few weeks. While we're still working on it, I am so pleased with how it is developing. It is easier to navigate, has more defined categories, has many new categories, like Modern & Miniature, and so many new prints to choose from. Also don't forget all our cotton prints and flannel prints are 10% off everyday.

Enjoy!