Happy Earth Day!

In celebration of Earth Day, we would like to share with you the work of a local, earth-friendly, non-profit organization, re:loom. 

Based in the Decatur community of Atlanta, re:loom is the weaving enterprise of the Initiative for Affordable Housing. Beautiful upcycled rugs, hammocks, placemats, purses and other small accessories are made from textile scraps and plastic bags. Skilled weavers make the unique products from textile waste that would otherwise end up in a landfill.

re:loom has created 12 full time jobs with benefits, 10 of which are held by homeless or low-income women and men struggling to provide for their families.  All proceeds from the sale of re:loom products are reinvested in skills training and services for re:loom employees.  
The weavers take great pride in the one-of-a-kind products they create - each one is truly a work of art!

27x30 grocery bag door mat $60

26x54 upcycled fabric blend rug $225

To view more re:loom products or to learn more about their mission, please visit www.reloom.org

**all photos courtesy reloom.org website

Color Story: Turquoise

Clockwise from top left: Marrakesh Lagoon, Bali Peacock, Zig Zag Ikat Aqua,
Ibiza Peacock and Bombay Aqua textiles from Lacefield Designs

Bombay Aqua upholstered chair from Hickory Chair

Lacefield Designs for Gallery Designs Lighting CL228
lamp with Bombay Aqua shade

Lacefield Designs Breeze Textile Collection

Behind the Scenes: Textile Printing

Lacefield Designs introduces two new textile lines per year, in June and December, at the ITMA Showtime textile trade show in High Point, North Carolina. Months of research, creating concept boards and designing original artwork goes into each textile pattern. This week we are in the midst of our favorite stage, finally seeing the textile patterns transferred to fabric! Here is a behind the scenes peek at the textile printing process:

Ibiza Peacock, introduced in December 2012, is a single screen (one color)
pattern.  Notice this machine can accommodate up to 12 screens! 

ink passes through the tiny holes in the rotary screen

printed fabric is fed into the dryer

after drying, the fabric is inspected before being rolled onto tubes

screens are cleaned in between color changes

rotary screens stored between print runs

On Trend: Wallpaper Patterns

Long gone are the days of tacky themed wallpaper borders and "country" prints. The wallpaper patterns of today are sophisticated, artistic, and meant to make a bold statement.  Here are a few of our favorites:

Arbre de Matisse wallpaper in the Bosch Net Zero
house - designed by Jill Sharp Brinson  

Round and Round the Garden wallpaper by Anna Spiro

Chenonceau Charcoal wallpaper by Schumacher

Katie Ridder's Leaf wallpaper 

David Hick's Hexagon wallpaper via
Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles

Tanzanie wallpaper by Thibault via Decorpad