Holiday Gift Wrapping the Furoshiki Way.

 

With Thanksgiving and Christmas quickly approaching, the push for a more sustainable way of living trending in the news, and many gift-givers having to budget their money, however folks can reduce their costs and carbon footprints during the holiday season is information well used. One of the easiest and most affordable ways to reduce both in a creative way is by incorporating a little furoskiki into the mix. A great alternative to wrapping with store bought gift wrap, this traditional Japanese method of wrapping gifts throughout the year is one that even children can share in.

Ethical Fashions, Peace Silk & Tosheka Designs

 

Every once and awhile as we conduct research online for  information, new innovations and stories within the textile industry to develop and share with you, we stumble on unique individuals and companies doing interesting and often times fascinating things with fabric around the world. One such company is Tosheka Designs.

J&O Fabrics Colorful Craft Ideas for the 2018 Spring Season

As we slowly transition into a spring season that seems to finally be here stay for a few, we find ourselves mimicking nature’s shedding of muted winter colors in exchange of an array of vibrant shades reflective of those found in Mother Nature’s vibrant prism. In celebration of the spectrum of light vibrations that brings us an amazing palate of blue, red, orange, yellow, and green for our imagination to play with, J&O Fabrics offers a few colorful craft ideas along with a selection of choice fabrics from our shelves to fulfill your creative mood.

 

J&O Celebrates Cinco De Mayo

cinco_de_mayo

 

Originally observed in commemoration of the Mexican army’s triumphant victory over the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in Mexico on May 5, 1862, generations later,  Cinco de Mayo has come to be known not only as a liberating feat for Mexico, but for the sustaining richness of its culture and celebration of artisan craftsmanship as well.  From their popular clay pottery, vibrant designs, and embroidered cotton garments to their wool shawls, colorful baskets and rugs, their hand-crafted items are just a few of the cultural creations associated with Mexican art. In celebration of the elaborate designs and artistry of Mexico,  J&O offers an array of dress fabrics, southwestern prints, and colorful trim to make your Cinco de Mayo festivities a memorable one.

50 Scrap Fabric Crafts For Rems Reborn Again

jandofabrics scrap fabric crafts

 

Instead of tossing your tiny fabric scraps or hoarding your size-able rems until who-knows-when, why not decide to play your part in assisting in the Earth Day recycling efforts by pulling them out, sorting, and inspecting them for quality and usability in a scrap fabric craft project.

DIY Reusable Sandwich Bag Craft Project

 

In one of our previous posts inspiring our readers to turn their fabric scraps and rems into quick and easy crafts that can be gifted or sold, we shared 50 cool ideas to wet the creative palate. Today we’d like to take a moment to focus on one of them….the DIY reusable sandwich bags.

It’s Tassel Mania Time!

 

Before the Industrial Revolution (18th Century), trim was called passementerie. It was made and applied by hand, thus making heavily trimmed furnishings and garments expensive and high status. Eventually machine-woven trims and sewing machines put these specialized trimmings within reach of modest dressmakers and home seamstresses. The result, by the 1930’s, applied trim lost its value and became a signifier of mass-produced clothing.  Today, though most trimmings are commercially manufactured, the creative appeal that they offer have made trims, tassels and cording highly sought after for unique one-of-a-kind creations. A compliment to any fabric project  where that ‘something extra’ makes all the difference, modern day passementeries offer the perfect touch.

Celebrating Black History Month Through African Fabric

As we celebrate Black History Month and the invaluable contributions of both African and African-Americans in areas of technology, entertainment, science, mathematics and the arts, we are reminded of their traditional roots in African textiles as well. From their colorful kente cloth from Ghana, bògòlanfini (mudcloth), and richly colored adire (indigo fabrics) from Mali, to their African lace of Nigeria, East African Kitenge and Egyptian cotton, African fabrics were hand-woven, painted, and dyed in tradition and meaning that sustains itself today. As well, we celebrate the symbolic Adinkra symbols of West Africa, storytelling wovens of Ghana, and abstract geometric shapes of the continent itself that can be found on printed cottons in many fabric stores and infused into the latest fashions.

Bow Ties…What’s In a Name?

J&O fabrics

Where did the infamous ‘bow tie’ get its start and what purpose did it serve? It wasn’t to keep a man’s neck warm and it surely wasn’t to make him feel more comfortable. Maybe it was designed to simply keep his collar closed or strategically draw attention to the length of his beard (which in some cultures is a measure of wisdom). Whatever the reason it first made its debut, we found its presence in history and fashion important enough to do a little research and share our findings.

J&O Top 20 MLB Cotton Craft Ideas

jandofabricsOne thing we’ve learned through our over 50 years in the fabric business is that all the textile goods that come through our doors, are looking to be made into something special. From silky satins aspiring to be prom dresses and clear vinyl yearning to protect beautiful mahogany table tops, to polyester fleece desiring to warm an old mans’ cold night or novelty cottons hoping to quell a child going through chemo with themed images from their favorite movie…like Elmo maybe. MLB cotton is no different. With so many baseball fans eager to show their FANatic love through some crafty means, our new major league baseball cottons arrive with just one goal in mind…to create that wonderful opportunity!