The Return Of The Easter Bonnet

 

image courtesy abc7_ny

Adorning one’s head with a hat of flowers, fabric, and fantastical additions in celebration of Easter has been the culture and pride of many New Yorkers as far back as I can remember.  And now after a 2-year pandemic hiatus, the tradition of showcasing the artistry and creativity of the Easter bonnet has made its come back

Casual Wear…The New Summer 2020 Fashion Trend.

work from home

photo courtesy: andrea piacquadio

 

With everyone from corporate power players and university professors, to fashion stylists and customer service reps working from home, work place dress codes have taken a bit of a shift from their standard protocol, towards the more ‘comfortable’ casual wear. Who can blame us? We all know how comfortable casual velvet, brushed cottons, jersey knits and stretch fabrics can be in athletic wear, pj’s and yoga wear. Even Vogue Editor-In-Chief Anna Wintour who once professed to never stoop so low as to wear sweats, deigned to be photographed for an article wearing just such a leisure habiliment. Could the professional script on the horizon now be flipped from ‘casual Friday’s’ to ‘casual everyday’? Will the standard ‘dress down’ be the new ‘dress up’? Only time will tell.

The Vision of Ennis Fabrics Now at J&O

Ennis Vision Fabric

Building A Heritage

From foundational solids from which to build upon, to inspiring patterns that enhance a room, Ennis Fabrics (aka Vision Fabrics) offers a heritage built on an extensive variety of qualities and color options.

Perfect for today’s professional and DIY home décor stylist, the Vision/ Ennis Fabrics design team constantly evaluate new furniture influences to cater to an ever-changing consumer. Their fashion forward, high-value fabrics feature the latest in global trends and innovative fabric design to suite the fluctuating desires of today’s creative consumer.

 

Who Will Save The Slow-Furnishing Industry?

With a fast-furnishing trend influencing consumer purchase of cheaply made and inexpensively priced home fittings, a demand for a more eco-sustainable, value-driven way of decorating our homes simmers on the back burner, awaiting its (re)turn to the forefront again. Enter the scrappers, grassroots DIY’ers, experienced artisans, seasoned wood-crafters, and novices of slow-furnishing in the making.

Like fast-fashion, fast-furnishing offers seemingly fashionable furniture that is quickly produced using cheap materials. Often times it is manufactured overseas where exploited workers from underprivileged countries are paid pennies to produce, and the price tags left hanging once stateside offer a great look at a great price, along with a guilt-free disposable mentality.  What more could a style conscious consumer on a budget want, right?

B.Diana Smith: Creating Cultivated Experiences

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The old saying ” Home is where the heart is,” is more than just a proverb for Beth Diana Smith. For this dream weaver behind Beth Diana Smith Interior Designs, it is an outward expression of an inner vision that has made her one of the most sought after designers in her league. A self-described ‘eclectic visionary’, when it comes to creating cultivated experiences for both her clients as well as herself, functional comfort and inspirational pieces are key.

 


Say ‘I Love You’ With Fabric

The renowned poet and legendary author Khalil Gibran once quoted…
Love of fabric

Life without love is like a tree without blossom and fruit”. 

At J&O we believe…


Life without J&O is like a piece of cotton without print and design”.

Both quotes, most would say, hold valid truths.
Love is truly the fabric of life.

During the month of February, as our nation celebrates the highly commercialized day of love also known as St. Valentine’s Day, we at J&O Fabrics will be sharing the many ways we can express love to our family, friends and loved ones through the use of fabric .

Save A Life, Adopt-A-Fabric Today!

With her cotton/polyester blend of fibers and water-repellent finish, Aruba Getaway II Stripes Outdoor is a versatile and colorful fabric that loves the great outdoors, being the center of attention, and showing off her many talents. Looking to add some spice to your life?

The perfect parent for this vibrant fabric has creative vision and plenty of patio cushions to cover. When you adopt-a-fabric like Aruba Getaway II Stripes Outdoor,  it’s a win-win situation for both, for a little bit of love and a home of her own is all this happy fabric needs.

The Creative Makings Of A Man Cave

Al Bundy had one in his garage where ‘No Ma’am’ meetings were held on the sitcom Married With Children. Doug Heffernan had one in his garage equipped with a big screen TV, beer fridge, and a couch where Doug and his friends watched football, baseball, boxing, and drank beer in peace away from his wife and father-in-law on the TV show The King of Queens.  The ‘Man Cave’...a metaphor used to describe a male retreat space or sanctuary usually in the basement or attic of a house or in a specially equipped garage where women are banned and the fella’s call ‘home’. A space designated for guys to do as they please without fear of upsetting any female sensibilities of home decor. ‘The last bastion of masculinity,’ as described by Tufts University’s Paula Aymer where “No one is going to make you watch your p’s and q’s, ” according to writer Sam Martin.  Whether all the above or just a room where a man can simply go and unwind from the day in his own undisturbed way, indulge in hobbies, play video games or watch tv with the ‘boys’, the ever cherished man cave varies in design and purpose revealing the most valued parts of each man and more. In Ode to man’s little piece of heaven here on Earth, the staff  at J&O fabrics are sharing a few ‘man cave’ ideas and tips to help recreate them for yourself.

4 Reasons To Use Home Decor Fabric On Your Next Room Make-Over

jandofabrics tommy bahama textiles

From Genevieve Gorder and Tommy Bahama to Premiere Prints and Rich Loom, home decor fabric is always changing with the latest styles offering a level of creativity and versatility that is as wide as one’s imagination. Decorative items such as curtains and valances look much fresher with a touch of designer home decor fabrics. Making garments from these fabrics will add a little designer flair to your wardrobe. Pillows, bed sheets and other items also look nicer when made from home decor fabric. And if you are in the market for some, here are a few reasons why  home decor fabric is the best choice for stylizing your home.

J&O Fabrics 5 Tips For Sewing Silk Rayon Velvet

silk rayon velvet fabric jandofabrics

With the prom and wedding season upon us, fashionable fabrics meet with creative designs that span the spectrum from traditional and conservative to the outright modern and courageous. When considering the marriage of a silk rayon velvet with a design of equally exquisite distinction, the proper handling of its watery drape and softer hand can be somewhat  intimidating to the novice seamstress. To take some of the fear out of the equation, the experts at J&O fabrics have these 5 important tips for sewing silk rayon velvet to share.

 

5 Tips for Sewing Silk/Rayon Velvet