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

J&O Holiday Splendor Room Decor

I remember holidays full of turkey, stuffing and apple pie. Generations around the table partaking in good food, tasty sweets and infectious laughter.  Handmade napkins printed in holly dressed grandmama’s table that was draped in green poly crepe. In the room surrounding us,  lights bounced off inanimate objects casting golden shadows on beige striped and cran-apple suede cushioned wing chairs while tie-backs in holiday splendor dangled on vanilla drapes.  Assorted prints and textures added warmth and richness. And under the tree, Christmas gifts wrapped in traditional furoshiki styled fabrics of red tissue lame and festive plaid check.

Tropical Textile Treasures at J&O Fabrics

Vacation in the tropics year round with our hot selection of exotic, themed tropical textile in an array of styles and colors.  Using some of our easy NO-SEW techniques, it’s a breeze to create this island oasis. Simply deck out bamboo and wicker furnishings in coordinating tropical and animal themed prints. Accent your home sanctuary with customized, self-adhesive lampshades in floral or leopard print and beaded trim. For a carefree coastal comfort, trim a sisal rug by hot-gluing strips of tropical print fabric along the edges. Topped with complimentary prints and fun fringe, a wicker trunk adds practical storage to this private paradise. Complete this tropical environment by framing the windows with burlap drapes hung by leather strips and accented with beaded tassels. Even these tailored treatments are made using another quick and easy NO-SEW fusing methods

 

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?

The History and Art of Passementerie

 


When we think of tassels, we often go back in the recesses of our memories where we conjure nostalgic images of our grandmother’s handmade curtains, pillows, lamp shades and table runners trimmed in vintage tassels and kept with care. Maybe we may only go back far enough to recall fashionably tassel trimmed bags, loafers, garments and jeweled adornment as its trending cycle ushered in popularity once again. But where did the idea of designing and crafting tassels begin? More specifically, what is the art of passementerie?

 

5 Affordably Cool Gifts For Your #1 Seamstress

affordable gift for seamstress

A self-threading serger that finishes in less than a minute…

A sewing machine with self-correcting tension…

A completed garment of your imagination at the press of a button that fits us magnificently….

Until such gift wishes big or small become a reality, a seamstress can always dream. As for those that cherish the magic her hands manifest, why not show your appreciation this holiday season with affordably cool rescue remedies that will make her jump for joy or if nothing less, make her labors of love less arduous.

7 Tips When Working With Decorative Trim

summerdale jandofabrics trim

 

Fringe is a decorative trim edging made of packed yarns that hang from a band (imagine the 1920’s flapper dresses)

Cord is a round, twisted strand of roped fibers with unique textures. It comes lipped and non-lipped.

Braid is a flat home decor trim with two finished edges and a braided design throughout.

Each offers its own special touch to not only windows and home furnishings, but to just about anything it touches

J&O Fabrics … 10 Types of Decorative Fringe Trim

decorative fringe trim

Fringe Trim is an ornamental border of threads left loose or formed into tassels or twists. It’s used to edge home accent pieces, window dressings, garments and accessories. It’s an excellent way to add movement to any garment and funk up an otherwise basic hem.  Originally created to prevent a piece of fabric from unraveling, fringe trim was used in place of hemming and  is typically made separately, then sewn onto the garment or piece of home decor.

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.

History Of The Easter Bonnet I

Garland in white organza Derby bonnet with pink and violet rosettes

 

Although bonnets started out as a practical form of head wear they became more and more elaborate as the 19th Century progressed. Worn initially to keep the hair tidy when indoors and the dust and sun off of it when outdoors, women would wear a heavier bonnet for winter and a lighter one, possibly made from straw for spring. By the early twentieth century, Americans became more and more invested in the Easter outfit—the hat, in particular. Because Easter coincides with seasonal fecundity, women garnered fresh flowers to wear in their hair and in their bonnets. Lilies, daffodils, azaleas with their red, pink or even crème colored blooms, and Hyacinths in purple and white were, and still are considered traditional Easter flowers. Fabrics such as organza, tulle, netting, satin and seersucker are just a few popular materials that helped to create a crown of Easter glory fit for the occasion.