katyelliott.com

A daily design journal about new england life, home decorating resources, and renovating a 257-year-old house in Marblehead, MA.

The Blanket Lady

Posted on | October 27, 2011 | 9 Comments

plaid wool blanket from mackimmel marblehead1 The Blanket Lady

Did you know snow is in the forecast for much of New England today? Winter is upon us and it’s time to cuddle up with a warm wool blanket and drink hot apple cider. MacKimmie Co. new to Marblehead’s historic district is filled with stacks of plaid, stripe, and herringbone blankets.

Doris carries all my favorites: Johnstons of Elgin throws from Scotland, herringbones in wool and cotton from Brahms Mount, jeweled toned lambswool from Sorcha and cozy stripe wool blankets from Prince Edward Island.

Reversible 100% lambswool throws from Johnstons (above) are gorgeous and have a nice weight and size 55” X 75” without being too bulky. Brahms Mount throws and merino wool blankets are irresistible. View photos from my visit to their mill in Hallowell, Maine this summer.

Pop into the shop for a visit or Doris would be happy to accept phone orders and mail a blanket directly to you. Below snapshots of my favorites in the shop.

MacKimmie Co.
Doris Barsauskas
134 Washington Street
Marblehead, Massachusetts (map)
781.631.1080
DB@mackimmieco.com

stripe wool blanket The Blanket LadyJohnstons “Point Blankets” are available in stripes and solids in green, red and blue.

brahms mount herringbone blanket samples The Blanket LadyA selection of Brahms Mount herringbone merino wool blankets samples. The green on the left caught my eye.

orange red and blue plaid throw The Blanket LadyThis 100% lambswool plaid throw from Sorcha is amazing. The colors are out of this world. I had a hard time resisting.

johnstons tweed blankets The Blanket LadyReversible tweed 100% lambswool throws from Johnstons.

plaid blue and stripe throws The Blanket LadyAn assortment of blankets and throws in blues and khaki.

johnstons reversible tartan blanket The Blanket LadyA tartan reversible throw from Johnstons.

Related Posts:
Mill Tour of Brahms Mount in Maine
Great English Outdoors: Plaid Heaven
Coterie

Coterie

Posted on | September 8, 2011 | 3 Comments

products available at coterie shop Coterie
Have you check out the new online shop Coterie? Launched earlier this year from design blogger Jane at Ill Seen, Ill Said; the tightly curated collection features handmade goods and home accessories. Melin Tregwynt throws from Wales mix well with a collection of handmade rolling pins, muddlers and cutting boards from Prince Edward Island. Beautiful unlined marble notebooks from Ireland remind of my college years when I actually kept a real journal, not just a blog. Above a few of my favorites.

Clockwise from top: Walnut Round Slab $170, Pine Cone Candle $13, Knot Garden teal throw $230, Tiger Maple Muddler $40, St David’s Cross throw $250, Vermont Sky Scarf $60, Maple Pin and Wood Slab, Medium linen notebook $30, and Stripe Cup $30.

Related Posts:
Mill Tour of Brahms Mount in Maine
Striped Wool Blankets
Plaid Blankets & Throws from Pendleton

Mill Tour of Brahms Mount in Maine

Posted on | August 24, 2011 | 20 Comments

DSC 76881 Mill Tour of Brahms Mount in MaineSample closet of herringbone blankets and throws.

Maine has a long textile history dating back to the 1800’s, “when almost every family spun fine yarns from local flax and wool”. In the mid-1800’s textile mills popped up along the Saco, Androscoggin and Kennebec rivers. As I kid I can remember buying fabric with my Mom at the Cascade Woolen Mill outlet in Oakland. The mill was built in the 1880s and closed in the 1990s. Countless other mills in Maine have shared the same fate.

Brahms Mount has long captured my attention. Back in 2009 I wrote a short piece about the redesign of their website, the next day I got an e-mail from David Kaufman asking if he could call to thank me. We chatted for a few minutes as he explained he recently purchased the company and was working with the former owners to continue the tradition of creating heirloom quality blankets. I was completely blown away by his enthusiasm.

27-years-ago Claudia Brahms and Noel Mount purchased and renovated two historic buildings overlooking the Kennebec river in Hallowell, Maine. They came in search of open air and a large workspace to “make a mess”. “Antique shuttle looms, the backbone of Maine’s textile tradition, were readily available to equip the mill.” The couple trained artisans and designed a collection of heirloom quality linen and cotton blankets. Since the purchase in 2009, Claudia has continued on as the lead designer and Noel manages the manufacturing aspect of the business.

In late July, my mom and I headed up to Hallowell for a mill tour. Greeted by the charismatic David in flip flops and shorts (he was leaving for vacation in an hour), he introduced us to Claudia Brahms (founder and lead designer) working in her studio. We headed just a few steps from their offices to the mill. Antique shuttle looms banged moving up and down while hundreds of white fiber strands neatly found their way into the warper. Amidst this chaos David whirled us in and around the antique shuttle looms explaining the process and allowing me to snap as many photos as I liked.

We headed upstairs to watch artisans twisting fridge on their signature cotton herringbone throws. We followed David who has the energy of 20-year-old stopping every few steps to touch little bits of fiber. It’s hard not notice his passion. It’s not a pitch. Everything about this man is a pleasure. He’ll talk fiber construction with as much ease as his plans to grow the company and expand product lines. An infectious passion fills the mill as I absorb how each process meticulously handled by “artisans more than fifty times” becomes a beautiful blanket.

Maine has a long tradition of making things. Brahms Mount has built upon this creating simple and familiar textures adapted from classic designs. Brahms Mount is the only weaver of linen blankets in North America. They use the best linen and get their cotton out the Carolinas. Once you actually touch a Brahms Mount piece, you’ll be captivated. The hand and drape is out this world. The colors and design, timeless.

I believe in supporting American-based companies and artisans who continue local traditions. To me it makes a difference to know artisans who love their craft made the blankets that I will cover my family with every night. To me that is worth investing in and spending a bit more for. Below photos from my mill visit. To learn more about Brahms Mount visit brahmsmount.com.

Brahms Mount
19 Central Street
Hallowell, Maine
brahmsmount.com

DSC 8577 Mill Tour of Brahms Mount in MaineA sample of the Herringbone blanket I ordered in white/misty blue.

DSC 76991 Mill Tour of Brahms Mount in MaineHerringbone and ticking stripe blankets.

DSC 7592 Mill Tour of Brahms Mount in MaineA Creel that holds up to 600 combs to make the weft. Learn more about this process and view a video on their blog.

DSC 7591 Mill Tour of Brahms Mount in MaineAll 600 combs are hand thread into the warper. The warp is the vertical fiber in a textile. Watch a video from the Brahms Mount team explaining this process.

DSC 7601 Mill Tour of Brahms Mount in MaineThe warper with the creel in the background.

DSC 7606 Mill Tour of Brahms Mount in MaineBrahms Mount team working on the warp.

DSC 7656 Mill Tour of Brahms Mount in MaineBobbins being thread.

DSC 76231 Mill Tour of Brahms Mount in MaineJohn Smith “Master Weaver” oversees the antique shuttle looms.

DSC 7636 Mill Tour of Brahms Mount in Maine100% cotton herringbone throw in melon on the loom. Are you drooling? Gorgeous, right?

DSC 7638 Mill Tour of Brahms Mount in MaineBobbins for weft.

DSC 7649 Mill Tour of Brahms Mount in MaineThe warp threaded on the loom.

DSC 7618 Mill Tour of Brahms Mount in Maine100% cotton rib weave in white on loom. One of my favorites!

DSC 76541 Mill Tour of Brahms Mount in MaineA detail of the weft on the loom.

DSC 7662 Mill Tour of Brahms Mount in MaineDavid showing me a cotton herringbone throw with their signature fringe.

ombrehelenfull full 400 Mill Tour of Brahms Mount in MaineI ordered a 50% cotton and 50% linen ombre day blanket.

62P4B017 option lg 4 Mill Tour of Brahms Mount in MaineI picked up two 100% linen body towels in a ticking stripe.

Brahms Mount from Maine Office of Tourism on Vimeo.

Related Posts:
Snug Harbor Farm in Kennebunk, Maine
Handmade Products from Maine at Common Ground
Making Wildflower Bouquets

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