So here on the Spruce blog not only will we keep you up to date on fabric trends and styles we heart, but we are going to start a new series called, “Fabric Finds”. We are always looking for more gorgeous fabrics to carry and are also inundated by others with new fabric brands and collections all the time. Enough to keep my intern, Gabrielle, busy AROUND THE CLOCK! An exciting new launch that I have been waiting to write about is a collection from Duralee. Often smaller designers will partner with larger fabric brands to create a larger, more widely distributed fabric line. When I heard that John Robshaw of John Robshaw Textiles would be launching a line with Duralee I definitely did a double fist pump. Booyah! John Robshaw has been creating beautiful Indian textiles as well as soft goods for some time now, but due to price and availability it has been difficult for us to snag. The textiles that he currently produces are stunning and made all by hand. Take a look at this video below showing just how all his wood block printed fabrics are made.

Now with the partnership of Duralee and John Robshaw you can access designs inspired by his own collections! The accessibility and price are both very exciting with this new line. Duralee has used their own mills to produce these prints, many of which are in the United States. All of his designs are inspired by his time spent in Asia learning various techniques used there for textile design. Check out this video giving you an overall look at the new John Robshaw Collection from Duralee.

Here are a few of my favorite prints from the group!

Knowing what so many of our clients request we think this is going to be a big hit! The samples are on their way to Spruce as week speak, so come by and take a look soon. Be on the lookout for more Fabric Finds coming up from Spruce over the next few weeks!

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My own style is a bit of a moving target, but the one thing that continues to ring true for me is to MIX IT UP! Whether I am telling myself to mix it up in life (train for a sprint triathlon when I really haven’t exercised in eons, okay!) or with my own home, it almost always turns out for the better. A great way we encourage people to mix it up at Spruce is with texture! To create a layered look in your home often calls for different scales, different colors, and different textures. One item that I can’t seem to not want to throw in is leather! It is so many things…rich, homey, luxurious, comfortable, tailored, LOVELY! Leather can be appropriate in just about any design aesthetic. Mixed in with other textiles it will greatly enhance the “vibe” you are looking to put off. Check out a few knockout integrations of leather into a space.

Here are a few of some of the leather pieces I have been drooling over!

 

Check out these unconventional uses of leather. Don’t let the boundaries of convention stop you!

We all know that leather can be overdone, but a little bit here and there can’t hurt.  Leather can be a pricey option, but have no fear! There are hundreds of faux leathers out there that are supple and look glorious. This is a great choice for those who for personal reasons would be against the use of leather as well. If you are having a design block and can’t figure out your next step, consider leather. It may be just what you need!

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For a few weeks now, we have had some new faces at Spruce. Each are filling different roles where we need some fresh new help! Now that they are here, it’s about time we introduce them!

We have added a new Spruceter to the workshop. His name is Brian Barnhouse, and he has taken over as head stripper around here! This face has been familiar to us for some time now since Brian is actually Frank’s son! We have gotten to know Brian since Frank joined Spruce over a year ago and thought he would make the perfect Spruceter. Father and son share similar features (check out their same smiles!), but are uniquely different in many ways. Check out some fun facts about Brian:

- Born in San Francisco
- Has four lizards, three cats, and one dog that he loves to take care of!
- Favorite movies: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Big Lebowski, Casino
- Favorite TV shows: The Sopranos, La Casa de al Lado (Spanish Soap!)
- Favorite artists: Deftones, NIN, Goldfrapp
- Overall design style: Minimalist, loves dark rich colors
- Things Brian enjoys: Taking care of his pets, photo/video editing, and he can’t pass up a good ghost story!
- Something you wouldn’t know about Brian: He loves to write! Screenplays, novels, or shorts. I pressed for his favorite character, and he said he wasn’t quite ready to share him/her. Can’t wait to wriggle that out of him!

We are jazzed to have Brian as our newest Spruceter!

Next, we have had an addition to the front of the shop in the form of my newest intern! We got connected through one of our fantastic customers, and I am seriously glad we did. Her name is Gabrielle Stein, and she couldn’t be more fantastic! For the last few weeks Gabrielle has helped us overhaul our fabric section. She is quick as a whip and super friendly, just what we love in a Sprucette! Check out a few things to know about Gabrielle:

- Grew up in Dallas
- Got her degree in Studio Art, specifically painting and print-making
- When she is not helping us at the shop, you can find her at the new, delicious eatery, Elizabeth Street Cafe.
- Favorite music: Indie Rock, Old school Honky-Tonk (we were destined to like each other because of this one!)
-  Overall design style: She is still developing what that is, but her home would be described as eclectic. She has a prized possession from her grandmother of a lime green tweed sofa, love it! She loves to collect vintage pieces with personality and build around those items.
- Has spent some time creating beautiful copper plates for print-making, and is excited to possibly be joining a print makers co-op in Austin!
- Has a biz of painting pet portraits! Check out her site here.
- Something you wouldn’t know about Gabrielle:  She loves to boot scoot, a true kindred spirit! She can’t get enough of the local dance halls (Don’s Depot, the Spoke) and two-stepping. I am sure she can dance circles around most folks with her background in dance, as well!

Our little family is getting bigger, and we couldn’t be happier about it. Next time you are in the shop, be sure to say hello to the newbies. I know they will appreciate it!

 

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In the last five years, gold has come back with a vengeance! You couldn’t pay me to have gold jewelry as a kid, so it’s always comical when your taste does a 180. Now, I can’t get enough of it. It is a perfect addition to any space. Gold has the unique distinction these days that it can go in so many directions. It can be luxurious or it can be simple. It can be progressive or it can be traditional. It can be loud or it can be subtle. The sky is the limit with this color! I find myself wanting to add a touch of gold to just about anything. I recently purchase some ho-hum planters for my new succulents. With a little gold and some painters tape, boom! Not so sad anymore. Check out how that turned out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gold has been incorporated in the oddest of places. Whether it’s paint or actual gold, people are putting it everywhere! Take a look at some of the places I have found gold used.

Gold has been around in fashion forever, so it is fun to see it have another heyday!

Now to the things we really love, interiors! I love the use of gold in conventional and unconventional ways. Take an Eames Chair for example. The frame has been gold-leafed, and now it creates an entirely different look than it had in it’s previous form. I have had my eye on the Dwell Studio magazine rack for some time now, need to win the lottery for that one ha! All of these pieces really nail it when it comes to the use of gold.

Then there is the knick-knack-paddywack. The stuff that really makes a home feel lived in. Gold is EVERYWHERE among these items. If you are not careful, gold can be a bit overwhelming, so these little touches of gold are the perfect place to incorporate the color.

Now that I have throughly mesmerized myself with all this gold, I need to go get me some! Hope you find a touch of gold to add to your home; I know it will do wonders.

 

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Our lovely intern Holli has sailed off into the sunset (miss you terribly little lady), which means that the Sprucettes need some help! We are looking for one, possibly two, ambitious individuals who are interested in gaining some practical experience in design. Here are the nuts and bolts for ya!

Spruce’s internship is for 10-15 hours a week and can be accommodating to your schedule. He or she will be assisting me in managing our retail space, fabric collection, and clients. Some exciting things about this internship are the opportunity to take ownership of shaping the position, gaining industry knowledge in fabric and furniture design, and possible further employment at Spruce! Below are a few requirements and characteristics we are looking for in our next intern.

He or she must:

- Have an interest in design, specifically textiles and furniture.
- Have great work ethic and a real go-getter attitude!
- Be a self-starter, can take a project and run with it.
- Be personable and love to interact with new people.
- Be able to communicate professionally with customers and
vendors.
- Be currently enrolled in higher education (undergrad or masters
program).

If being a Spruce Intern interests you (and you want to hang out with Meredith all the time), please send your resume and information about yourself to the below email address:

Design@spruceaustin.com

We look forward to hearing from you and can’t wait to have a new face around Spruce!

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