Jul 4 
for the home that loves the warmth of handmade goods, take a peek at the charming united states in pillows at sundance. the hand embroidered collection is reminiscent of something you would find in a vintage shop (sans the antique patina), and the hawaii pillow deftly hits all the highlights of the islands on a mere 20-inch square of fabric.
definitely a conversation starter.
Jun 7 
ginger lei
call this a crafty intervention for those of you have stashes of fabric, beads, scrapbooking supplies, etc. hidden under the bed, in the closet, anywhere there's extra space to hide the castoffs from your expensive addiction. if there was ever a time to pay for someone else's expertise then hawaiian quilting would definitely be at the top of the list.
go ahead and tackle that pillow project that's been collecting dust, but do you really want to wait a few years until that bedspread is finally finished? if you prefer instant gratification then you'll adore the folks at hawaiian quilt wholesale. they work with master quilters who have many moons of experience and their designs are 100% handmade.
design, hawaiiana, home sweet home studio May 22 
ipanema bedding + zig zag shower curtain
while wandering through target this weekend, i came upon their new ipanema collection with its fresh spin on tropical decor. if you have been thinking of updating your bedding for the summer be sure to check it out.
another of my favorite finds is west elm's zig zag shower curtain which reminds me of the patterns found on tapa cloth. if you dig it as much as i do, your bank account will be happy to know that it's currently on sale.
happy shopping!
Apr 20 
one of the benefits of the custom of removing your shoes when entering your home is that it keeps the floors clean (an added bonus when it's time to move). however one of the more vexing problems is finding a place for all those shoes and slippers so neat freaks will appreciate big island woodworker tai lake's elegant solution for the entryway.
his small shoe bench made of koa offers a place to sit while untying your laces and thoughtfully stores shoes out of the way to keep folks from tripping. what's even better is that tai manages a koa forest and is part of the movement to make hawaii's koa forests more sustainable.
Apr 7 
limu + kapa
the sunbrella fabric on the chairs on our lanai have taken a beating this winter so the introduction of the hana road collection from perennials has perfect timing. it's a nice modernist take on traditional hawaiian designs like barkcloth and kapa prints as well as taking inspiration from things in nature like limu and coral.
wendy tsuji and linda ueda, the designers of the collection, were definitely inspired by hawaii and i can think of lots of ways to use their fabulous outdoor fabric. unfortunately, the hana road line is only available to the trade (no showrooms in hawaii) and the price tag is a bit hefty ($139 a yard!). however, if you can swing it you'll definitely have a lovely setting to kick back and enjoy the great outdoors.
