Tea Towel vs. Dish Towel

cotton linen tea towel

When I work at markets, which is a few times a year, many people ask what a tea towel is and what's the difference between a tea towel and a dish towel.  I usually respond with that a tea towel comes from the British tea time and it's a bit nicer way of saying dish towel .  Some believe that the quality of the towel is what distinguishes it.  Some towels are terry cotton (like a bath towel, a looped weave), flat cotton, linen or linen cotton. 

I found a very interesting article on Huffington Post.  It is  a few years old but still relevant. The author is Jessica Cumberbatch Anderson and she spoke with the American Textile Museum. 

Click here to read. 

I love the many historical reasons she discovered.  Tea towels are one of my main staples in the kitchen and in my Etsy Shop.  I find them to be totally utilitarian, a great gift when visiting friends for dinner or a longer period and a great gift to get people when traveling.  Are you as big a fan as me with tea towels?

Tracey

Time for a Picnic

Here in the northern hemisphere we are in mid-summer and it certainly feels like it in the northeast. I am probably more aware of it because my mother--in-law from Sydney is visiting and it has been a topic of conversation that it is unusually cold there right now, in the 40's fahreneheit. But here in New York City it has been in the high 80's and 90's plus awful high humidity.  I certainly don't want to stay indoors when the temperatures rise.  Each morning I can't wait to get out to my small urban garden and see what has transformed over night. After I poke around the veggie plants and flowers I like to sit on the couch outside, have an ice coffee and do a little work.  Sometimes I opt for a picnic blanket in our patch of grass.  

Perfect for a baby who is in his or her tummy time stage or learning to crawl or a little one who might be a little unsure of the grass.  My daughter was not a fan of grass or sand in the first few years.  Whatever the case may be I have designed and made a variety of picnic blanket styles that come in 2 fabrications; denim cotton and water resistant poly. 

Neon Orange Tassel Denim Conductor Stripe Blanket $55.00

I am always drawn to the denim and natural fabrics.  I like the way they wash, ware and feel but in early summer when the ground still has that spring dampness or after a heavy rainfall there is nothing like getting a wet bottom on your picnic. For these occasions there are water resistant blankets I am selling in my Etsy shop and at Celebrate Brooklyn. 

Lobster in Nantucket Red Water Resistant Blanket to purchase visit my etsy shop by clicking here. $50.00

These blankets are relatively easy to make depending on straps and pockets.  The main factor is time.  If you don't have the time you can purchase by visiting my Etsy shop or one of the many great shows at Celebrate Brooklyn in Prospect Park. Check out the schedule here. 

Hope to see you at the bandshell!

Tracey

Holiday Market in Manhattan

Holiday shopping is in high gear and what better way than to shop local! I am a member of the Etsy NY Team. A group of over 250 artisans and makers.  This week there will be over 50 members of the team setting up shop at Chelsea Market in Manhattan.  I will be one of them! I am so  excited for the Handmade Holiday Cavalcade, a  weeklong market plus a Sip n Shop on Thursday evening sponsored by Brooklyn Brewery. Another fabulous local maker!

Chelsea Market

9th Ave between West 15th and 16th St

Manhattan

Dec 5 to 11th 10:30 to 7:30

In addition to the Sip n Shop, there will be a photo booth to take some festive holiday photos, Swag Bag giveaways, A Scavenger Hunt and don't forget about our furry friends... A donation box will be set up to collect cat and dog food, toys, and blankets for the animals in the NYC Animal Care and Control Shelters.  The holiday season is particularly hard for them.  Many of them get left by their owners never to be seen again. So please bring a can of food or a toy for these guys. It will be much appreciated.

Here's a preview of some of the holiday items I will be selling.

red linen napkins with metallic gold stitching

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Hope to see you there! If you can't make it you can place a custom order buy emailing me, tracey@traceytoole.com or visit my etsy shop.   

Happy Holidays!

Tracey

Brooklyn Holiday Bazaar

I can't tell you how excited I am to be accepted to the Brooklyn Holiday Bazaar! This will be my first year selling here. Hosted by Brooklyn Makers, this is the 4th year of this fabulous, fine event.  

The line up of vendors looks amazing! A great place to get all of your holiday shopping done. And what better way to do it then support local businesses on Small Business Saturday. Yep, the event is held on November 26th and 27th. Check out the vendor line up here!   

The admission is free and if you have little ones there are craft activities with local crafter Make Workshop and OMY.  Free gift wrapping, photo booth, DJ and cocktails! The perfect way to spend a weekend shopping.

November 26th and 27th 11:00 to 6:00 pm 501 Union St Gowanus, Brooklyn R train to Union St.

I will be there with my aprons, some exclusive holiday designs, table linens and other housewares!

Stop by and say hello!

Tracey

Going for a picnic?

For the past 3 years I've been selling picnic blankets at the bric celebrate Brooklyn! Festival in Prospect Park Brooklyn. 

What started out as a "why aren't there any picnic blankets here" has turned into a new category in the traceytoole brand.  

You can find these blankets also at Van Hook Cheese and Grocery in Jersey City, New Jersey.  

201 conductor stripe with gingham check pocket  

Featuring a storage pocket and twill carry straps and of course made of cotton woven fabrics. 

picnic blanket order heading out.

Arrival of Japanese denim.  

Yep we have grass in Brooklyn.  

7th heaven fair on 7th in park slope Brooklyn  

And not just denim. There is a selection of water resistant blankets to keep your bums dry if the ground is a bit damp. I love the Native American inspired prints I found. These are in beautiful, sun bleached earth tones.  

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Womel Canyon Water Resistant Blanket

If you can't make it to Bric Celebrate Brooklyn and would like to purchase a blanket please contact me tracey@traceytoole.com

The 201 Conductor Blanket is available in my etsy shop. Click here. 

Hope you are having a wonderful summer so far!  

Tracey