At Home || Shopping Small
Are you doing ok?! Keeping sane? We can do this. We need to focus on the silver lining always- this situation has given us the gift of time and connection with our families. We need to find joy in the simple things and I hope I can bring you some light entertainment as we all try and navigate this new reality with as much grace and flexibility as possible.
As part of the At Home series (posts while in quarantine), I wanted to focus on some small businesses today. Small businesses are such an important part of our local economy and they provide jobs that help support our neighborhoods. What I love about small business is that they offer unique and special items that you can’t just find anywhere. Here are some small business I really love- Oh and please don’t judge me….I love cocktail napkins and table linens so I apologize beforehand if I overwhelm you with options ! I actually think you will thank me later.
The first business I want to acquaint you with is Kasart- a modern home decor store based in Dallas. Kasart has so many unique items you can’t really find locally. Mariana, the owner, is a dear friend with amazing style and taste. Here are some of cute things I love from her store:
This acrylic salad bowl and servers is sensational and it comes in various colors. This acrylic playing card box is so cute and perfect for all the family game nights. This set of two decorative trays are ideal for console or coffee tables. This is one of my favorite coffee table books. I die for these beautiful acrylic pitchers, perfect for all the al fresco dinners in your near future. It’s never too early to think about Mother’s day. Cutest bookends for your tween (they would be so cute in an Easter basket!). Cocktail hour is starting earlier and earlier in this house (in yours too?), love this tray.
They currently have 20% off with code SHOPSMALL
Another two small businesses I adore in Dallas are Cabana and Canary. They offer the chicest clothing options in all of Dallas. Cabana is a more casual store with a Bohemiam Beach vibe and Canary is more sophisticated and focuses on emerging designers. Merry, the owner, is the sweetest and has such a great eye for finding the most unique pieces that always make one stand out. My mom and I love going together to enjoy all the beauty Merry has so meticulously curated.
A few things I’m loving right now- This colorful skirt, so perfect for summer. It is easy to dress up or down. Same goes for this one. This lavender top with white pants! So chic and crisp. The perfect throw-on top for Spring and summer (by Tish Cox a favorite Dallas designer). I can see myself living in this all summer, especially if I get stuck in Dallas in the hottest months (let’s hope this will not be the case but I already cancelled our trip to Spain!). This pretty dress is EVERYTHING. Also, think this skirt is great to wear all year. There is nothing better than a chic and versatile white top. These gold linen pants are extra!
Courtland and Co. is an interior and fine linens shop in Georgia. As you know I love setting a pretty table and so always lust over their beautiful tablescape offerings. These liberty cocktail napkins are adorable. And so are these- perfect for personalization. These dinner napkins with a bow are so sweet. And these placemats are classic and beautiful. If you are planning ahead for Easter these napkins are perfect for your special occasion table.
They currently have 25% off sitewide with code SPRINGSALE
The Essential Market has great options for personalized party and personal essentials. Camille and Emily are the cute duo behind this small business. I just love their personalized letterpress stationery, where you can design your own. They offer such great colors, personalization options and envelope liners- let your creativity soar. I also love their notepad options. They make great gifts too. But the cutest of all have to be their gift tags. These tags will add so much sophistication to your gifts! They also have the cutest personalized playing cards.
Ellis Hill is an amazing and super chic Dallas based stationery store. Kerri has such great taste and offers the prettiest party invitation designs ever plus really beautiful linens and paper goods. These Liberty dinner napkins are sensational. This boudoir pillow is precious. They also have the cutest personalized gift tags. And I just love these personalized jewelry travel cases. You can design your own paper cocktail napkins for your next affair (which can hopefully happen sooner rather than later. How many social gatherings are you planning after this quarantine?!).
Jacquelyn Reese Home is a Houston-based business founded by Vanessa Walton. Her designs are made with luxury linens but serve those with active lifestyles (read, easy to take care of!). I’m obsessed with these cocktail napkins, as well as these. The Euro shams they have are so pretty. I love them and think they elevate the bed. And wouldn’t this robe make the cutest gift.
Hibiscus Linens makes beautiful and casual hand embroidered lines. My dear friend Mariana, the founder, is such a dedicated and hard working entrepreneur, plus she gives the best embroidery classes. It was so fun to learn. I actually embroidered the napkins I will be using for our Easter table because she taught me. If you are thinking ahead for Easter, these casual bunny cocktail napkins are adorable. These rose cocktail napkins are also perfect for the occasion. And these dinner napkins are just stunning.
Fete Linens is a Dallas based linen embroidery business. Carolina, the owner, is also a sweet friend who designs fun and colorful linens. She loves collaborating and will work with you to design the perfect embroidery piece for your next event. These are perfect for a girls’ night in. I think these are so fun for the fourth of July. Pineapples are ideal to welcome your guests. I especially love the banana leaf guest towels. Loving this delicate dragonfly guest towel as well, and they are perfect for parties on cocktail napkins. And these hand towels are fun and happy, perfect for a beach or country house.
India Amory is a lifestyle and home goods brand working with indian block printed cotton based in NY and founded by Julia Armory. They have the prettiest tablecloths and napkins at great and affordable prices. For one who loves to host friends for dinner and love changing my table designs constantly her tablecloths are such a beautiful option. This green tablecloth is so pretty for use year round and this pink floral one is ideal for Easter. These placemats are perfect for everyday dining. And this blue and white tablecloth is perfection. Aren’t these the cutest napkins? She even has robes at a great price point for a gift. And you can even custom order linens for weddings and special events.
Carrie and Seash is a custom art and design company founded by a mother and daughter duo based in Louisiana. They do the prettiest water color stationery as well all types of custom work like wedding invitations, Christmas cards, wedding maps, family crests. They have different styles so make sure you check them all out here. I like this simple design and this sweet bow design.
Aiisha Farris is an abstract artist based in Dallas. She works in watercolor, acrylics & pastel and experiments with diverse media including paper, canvas and textiles. This beautiful collage has such pretty colors and so does this floral piece. Both are fun ways to add color and brightness to any corner of your home.
The Avenue founded by Lyndsey Zorich is a site that has pieces for yourself and your home. I’m in love with this pretty serving plate. These placemats are classic. These pretty colored goblets would make your next tablescape an immediate success. Now that I’m cooking so much I would not mind having a set of these mixing bowls. Aren’t these the prettiest Liberty placemats? And look at this delicate and beautiful dress! Perfect for Easter. And I’m totally obsessed with this butterfly dress. This is a great clutch for summer. And now now that we could be in pjs all day, these are perfect.
These are my small biz recommendations for now. What are some small shops I should know about? I’m happy to do another similar post with your recommendations.