A New Year + Our Look Book

With the start of every year, there's the clean-slate feeling that allows us to dream about doing more and being better – at work, at home, with family, friends. Each year seems to fly by in a flash because we're all so busy, busy, busy. For 2014, I'm going to slow it down and appreciate achievements from last year instead of zooming ahead to figure out what I'm doing next.

One of my proudest achievements from 2013 is the publication of my first-ever digital catalogue for The Loaded Trunk. I often received emails from designers asking for a catalogue so I put it on my to-do list. Months would go by, I'd get more emails and then it would be shelved again. Not exactly business savvy. Working with my team, I finally made it a priority and am so happy to share it with you.

Although catalogues showcase the exact same items on the website, it's helpful to see things with other things for reference to scale and just as importantly, for style inspiration. Links are active and will take you directly to the item you're browsing. You can see the catalogue in its entirety here.

Below are some of my favorite spreads from the catalogue. All photography with additional styling by Sharon Gottula.

Working With Designers

Sanctuary Interior Design Build

I work with numerous designers through the The Loaded Trunk and often get to see the results of their projects. Blankets are re-imagined and re-upholstered into dining chairs. Intricately detailed, vintage skirt bottoms are turned into pillows. Everyday textiles become great pieces of art. Everything is flexible and interchangeable with a designer's vision.

Millar Key West took a bunch of our frazadas and covered dining room chairs for one of their clients. Each chair was slightly different and together, they created a stunning and colorful visual. You can see the chairs in the dining room above. 

Mud cloth is another textile that I often see covering furniture. Geometrics are still trending hot in all areas of design from interiors to fashion to textiles. Mud cloth, especially, is so versatile. While its pattern is detailed and exciting, the neutral, black and cream coloring make it an easy addition to home decor. Below are examples that I've found on Pinterest and various designer blogs. Read about the history of bòlòganfini here and see our entire collection here.

Large Bòlòganfini from The Loaded Trunk

via Design Sponge

HotMoonCollection.com via Pinterest

While I was traveling in Morocco, I had these vintage patchwork kilim rugs made especially for The Loaded Trunk. In its third (and possibly later) iteration, these scraps of patchwork turned this fairly traditional arm chair on its head. Isn't it amazing what a bit of reupholstery can do for furnishings? You can see the entire collection of patchwork kilim rugs here.

Patchwork Kilim Rug by The Loaded Trunk

In addition to all the great designer work I come across, many of my customers send pictures of how you've styled or re-interpreted items from The Loaded Trunk into your homes. I love to see your creativity in styling global home decor in your living spaces. It's anything you can imagine it to be!

Style to Spare

The Loaded Trunk / photography by Sharon Gottula

With the kids definitely off for college by now, that may mean a spare room in the house....for a little while at least. It's so easy to let that extra space become a cluttered storage area, isn't it? Instead of shutting the door to the madness and ignoring it, this could be the chance to turn that room into a colorful retreat! Here are some of my favorite things to do when I am rearranging the (rare) empty spaces in my own home:

via Bold, Bright & Beautiful

1. Fill a wall with books. The best and easiest way to escape is through the pages of book. No matter how many pretty pictures you can see on the internet, nothing transports you into other worlds, cultures, stories and lives like books can. Mix it up with travel magazines and photo albums too. Guests will love peeking through all of these.

The Loaded Trunk / photography by Sharon Gottula

2. Pile on the color, pattern and texture. If the rest of your home is a different style, who cares? Make this room fun to be in. Hang a beautiful rug on the wall. Layer them under foot. Surround yourself with an avalanche of pillows. Make sure there are plenty of warm throws to snuggle under. No matter what you pick, it will be perfect and cosy.

3. Add a comfy chair or couch. Because you can't be laying around in bed all day. Well, you can, but a couch gives you an alternative lounging option. :)

Elle Decor

4. Show off your collections. Sometimes all the pieces you've been picking up need a dedicated space. Grouping them makes a bold and interesting statement.

5. Try a low bed. In a lot of cultures, sleeping on or low to the ground is the norm. Give it a go, it might give you a whole new perspective to relaxing.

Have fun redecorating your spare room and good luck on keeping it all to yourself!

Get That Art Up

One of the drawbacks to getting affordable, unframed prints is figuring out to display them. Professional framing can cost an arm and a leg, especially if you have a large piece. That's when you see beautiful pieces collecting dust and often times, stored away and then forgotten. But don't let a little framing challenge stop you. If you think creatively, there are lots of way to display art. This week I'm sharing just how to do that featuring some high-quality reproductions from The Loaded Trunk that are collectible, unique and best of all, affordable.

/1/ Wood Pant Hanger 

Wood pant hangers hold the top edges of the print flat without damaging it. Either hang directly onto a simple nail or tie a ribbon or some fishing line to the hanger and secure to the molding on your ceiling. They can easily be found on-line or in your local antique store.

Etsy is a good place to find vintage hangers on-line, but don't forget to check your local antique store as well. » Set of 9 Vintage Pant Hangers, Etsy

/2/ Simple Black Frames

Most of these prints employ black as a major color element, either dominating the piece or defining certain parts of the design. Black frames pull the color out and when grouped, create a cohesive collection. » Set of 4 Gallery Style Frames, West Elm

/3/ Vintage (or New) Wood Clothes Pins

Tie invisible fishing line to wood clothes pins. Clip them on to your print, add a couple of nails and voila, your print is up on the wall. Vintage ones are especially nice because they have such a great patina. » Set of 10 Vintage Clothes Pins, Etsy

/4/ Rustic Wood Frames

Even though these posters have a very modern, graphic quality, rustic wood frames add an element of warmth to the pieces. Don't be afraid to trim the posters slightly.
» Rustic Barnwood Frame, Etsy // » Shutter Frame, World Market

The role of the poster has been historically connected with nationalistic struggle and plays an important role in provoking political action. Our collection of Vietnam War era propaganda posters continue their role as provocative conversation pieces in addition to be graphically stunning. The Loaded Trunk's Vietnamese Propaganda Prints are printed on rice paper and measure approximately 12" x 15" unframed. $39 each. Click here to see entire collection.

Giveaway Winners!

First, I'd like to sincerely apologize for being so late with this post. I really thought I could travel for a month and jump right back into things. A little delusional perhaps, but I'm finally getting caught up and am excited to announce the winners of our Four Year Anniversary Giveaway!

Giveaway #1 » Thai Ceramic Vessel

E-mail List Winner » Lorraine Meere

Lorraine, I will send you an email. You just have to pick your favorite piece!

Giveaway #2 » Silk Ikat Scarf

Facebook Winner » Samantha Parrington

Samantha, I have your address and scarf ready. Will ship to you soon!

Giveaway #3 » Kids' Blanket and Pillow Kantha Set

Pinterest Winner » Laura Lucero

Laura, thank you for following me all over the internet. Please message me at roni@loadedtrunk.com with your mailing address at your earliest convenience so I can ship you this beauty!

Giveaway #4 » Cobra Stapler

Twitter Winner » @katrinann

Thank you Katrin for the follow and great #traveltip. Wearing shoes that you can slip on and off easily is a must for the modern traveler and security lines.

Thank you all again for following along. I hope you all enjoy your gifts!

A Closer Look at Bògòlanfini (Mud Cloth)

Bògòlanfini, popularly known as mud cloth, is made by the Bamana people of southwestern Mali. The Bamana are a village based society mainly consisting of farmers, though textile artists are one of many “craft castes” that one is born into. Cotton cloth woven into strips by men is decorated in symbolic geometric patterns by women by a several-stage discharge method using mud, bark and vegetable dyes. 

The many stages of dyeing and washing sets the pigment and traditionally was also seen as a way to imbue the cloth with protective power, known as nyama. The cloth was made as wrappers around five feet in length and wrapped around girls to protect them during their initiation ceremonies into adulthood. After this use, it would be presented to the girl’s elderly sponsor, who may be wrapped in at her death to contain the nyama released. Another traditional use was as tunics worn to protect hunters and warriors.

Bògòlanfini created international interest when it was introduced into the fashion design world in the early 1980s by young Malian designer Chris Seydou. Artists continue to update the tradition today, introducing more colors and larger, bolder designs for the local and international market.

I've kept some of the mud cloth as pure textiles, but have turned some into feather-filled pillows. See the entire bògòlanfini collection here.

A Gift For Mom

In the States and in a majority of countries around the world, Mother's Day falls on the second Sunday in May, but did you know that around the world, mothers are celebrated at different times of the year? Here's a short list of when other countries do Mother's Day:

Nigeria, Ireland and the United Kingdom » Fourth Sunday in Lent and they call it Mothering Sunday

Slovenia » March 25

Paraguay » May 15

Mongolia » June 1 (the birthday of Queen Sirikit Kitiyakara)

Thailand » August 12

Malawi » Second Sunday in October

For a full list of countries and Mother's Day celebrations, check here.

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Shown above, a few pretties for all the wonderful mothers in our lives....

Things for Her
Infinite Wisdom Necklace // San Juan Marabella Clutch // Agate & Sterling Earrings // Kashmir Pashmina Wrap // Indigo Blue Sisal Market Bag // Gold Moroccan Market Bag // Moroccan Babouche

Things for Her Home
Thai Ceramic Vase // Copper Glazed Ceramic Dish // Hmong Wedding Quilt Pillow // Hill Tribe Natural Indigo Pillow // Burmese Staff // Silk Ikat Table Runner

The Story Behind » Burmese Lacquer Bowls

 

Our vintage Burmese lacquer bowls, still in excellent condition, were originally used for meals, holding soups and curries. I found these in the attic of dealer I work with in Northern Thailand. They were covered in dust and I imagine they had never been used due to the proprietor labels that were still affixed. Many of them have inscriptions that often are the signature of the maker.

The bowls are made of coiled bamboo and then lacquered in varying shades of red and/or toffee brown with accent colors for the designs. The flared rim bowls are typical of mid-twentieth century ware of Ava. Marked by paper stamps from the original proprietors, the labels, affixed to the inside, are easily removable if you choose to use them for dining. Click here to see all of the great bowls and other lacquer pieces including offering vessels and trays.