Tuesday, August 5, 2008

decorative towels ~


So what makes a towel decorative? We're in his kitchen, and my guy says with a growl,
"don't use that towel." I look at it and ask? "Why not?" His response, "It's decorative."

"O.K." It's navy blue with a scroll design edge. It's a weighty cotton, ribbed and looks, at least to me, to be perfectly suitable for hand wiping. I wasn't considering it for cleaning up the floor or even the counter. The snap in his voice made it clear; stand back, how dare you dare to use that towel? It's hanging on what I thought was the ready position on the drawer pull (not knob).
Being the textile designer I am, I might have known it was decorative. The fact that he knew was what amused and pleased me.

So when I next aquaint myself with this decorative towel, I will have a deeper respect for it. Might even suggest it take a trip through the washing machine inorder to brighten up the color and accent its' truly decorative nature. Perhaps I should give a gift of some kitchen towels I've designed. This way I'll be on safer ground with towels that have no restrictions as to useage and are in fact signed by me. This way I'm less likely to fall into this faxu pas once again. Of course, there will be other mistaken moves to be experienced, aren't there always? So stay tuned.

Jill Butler
The JB Collection: www.jillbutler.com
author, illustrator, designer
Create the Space You Deserve

1 comment:

StephanieV said...

Hi Jill,
Just discovered and finished Wandering Paris--what a treat after Rendez Vous France had been my bible on trips there in '05 and '06. Our family is hoping, hoping, to get back there in June 09 and I can't wait to try the new places you suggest, especially the paper stores (I am a stationery fiend too) and the flea markets. Your guide is so very unique compared to the scores of Paris and France guides I've read, which are helpful, but all say the same things.
Which leads to my next question--our family loves Paris but has also spent a lot of time in Provence, Arles, specifically, St. Remy and Isle Sur La Sorgue (paradise, sigh) and I can't help but imagine how beautiful Provence would look illustrated by your hand. I know you've made some big changes, moving back to the US, etc. but do you ever think of doing an illustrated guidebook to Provence?

A curious fan,
Stephanie Vanderslice
wordamour.wordpress.com