Snow and sunny days.  Here in the Rocky Mountains, we often have snow on the ground and very sunny days.....which tease us with the possibility of an early Spring.  I have to tell you that after living in Russia for so many years, the sunny Winter day can do wonders for the soul!  As a retailer, January brings the drudge of inventory and taxes......and I can happily say, that for the first time in many years, I've gotten my inventory and taxes done and ready to meet with my accountant on Friday!  Now I will have more time to play in the snow on sunny days!

I've also started the Master Gardener class offered by our local extension office.....we meet every Thursday from 9 am till 4 pm and although it is a long day, packed with more information than my little brain has had to process in many years, I find it a wonderful time with fellow gardeners and we are learning so much!  I'll be in this class through the end of April.....so will be able to really get a better grasp of what it takes to grow a garden here in the Rockies at 7,000+ feet of elevation.  It is a challenge with our short growing season, the clay soil, and all the critters that feast on anything I plant!  But, I will soldier on and conquer the lack of warm nights, the soil and the deer and chipmunks!  Photos in the summer of my success!  Cheers, Jilly 

Organic linen jacquard........
I thought you might enjoy seeing some fabrics from one of our Russian linen mills. 
There are so many wonderful designs to choose,
it's difficult to make a selection for our collections......
so tell us what you think! 
Vote for your favorite design for our new jacquard linen robe collection........this will be fun!

 
#1  Renaissance in lavender and natural linen
(this is one of my favorites......hence the first posting!)

#2 Spades in natural and cream linen jacquard.......

#3 Fleur de lis....in natural linen and pale yellow


So, now that I've tempted you with some yummy linen jacquards, let me know what you think about these designs! 

Wear More Linen!

Cheers, Jilly

Happy New Year!   We are in the middle of a blizzard and a flu storm here at the linen laird......but managing!  Getting ready for inventory on Monday and then tax prep.....NOT my favorite things....but necessary evils!  Just a short note today to wish all of you linen lovers a very Happy New Year!  Make it the year of linen!

Organic linen jacquard robes.....
coming attractions for the Russia House Collection this Spring.......
Take a look!

Plus this lovely linen jacquard robe comes with it's own linen gift bag.....
just fold it up and place it in the bag,
then place the linen bag on your bed with all the other toss pillows......
and it will be there for you later tonight when it gets chilly! 

Delicate ladder hemstitching detailing on the pockets......

The sleeve cuff of our jacquard robe.........

A closer look at this beautiful linen jacquard......the colors of natural and cream linen combine to make a striking woven masterpiece......heavy, yet soft and a classic design that works for both men and women......

   
I loved this linen jacquard so much that I hunted it down in a small linen fabric store in Moscow called "Russian Linen", which is long gone now........replaced by a coffee shop....one of thousands that popped up in Moscow around the turn of the century......1990's to 2000.  My heart wept when this store disappeared from my shopping haunts.  

Anyway, I loved this fabric SO MUCH that I bought enough to re-upholster this antique love seat!  Now, this old love seat was found in an old house my folks purchased in the 1970's to flip......yes, people have been flipping houses long before all the modern day reality shows.   It was upholstered in a heavy moss green velvet which was very worn and filthy.  My dad stripped the old velvet off and discovered horse hair stuffing......this is an old piece!  Anyway, he took it down to the bare frame and it hung in his garage, suspended from heavy wires near the ceiling for about 20 years....until I took pity on it and gave it new life. 

The carved ornamental fleur at the top of the frame was damaged and had to be repaired.....and it went from a traditional maple stain to a rich mahogany.  The entire cushion support system had to be rebuilt and then upholstered.....and this was done beautifully by a restorer in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  I just love it!  I did not have quite enough of this beautiful Renaissance jacquard to cover the entire love seat, so I used a mini houndstooth for the back of the loveseat.....in the same coordinating colors of natural and cream linen. 

I love this love seat.

Cheers, Jilly

Organic linen spa products.....it's Chrismtas everyday!

Well, Christmas is almost here and it's been quite a while since my last blog.....
but I'm promising to be better in the new year....really! 

We've had a good year at the Russia House Collection and
most of the fall has been spent on designing a new line of
organic linen spa robes and products.....
including some amazing linen terry cloth and linen waffle......
something that has not been seen in the United States until now......
so come early Spring.....
you'll get to see some new and amazing products.

But here are some of our current organic linen spa products......

Take a quick look.......
 

Here is one of our linen terry cloth face scrubbers......
also available in a larger size as a body scrubber.

 

 

 

A few of our lavender linen aroma therapy frogs......

filled with lavender buds that will lull you to sleep,

once they hop into your bed pillow ........

 

 

 

 

Maybe this organic linen chenille back scrubber is more your style.....

made from seven layers of linen.....

a heavy center layer of rough organic linen topped

with six layers of light organic linen,  

sewn diagonally, carefully cut and then washed and like magic,

the cut strips of linen turns into a soft linen chenille.....

perfect for that special man that has everything......

except an expectional linen chenille back scrubber!  

Also available in a wash mitt and washcloth....

and available in white linen too!  

 

Perhaps an organic linen shampoo turban is more to your liking........
wrap this around your freshly shampooed hair and the moisture will be wicked away......
giving you time to put on your make up. 
Soon your hair will be ready to blow dry and style......magic!   
Linen is twice as absorbent as cotton so it lends itself nicely to spa products.....

 

Perhaps one of our linen bath towels will suit your fancy......

available in several sizes......

bath towel, large bath towel and bath sheet, the best of all! 

Our bath towels and bath sheets have a wide 3 inch hemstitched hem on each end.....

and the beauty of linen is that is will dry quickly

hanging on your towel bars and

linen will not sour like a heavy cotton terry cloth towel.  

Plus, when you launder these towels.....

they will dry in 15 minutes in a clothes dryer.....

not an hour PLUS for a heavy cotton terry cloth towel.....

THAT is a huge energy savings.....in your pocket!  

Ok, that is enough for now.......hopefully, we have tempted you enough to check out the benefits of organic linen products and the earth friendly characteristics it provides!

Enjoy!


Tomorrow.....or a little later......lovely linen spa robes......sheer bliss! 

Cheers, Jilly

The warmth of linen in winter?

When we think of linen, we think of summer. But did you know that linen is quite warm in the winter months? Being a natural fiber, linen breathes like other fabrics do not. Flannel sheets were always too warm for me, snugly, but unless you are camping, just too hot. I had always preferred a high count cotton sheet, soft to the touch and getting softer with each wash. Then I moved to Russia and started purchasing more and more linen and made a lovely linen coverlet for the bed. It was super in the summer giving just the right amount of warmth. In the winter I just added a cotton thermal blanket under the linen coverlet only adding heavier blankets when the temps dropped below -30. Those drafty old Soviet windows in my flat just could not keep out the cold of -30 degrees even with loads of mailing tape. It was not long before I started buying linen yardage and making my own flat sheets and using linen for bath towels as well. Linen was so available in Russia in the 1990's....but it is harder and harder to find these days with all the wonderful imported fabrics from around the world that flood into Russia these days. Anyway, I bought a lot of linen at the great little linen shop near metro Kropotkinskaya in Moscow called "Rusky Leon" or Russian linen. The shop had been in this location for many years but has now disappeared only to be replaced with a coffee shop. But during the good old days(1997-2005), I would head over there at least once a week to check the inventory which included dozens of bolts of linens, all weights and colors, jacquards, dyed thread, hundreds of wonderful tablecloths, napkins, tea towels, table runners, and bedding. Now, mind you, all the measurements were in centimeters so I had to do a little calculating before my purchases but the selection was wonderful. It pains my heart to know all that is gone now.

Back to the linen sheets. When we first started importing our linen sheets from Russia, I took a natural linen set and washed them several times, ironed them and placed them on my bed. Yes, they were a little itchy at first but that soon disappeared with more washings. The most amazing thing about linen is that it is cool to the touch so you lay down on linen sheets on a warm summer night and you are instantly cool. Plus, linen will absorb almost twice as much moisture as cotton, so linen actually wicks moisture away from your body like some of the new synthetic winter clothing. Since that time, almost a year ago now, I've washed these sheets and placed them back on the bed because I do not want to sleep on any other sheets. Now in the winter time, the sheets work in the opposite way and help trap the warmth of your body. Now I'm one of those gals who could sleep with the window open all year round even in the winter at an elevation of 7,000+ feet but keep the thermostat at 60 degrees at night and only 65 degrees during the days. Most nights, just a light weight cotton blanket is used over these linen sheets for a very comfortable sleeping temperature. Sheer Bliss.

Now, many cringe when I mention linen sheets including my husband when I first said we were going to give them a try. He thought we would be sleeping on sheets that resembled burlap. Has he changed his tune and loves them as much as I do now. Another question I get when I mention linen sheets to a customer is "Don't you have to iron them?" Yes and No. Ironing linen when it is about 3/4 dry is a great way to get a great pressing and for the first few washings, it actually softens the linen, so I recommend ironing the sheets for the first few washings. After that, this is how I handle linen sheets:

1. First thing in the morning, wash your sheets like you normally do, cool water, not too hot, fabric
softener, etc.

2. Dry the sheets; fitted sheet first till it is about 85% dry and pull it out of the dryer and place it
back on the bed a little damp but it will air dry quickly. Then dry the flat sheet and same
routine, about 85% dry and place it on the bed. Both of these sheets will dry during the rest of
the day and be ready for other linens, blankets, pillows, etc. at the end of the day.

3. If you prefer to iron your sheets, you can always fold them in half and iron two layers of sheeting
at once as this will press them enough to take any wrinkles away. Sometimes just pressing the
top edge of the flat sheet will be enough.

4. Now if you have linen pillowcases as well, I would recommend ironing these as they will just get
softer with pressing.

5. Of course, we recommend using our RUSSIA HOUSE COLLECTION Lavender Linen Water for
any ironing you need to do. It makes the sheets smell and feel even fresher with just a hint of
lavender to help relax your body for a blissful sleep.

So, that is my linen sheet advise. Linen sheets are still very popular in the best hotels in Europe. Royals have slept on linen sheets for centuries, so what are you waiting for. Sleep like a Queen and King today. Order some linen sheets and enjoy the bliss of a luxurious night of restful sleep. Mention this blog and receive a 20% discount on the purchase of a linen sheet from our Ebay store - RUSSIA HOUSE COLLECTION or from our Etsy store - Linensisters.

Cheers, Jilly

100% Linen sheets....sheer bliss!

Linen sheets....yes, sleep like royalty on these amazing linen sheets. Cool to the touch and warm in the winter.....environmentally friendly as they dry quickly and require little care. If you've ever thought about linen sheets, these are the ones for you. Custom made by our linen workroom in Russia and custom fitted here in the U.S., you'll fall in love with the touch of linen. We have just received four sets of Queen size pure white linen sheets....one fitted sheet, one flat sheet and two matching pillowcases.....with hemstitching detailing. Oversized and custom fitted to your specific mattress. View them in our ebay store - RUSSIA HOUSE COLLECTION.
Cheers, Jilly