Ali's Quill | Edition Twenty
Launching at 57, the Honest Version
This week I did something outside my usual world of fabric and windows. I sat down with Tracy Harris on her Mums With Hustle podcast to talk about launching The Curated Home Method, my first online course, at 57.
I told her the honest version. The doors opened, and for a moment, nobody came. What actually worked was going back to the people who'd raised their hand and reaching out to them, one by one, until that first small group of ten women came together.
If you've ever wondered whether it's too late to start something new, I hope this one is a nudge that it isn't.
ð§ Episode 552, listen here:
Listen to Episode 552Introducing Rylstone Botanicals
We're proud to say Cloth & Feather is the only place in town to find Rylstone Botanicals, a range of home and body care made just down the road in Rylstone, using natural and naturally derived ingredients.
Each product draws on native Australian botanicals, honey myrtle, kunzea, wattle and Kakadu plum, alongside old favourites like lavender and magnesium. From hand and body moisturisers to bathroom mists and toilet deodorisers, the range is cruelty free, pollutant free, and made with care close to home.
We love that we get to bring something this local and this considered into the store, and we think you will too. Pop in and have a smell for yourself, it's genuinely hard to walk past without picking one up.
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Walter G Has Landed
We've just welcomed a fresh edit of Walter G cushions into the store, hand block printed by artisans in India using natural dyes and traditional techniques, so no two are ever quite the same.
Made from beautiful linen with that lived-in, layered look Walter G is known for, we've also put together cushion bundles this season, so you can shop a curated combination in one go rather than second guessing which pieces work together.
Shop the New CushionsMixing Your Patterns
Pattern mixing with cushions is easier than it looks if you follow one rule: vary the scale, not the palette. Pair a bold, large scale print with a fine stripe or check, then anchor both with a plain linen cushion in a shared tone.
That plain piece is what gives your eye somewhere to rest. Odd numbers work best, so a cluster of three or five reads more considered than an even pair.
One Solution, Two Very Different Homes
Plantation shutters have a reputation for being a modern staple, but they've quietly become one of the most versatile choices we offer, just as at home in a heritage cottage as they are in a new build.
In a period home, a narrower blade and a painted timber finish sit beautifully within existing joinery. In a contemporary space, wider blades and a crisp white or matte finish give clean, architectural lines. Whatever the era of your home, shutters offer light control, privacy and insulation without ever looking like an afterthought.
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Cooler Bedding for Warmer Nights
As spring settles in, it's worth turning your mind to your bedding before the warmer nights arrive. We're big fans of hand blocked, hand stitched quilts with an organic cotton fill.
They're light enough for a warm night on their own, and beautiful enough to fold at the end of the bed as a year round bedspread. Each one is made slowly, by hand, which means the pattern and stitching carry a little more character than anything mass produced.
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Warm wishes, and see you in store soon.
Ali ðŠķ