2 July 2021. We have often been asked if we would consider selling Fog Linen Work fabric. We're happy to announce that the stars have aligned and we now have it in stock. We've been able to get some gorgeous pieces, all in one meter lengths, perfect for crafting projects this summer and beyond.
Each piece of fabric comes in a one meter length, which is a little over three feet of fabric, a fair amount to work with for a variety of projects.
We've been very inspired by the projects in Fog Linen Work founder Yumiko Sekine's new book, Simplicity at Home. There's a chapter in her book on using fabric scraps, and we see these linen pieces being used in a variety of ways, from curtains to cushion covers, tote bags, coverlets, scarves and clothing.
These one meter lengths come right off the end of the bolts at the linen factory we work with in Lithuania, so you can expect slubs and little imperfections in the fabric, it's all part of the charm of linen. We love that these last bits of fabric can be used and that nothing is going to waste.
As with any sewing or crafting project, we recommend machine washing your fabric in cold water before using as it shrinks by about 5%. You can air dry it for less shrinkage or machine dry it on low for a softer texture and a little more shrinkage.
And just a friendly reminder: please choose your fabric carefully, as this item cannot be returned.
We hope these pieces will inspire you to make something wonderful!
You can find the entire fabric selection here.
17 June 2021. Summer is in full swing, and our second drop of summer clothing has just landed. We've been looking forward to this next round, there are so many good things. We've got new dresses and tops and new colors in some styles from the first drop. Here are just a few highlights:
The Asha Top: With a cute collar and delicate pleats across the front, this short sleeve top looks great tucked in or worn loose. Buttons down the back, this shirt can be worn reversibly. In three gorgeous colors: Rose, Ivoire, and Blue Indigo. How to choose?
The Christine Top: Simple and perfect. A tank that's wide in the body, giving you space for keeping cool. In Black, Albatre, and Ciel (aka the perfect summer sky blue).
The June Dress: June is the dress we want to wear all summer long. Sleeveless, with a subtle gather just above the bust line that gives the dress a gentle a-line shape. In Black and Blue Indigo.
The Clare Dress: You loved it in Rose, now it's back in Erica, a dark navy with an elegant white pinstripe. There's lovely detailing on this dress, it's a real favorite.
The Maybelle Dress: This one has a vintage sailor dress vibe that we adore. With a buttoned bodice, a notched collar, soft pleats at the waist and room in the body. In Ambre and Ardoise.
See all of our new clothing arrivals here
10 June 2021. When we send our products out into the world, we often wonder where they land. Thanks to #shopfoglinen on Instagram, sometimes we get the chance to find out! It's really fun to see how folks are using Fog Linen Work in their lives.
We've been inspired by the following accounts who have tagged their Fog Linen Work items in action on Instagram recently:
@alysonsimplygrows Just looking at Alyson's feed makes us want to run off to the country. Her photos of her garden, home, and intentional life style are calming and beautiful.
@sevenlakesinn If you're looking for someplace to vacation on the East Coast the newly refurbished Seven Lakes Inn in Maine looks dreamy. It's on our wishlist of places to travel this summer. For now, we'll live vicariously through their photos.
@_chicadeoro We're finding Virgina Calderón's account to be a fun mix of design and fashion inspiration. Loving the bright and sunny vibes we're getting from her photos of life in LA.
@besspier is another account we've been enjoying lately. Her photos of simple interiors and country life in Maine are lovely. She also posts about her farm and flowers over at @hitchfootfarm.
As always, if you feel like tagging us in your Instagram posts and stories, just use #shopfoglinen. You can find us on Instagram @shopfoglinen. We'd love to see how you use Fog Linen Work at home.
June 1 2021. Are you ready for summer? We are. And we've got the summer clothing to prove it--at least, the first shipment. This collection hits all the right notes with pieces that combine comfort, style and the most beautiful little details that make each piece unique. Here's a list of a few of our favorites, it was so hard to choose only a few.
Eliana Pants: An easy pull-on pant with an elasticized waist and full leg that tapers to a cropped ankle. A summer go to! In Acier, Albatre, Black and Nuit.
Debee Pants: With a wide full leg that hits mid calf, Debee looks like a skirt, but acts like a pant, making it super versatile and comfy. Dress this one up or down, depending on your mood. In Black and Sapphire.
Maria Dress: Maria is a lovely take on a bib front apron dress. Comfy through the middle with an a-line shape and perfect for layering with a tee or tank all summer. We also see this over long sleeves or leggings on a cooler day. In Black and Grey Blue.
Mio Top: Mio, my oh! On a hot day this light weight linen top is going to keep you cool. Loose fitting with a v neck and cap sleeves. Soft shirring along the shoulders in the front, and gathering across the shoulders in the back adds nice detailing. In Acier, Ficelle, White.
Sasha Top: An easy pullover top with a pointed shirt collar and a shell button placket. Short wide sleeves and a boxy shape are sure to keep you cool and comfortable all summer. In Mais and White.
Clare Dress: We love the details on the Clare Dress. Featuring a banded collar with a five shell button placket, Clare has a soft gather right above the bust, giving the dress a simple a-line shape and an easy flowing fit. Good for wearing on repeat all summer long. In Rose.
Jess Dress: A sleeveless tiered dress, with a v-neck, gathering at the waist and a deep ruffle at the hem. Just the right amount of detail gives this dress the kind of subtle flair we love. In Olive.
You can see all the summer looks in our clothing section.
5 April 2021. You know those things you take for granted, like the humble pocket handkerchief? Ever wonder about their history? No? Well, we did, and here's what we found.
Although some sources say the cloth handkerchief was popularized by King Richard II of England in the 14th century, references to handkerchiefs have been found as early as the first century BC in the writings of the Roman poet, Catullus. Used widely in a utilitarian manner, such as a brow wiper or for general cleaning purposes, the handkerchief can also be found in the folk dance traditions of many cultures, from West Africa to the Balkans, to the British Isles.
The word "kerchief" comes from the French couvrir, meaning “to cover,” and chef, which means “head.” As people began using smaller cloths for a variety of purposes other than a head covering, the word "hand" was added, and the term "handkerchief" was coined.
Until the late 20th century, when paper tissues became the norm, having a handkerchief at the ready on your person was essential, and it eventually evolved into a fashion statement in the form of the "pocket square" and the "neckerchief".
We love seeing a handkerchief as a bright peek of color and pattern in someone's chest pocket or worn around the neck as a scarf.
We find them useful when we're on the go, on a picnic, as an impromptu napkin, or to wrap a sandwich or snack. New hankies are a beautiful way to wrap a small gift as well.
We've got a selection of linen handkerchiefs in a variety of colors and patterns. Checks, plaids, ginghams, and solids, take your pick! We think you'll love the bit of interest they add to your outfit or your pocket. And no pun intended, but they are super handy.
See them all here.
4 March 2021. We love mango wood around here. Not only is it a great all natural material, but we love the variation in the tones and the grain of the hand carved wood. We've got mango wood in a variety of serving spoons, utensils and serving boards, all designed to be both useful and beautiful in your kitchen.
The serving boards are perfect for individual-sized servings of fruit, cheese, snacks, or dessert. We think little hands and big hands alike will find these useful for serving and snacking.
Our mango wood utensils and serving spoons are a big help in the kitchen and on the table. The large mango wood server is our personal favorite for scooping rice right out of the pot.
Mango wood is easy to care for. It can be cleaned with warm water, a mild soap, and a soft sponge, then dried with your favorite kitchen cloth. If you find your mango wood is drying out with use, you can condition it with food safe mineral oil applied with a soft cloth.
You can find all of our mango wood items in our Et Cetera Etc. section.
And if you can't get enough of wooden spoons, there's a wonderful tutorial on making your own in Yumiko Sekine's new book, Simplicity at Home.
15 February 2021. We wanted to introduce this spring's clothing collection with a few words from Yumiko Sekine, founder and designer of Fog Linen Work.
Spring always comes after winter.
But especially this time, I have been longing for the spring time.
Hoping spring will bring us a better world.
Thinking about next spring made me want to try new colors, like pink and yellow, colors I have never used, but feel like trying this time.
We agree with Yumiko. What perfect timing to bring some color and hope to the world. It's giving us reason to believe spring can't be too far off.
We think you'll find this season's collection the perfect balance of styles that blend function and fashion with comfort and wearability. With a pop of color to boot.
Here are some of our favorites:
Aria Dress: A must have for spring, this beautiful tiered dress is super comfortable and can be easily dressed up or down. Put it on and away you go! In Blue Indigo and Black.
Natalie Dress: We love the simplicity of this dress. The banded collar with a shell button placket adds just the right amount of detail to this long sleeved a-line dress. Great on its own or layered over jeans or a skirt. In Nuit and Rose.
Madison Top: A lovely neckline with a tie collar is the star of this shirt. Gathered cuff sleeves add nice detailing. With a roomy fit to the body, this shirt looks great tucked in or left out. So pretty for spring.
Trinity Top: One of our favorite favorites (if we had to choose). We love everything from the pointed collar, to the shell buttons, to the boxy, yet utterly flattering on everybody shape. Winner, winner as they say. In Wisteria and Ecru Beige.
Kylie Overall: Practical, comfortable, forgiving. Overalls are the new sweatpants, and these have enough style and dash that you can wear them anywhere. We love that they provide so many options for layering over or under. We adore the wide leg on this one, and of course it has pockets. In Black and Nuit.
Gianna Pants: This trouser style pant is giving us Katherine Hepburn vibes. It feels a little bit tailored, and very comfy. A pant to put some spring in your step. In Ochre and Albatre.
Riley Coat: Trading a winter coat for a spring one is such a rite of passage every year. We always look forward to seeing the spring coats! We're really drawn to the look of the Riley Coat. A longish length, a simple pointed collar, linen covered buttons, this coat can dress up any outfit and add a little warmth, all without feeling fussy. Perfect. In Grey Blue.
Please check out our clothing section to see all of the 2021 spring collection. There's much more and it's all so good and there are a few more items yet to arrive. As always, please reach out with questions about sizing and fit. Here's to a new season!
28 January 2021. Other than being outside in the fresh air, there's nothing like a craft project to get us through the winter. Bonus points for using re-purposed materials. And if it's something slow and meditative, all the better.
We've just received a restock of our fabric remnants in many shapes and sizes, which lend themselves well to these sorts of projects. From buntings to fabric covered hangers to patchwork coverings and curtains...the possibilities are endless. Perhaps you have others in your household that would love to help you out? Fabric scraps are a great way to entertain little hands.
One of our favorite remnant projects is the patchwork square pictured above from Simplicity at Home, the new book from our founder, Yumiko Sekine. Yumiko gives easy to follow instructions for making your own patchwork square that can be sized up to any dimensions your heart desires. Let your imagination soar! And let us know how you end up using Fog Linen fabric remnants. We love featuring your creative endeavors on our IG feed.
Happy winter crafting!
14 January 2021. We are very excited to announce the arrival of Simplicity at Home: Japanese Rituals, Recipes, and Arrangements for Thoughtful Living.
This lovely new book from Yumiko Sekine, founder of Fog Linen Work, along with Jenny Wapner, is a guide to cultivating a beautiful, joyful home throughout the year. Simplicity at Home celebrates the simple rituals and techniques rooted in Japanese traditions for decorating, organizing, preparing food, entertaining, and more.
We've had a chance to preview a copy, and the experience has left us relaxed and refreshed and wondering why we don't curl up with a real book instead of a screen more often.
Filled with beautiful photos by Nao Shimizu, simple recipes, projects and design ideas, this book takes you through all four seasons with wonderful insight into Japanese lifestyle and culture.
There's a long list of inspiring projects we want to try and here are just a few of our favorites:
Refreshing the house for the new year
Vegetable tempura and somen noodles
Yuzu bath salts
Growing plants and seeds from scraps
Simple spring floral arrangements
Patchwork linen sewing projects
We hope you'll enjoy this book as much as we do.
Available for pre-order now. The first 100 pre-orders will receive a copy of the book with a handmade bookmark signed by the author, Yumiko Sekine. All book pre-orders will ship for free within the continental US.
Orders will be shipping in February 2021.
21 December 2020. Today is the shortest and darkest day of the year and though it's not technically the end of 2020, it feels like a turning point, as from now on there will be more light.
Although this has been a challenging year, we are finding there are still many things to be thankful for. For us, it all comes down to you, our customers. We are so thankful that you have chosen to support our business during this time. Your orders and emails have kept us busy and raised our spirits through all of the ups and downs of 2020. We can't thank you enough.
We hope you are all staying safe and sound and we wish you health and happiness as we enter 2021. And remember, going forward there will be a little more light in the world each day.
* Please note, we will be closed December 25-28th. Shipping will resume December 29th.
