The Folk Tree

The Folk Tree in Pasadena, CA offers an assortment of Mexican folk art and crafts; owner Rocky Behr claims that "the great joy of [her] life is traveling remote villages of Mexico to gather the amazing spectacular work of artisans living there." In addition to the array of indigenous goods that you can find at this jewel of a shop tucked away on the outskirts of Los Angeles County is oilcloth- of course! The Folk Tree has offered the public a variety of oilcloth prints for many years and Oilcloth International would like to thank them for their many years of support and patronage!

Quilting As You Go

Our Zebra Black oilcloth print made an appearance on the cover of this quilting magazine promoted by the G.E. Designs company! Click here to learn more about how to make your own oilcloth tote bag!

Oilcloth on Dexter

After a long hiatus, Oilcloth International is back in the blogosphere! So glad to be back to blogging and celebrating all that is oilcloth! So, while I have tons of projects and people to commend via the blog, I have decided to present one of the latest and greatest oilcloth on TV glimpses! During the last season of Showtime's Dexter, the show's central character enjoyed finger food displayed upon an oilcloth tablecloth. Seeing as the show is set in Miami it's no surprise that set designers chose our Oranges Light Blue print! Oilcloth looks great on and offscreen!

Great New Use for the Bucket Buddy!

A longtime member of our extended oilcloth family has discovered a new use for one of our favorite products, the Bucket Buddy! The Bucket Buddy can be used for gardening, it features 15 pockets inside and out so that you can carry all of your tools, seeds, and additional supplies to and from the garden with absolute ease and style! It fits a standard 5 gallon utility bucket that can be found at any local hardware store. Using the Bucket Buddy as a "Knitting Buddy," this oilcloth fan packed up this handy product with all sorts of knitting supplies! Great idea! Let us know what other fun uses you have discovered for any of our oilcloth products!

Istanbul (Not Constantinople)

Love this photograph of two musicians enjoying the ambiance of an evening in some bohemian locale! Our Istanbul oilcloth print makes a bold appearance in this picture, just another instance of oilcloth being a great addition to any table setting! Istanbul has been one of our most popular prints for over ten years! It's consistently praised for its vintage quality yet its black background gives it a modern, stylish feel.

Sewing with Oilcloth: The Book Tour

We are so excited for Kelly McCants, a longtime customer of ours, and the creator of Oilcloth Addict & Modern June, mother of two, and now- published author! Sewing with Oilcloth is a collection of "20 patterns that make sewing oilcloth easy, fresh, and fun"! Kelly has been "sewing for 27 years," after she "received [her] degree in Technical Theater and Fashion Merchandising" Kelly went on to design costumes for both film and theatre. Modern Juneoffers "handmade housewares for the hip home" and has an etsy site where you can find oilcloth goodies like party banners and table runners, or design your own oilcloth pillowcase!Oilcloth Addict feeds your "oilcloth addiction with tips and tutorials" and has an etsy sitewhere you can purchase an assortment of oilcloth, laminated cotton, and Chalkcloth (TM)fabric!

Sewing with Oilcloth is a compilation of easy to understand patterns, creative project ideas and beautiful photographs taken by Meghan McSweeney. The book is skillfully divided into four sections so that oilcloth addicts can choose from an array of project ideas and other important information, like the tools, that you need to create oilcloth projects that are super functional and absolutely stylish! From Ch. 1 "Tools, Tips, and Trims" to Ch.2 "For the House," Ch. 3 "For You," and Ch. 4 "For Kids," each chapter reflects the variety that oilcloth as a fabric has to offer. As a creative & successful entrepreneur, accomplished designer, and loving mother, it's clear that Kelly's lifestyle has influenced her in writing this smart, chic, fun book!

Some of our favorite patterns are the oilcloth "seat cushions...[which are] custom-made...weather-friendly and easy-to-clean," we can imagine your friends and family admiring this oilcloth project for years to come. The "Chalk Cloth Table Runner" is another project that we think is sure to draw attention and compliments at your next get together. The "Farmers Market Tote" is another project that will yield a creation that you'll wonder how you used to live without, featuring "four exterior pockets for...herbs and flowers and [an] interior pocket [for] a safe place to stash...money" this bag is great for shopping!

Sewing with Oilcloth is a rare book, it's clear that Kelly holds oilcloth in a special place in her heart; she mentions the way that when some customers "touch and feel oilcloth, it takes them back in time," it reminds them of their mothers and grandmothers, of cooking family meals in the kitchen or taking family trips to "Woolworth's to get a new oilcloth for the kitchen table." Many of our customers have told us about their memories attached with oilcloth and we, like Kelly, are proud and excited to provide families of generations to come with even more!

Scroll down to see the blog schedule for Sewing with Oilcloth's book tour, make sure to check it out for more information on this great book! Leave us a comment and we'll pick one lucky reader to receive a copy of the book along with some free fabric so you can start on one of the smaller projects in the book!

Monday, August 29: Wiley Craft http://www.wileycraft.com/

Tuesday, August 30: / Crafty Pod http://www.craftypod.com/

Wednesday, August 31: Sew Mama, Sew http://www.sewmamasew.com/

Thursday, September 1: Dana Made http://www.dana-made-it.com/

Friday, September 2: Craft http://craftzine.com

Monday, September 3: True Up http://www.trueup.net/ and Craft Gossip http://craftgossip.com/

Tuesday, September 4: Oilcloth International http://www.oilcloth.com/

Wednesday, September 5: Average Jane Craft http://averagejanecrafter.blogspot.com/

Thursday, September 6: Prudent Baby http://www.prudentbaby.com/

Friday, September 7: Craft Sanity http://craftsanity.com/

Happy Labor Day!

Happy Labor Day from Oilcloth International! Labor Day is a federal holiday that celebrates the contributions made by the American workforce. This holiday has been in practice for over a century, the first Labor Day was held in September of 1882. Oregon made it a holiday five years later and it wasn't until almost seven years after that what we know as Labor Day became a federal Holiday. It's a "symbolic end of summer" but don't let that get you down because we hope that you'll share a relaxing day with friends and family! Oilcloth always makes these special occasions even more memorable, and with our variety of of over 50 prints and colors you can be sure to find something that will fit your personal style and holiday get together. We carry an assortment of Gingham colors, this Gingham Navy is such a class print and color combination, in addition to the fruit and floral prints we offer, we have basics such as stripes and animal prints (Zebra, Giraffe, and Jaguar) that will be sure to get people talking!

Oilcloth for the People

Aztec Lime is a beautiful print that reminds us of traditional Mexican textiles! This folky pattern comes in a variety of colors, including Black, Orange, and Purple. This print is one of our most recent editions to our collection of over 50 prints and colors of oilcloth fabric!

In Bloom

Bloom Magenta is a beautiful print! This floral pattern comes in an assortment of colors, but we think this vibrant shade is super stylish and fun!

Old School Oilcloth

The Chicano Heritage Mural

Located in the Highland Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, CA, the Chicano Heritage Mural at Figueroa Street and Avenue 61, commemorates Chicano history, including the Chicano movement of the 1960s. Oilcloth International is located a block down from this famous intersection for over ten years! We are proud of our neighborhood, and the mural is a daily reminder of our cultural heritage as Los Angelenos. Click here to learn more about this special community in NELA (Northeast Los Angeles).

Outdoor Dining with Oilcloth

As we get further into the Summer months it's important to make the most of free time and sunny days! Check out the Public Lands Information Center website that offers information on finding local campgrounds! Explore your "one-stop source for recreation information" and learn more about public lands near you. They even have a mobile service! Oilcloth is always a great option for outdoor dining! It's easy to clean, fold up or roll up and carry on home, plus it's super stylish!

Exclusive Print for Summer!

Here at Oilcloth International we are excited to offer an exclusive print! This gorgeous, vintage print is called Medallion Red and is available in a 54" width! This print is great for summer and would be perfect to liven up any interior space or add a touch of style to an outdoor table setting!

Oilcloth International Bi-Annual Warehouse Sale 6/25!!!

This Saturday, June 25th, from 9AM-2PM Oilcloth International will host our Bi-Annual Warehouse Sale in the Highland Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, CA! Please join us in the unique event in which we are open to the public! It only happens twice a year, and we have lots of goodies! Everything from rolls of oilcloth in vintage prints, fruit prints, floral prints, rolls of our Garvanza utility cloth, Chalkcloth (TM), aprons, ditty bags, cosmetic cases, tote bags in small, medium, and large, as well as tablecloths by pound! This event is cash and check only, there will be plenty of parking available, our address is:

134 N. Ave 61

Unit # 101

Los Angeles, CA

90041

We hope to see you there! Please remember that the best selection is available in the earlier part of the day, however, we do not open before 9AM! Make sure to wear sunscreen and drink lots of water!

Happy Father's Day!

Papel Picado Commissioned by the Hollywood Bowl Museum

Recently, the Hollywood Bowl Museum commissioned Margaret and Josie Sosa to create these beautiful papel picado creations. Click here for a close-up! They remind us a lot of our own papel picado print, San Miguel, shown here in black and white. Margaret says "the museum is having a year long exhibit of Latino artists who have performed at the Bowl...for many years now, Josie and I have worked together on cutting paper. I do the drawings and then we both cut and string the paper...working on this papel has been especially gratifying for me as each sheet of papel you see in the images is 29"X19," twice the size we usually work in and in addition, we cut 4 large panels, about 38"X49," on handmade paper...working on these non-traditional sizes and paper was so inspiring and fun for me to do."

Alison Magrane, Designing with Oilcloth

June 11th, The Art Institute of California - Hollywood will host the Hollywood Marks 20th Anniversary of their fashion design program with red carpet vintage show! "This year marks the 20th Anniversary of The Art Institute of California - Hollywood's Fashion Design Program...the annual student fashion show titled Red Carpet Vintage, will pay homage to decades of fashion from 1920 to 1960 with a modern twist." Student and fashion designer, Alison Magrane, will feature her collection that showcases oilcloth as clothing! Learn more about the up and coming designer by checking out her facebook page, Alison Magrane Fashion Design or her current online portfolio.

The Neighborhood Salon

The Neighborhood Salon in Echo Park, CA is a stylish, community driven business in one of our favorite parts of Los Angeles! Owner Ava strives "to create a place that embodies the vibrance of the community she loves." We had our hair done there and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. These oilcloth lined cubbys serve as inspiration for your own household oilcloth projects! The beautiful and colorful paint makes a great pairing with the vintage flair of our Pears and Apples Yellow print!

A Very New Oilcloth Product!

We at Oilcloth International are excited to introduce the oilcloth Peg Bag as our latest product! Just in time for summer, the Peg Bag is perfect for drying laundry the old fashioned way outside in the summer heat! The bag features two of our most popular prints, Stella Cherries and Paradise Lace -both in black. This new product is both stylish and functional!

Oilcloth Project Idea

Check out the CI Project of the Week, the Existential Tray, a great DIY project idea made even better with oilcloth! You can easily use oilcloth to line trays, drawers, etc. because oilcloth is easy to cut and clean! The project is courtesy of artist Kerry Lynn of 7gypsies.