I was an impressionable young girl in the golden age of magazines, and I’ve always been an avid reader. So, in the 80’s-90’s, I would curl up on the couch with ALLLLL of the glossy magazines that abounded upon our coffee table, closely examining every outfit from high-end “L.L. Bean” to traditional “Land’s End” to glamorous “Newport News”. The Sears Catalogue and I were really close friends, with well-worn pages showing the many ways one could photograph and describe pajamas, eveningwear, socks, or trousers.
I loved the eye for detail with each design element, learning the nuances of ‘cap sleeves’, ’empire waist’, “henley top’, ‘flattering bias cut’, the luxurious sounding ‘boatneck chemise’, and so many others. Equally fascinating to me were the colour descriptions! Oh, periwinkle and heathered thistle, aubergine and terra cotta! You stole my heart! You took me to places far away from my tiny one-horse-town and opened up bright jewel-encrusted chambers in my heart.
And so, when I was preparing the website listings for my online shop there was an outpouring of witty descriptors and personality-building stories for the items. Enlivening colour descriptors came from nowhere, and I found myself deeply deliberating over the choice of “speckled” or “mottled”. The phrasing was fun to play with, and each listing took on a life of its own.
Chuckling to myself about my funny turns of phrase (“Understated excitement on a no-nonsense grey background” or, “a sassy but classy choice for any room”, and, “If evening glamour is your style, have a look at this exciting rug in glitzy black and red – sparkles included!”) I mused on why writing paragraphs to sell rugs comes so easily to me.
When I remembered how many hours I poured over clothing catalogues, it was apparent. The strong influences from our childhood, or something with which we are irrationally enamoured, might go through an alchemical process that, when we are adults, produces some different passion but its origins can be traced to that early fascination.
As an example, my brother drew hundreds of pictures of limousines when he was little. I recently asked him about that and he said, “I thought limos were so cool because they had TV’s in them! I always thought that was the greatest, that somehow they put a TV in a vehicle.” And what does he do for work now (and very much enjoys)? He is a cable installer for Shaw TV! He had never made that connection back to all of his Limo drawings, but it sure makes sense now.
With names like “Chunky Monkey”, “Midnight Party”, “Cloud #9”, “Quiet Celebration”, “Ice Cream Sandwich”, “Splash of Wine”, and “Tie-Die Blues”, my online store reads like one of those riveting catalogues from the 80’s that, to me, were bursting with entertainment and grandiosity.
Here is a small sampling. They might be cheesy, but hey, I like cheese!
(Please note, you can click on the titles to go directly to the shop listing)
Rug title: ‘Honey Mustard Floor Dressing’
“The bright gold mixed into neutrals offers a sophisticated splash of colour, and the luxurious thickness will speak for itself. This is a one-of-a-kind item in an artful arrangement of stripes. Your room will look as sweet as honey, and just like that mustard taste it will have an unmistakable zing of excitement.
“The bright gold mixed into neutrals offers a sophisticated splash of colour, and the luxurious thickness will speak for itself. This is a one-of-a-kind item in an artful arrangement of stripes. Your room will look as sweet as honey, and just like that mustard taste it will have an unmistakable zing of excitement.
“If I had to pick one colour for this rug I would call it “burnished chestnut” as it is somewhere between red and brown, with lighter highlights brightening it up. A slight accent of burnt sienna and pale turquoise in the fringe gives it a little extra pop, but overall this little rug is a workhorse a high traffic area. Do you have a small space in front of your kitchen sink? Is your tiny bathroom in need of a bathmat? Do you need coverage for snowy boots at the front door? Is there a cozy little spot near the fireplace or by your bed that needs a little dressing up? This charming piece is sure to help you out.”
Rug title: ‘Thriller’ (no longer available)
“Just like the classic album cover, this rug is black and white and ready to satisfy a crowd. There’s a little touch of jacket-bright-cherry-red in the fringe and run-through strings. It’s okay if your feet want to dance on this soft, speckled rug ~ whether at the front door, the kitchen sink, or the living room floor. Soon you’ll be moonwalking too!”
“This stylish rug equally represents a day at the beach or frosty January. It’s fun and light-hearted, and snuggly for the senses all at the same time. The soft colour palette in bold stripes will be a statement piece in any room, and the plush feel is a treat for the feet. As a longer rug it would be perfect in a large bathroom beside the tub, or as a soft accent in a bedroom.”
“This is a wild one! Whether this rug makes you think of honeybees buzzing around Mother Nature’s wonderful world, or it makes you think of Bruins’ Hockey players getting into fights or shootouts, this is a dramatic choice anywhere you put it! It is also made of the thickest material I have ever received, and I gave it unique, delicate, shiny, border strings which is different than any other piece I’ve ever made. This statement piece will be with you for years to come, and will liven up any small space in the home!”
If you haven’t yet looked through the store to find your favourite write-up, please do so (here at this link), and feel free to let me know what you think! Or, feel free to give a silly name to something that you have laying around the house, or share some of your favourite glossy catalogue memories!
Oh, and I couldn’t find a picture of me reading a magazine at this age, so I’ve included a photo of my little brother and me doing some happy creative colouring! Cheers to the 80’s!