Fabrictherapy
Though the majority of sales are in wallpaper, fabric is my true passion and it started many years ago. I even had a blog called “Fabrictherapy” (I haven’t written there in years but I let it live on for sentimental reasons). When I first started this James Crossing journey I was looking to sell fabric only, wallpaper just naturally came alongside as so many of my artists do both.
Chairs for Charity 2013
Years ago, through my blogging on Fabrictherapy, I was asked to participate in a Chairs for Charity event (seen above). I was delighted to take part. Almost as soon as the idea for James Crossing came into being, so did my desire to run my own Chairs for Charity event. After two years of running a booth at IDS Vancouver, I realized how perfect a venue it would be for this event. And after two years of driving through the streets of downtown Vancouver, I realized exactly where I wanted the money to go: to help the people there who are so desparetly in need.
Chairs for Charity 2024
To be honest, it wasn’t all that easy to find designers to partner with. James Crossing is not a well known company (yet!) and our fabric is both luxurious and quite expensive, so it requires a largeish financial commtiment on the part of designers. I was at an all time low in my hopes for this event when thanks to some suggestions by the talented designer, Alicia Savin, one of our first contributers, I was able to engage a couple extra superstar Vancouver designers to participate (Kalu Interiors– seen below and Laura Grist Interiors). They caught on to the dream and have so whole-heartedly engaged in the process that my hopes for this event were more than restored. In fact, it came to the point that there was so much interest and not enough booth space that I had to turn designers away.
For Homeless Youth
Now the help we need is from you, to bid on the chairs. They are going to be truly one of a kind statement pieces. Our goal is to raise $10,000 for Covenant House Vancouver. Covenant House helps homeless youths by providing housing and other services to equip these young people to live full, healthy and productive lives. It helps them to get out of the streets before they become entrenched in homelesness like so many in the Downtown Eastside. If you’ve spent any amount of time in the Downtownn Eastside in the past few years, you will realize how important these services are. Covenant House truly helps to change the course of these young people’s lives.
IDS Vancouver
I hope to see you at our booth at IDS Vancouver which runs from September 26-29th. However, if you can’t make it, the auction is available on-line as well. In addition to eleven chairs which will be up for auction, we also have several framed pieces of artwork from our artists. If you aren’t in the market for a new chair or piece of artwork, you will still be able to contribute. Our auction website allows for donations as well. Come (whether in person or online) and get invovled with this great cause! The auction website will be set up for viewing ahead of time so that you can get a feel for what will be on offer. If you see something you think you might like, feel free to contact me to get a free sample of the fabric and check it out in your own space ahead of time!
