Buying cloth

Choosing the cloth for the clothes is the first exciting step in the process of making the clothes we have decided to produce for next season in Canada.
Here Steve is standing on a mountain of cloth choosing the prints that we want.

Next step is measuring it all out.

 

Finally we take it all to Tui our sewer along with the patterns.Here Steve and Sook discuss what is to be done.( Tui is recovering from a recent motorbike accident). In a month the finished clothes and bags will start to trickle back to be organised for shipping to Canada.

 

It is exciting to take an idea from conception through product development and then see the final product in our stores. We hope that you will also be as excited next season when you have the chance to see it at Bwana Johns.

 

Coffee

A few days ago we went up into the mountains. Doi Inthanon is the highest mountain in Thailand.
We visited a Karen Village on the way up. They grow coffee in this village. After  sampling some coffee we bought some green beans to roast for our new coffee business.

Here is a coffee bush with beans ripening. They'll be ready to harvest in December.

 

A basket showing a selection of coffee beans with the pulp still on, some green beans and beans already roasted.

 

The roasting used to be done with this machine. The fire was of bamboo sticks under the drum, and the drum with the coffee in it was rotated by the guy on the bicycle.

Now the drum is powered by a motor and the fire is gas. Way easier. There was coffee roasting in this machine while we were there.

 



Grinding the coffee ready for the taste test.

 

 Boiling the water to pour over the ground coffee beans.

No picture of us drinking the coffee, but it tasted great.

Meet our suppliers

After hearing the horror stories coming out of Bangladesh about factories collapsing and the conditions the workers work in, I thought that it would be reassuring to meet some of the people who supply us with our clothes and handicrafts here in Thailand.
Many of our suppliers we have worked with for many years and they have become our friends. Over the next few weeks as we put in our orders for next season you'll get a chance to meet them.

Here Steve is with Samon and Wichok, and Sook. We buy our singing frogs and a few other handicrafts from Samon and Wichok. Sook lives with us in our house here in Thailand and we look on her as the daughter we never had. All our projects and crazy ideas involve Sook.

The tie-dye we do with Uraipan. We've worked with her and her husband for many years. Recently her daughter has joined the team. Uraipan is like a humming bird. At full speed all the time.Sometimes it is hard to keep up with her.

 

We just returned from a trip into the mountains where we ended up buying green coffee beans in a Karen hill tribe village. Had a great time there watching them roast coffee , and sampling the finished product. More on that when I get the photos downloaded.

 

Thailand

We arrived in Thailand a little less than a week ago and are slowly recovering from the jet lag. In a few days we can start thinking about making samples of new products, visiting our suppliers, peruse the markets and start buying for next spring.
This is always an exciting time, and always interesting to take an idea and see it through to the end. Sometimes the end isn't what we expect, but it is always fun.We always have way too many ideas.
We'll keep you posted on some of the developments and introduce you to some of the suppliers over the next few weeks.
In the meantime we will indulge our love of the great food here and try and fit in a few massages along the way. Hey it's a tough life but some one has to do it.

Kids sweaters

There should be a warning with these kids sweaters. They are so cute they make you want to have young children around just to dress them in them.
With lady bugs, flowers or trucks there is a design to appeal to all.
These hand knit sweaters come in a wool/cotton blend for comfort and warmth. The colours are divine.

The colourful alpaca fringe hoodies are light and cosy. Light enough that a jacket will go over top for another layer.

Just when it couldn't get much cuter, there are the finger puppets in a wide variety of characters from cartoons and fairy stories.

Cozy up in a handknit sweater

It's Thanksgiving weekend. The leaves are past their peak and there is no denying that it is only a matter of time before we see some snow.
It seems like the perfect thing to be wearing is a big colourful hand knit sweater. Big enough to add as many layers as needed underneath. Comfortable enough to wear on that brisk fall walk or just to curl up on the couch with a book.

 

For something with more of a feel of a jacket, there are these woven sweaters. With or without a hood. The wool is blended with cotton, so you have the warmth of wool with the comfort of cotton.

Coming in an assortment of colours from the truly colourful, to muted neutrals, there is something to suit all tastes and styles.

 

Have a great Thanksgiving.

Relax in the classics

Rediscover the classics.
A comfy pair of linen look cotton straight leg pants. Paired with a classic white cotton shirt.
Top the look with a jacket with safari details. Add a felt hat and a pair of sunglasses. You're set to go.