Studiopatro is a newly opened pattern studio based in San Francsico by former art director Christina Weber.  She loves to collect her inspirations and turn them into patterns and so as a result her leaves, maps, love of typography and architecture are now prints and patterns on tea towels. Her studio grew from her vision and unique translation of her favorite things, a dream of what could be, into a collaboration of local friends, screeners and sewers who share a passion for beautiful, eduring, high quality textiles along with Christina.

I personally enjoyed the page on her site where she shows you 12 ways to use a tea towel outside of the intended purpose. I find these tips very helpful because as I've always said in regards to tea towels and sheets and anything else made from fabric - these items can absolutely function outside of what they were made to do -- they're just fabric and fabric is so versatile. To quickly summarize Christina's great tips: You can use a tea towel: 1. as an apron, 2. to frame as art, 3. to line a tea tray, 4. as a potholder, 5. to dry salad greens, 6. to make a cushion, 7. as a housewarming present, 8. as gift wrap, 9. to line a bread basket, 10. as a large napkin, 11. as a placemat or runner and finally 12. to wrap a wine bottle. If you can't imagine how some of these examples would work, you can see visuals of all of these examples here.

Lovely! And if you'd like to purchase a few tea towels, you may click here. I love the fern and fig patterns!

(photography: wendy nordeck)