Shopping Advice for Those Weary of Economic Doom Sayers

First, two disclaimers. I'm not trying to be glib or dismissive of the current state of the economy (it's real and we're in the same scary boat as everyone else). And, we have two shops here in Bend, so of course I want you to come find lovely things here (as opposed to zooming the internet or totally putting the brakes on). So, yes, I'm completely biased and shamelessly promoting our little Pomegranates, but even without all that, this would still be my modus operandi:

Buy good things that last and make you happy, and forget the bargain basement junk you can't pass up just because it's cheap. With the latter, you just end up with a bunch of 'stuff' that will eventually make its way to your garage sale. You might end up spending more on it anyway, and then lose again when you give it away at the g-sale. Buy classics and hold onto them.

I was thinking about all this when we got our new Bella Notte bedding shipment in the other day. It's just my all-time favorite bedding, ever. After ten years in business, we've seen just about everything in textiles, from cheapo, scratchy bed-in-a-bag junk, to waaay over the top glitzy, formal, dry clean only custom stuff. Bella Notte is the only company I know of that makes everything in the US, offers their hand-dyed fabrics in 20 or so gorgeous color palettes, and is all machine washable. The hand on these fabrics is just wonderful, from simple linens to silk velvets. It's not inexpensive (but not even close in price to some of the other high-end lines). But here's the thing: you keep washing it and putting it back on the bed, and it gets softer and even more beautiful with time. You keep it and cherish it, and love every evening when you slip into your extremely comfortable and cozy bed (ahhhh, the best part of the day, no?). You can start small, with a coverlet or duvet and pillowcases maybe. Add some shams later, to add color or texture. Fun thing is, you can get so many different looks with Bella: romantic and soft, modern and simple, or satiny luxury. Doesn't matter if the dogs jump on it, or the kid decides to upchuck, because it's all designed for a wash and wear life. Newest fabrics are Diamond Jacquard, which is 55% hemp and 45% organic cotton (love it), and Celeste (85% hemp, 15% silk). Gorgeous. I'm also a big fan of pure linen. Yes, it can get a little wrinkly, but if you damp dry it and shake it out before and after drying, it will be pretty good. I just got a new toy: a steamer called Tobi, which is supposed to work really well on bedding. Will report back on its efficacy. Meanwhile, buy only the stuff you love, whether it's a "bargain" or not.