In this age of casual lifestyles, hand-embroidered linens seem like a mere politeness from the past.
Sharyn Blond is working to change that.
The Mission Hills, Kan., woman designs cocktail and dinner napkins, tablecloths, place mats and bed linens. She has about 150 designs, ranging from the traditional white thread on white cloth to tropical patterns that feature crabs and colorful koi.
She’s known for her craft nationwide. Bergdorf Goodman in New York is starting to sell Blond’s designs this month. And in the last year, the renowned New York-based china company Mottahedeh asked her to create coordinating linens for its dishes.
Sharyn Blond Linens also sell in about 10 boutiques nationwide, including her own tabletop and gift store, Sharyn Blond Ltd., in Kansas City.
The popular San Francisco accessories store Sue Fisher King carries Blond’s linens because they are unique.
“She has a lot of style,” owner Sue Fisher King says. “Her linens have these teeny beautiful hand stitches that you just don’t see many places in the world.”
Blond was born to design and sell linens, say those who know her, because she treats people with graciousness and humor like a perfect hostess. And like her linens, her outfits are always perfectly ironed.
“A linen napkin can make a cup of coffee special,” Blond says.
There are those who are convinced linens are fragile and difficult to care for. Not true, says Betsy Hamilton Rowley, store manager at Sharyn Blond. Her mother bought fine linens from the Constance Leiter Store in Kansas City 50 years ago, and they still look brand new after repeated use.
“That’s how durable linens are,” Rowley says. “Their formal look also instantly changes the behavior of kids at the table. They’re worth the investment.”
Blond, whose liberal arts degree from the University of Kansas consisted mainly of business courses, says she’s not afraid to try anything. “I might not have a formal design background, but I love color, and I love beautiful things.”
Future Blond patterns include golf and sunflower motifs. She also customizes designs for clients: family crests, monograms and long-lost patterns.
Handle with care
Linens may not be as difficult to care for you as you think. Consider these tips from Sharyn Blond:
– Can be spot-treated for stains.
– Can be machine-washed.
– Can be ironed quickly.
– Can dry in the sun if they’re all white.
– Cannot be put in the dryer.
– Cannot be bleached.
Buy online
Sharyn Blond Linens are available at www.websterhousekc.com.
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Edited by Cara DiPasquale (cdipasquale@tribune.com) and alBerto Trevino (atrevino@tribune.com)
