Other Cashmere: Cashmere Speedway (Go Cart racing in West Virginia)!

I want to go to Cashmere Speedway just for the concessions - BBQ, brown beans and corn bread!  Yum!  Ok, and it would be fun watching the little tikes racing around the track in their carts powered by weed eater motors (no joke)...  I wonder if they sell t-shirts?

Other Cashmere: the 2012 Cooper Mini, inspired by Goodwood

A car with a cashmere headliner (among other things).  Good thing they opted for wool floor mats - the cashmere wouldn't last a week...

The Cooper Mini was designed in collaboration with Rolls Royce (that explains alot) and there were only 1,000 made.  So you better act soon - it went on sale in the UK in June 2011.

Other Cashmere: (aka New Trend?) Athletes named Cashmere?

I've just noticed there seems to be a trend in professional athletes named Cashmere...

 There is Ray Cashmere of the Salford City Reds rugby team.

High scoring Cashmere Wright of the University of Cincinnati Bearcats basketball team.

The New York Giant's wide receiver Mario Manningham's middle name is Cashmere.


What do you think?  Is it a new trend?  Do you think we will be seeing Cashmere on the Top 10 Baby Names list in the near future?  Probably not, but then with publicity it's getting in the sports world, who knows!

What really is Pashmina?

Pashmina traditionally was the name given to fine fabrics woven from the hair from special Himalayan goats, Capra hihrcus, raised at high altitudes.  It comes from the Persian word for wool pashm.  The fiber was historically made into shawls in Kashmir  - mentions of which have been found in Indian texts dating back as far as 10 BC.

Pashmina now has become a word synonomous with these fine shawls - instead of with the content of them.  What used to be 100% cashmere, has now become cashmere /silk blends or worse yet rayon.  Be careful what you buy.  Do your research.  Don't buy a shawl that has a label glued into it (instead of being hand-sewn on).  If it has a shine to it, it is probably not cashmere (silk & rayon both have a shine).

Monday Funnies: Not so funny - the global impact of cashmere production

Why you should buy recycled cashmere - or hold on to your cashmere as if it was a precious commodity.

(it's a short video - only 3 min - watch and learn)

Other Cashmere: Teddy Lux

I've been watching these bears for a long time, wondering how she gets the seams so perfect, and the stuffing just right. They truly are amazing! Check out her shop here.

Other Cashmere: Cashmere Jeans

Ok, so they're not 100% cashmere. That would be a bit of an oxymoron,

Other Cashmere: Just in time for Christmas [tree]

available at Amazon.com

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Much pleasure thou can'st give me;
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Much pleasure thou can'st give me;
How often has the Christmas tree
Afforded me the greatest glee!
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Much pleasure thou can'st give me.

Other Cashmere: Bridesmaid Dresses

"Ice Blue chiffon over Cashmere lining A-line gown, cross over V-neckline, gathered empire bodice, self ties, tiered back."

wow, how decadent - and that's just the lining!

Dear Santa, Here is my cashmere wish list...

So I stumbled upon a website called Yoox that sells the most fabulous designer cashmere sweater - oodles of them. I had the best time daydreaming about all of the wonderful scarves I could make if I had these sweaters... I had so much fun, that I decided to make a wish list to share with you. Of course if you ever stumble upon one (or more) of these at a thrift store...here are my 33 favorites:

Right to left, top to bottom:  Ballantyne, Ballantyne, Ballantyne, Bea Yuk Mui, Bea Yuk Mui, Hvana, Blue Area, Paul & Joe, Blue Area, Ballantyne, Lucien Pellat-Finet, Hvana

Avant Toi, Bea Yuk Mui, Bea Yuk Mui, Bruno Manetti, Pianura Studio, Dolce & Cabana, Missoni, Hvana, Maurizio Pecoraro

Ballantyne, Bea Yuk Mui, Just Cavalli, Lucien Pellat-Finet, Blue Area, Ralph Lauren, Ballantyne, Blue Area, Kangra, Roberto Cavalli, Ballantyne, Ballantyne

Other Cashmere: Donut Necklace

www.joyakampia.com

Two of my favorite things... if only they were edible!

Other Cashmere: Leopard Print Ballet Flats

I'm still trying to figure out how to make shoes from my cashmere scraps...

Other Cashmere: my favorite socks

These are my favorite socks. My husband and daughter picked them out for me for Christmas. They aren't 100% cashmere, but they do have some cashmere in them - if they were 100% they wouldn't last long (cashmere is really weak and one would get heel & toe holes really fast). I wanted another pair for my birthday (which is in June), but they are considered a "winter sock" at Nordstrom, so they don't sell them right now. I did find them online here though!

Other Cashmere: Mr. manga

I don't currently own one - but I would LOVE to! How cool are these? French cashmere designer Lucien Pellat-Finet teamed up with Japanese manga artist Mr. You can find the sweaters at Pellat-Finet's boutique in Paris (http://www.lucienpellat-finet.com/main.html)

Other Cashmere: Cashmere Lop Bunny

Did you know there was a cashmere rabbit? Bet it is uber soft!

Other Cashmere: Eiffel Tower pillow

I think this pillow would go very nicely on my couch - it matches the black and white artwork that I have in our living room - and it's 100% cashmere. Does that sound like it was just made for me or what? Plus, I can take a nap on it (like a cat with the hot afternoon sun pouring in through the living room window) and dream about my recent trip to Paris...

You can get it at http://www.christopherfischer.com/browseItem.php?cat=5&ipage=1&item=182

Other Cashmere: Neiman Marcus Travel Set

Ok, next time I go on a long flight, this is what I want to take with me... NO more nylon eyemasks and acrylic blankets baby - I'm going cashmere all the way! Oh, wait, they'll put my initials on it too?

Other Cashmere: Hello Kitty and the Pooch

If I had a dog (which I'm not allowed to have), I would dress her in cashmere (which I wouldn't be allowed to do). But a girl can dream. Too bad this isn't still available from Neiman Marcus... I guess I will have to make my own.