The Many Purposes of a Tea Towel

One of COTS most popular item is our “oh-so-fab” tea towel.  Why so popular one might ask?  We believe our tea towels make the PERFECT hostess gifts and kitchen accessories. They go even better when delivering baked goods to your friends or neighbors. Yes, people still do that, and then your kind gesture turns into an extra special treat delivered.



Fourth of July and Team USA Towels




Giada De Laurentiis has a COTS towel.



Here at COTS, we strongly believe that life’s accessories should not be expensive so we priced our tea towels at $10.  Perhaps I should go back to the basics and explain the history of the tea towel.  Traditionally tea towels were used to cover warm scones or tea pots to prevent heat loss.  I’m sensing that is where the name came from.  A dictionary definition of a tea towel is a towel used to dry dishes and/or utensils.  Hhhmmm, All-righty then….. how about I just share what we like to do with tea towels.  Like the dictionary definition, I tend to grab a tea towel when I dry any silver, glasses and plates.  They leave what I’m drying completely spot and lint free.  Brenda recently taught me that because our towels are made from 100% cotton 28”x29” flour-sack material, they are perfect to use when rolling out pie crust, cookies or pizza dough.  Simply lay our towel on the counter, sprinkle some flour on it and then proceed to roll out the dough.  Once done, just pick-up the towel containing the loose flour and shake it outside.  However you decide to use your COTS tea towels, we are confident that there is a design that best suits your personality, or your friends, since you’ll soon realize it’s the perfect, affordable gift to give for any occasion or simply because they are oh-so-fab!



Central Farmers Market

Once a month COTS is invited to participate as a guest vendor at the Valley's fastest growing Farmers Market in Central Phoenix, (we're certain the growth and success is due to our presence).  This Farmers Market has quickly become a fun family ritual where on Saturday mornings, the locals will walk to the market pushing strollers or pulling wagons while drinking their morning coffee and walking the dog.  It's wonderful to be a part of the neighborhood and see everyone supporting local businesses,  taking an interest in fresh produce and purchasing the latest unique treasure.  To say thank you and contribute to the community, we donate a percentage of our day's proceeds to the church.  For all you locals reading this, the Centeral Farmers Market is conveniently located on the southest corner of Central and Northern at the Crossroads Church with special summer hours from 8:00 a.m. to noon (regular hours are from 9:00 to 2:00 p.m.) and runs year round.  That's right, this Farmers Market is open rain, snow or shine.  Okay, maybe it is a stretch to say "snow" when referring to weather in the Valley of the Sun, but Brenda and I have braved the April winds and drizzle to most recently enjoying the 110 degree heat.  We promise that you'll find something (or 3 things) that you won't be able to live without.  The Vendor's quarterly schedule will be out any day, so check back and we'll let you know our upcoming Market dates.  Until then enjoy the photos.  UPDATE:  Our next Farmers Market dates are 8/4 and 9/1, we hope to see you there.

COTS is the little way we all try to freshen up the look of our homes, seeing the eyes of a 3 year old light up when she gets her first tutu, a smile on grandma’s face when she opens her flower pin gift, or a simple flour sack tea towel hung in the kitchen.

We are passionate about all the little things, “on the side” so to speak, and it seems as though it’s the little details that complete a look and are easy enough to change when the mood strikes . . . . all while making it appear perfectly placed and natural . . . effortless!

Although we don’t sell cranberries or food, the COTS notion was quickly translated into terms of a fab Thanksgiving dinner.  We do not provide the furniture (or turkey), in your house, we provide the little sweet details to a home and your family.  Sort of the accessories of life, at least the sweet ones!

COTS' first post.

Welcome to COTS' first blog post.  Brenda and I have been friends for a couple of years.  Both of us have a day job but also own our own businesses (TuTu Cute by mini M, Baby K Bugs and ShugaFix).  We were constantly exchanging ideas and joking with each other that we're "building empires" when one day one of us casually said, "We should start a business together."  I think at the time, we didn't give it a second thought as we both have busy lives but it didn't take much time when we thought, "Why not?"  This year is all about creating our business, test marketing different designs so we can officially launch our internet boutique in January 2013.  Part of creating a business is branding yourself, learning new skills such as blogging (BTW, I think there is a blog for absolutely everything), taking risks all while maintaining a good attitude.  We hope you enjoy our COTS journey!