Fabric Series - Linen for Your Health

Zoffany Linen on French Style Chairs (2010 - sold) - Wydeven Designs

The use of linen goes back many years and remnants of linen have been found in ancient tombs.  Linen is considered a "green product" and has reported health benefits.

A little history and definition (from wikipedia) - further information is avaialble on wisegeek

Linen ( /ˈlɪnɨn/) is a textile made from the fibers of the flax plant, Linum usitatissimum

Linen textiles appear to be some of the oldest in the world: their history goes back many thousands of years. Fragments of straw, seeds, fibers, yarns, and various types of fabrics which date back to about 8000 BC have been found in Swiss lake dwellings. Dyed flax fibers found in a prehistoric cave in Georgia suggest the use of woven linen fabrics from wild flax may date back even earlier to 36,000 BP.[

Today linen is usually an expensive textile, and is produced in relatively small quantities. It has a long "staple" (individual fiber length) relative to cotton and other natural fibers.

Linen's healthy properties are described in this article The House Queen

Most linen is considered to be eco-friendly and organic, because the linen fibers must be unharmed and maintained in their most natural state to be high quality.

I buy and use as much linen as I can in my furniture refurbishing business - it is popular and looks wonderful on classic and modern line pieces.   It is a perfect complement to my newest addiction - using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint (ASCP) to refurbish tired or dated woodwork.  Many of the linens I use are blends - often mixed with cotton.  Some are a bit scratchy and stiff but most have a soft finish.

Here are some pieces of furniture with different types of linen fabrics - http://wydevendesigns.com (NOTE:  my website is not up-to-date since the computer I have to use is temporarily dismantled because of a renovation project at my home - most of my items are on eBay).

Vintage Sherrill Chairs in Heavy Textured Linen Blend. 

Highland House Chair in Brass Linen  

BRIGHT green chair in Linen Blend with Ottoman

Sherrill Slipper Chairs in Cotton Velvet and Linen Combination Fabric.

Wingbacks from 2010 Collection of Wydeven Designs - Floral Patterned Lien Fabrics.

Chairs Refinished with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint - Various Linen Fabrics.

I continue to buy linen fabrics whenever I can and their health benefits are just a nice extra!

I am still struggling to add my business facebook page as a direct link to my blog - so here is the link - link to Wydeven Design Facebook Page.