This past weekend I packed up my wool sweaters, and I got out my summer dresses and sandals. Next weekend I hope to tuck away my winter blankets and swap them out for lightweight ones. If you are in the market for a new summer blanket, here are five pretty handwoven ones.

Designer Denyse Schmidt grew up in a family of makers of the hobbyist variety. Surrounded by old textile mills in central Massachusetts, she watched her mother sew her own clothes and her dad make furniture. Along the way (with a stopover at RISD) Denyse picked up the skills for what would become her business: patchwork quilts, colorful fabrics and paper goods. 

Over her years of travel as a stylist and interior designer, Melissa Newirth has been a casual collector of vintage textiles. The growing collection sparked a desire to turn the textiles into modern wares. Thus, Cloth & Goods, an online shop offering a mix of new and vintage textiles and home goods, was born. 

Now that you've got your white bedding and your comforter, it's time to accessorize. A fur blanket thrown across a bed looks so cozy and inviting — perfect for Sunday afternoon naps! While some faux fur throws look a little too, well, fake, we've found a selection that are pretty close to the real deal.

Michael Shaikin, owner of Ottawa-based The Modern Shop, wants to bring a fresh take on modern design to Canada. As the former owner of a vintage resell shop, Michael certainly has the retail chops for this venture. And with an eye for great designs from Europe and the US, he has style covered, too.

Once in a while a great image will stick with you, where the color, texture, pattern and style all align to create a beautiful end result. More

One of the chief joys of getting older is that you finally get to do cool stuff on your own for a larger audience. Sure, you might be a pop star at 21, but for most of us, we only start to make a dent in the professional sphere when we get north of 35. I've always admired Erica Tanov's taste and I've always loved Emily Payne's artistic sensibility since I went to college with her years ago, but they've just launched a new collaboration linking art, fashion and home that's a brand new perspective and totally refreshing. Check it out. More

Fans of American-made products will want to keep Brahms Mount on their radar. Since 1983 this company has been producing blankets, throws and towels from their Hallowell, Maine facility. And, new for 2013, they've also opened a flagship store in Freeport. The company's president, David Kaufman, sat down with us to answer some questions about the history of Brahms Mount.