Hot off the Press

Since first opening our doors in 2005 we’ve had the pleasure of having our rugs featured in many publications and online resources. Each feature has brought with it a sense of accomplishment and honor. However, I cannot properly express the level of excitement that a recent telephone call from the New York Times generated. Maybe its because the NY Times is not just a newspaper, it’s the NY Times! We are truly honored and humbled to be gracing the pages of the Times this week. This will be a difficult milestone to top.

Namaste,

Shirley Shivhon

A Fresh Spin...

We are excited to share several new colorways in our ever so popular spinning pattern. Spinning is now available in Siver, Pinot, and Clay. Of course should you require custom colors please don’t hesitate to ask.

Namaste.

Tis The Season

The weather is getting cooler and the leaves have officially changed their bright green colors of summer for richer tones of fall. Thus inspiring us to also change some colors in one of our favorite designs. Cherry Blossom is now available in 2 new colorways (sage and straw).

We wish you a warm and joyous Holiday season and thank you for your continued support.

Namaste.

Lanikai Project

We recently had the pleasure of designing several custom rugs for a beautiful property located at lanikai Beach on Oahu, Hawaii. Lanikai is absurdly gorgeous; truly one of the most perfect beaches on the planet. The sand is as fine as talcum powder and the color of vanilla. The water, protected by an offshore reef, is as still as a swimming pool and a luscious inviting shade of turquoise. Palm trees arched gracefully out over the water, as if placed there expressly for postcard photographers.

Our custom rugs were commissioned to offset the natural beauty of this unique location and were woven in a shorter pile than normal (only 3mm high instead of 5mm). We hope you like them as much as we do.

Namaste.

Area Rugs: An Inexpensive Way to Refresh Your Home

Perhaps you’ve recently moved or have decided to refresh a room in your home, thinking some new area rugs just might do the trick. They certainly are inexpensive and simple way to create a whole new look in your space and rather quickly without any installation needed.

Decorating with area rugs helps keep the home looking modern, up to date, beautiful and fresh. Rugs add style and design to a room, can make strong statement and provide a feeling of comfort over tiles, stone or concrete. They can even keep the hardwood floors and carpets safe. You can decorate a room with rugs according to the seasons and they are easy to move around if you ever decide to switch to a new home.

When you decide to decorate your house with rugs keep the following points in mind:

1. Color. If you decide to decorate a room that has mainly eye catching colors that are vibrant you should choose a rug that is neutral or in a dark color. If the room consists of light colors then enhance the room with a bright colored rug which would add more life and vibrancy to the room. Even if you have not yet designed the room and are moving in to a new place then purchase a rug of your liking and then decorate the room accordingly around it. If the rug is for a bathroom then make sure the colors coordinate with the bathmat and surface finishes. For rugs to be kept in the bathroom, kitchen, hall or a room of a child the rugs should not be too light colored, should be simple to clean and stain resistant. Wool is a great option here.

2. Size. If you are looking for an area rug to fill most of the room then leave a border of equal distance on all sides of the rug. A common measurement of an area rug to be placed under a cocktail table should be six by nine foot. An 8x10 or 10x14 should capture an entire living room grouping including sofas and lounge chairs.

If you have any questions or require assistance please don't hesitate to contact us.

SHIVHON

808.381.5102

www.Shivhon.com

CORAL

Declining environmental conditions associated with extractive activities, deteriorating water quality and a changing climate threaten the long term persistence of corals and coral reefs, which support millions of lives. You don't have to be a marine biologist to know that the Gulf oil spill is an environmental disaster of the first order. Stuff leaching from the ocean floor is the worst environmental challenge a coral reef can face

Much attention has been paid to the fate of wildlife living on and above the Gulf of Mexico's surface. Now, a new research study published in the June 2010 print issue of the FASEB Journal (http://www.fasebj.org/) looks toward the seafloor to explain coral susceptibility to disease outbreaks when they encounter environmental stress and to set the stage for understanding exactly what type of undersea environment is necessary to promote coral health and growth after the oil spill cleanup. In addition, this research also opens doors for the development of new tools that can assess the health of corals, which is important when trying to establish manmade reefs or to save ones that already exist.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, "Corals that are spawning at the time of an oil spill can be damaged because the eggs and sperm, which are released into the water at very precise times, remain at shallow water depths for various times before they settle. Thus, in addition to compromising water quality, oil pollution can disrupt the long-term viability and reproductive success of corals, rendering them more vulnerable to other types of disturbances.

During the month of June SHIVHON carpets will donate 10% of sales on any of our coral pattern rugs to the The Coral Reef Alliance. To learn more about the important work they are doing to save coral reefs please visit http://www.coral.org/
Aloha.

Spring Cleaning

Wool carpets are the easiest to clean because this natural animal fiber is non-absorbent, repels stains, and dries quickly. Wool is designed to keep sheep warm and dry in all weather. And Tibetan sheep, because they live at high altitudes, have the highest content of lanolin of any sheep. Lanolin keeps the wool softer, stronger, and more stain resistant.

The instructions in this guide are meant for fine handmade, hand dyed (vegetable or swiss dyes) wool carpets, not synthetic, or silk carpets.

Weekly carpet cleaning: vacuum once a week. Use a suction hose and head but not a stiff brush that rotates inside the head of the vacuum cleaner. Any stiff brush rotation will eventually tear up the carpet fibers and fringe.

Stains: Act fast and the wool fibers will keep the stain on the surface. Blot with a paper towel, then wipe or blot again with a wet cloth. Use more water and a bit of soap if the stain is heavier.

Pet Urine: Sponge or paper towel it away as quickly as possible, absorbing all the moisture you can. Add a tiny bit of vinegar to the water to lessen the smell. Next, this is a critical step, make sure you place dry towels or paper towels, under the carpet and on top of the carpet stain. Then place a heavy stack of books, magazines, or a full bucket of water on top of the paper towel/stain – anything heavy enough to absorb whatever urine or moisture might be left. Leave this towel/paper, carpet, towel/paper sandwich clean up for at least a few hours until the carpet is dry to the touch. Baking Soda sprinkled on the stain will also help absorb any odors. You can vacuum the baking soda away after a few hours also.

Discouraging Pets: I’ve been told by many customers that as soon as they place the carpet down in their homes, their pets roll around on the carpet and make it home. Pets like the smell of lanolin, after all it’s another animal smell they respond to. You can try spraying an air freshener on the carpet to mask the strong fresh lanolin smell they adore.

Red Wine: Blot as much red wine as you can off the carpet immediately, then pour dry salt on the remainder. Leave for a few minutes then vacuum the salt off. Repeat this several times. Finish by wiping the area with a dampened cotton towel. Some people recommend baking soda also to absorb the wine. If the stain remains, you may decide to have the carpet professionally cleaned, please no harsh chemicals or soaps, ask the carpet cleaner to use mild soap and water only.

Carpets will fade: No matter how good the dyes and dying process, all carpets will eventually fade in strong sunlight. Keep carpets protected from daily direct sunlight. Tinted windows, curtains, rolling carpets up – part of the day, throwing down sheets or towels over unprotected areas will all help prevent fading. NOTE: cheap synthetic dyes, especially the ones used in some silk Chinese rugs will fade badly in light or even run if washed.
Be aware of the two M’s: Moths, and Mildew

Moths will settle into an unprotected rug that is stored for long periods of time. They like darkness and quiet. Store the rug in moth balls, and check the rug every two/three months, move the rug, vacuum or shake it…disturbing any moth activity.

Mildew becomes established when a rug is left wet for long periods of time - weeks, months. Bad cases of mildew can definitely be seen and smelled. Wool will dry quickly if allowed to. The best way to eliminate mildew, is to have your carpet washed professionally…completely, and thoroughly cleaned. You too can try washing a smaller rug yourself on a warm summer day. Make sure the day is dry and warm above 80 degrees F. Use a garden hose, mild soap, and place the rug on stones, or a clean wooden pallet to dry…allowing air to circulate around the rug. Once dry look for any residual white spots, this may indicate that all the mildew has not been removed. Mildew will grow and spread if not eliminated. You may need to rewash the rug a couple of times…all depends upon the extent of the mildew.

Follow the washing instructions above for any general yearly cleaning of smaller area wool rugs. Larger rugs will need professionally cleaning from time to time depending upon pets, and traffic. Use a locally reputable carpet cleaner who comes to your home. Make sure, the company uses cold water and mild, mild soap and NO stiff brushes on the surface of your rugs. I hope these suggestions help…if you need more advice please contact us.

SHIVHON
(808)381-5102
http://www.shivhon.com/