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Designer Picks: Steven Cohen

Posted on August 14, 2014August 7, 2018 by M&J Trimming

Steven Cohen, Vice President at M&J Trimming, makes sure that customers have access to the most stylish and trendy trims in town! As the head of purchasing and sales, all potential new items have to go through him before they make their way onto the store shelves. Working at the familybusiness since the age of 14, he has four young daughters who can’t wait to follow in his footsteps. He can always tell which trims are trending, and gave us a few of his top trim picks! (And yes, they are ALL online.)

1” CHEETAH PRINT METALLIC RIBBON* – This ribbon is, quite literally, wild. It’s a fun ribbon that combines two of today’s most popular trends: metallics and animal print. Use this ribbon to wrap birthday presents or add it as an accent to home décor. (*This item is not currently available. Check out other metallic ribbon options and our jacquards in fun prints.)

2″ LARGE RHINESTONE LEAF TRIM – This is probably one of the most versatile rhinestone trims that we carry. DIY brides come in all of the time requesting this trim because they can make it into a bridal belt, and use small sections to create brooches for their bridesmaids.

LARGE FUR POMPOMS – Before you know it, we’re going to be having one of our famous New York autumns, and this pompom is the perfect addition to your cold-weather accessories. Add it to your hat or use it as a toggle on your cape! 23MM 3-ROW PEARL AND RHINESTONE TRIM – This trim is a trifecta of rhinestones, pearls, and chain. It looks incredible on gowns, clutches, and it can even be used to create a necklace.

1 5/8″ TOOTH PENDANT WITH CAP – It seems like everyone is trying out the hippie-chic look these days, and this pendant makes an awesome necklace for that style. It also comes in a lot of colors, so all of your festival friends can match!

1″ RUFFLE TRIM WITH PEARL CHAIN CENTER – This trim has a lot going on, but it all works together beautifully. The chain gives the ruffles and pearls just the right amount of edge, and keeps it from looking too delicate.

What’s New for August

Posted on August 7, 2014August 7, 2018 by M&J Trimming

This month we’ve welcomed a bunch of bright and beautiful new trims and accessories to our website! The trims we have brought in are great for anything, from fashion to home decor! And with school just around the corner, these trims are perfect for your upcoming DIY projects!

This fun braided trim comes in three styles. Our favorite feature of this design is the interwoven metallic trim!

These braids are absolutely beautiful, and make for a cool addition to basic home decor.

Another set of braids that are so soft and sweet, and come in an array of colors. These would look great as an accent on any dress.

If you need to spell it out, or are looking for that varsity vibe, check out our chenille letters!

Does your dress need a little pizzazz? What about a trim with metallic tinsel? Available in four dazzling colors, this trim is a knockout!

M&J On the Today Show

Posted on July 21, 2014August 7, 2018 by M&J Trimming

If you were tuned into Today with Kathie Lee and Hoda on Friday, you may have seen some of our star trims in the spotlight during Bobbie’s Buzz, a segment focused on the most current fashion trends. This segment highlighted the DIY craze, and featured three different types of DIYs to take your outfits to the next level!

Our favorite DIY of the three was definitely trim-centric, and featured an ingenious way to add trim to your outfit without ever having to touch a needle and thread.

Watch the video to see the crafty way you can attach trim to your favorite pieces!

What’s New in July

Posted on July 10, 2014August 7, 2018 by M&J Trimming

This month has been all about trims and ribbons at M&J Trimming! We’ve brought a lot of great options to the site this July, and we’re happy to share some of our star products with you! Oh, and one thing we may have forgot to mention: a lot of them are on Clearance at 50% off!

This Chenille Rosebud Knit trim is the perfect floral trim for adding to a girl’s dress, or using as a creative summer headband!

Whether you’re a sailor, animal-lover, or astrologist-extraordinaire, we have the jacquard for you! The best part? They’re 50% off!

At some point in your life, you’re going to need beautiful metallic ribbon, and our wire-edged metallic ribbon will be the perfect fit! The thin wire in the edges will help your bows keep their beautiful shape, making this ribbon ideal for presents and holiday wreaths!

Like a little more color? Our wire-edged taffeta ribbons are the ideal bow-makers, and come in a rainbow of shades!

Adventures of the M&J Intern: Interview with Saralee

Posted on May 15, 2014August 7, 2018 by M&J Trimming

For my second adventure at M&J’s creative department, I got to sit with Saralee Gordon, M&J Trimming’s graphic designer. She is the woman behind the website graphics, the promotions and everything in between. Without her, customers would not receive the awesomely designed weekly emails and the website would not look as fun and inviting as it does!

Saralee

Cookie Cohen: When did you start working for M&J Trimming?

Saralee Gordon:I started working for M&J Trimming in April 2012, right when I moved to New York from a small suburb in Michigan.

CC: What are your key responsibilities at M&J Trimming?

SG: I am in charge of designing the graphics for the weekly emails and campaigns. I also am in charge of redesigning the website to make it more intuitive.

CC: How did you get started with graphic design? What school did you go to?

SG: I went to Michigan State University, and started as having no preference. I decided to take a journalism class. One day our professor invited the graphic designer from Newsweek to do a presentation for our class. The presenter said that if we liked design and organizing, graphic design might be a good career path for us.

CC: What does your daily schedule look like?

SG: It’s different every day. Some days I spend designing the weekly email and other days I am setting up a photo-shoot with Chris, our photographer and Allie, our visual merchandiser.

CC: How would you describe your graphic design style?

SG: I like to keep things as clean as possible. It allows me to emphasize the M&J products.

Lace

CC: How do you decide how you would like to photograph the M&J products for the website?

SG: Allie, Chris, and I started to photograph the products in atmospheres instead of having the products float around. We also started taking close up pictures of the products, which allow you to see the details (stitching, beading, etc.) of the products.

CC: Do you have a favorite font? If so, which one?

SG: There is one font, Mrs Eaves, it’s similar to cursive. It adds fun little ligatures to the letters. It’s very fun.

CC: What’s your favorite graphic design software?

SG: My favorite is Illustrator because it’s easy to use. I’ve noticed that there is a love-hate relationship between Photoshop and Illustrator. I absorbed Illustrator quicker than Photoshop so I stuck with it.

CC: What’s your favorite part of Illustrator?

SG: You could merge shapes and then divide them, so basically, you could “hole-punch” a shape inside another shape.

M&J Trimming Van

CC: What’s one of the coolest projects you’ve done working for M&J?

SG: One of the funniest I’ve done is the van wrap. I made a graphic for the M&J van, and now my graphic drives around the city!

CC: What is your favorite M&J product?

SG: There is a new applique that I love. I just have to decide what to do with it. Maybe make shoulder pads? Another product I love is beaded trim! I just add some elastic and make headbands.

CC: Have any hidden talents?

SG: I have great memory for TV and celebrities. I could name any famous face and remember every episode of TV shows.

What’s New in May

Posted on May 1, 2014August 8, 2018 by M&J Trimming

We’re finally smack dab in the middle of spring, and you know what they say about April showers, right? This month we’ve added not only flowers, but colorful pompoms, lace, ribbons, and more!

These chiffon and patent leather flower pins bloomed just in time for May! Which flower is your favorite?

There’s a rainbow of new fur pompoms in the store in two different sizes! If candy-colored isn’t your style, we also have beautiful pompoms in natural shades.

Nothing goes better together than these crochet flowers and this muted floral lace. The detail on the lace is absolutely breathtaking, and flowers are soft to the touch!

These linen-like ribbons are definitely on our favorites list. They’re thin, have a great texture, and come in an assortment of earthy colors.

Which products do YOU have your eye on this month? Let us know in the comments below!

M&J Trimming Resource Guides

Posted on January 15, 2014August 8, 2018 by M&J Trimming

We don’t like to brag, but we’re kind of experts when it comes to ribbon, buttons and all sorts of trimming. (We should be, we’ve been in the business for over 70 years!) We try to provide our customers with the best, most unique trim and findings; but we ALSO want to help you learn what to look for and how to use it. We’ve created some great guides, videos and tutorials for some of our most-asked questions. Here are a few of our favorite resources!

If you’re looking for some information on buttons, check out our Button Basics blog post! If you’re ready to purchase but the measurements are confusing, take a look at our Button Size Chart. It will show you the conversions for popular-sized buttons.

If you don’t know the difference between E6000 and Gem-Tac, our Glue Guide might be just the ticket to get your DIYs to a good (and mess-free) start!

One of our most popular items is our collection of Swarovski crystals. Learn the AB & Cs of Crystals, check out our Rhinestone Size Chart, or find out what crystals are REALLY made of.

Do you know what you’re looking for, but have zero idea what it’s called? Take a look at our Product Glossary for terms and definitions of popular products.

If you’re obsessed with lace like we are, take a look at our Lesson in Lace!

We have a lot of great resources for DIYers new and advanced, and we’re always going to strive to bring you the latest news and resources. The question remains: what would YOU like to know more about?

New in January

Posted on January 8, 2014July 31, 2018 by M&J Trimming

Well ladies and gentlemen the holidays are over, but obviously that won’t stop M&J Trimming from bringing in beautiful trims, ribbons, and buttons! (Who says Christmas comes but once a year?) This month the website is full of new goodies that will be perfect for inspiring your DIYs. Here are a few of the new items we know you’ll go nuts over!

Webbing and Elastic from M&J Trimming

The month of January was all about elastics and webbing. We love this 1 1/2″ Botanical Pattern Webbing and the varied sturdy elastics we received. They’re simple, yet have small details like ribbing and weaving to really set them apart.

Patterned Menswear Elastic Trim from M&J Trimming

We put up some understated elastic trim with a dark muted color palette. These are perfect for menswear and menswear-inspired DIYs!

Novelty Buttons from M&J Trimming If you’re a fan of adorable things, these new novelty buttons are perfect for you. From funny bunnies to pretty kitties, we have everything you’d need to really amp up the cute.

Which items would YOU like to see on the web? Let us know below!

Keeping Your Crafts Organized

Posted on December 30, 2013August 10, 2017 by M&J Trimming

When it comes to organizing craft and fashion supplies, we’ve got it down to a science. Just go visit our store and see for yourself! You’ll find rows of rainbow ribbons, aisles of beaded trims, and walls of colorful buttons; and somehow everyone knows exactly where to find what you’re looking for. We would like to share some of our favorite tips with you, so that your space is relaxing and beautiful!

Sort by style first. This is a simple tip, but sort like with like. We keep our jute separate from our braided trim because it makes finding exactly the type of trim you’re looking for really easy.

Ribbon Wall M&J Trimming

Color code. Take a cue from our organization and sort by color. When it comes to craft supplies, it’s great to know what colors you have on hand quickly without having to look through your entire stash to find the right shade. Plus it can look really gorgeous!

Purple Buttons from M&J Trimming

Use boxes to separate different items or styles. It easier to have items in their own designated area instead of floating around in miscellaneous dishes or strewn on countertops. Label each box so you know what goes where without having to search through stacks.

We hope these simple tips will help you when you’re reorganizing your space! If you have any additional suggestions, share them down below!

What’s New in December

Posted on December 4, 2013July 31, 2018 by M&J Trimming

This month we’ve stocked up on some amazing items that are ideal for making a very stylish DIY. This accessory is perfect for pairing with pants because it keeps them in place. It can be made out of many materials, but is most commonly made with leather, and usually has a fixture on the front to make it adjustable. We’re talking about belts! We’re sure that our beautiful new trims and buckles will guarantee that a handmade belt will be on everyone’s holiday wish list!

These tri-colored trims consist of three vinyl braids sewn together. We love the idea of a fun colored belt with a modern buckle.

These beautiful embossed trims are ideal for an understated belt with a little bit of edge, and this style comes in six colors, from tame neutrals to a vibrant green! Why not pair this trim with this buckle?

We got a LOT of fantastic buckles in this month, and we think they’re perfect for pairing with our braided trim! We particularly love the 2″ Crescent Buckle with Prong and the Bottle Opener Interlocking Buckle!

So we know what we would make with our latest treasures, but what would YOU make? Would you embellish a pair of boots or a bag? Add the braided trim to an accent pillow? We would love to hear your DIY ideas, or better yet, see them!