Batik, Bali, Love.

Classic blue pillows make these chairs come to life, and the oil painting on the right enlarges one of Rally's vibrant designs

Are y'all ready? This story is so Eat, Pray Love. Katherine and Rally Dupps have always loved to travel, so it was only natural for them to settle down with their two children in one of their favorite destinations, Bali, when the US economy went sour. When their three month trip started coming to an end, Rally suggested extending the trip, reasoning that things weren't any better at home in the states. Extend it they did -- they built a house and now, a blossoming business - Katherine Rally. 

Seasoned travelers, the couple initially explored all that Bali had to offer them but were lost when it came to finding textiles they truly admired. One day while Rally was drawing with his son, he created something both he and Katherine loved. The couple put the batik into production, launched a website and now have a lively collection of fabrics, pillows, tablecloths, napkins and artwork to show for it. Although they live about 10,000 miles away from most of their customers, they thrive off of the challenge that distance creates. 

I love the Rally's mix of modern with tradition and bold with beautiful. The designs can be moved from room to room throughout a house for an entire lifetime, and I don't think anyone would get sick of looking at them. And because they are made with the utmost attention to detail, they will be able to withstand all sorts of wear and tear. As Rally says himself, "When something of ours graces the inside of your home, it's like a having a one of a kind work of art created by a close friend who happens to live in a far away exotic land." -Mary Mentz 

image credits: Katherine Rally