Mon Amie Amy Gift Shop, Ashburn VA 20147, Gifts for all occasions
Hand-stitched needlepoint on Italian full grain leather isn't a combination you expect to find wrapped around a can cooler — and that's exactly the point. The Smathers and Branson JMU Needlepoint Leather Can Cooler is built from materials that belong on a desk accessory or a quality belt, pressed into service keeping your drink cold at the tailgate or on the back patio. The needlepoint is 100% hand-stitched, which means the JMU design carries the kind of slight variation and tactile depth that machine printing simply can't replicate. For alumni and students who want to carry their school pride in something that doesn't look like it came out of a campus gift shop, this is the answer.
The construction pairs a neoprene liner — the same insulating material used in serious dive gear — with an exterior that's been finished in Italian full grain leather. The result is a cooler that holds its shape, handles repeated use without collapsing, and develops a surface character over time the way good leather does. It reads well at close range and photographs cleanly against almost any backdrop.
To keep the Smathers and Branson needlepoint leather can cooler in good condition, wipe the leather exterior with a slightly damp cloth and allow it to air dry away from direct heat or sunlight. A light application of leather conditioner a few times a year will maintain the suppleness of the Italian full grain leather and prevent cracking at the edges. The neoprene liner can be wiped clean with a damp cloth — avoid submerging the cooler or running it through a dishwasher. The needlepoint itself should be kept dry; if it gets damp, blot gently and let it dry flat. Stored properly, this JMU needlepoint cooler will hold both its structure and its color through years of use.
