Friday, November 29, 2013

Wonderful Renaissance Treasury


It's not often that someone chooses a theme like this one, and the costume designer in me rejoices to see
such carefully chosen pieces that illustrate a place and time so well. Thanks to Maria from Portrait Handbags for curating this evocative Etsy Treasury!

And check out her beautifully embroidered handbags adorned with beautiful Renaissance ladies...

Saturday, November 2, 2013

Halloween, Greenwich Village-Style

I happened to be in the West Village in New York City the day before Halloween, and had to take some pictures of the decorations that were carried out so brilliantly by home and business owners alike. I love that the neighborhood got into the spirit (heh) and that some home owners really went for it in a big way. You can find elaborate displays anywhere, sometimes in surprising places, like one lone townhouse on a side street on the Upper East Side. 



Fabulous entrance to a house on Bank Street. I met the owner and she was happy that I got such a kick out of what she and her family had done.

Bat above lovely greenery and metallic decor on West 11th

                                    West 11th Street corner house
                                                 Perry Street skelly
                                      More West 11th, I think, heading toward 6th Avenue
                                                     Fun on West 11th Street
                                                                       Perry Street
Heads up on West 4th Street

                             Spooky red window and door at Marc Jacob's boutique on Bleecker Street
Pumpkin vendor at Union Square Greenmarket

Window of Mexican Restaurant on Hudson Street

                                                               Perry Street
The Reaper on Bank Street

                    West 11th again, quite the display with orange lights wrapped around tree and gate
                                                                      elaborate!
                                           Ralph Lauren on Bleecker - a nice autumn display
                                                             Bank Street pumpkins
               This evil little pumpkin was in the doorway with the hanging heads on West 4th Street
                                                                       Bank street
                                                        Awesome spider on Bank Street
                                                      Carved pumpkins on Bank Street
                                                           Corner house on West 11th
                                      West 11th off Bleecker. Fall foliage has finally arrived.
                              elaborate tombstone on West 11th further East (an oxymoron)
 I have seen a few of these figures in displays. This was in the "yard" of the house on West 11th with the orange tree lights
                                    Great rope spiderweb - and spider upper left! Bank street
                                           Very pretty window boxes on Perry or West 11th

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

IT'S AUTUMN....HOORAY!

Today in New York City it's a breezy 62 degrees after a recent heatwave, and Fall is in the air. I thought I'd celebrate by posting pictures of Autumn Lovelies from both of my shops:

Angora collar to warm up a favorite sweater

Macrame 1940s handbag with lucite tortoise shell handles

Groovy suede and acrylic hooded sweater jacket

Cheerful yellow knit gloves

Freshwater Pearl cluster lariat necklace in rich jewel tones

Acrylic fall leaf necklace

Mimi diN orange glass seed bead torsade necklace

Vintage buckle, button and bead bracelet

Orange glass bead bracelet

Hot chocolate and cream jasper and copper earrings

Jasper and glass bead bracelet in yummy chocolate and coffee colors

Fall flower glass bead earrings

Orange glass lampwork earrings

Sterling silver and topaz chandelier crystal earrings

Orange coral sticks


Glass leaf beads in green and copper

Enameled caterpillar on a leaf beads

Vintage wooden painted folk art ladle

Happy Fall to All!

Sunday, August 18, 2013

Javits Center Home and Lifestyle Show - NY Now 8/18/13


It was an exciting day at the Jacob K. Javits Center in NYC today at the start of the Home and Lifestyle Show for NY Now, where colorful and covetable home accessories, fabrics, clothing, textiles, furniture and jewelry cried out to be purchased. I was glad that I wasn't a buyer, as I would have been overwhelmed in that giant space filled by vendors on multiple floors and would have been paralyzed by an inability to make a decision after about three hours. I don't know how they do it, as it's an assault on the senses, even in the nicest way. Eventually one is exhausted by the sights and colors, but as I was visiting a friend in her booth, I could wander around and look and marvel (and get ideas) with absolutely no pressure. Times being what they are, it's also possible to buy something as a single shopper at certain booths.

I was visiting Liz Glasgow, who was there with her company, The White Cabinet. Liz's mother, Hilda Glasgow, was a well-known fashion illustrator from the 1940s-1970s who died a few years ago. Liz, a professional photographer, has taken her mother's sketches and brilliantly turned them into a cottage industry. Notecards, prints, placemats, notepads, stamps, mirrors, gift wrap and wallpaper (!) are now available with Hilda's lovely ladies, with more items to come.

                                
  Liz with some of her notecards, unfortunately washed out by the lighting and my camera phone. Note the wonderful chandeliers - more on those further down.

Liz is partnered by a company called Kitchen Papers Hester & Cook, which produces wonderful paper goods. The displays and the selling area were most inviting and whimsical. I love Hilda's collection and included a pic of the Collegiate Collection (lower right), whose vintage graphics are a hit with me. 


And OMG, check out the lighting! I am coveting the spoon (and teacup!!) chandeliers, the industrial fabulousness of the glass insulators incorporated into the design, the keyplates, and the recycled goodness of it all. You don't have to live in an edgy loft - these designs coordinate well with modern, vintage and shabby chic decor. I definitely want one of these at least. Made in Tennessee, US of A.


Check out the Lego-inspired books by Mark's Tokyo Edge (top left). Hopefully you can click on the pics and see them better. I loved the little colorful lights by La Case de Cousin Paul, the crab glass lamps by Standard Specialty Company, the harem-like decor of pillows and lamps, the glass bottles and Christmas home accents in this picture.

Inlaid red & white furniture, signs for every occasion ("If you're waiting for a sign, this is it" - LOL). Colorful table linens, fake blossoms, coordinated clothing and home decor by Roberta Feynman ( I have one of her bags) and the colorful tree lights.

MORE tree lights, glass peacock lamp, fairy lights, more signs, and silk patchwork carpets ( I have one like this)


Eyeglasses bottle stoppers by Umbra, Xmas gnomes with knitted caps, a mirror with metal bubbles (like many pieces of jewelry I've seen) bags, embroidered bedding that looks eastern European, and novelty chandeliers.

Close -up on wonderful bags

Reminds me of Russian embroidered textiles

Cute idea for a beach house

Clothing & Home Decor by Roberta Freymann. Why not match your home?

Roberta Feynman has a lovely boutique on Lexington Avenue.
How fresh and cool is this look?

Uber-colorful tableware by Zak!

More Zak! at the front of the space, an enviable position.

Crystal accents by Kathryn McCoy. Loved the huge bowl!

Umbra's eyeglasses bottle stoppers

Pretty fairy lights - great for a kid's room or a party setting

Love these glass fish lights - what a luxurious nightlight, by Standard Specialty Company

Witty animal-inspired furniture

Crystal? glasses with intense concentrations of color

Halloween accents

Interesting novelty light fixtures

metal chain chandelier, and lots of colored glass chandeliers

Organic, elemental styled mirror with flattened circles - resembles some trendy jewelry items

Love the historical costume graphics

I covet this musical notes lamp

I'll just move in now, thank you

My FAVORITE booth!!! Pantone merchandise, from England.

Beautiful displays in an enormous space, expensive to set up. I hope that it was worth it for these vendors!
This fair is on through the 21st of August, so if you can get there, you won't regret it. Lots of great ideas for designers!