housemartin

New York - part 4- veggies in the meatpacking district

We spent our last day toodling around the meatpacking district. Lots of high-end boutiques and quaint shops amongst some pretty old-school meat-packing industry spaces. Here is a typical shot of the area.

We started with breakfast of thick french toast and cafe au lait at Pastis on 9th Ave. Very charming interior and delicious as well!

Then on to Butik - a lovely little shop owned by supermodel Helena Christensen and floral designer Leif Sigersen. Last time I went, there was more vintage home decor and collectibles. This time they seem to have pared the collection down to more high-end womenswear and gifts. Beautiful whisper-thin silk tops with gorgeous pintucks and delicate beading, jewelry, and petite vintage 1920's ladies shoes. Worth a stop.

I always enjoy a stop at auto - no photo of the front this time but do stop by! Wonderful Margo Selby lavender sachets and goodies for your home.
And don't forget to check out this little cutie - Darling Shop on Horatio. The owner used to be a costume designer for Broadway. charming front window.
We passed this megolith being constructed - a new Standard Hotel according to a passerby. Their website under New York says "coming soonish".
then on to Chelsea Market to grab some food for the plane. I can honestly say in 10 years of being to NY - I have never been to Chelsea Market - but now that you know about it - it can't be missed! This is a whole block deep full of food vendors - bakeries, pizza, Italian food, Thai food, fruit markets, you name it.


Here is bread rising before baking at Amy's Bread.
I was particularly enamored with this shop - Milk Bar. Love the logo and the wall of old milk crates as decor...
old fashioned ice creams and  fancy lattes - bring your Lactaid pills!

and lastly a stop at the fabulous 202 cafe - a bistro and Nicole Farhi store outside of the market (sorry no pics) - mostly fashion and some home decor - one of my favs in London too. Time to go home!

fun gi

I have often proclamed my love for all things fungal...mushrooms in all shapes and sizes from tiny clusters of enoki to toadstools growing under mossy trees. So you can imagine my delight when I saw this post over at Faye and Greer today!

New York minute

A lovely window at Global Table on Sullivan Street in New York.
Love those giant vases atop the metal stools framed by metal lamps - a wonderful combo of yellow, white, and grey...

elderflower

Seems to be an emerging food trend - elderflower. I just saw a drink recipe in Blueprint magazine using it. I saw these lovely bottles of elderflower syrup at IKEA on my first trip to the new Portland store a few weeks ago. (I must saw I felt very smug at the cash register with my total only being $16.98 - I was VERY restrained).
I was drawn to the simple clean packaging and the shape of the bottle.
Yet another way to enjoy flowers...
Does anyone know what it tastes like? Is it a traditional Swedish drink?

New york - part 3 - crafty

I have read so much about Purl Soho and happened to wander past it while in New York.

It was indeed a delightful shop! I instantly began to conjure up all sorts of home projects to do with their fabrics...
Here is the front window...

and I wanted to take this little kitty home yes I did (meow, meow) - so precious with her Liberty print dress and mary janes.
beautiful stacks of wool arranged by color...
here's the tiny but bustling store inside
and the fabric I was drooling over - a yard in every color please!
and the bird and tree print fabric I bought in an ivory colorway to make a table runner
and their sister store next door with all the knitting supplies. I only noticed how clever trhe floor is once I saw this photo at home. The tile is done to look like granny squares.
don't adjust your monitor - this photo is in focus! It's just fuzzy little booties to show color samples of angora yarn
yarn on its own can be so inspiring to look at

vintage charm

I am coming up with tons of ideas for what to do with my find from last Saturday's early morning antiquing.
These are rolls of vintage wool cloth - possibly strips from wool blankets? They have a wonderful feel to them and the colors are so subtle together.

New York - squeaky clean

Need something to fight that stubborn subway grime?

Here are 2 charming soap shops I had never seen. This one is called Sabon and is located in Soho. They have natural skin and bodycare products. It was started in 1997 in Israel and now has many location in Manhattan and also Boston. I love the design of the store - feels like an old apothecary....and the scents are marvelous!
the window display was so well done - a lovely setting all in whites and ecru...
and I wanted to buy something large just to get one of those gift boxes with the eyelet cut edges...
we went back by the next day and they had a fresh new window with lots of texture - this one piled high with jute baskets and tumbles of coconuts topped off by a hammock - that sets the mood!

The next shop is called Soapology and is on 8th Ave in the West Village. Another vintage-inspired shop with it's own unique look. Wonderful natural products with no animal testing.

here are all the essential oils to scent their basic products with...

Pamper yourself!

New York - part 1

Back from New York and a whirlwind trip to the New York Gift Show. In the interest of not giving away all my secrets (you will have to come to my shop next spring), these NY posts will seem more like a shopping and foodie guide rather than showcasing products. Here's just a peek of some products...

I walked the show for 3 full days - taking copious notes and getting inspired by so many things. It was a definite highlight to meet the lovely and talented Joy and see her new paper line!

Part of the gift show is out at the piers. You can really find inspiration anywhere...
This photo is very Julie Mc Coy (I date myself here) but I just love the stark white against those pops of orange placed against the greyness of the water.
and this steel floating dock - love the texture of the rusting metal against the numbers...
Back at the hotel - the view from our window at the W - across the street to the Waldorf Astoria Hotel

and a hat shop near our hotel - looks like this photo could have been taken in 1952, doesn't it?

Later in the week I was able to walk around with my sweetie... I love this elaborate doorway with the ball stone finials at the bottom and the perfect glossy robin's egg blue door...
off to lunch at Rice - a nice spot when walking in Nolita - check out their new location-they moved north of Houston. yummy sauces, steamed dumplings, green rice, and tofu balls.

More travels tomorrow!

art for the people

I really enjoy browsing through Little Paper Planes to find affordable art.
Look at these marvelous prints...
This one is called "Welcome Print" by Ashley Goldberg. Love the vintage paper with a shot of orange.

this is another lovely by Cindy Jaswal entitled "Fox Sparrow". Happy shopping!

thank you

I just wanted to thank everyone for continuing to read...this is my 200th post.
I have met some wonderful and talented folks out there and truly appreciate all your positive thoughts and comments. And also a wonderful warm welcome to the newcomers - take your coats off and stay a while, won't you?
Oh and here are some flowers for you...just to show my appreciation!
(fresh from New York)

Keep reading!