I think we've established that I could never make a living as a travel blogger. But I had a wonderful six weeks in New York, with a lot of coming and going. I wasn't even sure if I'd been inspired until I returned home last week, when I had a moment to sit down and start processing. Now I find myself with pages of things I want to do, so I guess I found my inspiration somewhere!
I don't want to spend too much time on this subject, but I thought I'd pass on some great shopping resources today (this is by no means an exhaustive list, just a few places I made it to on this trip), and then I'll cover the eating, drinking portion of things. After that, it's time to start tackling projects on my to-do list. It's good to be back!
Shopping in Manhattan:
John Derian: Mention John Derian and one tends to think of decoupage, but I fell in love with both his dry goods and furniture shops, located steps from each other. I ordered beautiful glassware from his shop, discovered quirky art and gift items, and fell in love with a pricey line of French porcelain. Whether you make a purchase or not, his stores offer up plenty of inspiration!
Aero: Thomas O'Brien is one of my favorite home designers and I always enjoy his store, a mix of his designs and other great finds. I never fail to find something I feel I have to have here.
Ochre: I'd like to just live in this store with its soothing palette and mix of textures. Tableware, linens, furniture, pottery...all around beautiful. (And just across the street from...)
Purl Soho: It was my first time visiting Purl in its new location and it's a wonderfully inspiring space. It was nice to see some of their blog projects up close and have a hands-on experience with their felts and fabrics. Their sales staff is warm, friendly, and helpful. I look forward to going back.
Tinsel Trading: Long one of my favorite shops, this was my first time visiting in its new location as well. I loved their old shop, so I felt a little pang, but the new shop is larger and airier, which makes it easier to sift through their treasure trove of beautiful goods. I purchased vintage ribbon rosettes for the 4th of July and a length of gorgeous silk ribbon and left very happy.
Evolution: Another of my old favorites, I visit this store every time I'm in New York. It's a tiny little store packed with wonders of natural history - shells, fossils, ostrich eggs, and plenty of bugs. I'm a little obsessed right now with their moths and butterflies and feel the stirrings of a need to start collecting them.
Global Table: A tiny shop packed with wonderful tabletop finds. I always leave with something, usually another piece of glassware to add to my ever-expanding collection.
ABC Home: I don't know if I've ever made a purchase from ABC Home, but it's easy to spend hours there just looking. The tabletop section left me longing for pottery classes, the jewelry department itching for stones to play with, the furniture section with vintage industrial dreams...always a must when in NY. (And across the street from...)
Fishs Eddy: There's a ton of tableware crammed into this small, perpetually busy shop, and I never miss a chance to shop for props here. Always a lot of quirky, fun items, too.
New York Cake & Baking: A no-frills shop packed to the rafters with every kind of baking need conceivable. I buy all of my aluminum baking pans here, and they have them in all shapes and sizes. This time I found a heavy duty pastry cutter (a godsend!) and stocked up on parchment circles to line my pans.
Shopping in Brooklyn:
Brooklyn Flea: I had my first visit to the Brooklyn Flea Market this summer. It was well worth the trip and I discovered a number of great artists and crafts people, good food, and nice vintage finds.
Moon River Chattel: This shop has been around for awhile and I can't believe this was my first time visiting. It was, hands down, my favorite Brooklyn find! With the feel of a well-edited general store, there's something for everyone. Even my son found a few must-haves. I found more than a few...
Darr: Moody, well-edited shop vignettes with the feel of a fantastic, intimate museum. Lots of vintage and industrial and creative ways to put it all together. Another of my favorites.
Brook Farm General Store: A small general store with a nicely edited selection of luxurious basics and things you didn't realize you needed until you discovered them.
Sprout Home: I'm always inspired by garden decor and this little shop is brimming with wonderful garden and home ideas. Great terrariums (and all the supplies you need), nature inspired home products, a wide array of containers, and whimsical gift items.
Greenhouse: Gorgeous, eco-friendly finds for the home. Their linens are particularly gorgeous and highlight my need for a trust fund.
Addresses (and links to websites):
John Derian - 6 East Second Street & 10 East Second Street, NYC
Aero - 419 Broome Street, NYC
Ochre - 462 Broome Street, NYC
Purl Soho - 459 Broome Street, NYC
Tinsel Trading - 1 West 37th Street, NYC
Evolution - 120 Spring Street, NYC
Global Table - 109 Sullivan Street, NYC
ABC Home - 888 & 881 Broadway, NYC
Fishs Eddy - 889 Broadway, NYC
NY Cake & Baking - 56 West 22nd Street, NYC
Brooklyn Flea - 176 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn
Moon River Chattel - 62 Grand Street, Brooklyn
Darr - 369 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn
Brook Farm General Store - 75 South 6th Street, Brooklyn
Sprout Home - 44 Grand Street, Brooklyn
Greenhouse - 387 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn
Title Photo Info: I couldn't resist this boat sculpture made from vintage maps. Found from Cotton Bird Designs on Etsy.
I had to check out all the stores in NY. I even got ideas for crafts and stuff. Thanks for sharing. Katharine
Posted by: Katmeowrine | 20 July 2011 at 04:57 AM