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Kips Bay Decorator Show House

20130521-053650.jpg Yesterday was the kick-off of the Blogfest on Design. Some of you might remember, this was the event I attended last year too. Folks from around the country coming together (who write blogs where design is part of the mix) for a few action packed days of design heaven. Pure fun for me. The day began at the Kips Bay Show House. I remember reading about Kips Bay when I was a kid, interested in design and thinking how cool it would be to see it. It is a townhouse filled with inspiration and design ideas. A different designer does each room, creating a design laboratory that is just visually amazing. It is quite hard to describe, so I will let the photos do the talking. Enjoy!

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The National Stationery Show

20130520-053853.jpg We said good-bye to the country and hello to the city yesterday. It is one of the things I love most about New York. Within a little over an hour, you can change scenery so drastically, going from a wooded lakeside retreat to the hustle & bustle of The Javitz Center. I spent the day being surrounded by beautiful paper goods in many forms.

20130520-054330.jpg The National Stationery Show is like a dream come true for paper fans. Aisle after aisle of glorious cards, journals, ribbons, desk accessories and even more cards.

20130520-054550.jpg I spent part of the day laughing. It is so much fun reading and choosing all the clever cards. This series of to/from cards is one of my very favorite.

20130520-054802.jpg It really is just non-stop visual overload. And I mean that in the very best sense. All so good.

20130520-055013.jpg Today I am up early and will be picked up in a car to whisk me away to Dempsey & Carroll for a special breakfast event and meeting. From there I am off to the Kips Bay Decorator Showhouse. It is the start of the Blogfest on Design event I will be attending for the next 2 days. Oh such fun! It is the same event I attended last year, and I look forward to seeing so many familiar faces and friends I have made since then. It will be full days with lots of interesting folks to meet and cool events to attend.

Thanks for coming with me. Details and photos tomorrow…



 

 

Hudson, New York

20130515-060857.jpg Yesterday was a fun day bumming around Putnam and Dutchess counties seeing the sights and vintage shopping. The area is rich in history and incredibly visual at every turn. Today we will be in Columbia county where our property is located. We will spend time in historic Hudson, which is home to a slew of mind-blowing antique shops on Warren Street. The city is named after the adjacent Hudson River and ultimately after the explorer Henry Hudson. It is a place filled with inspiration–just wandering from shop to shop is good for the creative soul. Be sure to put it on your list if you are ever traveling in the area. The train ride from the city along the Hudson River is one of my very favorite. Making it an easy day trip if you want to add a little country to your city visit.



 

 

Beurre & Sel

20130323-080825.jpg Our first order of Beurre & Sel savory cookies arrived late yesterday afternoon. I snatched up 2 of the cool tubes to have as nibbles for the dinner we were hosting last night. Within no time of setting the bowls down, they were gone. These could be a problem. They are so good you can’t eat just one. Maybe one tube of them, but not just one cookie. Made by 4 time James Beard winner Dorie Greenspan in New York along with her son, Joshua, these are sure to please. I selected Rosemary Parmesan and Sesame Sea Salt as the flavors to bring into Watson Kennedy for their more savory bent. They are perfect served alongside a martini, glass of wine or bubbly. The stylish tubes makes these ideal host/hostess gifts.



 

 

MarieBelle Hot Chocolate

20130322-065101.jpg On these chilly days, it is hard to beat a cup of hot chocolate. If that cup can be MarieBelle, even better. Only challenge is deciding if you want white or milk chocolate. Decisions, decisions. MarieBelle out of New York has become famous for her hot chocolate. I can totally see why. The stylish tins fly off our shelves. The packaging makes them amazing gifts. The contents makes for a happy recipient of said gift. The white chocolate with a hint of vanilla. The milk chocolate with a hint of hazelnut. So good. We often sell 2 tins at a time. I think it is a, “I’ll keep one and give the other one as a gift” situation.

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Quote Necklaces

20130206-075417.jpg As far back as my wholesale showroom days, I have always sold jewelry. I love going to the shows and seeing all the new designs that the artisans come up with each season. The above quote necklaces spoke to me on many levels. One, they have a vintage feel to them that you know I really like. Plus you know my weakness for anything with words or quotes on them. These necklaces married the two every so perfectly. Made in upstate New York, each piece is engraved with a short quote/thought, to wear and be reminded of. We carry an assortment of quotes, but the above seemed to sum up sentiments that I think ring so true each and every day.



 

 

A Girl and Her Pig

20120916-092250.jpg New books are arriving daily, and this one from English chef extraordinaire April Bloomfield most certainly grabbed my attention as we were walking around the other day choosing things to add to the website. That is some cover! Please forgive me vegetarian readers. For those of you unfamiliar with her, she is the meat-centric chef known for her gastropub fare. The Spotted Pig, the John Dory Oyster Bar, and our personal favorite, The Breslin. We spent a week at The Ace a few years back on a trip to New York, and the best part was that room service came from The Breslin. Needless to say, we consumed quite a bit of meat that week. The above book is filled with many recipes and stories–such a great combo for a cookbook.



 

 

Paris versus New York

20120908-071916.jpg A fun new book we have started to carry at Watson Kennedy is, Paris versus New York–A Tally of Two Cities. Written by Vahram Muratyan who also writes a blog by the same name. It is a clever and visually whimsical book comparing the 2 cities in a side by side lay-out. Since these are 2 of my all time favorite cities, I had to have a copy for myself. Although I could never chose between them, this book has them go head to head, pointing out all the highlights they have to offer.

Happy Saturday!



 

 

Glimpses of a Cool NYC Apt

20120829-072605.jpg I have had so many folks ask me at the shops and by e-mail about the apartment we stayed in at the London Terrace in Chelsea, on this last trip. It is the Manhattan pied-à-terre of Seattle restaurateur/bar owner & tastemaker Linda Derschang. Here are a few snapshots of the stylish home in the legendary building.

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20120829-074119.jpg We adored staying there–comfortable, personal, filled with art–all things that made us feel right at home in the big city. Thanks Linda, it was such a treat!

20120829-074452.jpg This was the ceiling pattern in the lobby. LOVE.



 

 

The High Line

I was able to squeeze a quick walk of the High Line after I finished my buying on Tuesday at Pier 94. What a glorious, glorious use of space they have created. Much has been written about the beauty and coolness, but it was just one of those things that I have never fit into our busy trips to the city. Ted & Bailey were in Montclair visiting his parents for the day, so it would be my chance to experience it firsthand. They don’t allow pooches, so walking it would have to be a solo adventure. What I was most struck by is the view to so many stunning buildings as well as how lush all the plantings are. These are the images I clicked that marry the two. The large building on the left in the first photo, is the London Terrace where we stayed on this visit. It takes up an entire city block–such an awesome sight viewing it from the High Line.

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They have a great website www.thehighline.org so check it out for more information on this incredible park.