Category: gifty

renegade craft fair: new york edition

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I love a good fair. Craft fair, food fair, furniture fair… really anything but a street fair. You know, the kind that shuts down part of Sixth Avenue when you’ve decided that’s the day you’re going to rent a zipcar and go to Home Depot or something.

There is no shortage of craft/food/antique fairs to choose from in New York City. For example, I’ve blogged before about the Hester Street Fair; have spent many a happy afternoon wandering the outdoor Brooklyn Smorgasburg; there’s still the Brooklyn Night Bazaar to try out, and MadSqEats in the fall is one of my favorites for food. Two weeks ago a friend and I checked out the new winter home of the Brooklyn Flea in Crown Heights after our Brooklyn Bodyburn class, and poked our heads into the adjoining Berg’n beer hall, too. I am also highly excited for the Hester Holiday Market opening on December 1st at One Penn Plaza. Hey, sometimes I’m in midtown.

Last weekend the Renegade Craft Fair came to town – it’s been here before, I’ve just always missed it in the past. Unlike some of the other markets, it doesn’t hang around. It’s here for two days and then it’s gone, so I was thrilled to finally attend, and I have to say I was really pleased to see such quality stuff, and to chat with small business owners and makers who are really excited and passionate about what they do. There was a little bit of everything – clothing for women, men, kids. Great scarves, bags, and jewelry. Really yummy bath and beauty stuff. Beautiful ceramic vases and spoon rests. And my favorite category – kitchen and tabletop goods, like tea towels, wooden spoons, cast iron pans, trivets, and aprons. You name it, someone is making it. These are some of my favorites! Enjoy.

1 planters from Cara Taylor ceramics | 2 wooden arrow spoons (plus everything else) from Amelie Mancini | 3 indigo clothing & accessories from Katrin Reifeiss | 4 ceramic sake set from Soul Vessel Designs | 5 i’d like everything from btw ceramics, but this striped serving bowl is top of the list | 6 all kinds of beautiful wooden boards and serving pieces at East to West Woods | 7 Herbivore Botanicals gorgeous Pink Clay soap | 8 i love the knotted ropes from Tack & Ward | 9 city metro maps from line posters…especially the Paris one.

reading list

it feel like i’m always buying a cookbook. that said, there are always more that i’m dying to get my hands on…

slanted_door

lately all i want to eat is thai, vietnamese, chinese. dumplings, noodles, spring rolls. korean bbq and hot sauce. i didn’t grow up eating a lot of food like this, but i’m on a mission to incorporate this style of food into my repertoire. every page of this book is gorgeous. every. page.

mypariskitchen

david lebovitz’s blog is a treasure… it’s more or less chock-full of everything i’d ever want to know. i scoured it deep this summer and last while planning long-weekend trips to paris. (thanks for this recco, by the way…) so it’s a no-brainer that i need this book.

this cookbook is so exciting that it has it’s own video! which i’ve watched about 17 times, because i also love the apartment. i don’t know if i really need a lot of the recipes in this book (does anyone really need a recipe for avocado toast or a grain bowl?) but it looks stunning all the same.

plentymore

obviously. if you don’t already own yotam ottolenghi’s earlier cookbooks, ottolenghi, plenty, and jerusalem, get those while you’re at it. you need them.

mmitk

last on my list, for now at least, is this book. it was a great pleasure to be one of the assistant food stylists on this book. quite possibly the most fun two weeks ever! being around so much beautiful food, gorgeous props, and nice, talented people was a real treat.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

hello again/ on my radar…

hello again! i took such a long hiatus from the blog that i almost couldn’t remember how to sign in. there have been a lot of things i wanted to share over the last several months, but sitting down to create a post seemed just like too much work lately. which sounds crazy. so i’m snapping out of it!

in june i went to see my friend tammy of stella jams fame in bozeman, montana. she took me to the farmers market on a rainy saturday morning and introduced me to meredith rivers, the ceramist behind dishes with soul. i truly wanted to cram the whole collection into my carry-on and call it a day. instead i’ve procrastinated for four months. but i have my eye on so, so many of her pieces. i love the raw and undulating edges, and the way some bits fold over almost like a dumpling skin. for my line of work, the shallow bowls and platters are perfect for shooting salads, soups, roasted vegetables… oh pretty much anything.

i have a feeling this line is destined for the shelves of ABC carpet & home. (also known as heaven on earth). since i last looked at meredith’s site back in late june, it looks like she’s been nominated as 2014 finalist for martha stewart’s american made award. congratulations, meredith! i love your work.

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love it: leanlix

i couldn’t resist. this one’s for the pup.

i’ve totally fallen for these new treat sticks from seattle-based leanlix. the packaging, the product photography, the clever flavor names… everything about it is just-right, in my opinion. hands-down, the best thing i saw at the hh backer show last week.

and following our theme of “edibles” today are two recent articles that i quite enjoyed:

–food diary from David Rakoff

-food production on a “twee” scale, right here in bklyn

-tonight, i’m hoping to eat here

-or here

happy weekend!

(photo from leanlix.com)

pink and red all over…

i can’t say valentine’s day is my absolute favorite holiday, but i do love red and pink and heart shapes. and candy. good enough.

(1. valentine’s cake from Zingerman’s; 2. heart shaped spatula; 3. heart shaped wall stickers; 4. Ban.do printed heart head-scarf; 5. lacey heart notecards; 6. macarons in gorgeous colors; 7. candy-colored ring from Ippolita; 8. temporary tattoos from tatt.ly)

happy & healthy new year!

high hopes for starting the new year right…. here’s to skinny thighs and a functioning liver!

i’m going to start looking for my willpower now.

1. rebounder trampoline; 2. “for good” necklace; 3. work out top; 4. jump rope; 5. KALE! 6. 3 lb. hand weights; 7. natural rubber yoga mat; 8. cropped work out cover-up thingie; 9. fun sneakers; 10. yummy juice cleanse

gift guide for: mr. urban nerd sophisticate

ideas for what to get that city-dwelling guy in your life who kinda already has everything he might need… he’s slightly nerdy at heart but has developed a sense of style and quirk over the years, perhaps. if that sounds like anyone you know, then take a look!

1. shoulder bag; 2. contrast color cashmere scarf; 3. watch; 4. a pair of very cool shoes; 5. striped long-sleeve tee; 6. new glasses; 7. luggage tag; 8. star wars journal; 9. portable flash drive; 10. warm hat; 11. eco-socks

gift guide for the cheeky animal lover

 

gifty ideas for an animal lover with a sense of humor AND a sense of style?  yes, please.

there is a lot of this out there:

don’t do this to your friends or relatives who like doggies kitties bunnies whatever. they won’t forgive you. i’m serious.

1. karl pillow; 2. bookends; 3. set of tumblers; 4. Iti cat lounger; 5. mugs; 6. wall sconce; 7. pig butter dish; 8. madison ave. tote bag

holiday home decor

ho, ho, ho! the first bklynprairie holiday gift guide is here, for your eyes only… enjoy!

there have been years when i’ve put up a string of snowflake lights and called it a day. but really, if i had my way and all the extra time, energy, and money in the world, i’d be more inclined to go all out. any of the above would suit me just fine. at least for starters. and i guess it’s pretty clear… i like felt.

clockwise from top left: wooden tree, candelabra, nativity scene, lights, glass ornaments, paper gnome, snowglobe, felt wreath, felt flower ornaments, felt garland.