botanica tinctoria

i just received a sample packet from a wonderful company: botanica tinctoria. they manufacture naturally dyed - yet colorfast - trimmings and yarn in a gorgeous color palette. the line includes ribbons, tape, ric-rac, broderie anglaise, hand-crocheted lace, as well as various qualities yarns and embroidery threads. i've never seen anything like it. do check out the botanica tinctoria website, you will not be disappointed.

gizmos and gadgets

i just love finding treasures where you least expect it. driving back from a wedding weekend upstate (congratulations again jen and michael!), we stopped for gas in downsville, new york. i wasn't even going to get out of the car until i saw the sign - gizmos and gadgets. could be good, could be really bad. it was all of those things: just one of those stores where time stood still and the merchandise piled up. it's hard to describe exactly what they were selling, or weren't selling. my heart skipped a beat when i saw the craft section. there was not a single item manufactured after 1969. my prize haul included some oversized wooden macrame beds and a handful of pre-painted doll heads - including one for a cat doll. sold!

gowanus nursery in brooklyn

i am long overdue in writing this post about my favorite brooklyn plant resource, the gowanus nursery. i have been a client at this nursery for quite a few years, following them to their new location on van brunt street. their opening each spring puts me in such a great mood as it marks the start of the outdoor season. the plant selection is extraordinary - black pansies anyone? - and i am always bound to find things that i've never seen before. given that i have a black thumb and a challenging outdoor space, that's a very good thing.

march - housewares store in san francisco

last month i visited the march housewares store on sacramento street in san francisco. i'm not much of a cook, so housewares are usually not on top of my shopping list, but this store is amazing. it's artfully merchandized, and meticulously curated. from the green splatterware to the handwoven bungee rugs, from the braided denim bags to the delicate porcelain spoons, there is so much to covet, yet the store did not overwhelm. my favorite picks were the vincent van duysen canisters in a cool new blue color palette (sadly i forgot to take a picture) and the art by carrie mae smith, which brought a smile to my face. a must-visit!

artsy folk cat

here's a treasure i just picked up for a few dollars at housing works, one of my favorite new york city places to shop, and a great charity to booth. check out their online auctions as well, you'll find some amazing things! this little cat has already given me lots of ideas for making other stuffed animals, stay tuned...

brooklyn general store

it is a sad fact that stores selling yarn, fabric and notions are hard to find these days. for a long time, i used to stock up on all these things went i went back to belgium. so imagine my delight at being in close proximity to one of the best "dry goods"places in brooklyn: the brooklyn general store. it is located on union street at the north end of red hook, on what used to be a thriving shopping block for all types of foods and goods. brooklyn general's home within old frank's department store is a throwback/hommage to that era. the vintage interior is not reproduced, just uncovered, cleaned and painted. brooklyn general store was created in an effort to provide the best quality materials to a thriving community of artists and craftspeople, and to promote making things by hand through inspiration and education - check out their listing of classes online. i find myself making up any excuse to soak up the atmosphere in this magical place.