Happy Independence Day!

We interrupt regular programming this week to celebrate the Fourth of July. I wish you a TADA! day filled with picnics and parades, barbecues and backyard games, and the most spectacular fireworks display, wherever you are!

See you back tomorrow for another 

New York City shopping trip. 

Have a happy July 4th!

On the Avenues

Howdy folks! Today, let me take you to another area of New York City that I frequent: Sixth and Seventh Avenues in midtown. Sixth Avenue is also known as "Avenue of the Americas" where you'll find towering corporate offices and commercial buildings. But in the middle of it all is an oasis called Bryant Park.

It's so much smaller compared to Central Park, and that's the reason I like it. It's not overwhelming {it can be explored in less than an hour}, and it has the things you'd normally require of a park, like a fountain, open spaces and lots of trees.

The park management provides many activities all year round, especially during the spring and summer months. You'll find people playing chess, table tennis, petanque, doing yoga or tai chi. Free classes are also offered like juggling, knitting, and writing.

There's a "Reading Room" with racks of books, newspapers and magazines. You can borrow these while you have your lunch or afternoon coffee break -- simply pull up a chair.

Look, they even have books for little ones!

The lawn invites picnickers, sunbathers, and anyone with weary feet to sit and rest.

During the warm months, a stage is set-up for free Broadway performances and sunset movie screenings. During winter, this becomes a skating rink with a Christmas market surrounding it. Not so long ago, this was where the white tents of Fashion Week were set-up before they moved them to Lincoln Center.

There's a restaurant and several cafes within the park, as well as a public restroom. Truly, it's the patch of nature you need without having to leave the city.

There's no playground but there's a carousel to keep the children entertained.

When you're ready to wander off, may I suggest the following places?

Books Kinokuniya is a Japanese shop that carries books {a treasure trove of English titles available}, magazines, and Manga comics. There's a cafe on the third floor and the basement houses gifts, art supplies like Origami paper and paint brushes, stationery and super cute office supplies.  I come here for Asian cookbooks, craft books {instructions are in Japanese but the pictures give the step-by-step guide} and Washi tape.

This part of midtown is called the "Garment District", and Seventh Avenue is also known as "Fashion Avenue" where many fashion designers have showrooms. You'll also find Parsons The New School for Design and the Fashion Institute of Technology here, so it's no surprise that there's a concentration of fabric stores and places to buy trim such as ribbons, buttons, beads and jewelry findings. Here are my favorites:

New York Beads

M & J Trimming

Toho Shoji

Tinsel Trading Company

Here's a peek inside Tinsel Trading Company -- don't 

these fabric flowers excite you?!  

Pacific Trimming

Daytona Trim

You're sure to find everything in New York City, whatever you're into. If you're an avid crafter like myself, a stop at these shops {ones you won't find in a tourist guidebook} will surely get your creative juices flowing -- and allows you to produce a unique travel souvenir.

Addresses:

Bryant Park: 1065 Sixth Avenue and West 42nd Street

Books Kinokuniya: 1073 Sixth Avenue and West 41st Street

NY Beads: 989 6th Ave, New York, NY 10018

M and J Trimming: 1008 Sixth Avenue and West 37th Street

Toho Shoji: 990 Sixth Avenue and West 36th Street

Tinsel Trading Company: 1 West 37th Street and 5th Avenue (new address here)

Pacific Trimming: 218 West 38th Street and 7th Avenue

Daytona Trims: 251 West 39th Street and 8th Avenue  

My Favorite Shops in New York City

Happy Monday dear friends! Let's step out of the craft room, shall we? I'll take you on a tour of my favorite shops in and around New York City. 

Today, we're going to the Chelsea neighborhood, specifically on West 17th Street, between 6th and 7th Avenues. This entire block is filled with lovely storefronts where one can get lost, hunt for treasures, and find inspiration. I never leave this street without entering these shops:

Let's start at Pippin Home. 

You'll have to enter an alleyway {don't worry, it's already filled with merchandise} to browse furniture and other one of a kind decorations for your home.

Right beside it is Pippin Vintage Jewelry.

It's like entering your grandma's boudoir. Tabletops brim with affordable accessories like hats, bags and gloves. Plus, you're welcome to pull open drawers filled with vintage and estate jewelry organized by type: "necklaces", "bracelets", "pins", "watches", "rings" and "charms".

Angel Street Thrift Shop sells everything from clothes, shoes, furniture, books, posters and prints.

I spend a lot of time in the kitchenware section where I found vases, tea light holders and pretty plates that I've used for entertaining. Proceeds from the sales benefit New Yorkers with substance abuse, mental illness and HIV/AIDS.

Another thrift store a few doors down is Housing Works. The organization is essentially a healing community for those affected by HIV/AIDS. Their shops found around the city help them raise funds for their projects.

Whether you are looking for fashion or something for the home, they have a great selection if I do say so myself!

Canvas is relatively new to the neighborhood.

Their credo is "Simple Sustainable Style."

The goods are modern but have the ease and simplicity of the French countryside.

Also on this street is West Elm.

Their pieces are a happy union of modern and classic styles. They're also not afraid to use bold colors for accessories like pillows, placemats and vases.

And finally, Haven's Kitchen. It's a specialty food shop, recreational cooking school and event space built in an old carriage house.

Stop in for a coffee and a cookie, sit on the communal bar table, and stop and smell the flowers -- they have the most beautiful selection {although they're not for sale}.

In case you find yourself in New York City, check out these shops on West 17th Street!

Addresses:

Pippin Home: 112 West 17th Street

Pippin Vintage Jewelry: 112 1/2 West 17th Street

Angel Street Thrift Shop: 118 West 17th Street

Housing Works Thrift Store: 143 West 17th Street

Canvas Home Store: 123 West 17th Street

West Elm: 112 West 18th Street {back entrance on West 17th Street}

Haven's Kitchen: 109 West 17th Street

Sweatshirt Make-over

I hope you're having a wonderful day!

Check out this project I found on Pinterest.

via Pinterest

Turn an old, blah sweatshirt into a TADA! hobo bag. 

The photo didn't link to the source, but the step-by-step photos are easy to follow: make a bib-like pattern and trace this onto the wrong side of the sweatshirt. Cut accordingly {you'll have two pieces}, pin the two sides together, and sew the edges. Turn it inside-out and add some pretty felt flowers!

Have a crafty weekend ya' all! 

Flip-flop Time!

It's finally summer and it's time to show off the pedicures. Here are my past attempts to turn blah-looking slippers into TADA! :

Add a few beads 

String on some lace 

Embellish with sequins

Here's another cool idea where the straps are replaced with a braided ribbon made out of an old t-shirt:

via By Wilma blog

Don't these add more character to ordinary slippers? The new straps also come handy when the former rubber straps snap apart but the soles are still in good shape. Blah to TADA! indeed.

Happy Headbands

A few years back, I made this TADA! headband 

out of remnants from a blah t-shirt:

I sewed an elastic band on both edges to 

give it some stretch.  

If you're looking for a summer project to do with your girls {and throw in some lessons on recycling as well}, here's another headband tutorial I found via Pinterest. It's from the blog Make It and Love It.

via Make It and Love It Blog

I can't wait to try these out myself. I might use a printed or striped t-shirt, and even mix different plain colored shirts!

Wrap me in Fabric

I found some old t-shirts that have overstayed their welcome in my closet. They say, if you haven't worn them in the past year, time to say goodbye. But you know that goodbyes are never easy for me, right?

Here are a few TADA! necklaces I made using blah t-shirts: 

 The weaved variety

 Something floral

A touch of gold 

I'm thinking of making a few more. 
Below are inspirations for new designs:

via Cakies

A cluster of wooden beads

via Cakies 

Wrapped in fabric

via Pinterest

Braided and shaped into daisies

Now that I have some pegs, I've got to start working on them. I'll show them to you when I finish. Have a fabulous day!