The Design Sponge Newspaper

Did you have a wonderful weekend? I hope you did in spite of the scorching heat. I did have a good one with a relaxing barbecue with friends.

When I was working on my "Shopping Tour of New York City", I found this special edition newspaper from Design Sponge. If you're not familiar, Design Sponge is an awesome blog featuring beautiful home tours, unique handmade products, easy cooking and craft ideas, fun city guides, as well as home-based business advice.

Last year, founder Grace Bonney launched the book "Design Sponge at Home". The first Design Sponge newspaper was launched alongside the book. I made a mad dash all around Manhattan and Brooklyn for a copy, but I went home empty-handed. The free newspaper was so popular, they were wiped out immediately.

So you can imagine the little happy dance I made when I saw this newspaper! It's no longer free, but the $5.00 I paid was worth it. If you want to get a copy, here's how. I think the editors plan to make this newspaper a summer tradition. Yippee!

The theme of this newspaper is "Summer Camp" -- a tradition for many young Americans, and a tribute to the 100th year anniversary of the Girl Scouts.

Swimming/Making S'mores/Bunk beds

I was a Girl Scout, but I never went to summer camp. But who hasn't seen "camp life" in the movies -- the buses that shuttle everyone to the property, the fond goodbyes to mom and dad, the bunk beds, thrilling outdoor activities like canoeing and archery, swimming in the lake, and gathering around the campfire to make S'mores.

Inside the newspaper, there are lots of "things to make". Isn't that one of camp's lessons -- to create things with your bare hands? The tent in the photo reminds me of the tent my brother and I made when we were little. We tied three ends of a thin blanket to our bedroom windows. This served as the "roof", while the droopy end was the "door". Inside, we'd lay a sleeping bag and lots of pillows {blah to TADA!, right?}. When the lights were turned off, we pretended we were sleeping outdoors. That was our imaginary camp experience.

The newspaper also has some puzzles and mind games...

...as well as campfire cooking suggestions.

This week, we'll do some blah to TADA! crafting based on ideas from the newspaper, as well as things related to "summer camp".

Before I say goodbye today, I'll share a collage I made of things I would take with me had I gone to camp:

Percolator/Friendship Bracelets/Floral Stool/Sketching Kit/
Picture Frame/Postcards

• Enamelware like a percolator, cups and plates
• Materials to make friendship bracelets {exchange them with new friends!}
• A handy stool in a happy print
• Colored pencils and a sketchpad to draw and record memories
• A picture frame with my family photo
• Postcards and stationery to keep in touch with family and friends back home

More SOHO Shops

Happy Friday! Today we conclude our shopping tour of New York City. While there are a gazillion places to check out, my main criteria for choosing these shops are the inspiration they provide for artists and crafters. A store isn't just about the items on sale. It's also about the experience and the feeling it wraps you with while you're inside, even until you leave. Does it make you feel luxurious? Pampered? Rich? Or extremely poor {because of the exorbitant price tags!}? After visiting the ones on my list, I hope you'll agree that they spark some creativity within -- like you're itching to make a version of something you saw.

Today, we're still in SOHO. 

All Saints Spitalfields is a British clothing brand that I first discovered in Miami. What drew me into their stores is the window display:  rows upon rows of vintage sewing machines. The clothes are hip, cool, and in muted shades of black, white, grey and beige. The accessories are edgy and utilitarian.  You'll be impressed with the craftsmanship.

Pearl River Mart is a three-level department store showcasing furniture, clothing, fabric, kitchenware, Asian cooking ingredients, paper goods, herbal medicine, and New York souvenirs. I come here for the ceramic dishes, paper lanterns and garlands, and inexpensive party favors. There are also restrooms in the basement, in case you need to make a stop.

Muji is a Japanese brand and branches of this store have opened in many parts of the city. Inside, you'll find clothes and accessories, bags and luggage, toiletries, stationery, furniture, storage and kitchenware. I really like the practicality of the items, their high-quality with a "no-brand name exposed" philosophy. 

Irish fashion designer Orla Kiely just opened a store in SOHO. While her bags and clothes are a little over my budget, her home and office accessories are pretty affordable.

This section in her store is a little piece of sunshine, don't you think? 

Loopy Mango rocks a flea market vibe with ephemera like animal heads, textiles, and jewelry. They carry non-vintage pieces too, like correspondence cards, fragrant soaps and knitting supplies like yarn, needles and books. They offer knitting classes as well.

Here are just a few curiosities at the back of the Loopy Mango shop. 

A visit to Jonathan Adler's shop is guaranteed to make you smile. His home goods are bright and bold, and the ceramics he makes have a witty sense of humor. 

Walls filled with charming fabric and the softest yarn is what you'll expect at Purl Soho. Add needlepoint, embroidery, crochet, and machine sewing to that {for both supplies and classes} -- it's a crafter's dream store!

Dwell Studio has made a name for itself with beddings, home decor, and nursery basics. Founder Christiane Lemieux is also the author of Undecorate. Now, they've got an address to call their own here in SOHO. Browse through the store and fantasize about that dream home you want to dress up.

British designer and author Rachel Ashwell used to have a TV show called "Shabby Chic" which I really liked. She went to flea markets and outfitted a home with her finds -- white linens, floral fabrics, mismatched silverware, crystal candlesticks and chandeliers. Whenever I step into her store, I'm transported to the English countryside where the vibe is relaxed, and I want to stay there forever.

If you're craving something sweet, make a beeline at Georgetown Cupcake. It's a branch of the cupcakery born in Washington, DC and made popular with the TLC reality show "DC Cupcakes".

I hope this week's shopping guide will be helpful the next time you visit New York City. I wish you all a marvelous weekend!


Addresses:
All Saints Spitalfields: 512 Broadway between Spring and Broome Streets

Pearl River Mart: 477 Broadway between Broome and Grand Streets

Muji: 455 Broadway between Grand and Howard Streets

Orla Kiely: 5 Mercer Street and Howard Street

Loopy Mango: 78 Grand Street between Green and Wooster Streets

Jonathan Adler: 47 Greene Street between Grand and Broome Streets

Purl Soho: 459 Broome Street between Greene and Mercer Streets

Dwell Studio: 77 Wooster Street between Broome and Spring Streets

Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic: 117 Mercer Street between Spring and Prince Streets

Georgetown Cupcake: 111 Mercer Street between Spring and Prince Streets

Shops in SOHO

I hope you had a nice Fourth of July holiday, lovelies! Today, we resume window shopping around New York City. 

Today, we'll walk around SOHO {short for "South of Houston Street"}. It's known for its loft-like apartments...  

 ...cobble-stone streets and brand name boutiques. There are many, many shops and you can spend the entire afternoon here. I'll take you to the ones that inspire, encourage thoughtful browsing, and carry affordable merchandise that push forward our artsy-crafty pursuits. Here are the ones that I've lovingly mentioned in the past:

Anthropologie

Kate's Paperie 

Housing Works Thrift Shop 

 Housing Works Bookstore and Cafe

Here are a few more vibrant shops:

C Wonder is for the woman who isn't afraid of color. The items are trendy but not over-priced. I love how the boutique is divided into different sections: clothes/accessories in a boudoir interior {even the dressing room has a dramatic multi-paneled mirror}, and brightly-lit shelves in the homeware section.

They specialize in monogrammed items -- a gift to self or for that friend who's got everything. They also have a clearance section where you can get stationery, desk supplies, and dining pieces for less than $5.00! 

Papyrus, just across the street, has a sumptuous array of greeting cards and paper goods.

I am over the moon excited that Paper Source has opened in New York City! I first discovered this store in Chicago and visited its branches in Georgetown {Washington, DC}, Princeton {New Jersey} and Virginia Highland {Atlanta}...yes, I'm a fan. They have crafting supplies, beautiful gift wrap, greeting cards, books, journals and nostalgic gifts. They also offer regular crafting classes and in-store demonstrations.

While the Museum of Modern Art is located in Midtown Manhattan, there's a branch of the museum store in SOHO. Stop by to find intelligently-designed everyday items, art books, and even fashion accessories.

If you're savvy in the kitchen visit Sur La Table for cooking, baking, and entertaining supplies.  

The flagship store of Dean and Deluca is located in SOHO. Step in and have a quick bite or shop for ingredients, prepared food, baked goods, flowers, cooking equipment, and Dean and Deluca souvenirs.

I accidentally stumbled upon Bobby Berk Home and liked what I saw. It carries modern home furnishings like pop art, graphic pillows, scented candles, and furniture.

More SOHO shops tomorrow!

Addresses:

Anthropologie: 375 West Broadway Street and Broome Street

Kate's Paperie: 435 Broome Street and Broadway 

Housing Works Thrift Shop: 130 Crosby Street and West Houston Street

Housing Works Bookstore: 126 Crosby Street and Jersey Street

C Wonder: 72 Spring Street and Crosby Street

Papyrus: 73 Spring Street and Crosby Street

Paper Source: 83 Spring Street and Crosby Street

MoMA Museum Store: 81 Spring Street and Crosby Street

Sur La Table: 75 Spring Street and Crosby Street

Dean and Deluca: 560 Broadway and Prince Street

Bobby Berk Home:  59 Crosby Street and Spring Street

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