Meanwhile, at the Javits...

While we were busy smiling at strangers at the NSS, there were also a couple of other conventions happening at the Javits Center. Downstairs was the always exciting International Contemporary Furniture Fair, and upstairs (and downstairs) was Surtex, a licensing show for mostly textile designers. We were able to switch off and take a quick turn around these other shows, and here is what I liked.

At ICFF, I found Palo Samko, who makes gorgeous wooden furniture like the table in the pic below.

I also loved these lamps by Perch!.

Surtex was a bit of a blur for me, but there were some cool patterns to be seen. I was in a bit of a rush to get back to my booth, but I was able to stop and drool over the designs of Julia Rothman . Julia went to RISD with me, and I am so impressed with her work, both illustration and pattern design. We talked a little about doing a collaboration, and I really hope that happens! These are some of her textile designs.

The Wrap

Today was the last day of the National Stationery Show, and I for one am very happy to be done with it for another year. We made some really great contacts, and some new friends!

One of our favorite new finds was Night Owl Paper Goods from Alabama. Not only were Alan and Jennifer SUPER nice, but they also make really cute cards. Here are a couple:
We also loved Motormouth Press, fellow-Californians, who had their booth decorated in stunning hot pink and white vinyl made to look like a kitchen. I should have taken a picture!

Another really sweet couple who make handmade things was La Familia Green, whose Luchador and Tim Gunn cards are awesome, and who might even be crazier than I am because they cut all their cards by hand.

And I was lucky enough to meet the girls from Albertine Press while waiting for the ladie's room. I love the colors and patterns they are using.

I couldn't stop looking at the beautiful silkscreens from Spruce Avenue

It was also really fun to see the people from Hammerpress, Pancake and Franks, Peculiar Pair, Old School Stationers, Hello Lucky, Egg Press (below), Trace, Manifesto Letterpress, Binth (below), and my friends at Relish and Twig and Fig.

Flowers in the Booth

Colorful Newspaper Boxes Outside of Cooper Union

Oh, Duncan...

Look what I found!!! I'm bringing home four boxes for future use...

Eric's gonna kill me...

... but the other night at Cafeteria, I had a Blackberry Mint Julep. I know, I know, it's a terrible thing to do to bourbon, but it was very tasty. And this color:

More Cupcakes!

Evan, Laurel and I are about to head out to Mama's, but I just wanted to report that we stopped by Billy's on the way home from the show today, and they had the red velvet!!! I have to say that these cupcakes are even better than the Duncan Hines. I'm still working on finding a recipe this good, but for now the cake mix will have to suffice.

Next...

Alright, so now that we've had our fill of cupcakes, we're on to mac and cheese. Let me tell you, people, we are having a serious health week. Anyways, tonight at Cafeteria we had Mac and Cheese Spring Rolls (mac and cheese rolled up in dumpling papers and fried- also served with a cheese dipping sauce. I have to say that I think the Fried Mac and Cheese at Cafe 50's in LA is even better...), and tomorrow we are planning to go to Mama's, where I always have the mac and cheese, and Paula told us about THIS place. I am SO excited to go there, so you can expect a full report when we do.

This is for Paula

My favorite pen for many years has been the Pilot Hi-Tec C, which has an incredibly fine point and comes in great colors. I've been buying them in Japantown at Kinokuniya Stationery, but otherwise the only place I've ever found them was in London. Tonight we had dinner at Cafeteria (yum!) with Laurel's friend Paula, and I discovered that she has been taking notes in her medical textbooks in tiny print. When she saw my pen, she got very excited, so I gave her one (in exchange for future prescriptions- her offer, not my request). Now I've done some research, and these pens can be found here, and I'm sure many other places if you look hard.

silver shoes

Laurel and I have been seeing silver shoes all over the place. We saw six pairs during the time between when we left the Javits Center at 6:00 and when we got to the apartment at 6:45, and loads more during the course of the last two days. The majority have been flats (my favorite), but there have also been sneakers and sandals. If I could have any silver shoes (and I already have some, of course), I would want these, by Sigerson Morrison. I love the cut of their shoes so much, but they are WAY out of my league. Sigh... I guess they will just have to replace the bag that was on my wish list!

wish come true

Today I went to the Hable Constructionbooth to drool over that
that gorgeous bag, and the friendly staff told me that they were writing personal orders! So I got it, and for the wholesale price! And then Laurel got one, too. Yay!

Crystal Gravy

This car is on display at the show to promote a line of crystal covered greeting cards. It is very hard to capture the essence of this "Crystal Car", so please feel free to look at the website of its creators here.

The Empire Strikes Back

Looking down 34th St. just after the rain stopped.

cupcakes galore

There's something about hanging out with Laurel and Myles... we always end up eating a lot of baked goods, and especially cupcakes. Last night Laurel and I tried a new place in her neighborhood called "Burgers and Cupcakes". It was the kind of place where you build your own burger from lots of choices (bison, ostrich, venison, and salmon were a few of the options), and then they also serve cupcakes! Laurel had a veggie burger with cheese and grilled mushrooms, and I had a chicken chipotle burger with goat cheese. Yum! I will eat goat cheese on just about anything. I said, "just about." Then we got a banana caramel cupcake to go, and headed over to Billy's and picked up a chocolate cupcake and also a slice of icebox cake (!!). We put the cake in the fridge at the apartment and then took our cupcakes to the show this morning, but I misplaced the banana caramel (and found it again just before we shut down for the night), so we still have that one for tomorrow. After we left the convention center, we walked over to Cupcake Cafe for a chocolate cupcake or two with milk.... Mind you, we never planned to do any sort of cupcake tour. It just happened! Luckily, I think we might be out of places to go to, since we've both had our fill of Magnolia... not that there aren't plenty more cupcake shops around. What is with New York and cupcakes?

Anyways, I think I might curb my sweet tooth for now and hold out for Donut Plant, my mecca.

Puppy Kisses

I have been missing Seymour since we got here. There are adorable little dogs all over this city, and there was even one in line for a taxi when we left the airport. This will be the longest I've left Seymour since I got him, and I know it's worse for me than for him!!!

wish list part 2

Le Creuset pots in Caribbean Blue

Hable Construction "Picnic" bag in Turquoise

black sheep

Strawberries

Before I left town, I bought these yummies at Monterey Market.... mmm.

Rainy Day Sunshine

Here is Laurel looking cute under our two umbrellas today.

Greetings, Etc.

Hello from New York! We got in last night and this morning we headed over to the convention center with our 90 lbs of luggage to set up the booth. It went really well, and Jane stopped by to help out too, so that made things faster. All in all, including a long brunch break across town at 9th St Market (where we saw Michael Cera!!!!), it took us about 10 hours. Anyhow, here's the end result! More pics to come, I assure you.

This Is It!

My puppy alarm clock woke me up early this morning, but I suppose it's good practice, since I have to be up at 4am tomorrow to leave for New York. That's right- it's tomorrow! My to-do list for today is surprisingly short, but I am sure I will be adding to it as things pop into my head. Last night it took me forever to fall asleep because I kept having to get up and write things down. Anyhow, my next post will be from the Big Apple, so stay tuned!

PS: These roses live right outside my bedroom window. I SO don't miss apartment living!

Why I Love My Local Hardware Store

I love shopping in drugstores and hardware stores because there are always so many unexpected finds. Last week I went in to buy woodgrain switchplate covers for That Room and found this gem which I am using in my kitchen. Pardon the flash!

A.N.T.R.V.C.

The judges have deliberated, and we have come to a decision. There are seven beautiful cupcakes before me, but only one of them can be America's Next Top Red Velvet Cake....


Duncan Hines, we love your color and your light, fluffy texture. You somehow manage to be moist but not heavy, and that is a valuable skill as a cupcake. But some people here think that making cakes from mixes is a little "commercial", and we wonder if you have what it takes to be a gourmet treat.

Martha Stewart, we think you have a beautiful color, and we love your style, but we wonder if you are too "mature" and dry to make it in the world of cakes.

Paula Deen, you are so sassy and vibrant, and we thought that using marshmallows and coconut in your frosting was a really daring move. But your texture is so coarse, sometimes we think you might be better off taking away the food color and calling yourself "yellow cake".


James Beard, we had high hopes for you from the beginning. You walked in here with more experience in baking than any of the other recipes, but taste after taste, you have disappointed us with your blandness. Where is the color we see in the other cakes?

Beet cake, we all know that in baking, like in fashion, old is always new again. We love that you took such a risk in bringing back the traditional coloring ingredient, beets, but your texture and your flavor just don't seem like "America's Next Top Red Velvet Cake".

Chocolate cake, you came into this competition as the odd one out. We thought, "how could a chocolate cake be red?" But you surprised us again and again with your flair. Unfortunately, we felt your texture was lacking, and when you fell apart before we could even bite into you, some of the judges gave up on you.

Suicide cake, we thought you were moist and flavorful. We especially liked your swirly color. But we don't understand how we can replicate you, since you are such a mixed up mess.

So who doesn't go home? The cakes that are flavorful but dry, or the moist ones that taste like nothing? Or is it the one from the box, the one that nobody thought could be good?


Duncan Hines. Congratulations, you are America's Next Top Red Velvet Cake!

(screaming and crying follows)

Wish List

These are some things I have been desperately wanting for my house. Actually, I've written to Brian Kerrigan and I think I might use his tiles (in white) in my bathroom!

Clockwise, from the top left: "Feasting at the Berry Bush" pillow from Deadly Squire, woodgrain ceramic tiles from Brian Kerrigan,Tea towels from Mozi, "Gourmet" porcelain takeout dishes by Lorena Barrezueta, lamp from Oscar de la Renta

*don't forget you can always enlarge my pictures by clicking on them!*

That Room

Maybe this is a good place to think out loud about the room off the garage. Until recently, this room was where I kept my previously un-unpacked boxes, mostly of craft supplies, gift wrap, and other miscellany. When Eric and I started talking about moving in together, I decided I'd better start making better use of the space I have, and realized that the guest room was being wasted as well. Sure, I have the occasional overnight visitor, but for the most part the guest room (which had been the first room I fully furnished and decorated when I moved in) had been neglected. And it's a nice room, with great light! So I started moving all my crafting, sewing, and gift-wrapping materieals into there, and thanks to The Container Store, I got everything well-organized and much more functional. Now it seems I use that room every day, and I love it! BUT, when I moved everything out of the room off the garage, it was left empty. Since that room has french doors onto the patio, it seemed only logical to make it a family room/ bar that would be an extention of the yard when we are entertaining. Luckily I came up with this plan shortly before last month's antique fair, and I was able to score some great finds, including this beverage cart* (which was orange, but I painted it green), this fantastic trash can, and the tree stump lamp above (which I repainted and need to rewire). I also found this trunk on sale at Target, from the Woolrich collection.
Anyways, as you can see I'm working with alot of wood and faux wood tones, and trying to give some life to a room that seems like it was hastily added onto the garage sometime in the 1960's. If you have any suggestions for me, please let me know!

*yes, those glasses DO have printing presses on them!

wow.

I've decided I want to put in wood paneling in the room off the garage, to give it more of a hunting-lodge-meets-basement-rec-room feel, and also to warm the place up a bit (it's all concrete now), but I am having the hardest time finding the panels! Did they just stop making that stuff after the 1970's? I have found several companies that sell real wood that has to be installed strip by strip, and is sold in a minimum of 800 square feet (I only need about 60 for the one wall...), but that's about it. Until... I found THIS website. Unfortunately I don't think I can install wallpaper over the popcorn stucco that's on the walls, but my head is swimming with ideas...

The Duncan Difference

As some of you may know, I received my box of Duncan Hines Red Velvet Cake Mix in the mail the day after our taste test. Having had enough Red Velvet for a while, I let the box sit for a couple of weeks in my pantry. And then last night, I pulled it out, dumped the contents into my mixer with some eggs, oil, and water, and voila! Cupcakes! I am bringing them over to the Huntress House later for the panel to taste, but in my humble opinion, these are much better than any of the recipes we tried two weeks ago. I think the big difference is the texture. Perhaps if we had used cake flour rather than all-purpose, and sifted our dry ingredients, some of the other cupcakes would have turned out similarly, but these ones are incredibly finely textured. They are also not too sweet, and just chocolate-y enough to no longer qualify as "yellow cake". Not to mention the lovely deep red color! My only complaint is in the frosting.
I'm sorry, but canned cream cheese frosting that doesn't need refrigeration just does not compare to the real thing. In any case, I will keep you posted on the opinions of my other tasters, but I think this recipe takes the cake!!!

Purple Houses