gifts, gifts, gifts - or ways to distract from web drama

I am trying to be relaxed, people. I've racked up countless HOURS on the phone with our web host. I'm trying to install my SSL certificate so you can shop on our site safely. It's been 3 days (not including Sat + Sun). Aaaaargh!

To distract myself from these annoying issues (being a small business owner is amazing though), I'm thinking about gifts. I loooooove giving presents. When I was rolling in the dough ($$) I gave some pretty amazing gifts. Now that I'm a bit more...financially challenged, I've had to cut back. I do predict some $$ rewards for my work, so I'm preparing myself for the windfall.

Besides, what makes you feel better than giving someone you love a really nice present?

What I like to bring to brunch:

Sparkling Sake tickles the tongue and is a party in your mouth.




A fabulous cocktail hat for a Spring gift - how chic is this (can't you imagine Marion Cotillard rocking this little treat):

from the ridiculously talented Kelly Christy (ladies she also handmakes the most heavenly veils) this would be gorgeous on your best friend.




The best way to carry business cards:

**Lauren Merkin's leather card holder. It also comes in patent leather!



Remember, it's still winter out there:

**Lisa B's super soft contrast toe wool socks.




Cute, cute, cute:

Shinzi Katoh's bag. Oh he makes the cutest things. Luckily they're available Stateside at superbuzzy.com




For that handsome esposo or novio:

also from Kelly Christy. This hat is so freakin dope. Oh and each hat is made by hand - yup blocked by hand and everything. Genius!


**= These gift ideas are from the ultimate gift-giver, our friend Zetna. If she isn't your friend, I'm so sorry, because she knows how to give a gift.

pre-spring office cleanup - or searching for a new curtain..

Spring definitely has not sprung. I knew that freakin groundhog from Staten Island was bullshitting.

Anyway, in NY we finally had a big snowstorm. Six inches in Brooklyn. It was beautiful. The streets were quiet, there were almost no cars on the roads. Uma and I strolled in the middle of our street and savored the solitude.

FYI, I was in the Upper East Side yesterday -the city had wiped all traces of ice and snow from the streets. I wonder if someone could do a survey matching the amount of time it takes to clean up after a storm to the city's zip codes (hmmm, do you think wealth has anything to do with an expeditious removal of snow?).
Now that things are back to normal I'm getting a headstart on sprucing up our studio.

We need a new curtain. We have two fantastic windows in our little studio. One is huge - 84" high. It is covered with the most lovely John Robshaw curtain with a small floral /bird repeat. Very discreet and lovely. The other is a mere 54" and has become the forgotten one - it's haphazardly masked with a bronze silk shantung remnant.

I am totally inspired by really cool work spaces. Now that we finally have a studio, we need to make it look really good.

Here are my favorite fabric choices, I have to show them to my cousin:

My favorite, but out of my price range this month...

Love these though!

from purlsoho this alexander henry print

from purlsoho the etsuko furuya wasp

from superbuzzy this is so cool.

from purlsoho this grid pattern

from purlsoho this kimono fabric

Wish these came in a different colorway

from purlsoho (sure you know this one) etsuko furuya ladybug print

from repro depot this etsuko furuya - too neon.

What do you think?


PS - The groundhog Chuck is actually very cute if not accurate.

now that's luxury

One lesson learned during my four years at my small and very wealthy liberal arts college: wealth is relative.

I’d never seen such casual displays of wealth in my life. Growing up in New York City, I was used to witnessing people desperate to prove how rich they were, flaunting their designer wares and trying to outshine each other.

In college, the sons and daughters of this planet’s wealthy wore Birkenstocks, ate in the dining halls and trudged through the soaked earth during mud season.

What defines wealth? Who is truly rich? How rich are you in comparison to your neighbor? Does it really freaking matter?

There will always be someone with more money, a nicer car and a larger stable of horses. Should it matter to you? I don’t think so.

Without trying to outshine each other, we can concentrate on our own merits, how we can fulfill our personal destinies and have the best time on this planet – while we’re here.

One thing that cannot be denied: this is really luxurious. Thumbing through Wallpaper’s 2008 Design Awards issue, I noticed this:


No denying it my friends. Cashmere Carpet?!


That’s luxury darling. And those giant sized leather dominoes aren’t too shabby either (unfortunately you can’t slam your domino down and hear that satisfying “clink” when you come up with a brilliant move, but hey this is the height of luxury).

Cashmere carpet by Loro Piana - price 1,180 euros per square metre. Photo courtesy of Wallpaper February 2008.