Sardines seem to be popping up everywhere I look this spring. I don’t know if that’s because they’re suddenly trendy, or because I’m suddenly obsessed with them. Either way, there are plenty of cute options out there right now for you to profess your sardine love:
- Pancracio Sardinas de Chocolate
- Saudade Poster/The Love That Remains
- Thornback & Peel Sardine Card
- John Derian “Sardines” Rectangular Tray
For more sardine info/a bibliography of sorts, you can visit “Musée Imaginaire de la Sardine”, a blog devoted to the sardine. There is also a Society for the Appreciation of Sardines, which compared the merits of even more options to get your chocolate sardine on. I may try them all in the spirit of sardine research. And of course, NYC restaurant Chez Sardine.
layout and type by jane potrykus. images from: 1. pancracio.com, 2. saudade-shop.com, 3. thornbackandpeel.co.uk, 4. johnderian.com
The reality of the move is starting to hit home, and I’ve been overcome with nostalgia for my peonies (and all of the flowers in my yard, to be honest). The home we’ve lived in for the past 13.5 years was new construction, which means it came with a minimum of landscaping + plenty of “opportunity”. I coöpted a lot of the ideas from our previous house/yard, and added and tweaked along the way. Much as I will not miss Illinois winter (ever!); I will miss the flora and fauna. Lilacs, peonies, roses, wisteria … and the boxwood and pussy willows that provide elegant privacy.
I know, next year at this time I’ll be telling you how utterly gorgeous the flowers are in London. But for now, I’m savoring every last bit of the moment.
Some Flickr Faves from May*:
- Summer!
- Clyfford Still Museum
- ferns
- Fog Lifting
- Reds
- Monday flowers
* Though I’m sure this marks me as old, I do not like the Flickr redesign. I think the intent was to make it more “social”, but for me, it’s now more difficult to make connections between photos + people. It feels like one big jumble of photos. Oh, and I prefer white space to black.
photo at top, my peony border on :: may 27 ::
mcnally jackson/goods for the study
As I mentioned, the Saturday before the Stationery Show is dedicated to walking – and shopping – NYC. Below are a few of the highlights from my day:
Goods for the Study (234 Mulberry St): Goods for the Study was my first stop after checking my bag. As I adore the McNally Jackson bookstore, I was eager to see how their aesthetic/approach translated to stationery + office supplies. No surprise: I loved it. The tiny store reminded me quite a bit of the now-defunct DWR concept shop, Tools for Living. I contemplated the merits of different LAMY pens, and ended up buying a tiny ticket-notebook from Le Typographe. (Also ran into a friend: serendipity!) A most auspicious start to the afternoon.
After a quick stop at the hotel to grab an umbrella, the walking continued.
birdbath
Birdbath (160 Prince St): to stave off hunger pangs, I stopped in the always-tempting Birdbath for a chocolate chip cookie + a (non-alcoholic) fruity sangria.
ochre
Ochre (462 Broome St): Ochre is known for its debonair collection of lighting and home accessories (some day, I will live in a house with an Ochre “arctic pear” chandelier). I never miss a chance to visit their SoHo shop + always end up swooning over the merchandise as well as the beguiling floral arrangements. (I really need to find out who their florist is.)
BDDW
BDDW (5 Crosby St): I’ve long revered BDDW’s minimalist aesthetic via their print ads, but a walk through the arty, serene shop is even better. A lovely mix of housewares + quirky, yet fitting, of-the-moment accessories. (Their fabric line is gorg.)
makié
Makié (109 Thompson St): My feelings for Makié are well documented. This visit, I was primarily scouting for a baby gift for my niece who is due in July. I came away with some very good options, and once again, spotted lovely flowers in the window.
buvette
Buvette (42 Grove St): A day of walking has me more than ready to sit and relax by the time cocktail hour rolls around, and the combination of light rain + a West Village street fair had me more tired than usual. I peeked into Buvette around 4:30, hoping to grab a table for my 5:00 drink date with a kindred spirit. The tiny restaurant was bustling, and I grabbed the last spot at the bar + chatted up the bartender (eager to learn the steps to a perfect Pimm’s Cup) while I sipped my Allagash. Once B arrived, a prime spot for two had opened at the end of the bar. Drinks turned into dinner and three hours passed like a minute. Buvette’s croque monsieur was amazing, and of course, I ordered the chocolate mousse.
aesop
Aesop (438 West Broadway): Refreshed and reinvigorated, I started to walk back to the hotel, taking a slightly different path. Sorry I missed Aesop during my day of shopping, but took a quick photo to remind me for next time.
crosby street/view from my window
Crosby Street Hotel (79 Crosby Street): My day of fun behind me (and with plenty of walking to come at the show), I was happy to spend the rest of the evening relaxing chez Crosby Street, with a glass of wine bottle of water and a stack of magazines. The perfect end to an almost-perfect (I’m looking at you, non-forecast rain) Saturday in NYC.
all photos by jane potrykus
Felix Doolittle returned to the Stationery Show in 2013, marking its 10th anniversary with the launch of Hello!, a brand new line of notecards, notepads and mirrors anchored by its mascot, Ikootan, the sweetest little black bird. Volume 1, the first collection of notecards, has 40 options/illustrations to choose from that are divided into 8 color-coded themes. Felix Doolittle is synonymous with quality: so much effort goes in to the designs, starting with Felix Fu’s exquisite illustrations all the way down to packaging details. The Hello! notecard boxes are adorable and made for display – lined up, they look like tiny books.
As a long-time Felix Doolittle fan (I have quite the stash from a FD studio sale that I’m reluctant to part with: a common problem for Felix fans), I was happy to have a few minutes to catch up with Felix and his wife, Loren Sklar at the show. Congratulations on 10 years, Felix + Lauren: here’s to many more.
Hello! will be available at select retailers, and at the Felix Doolittle website beginning June 4.
boxed notecards
i love charming packaging :)
photos by jane potrykus/a wrap-up of what i saw, in photos can be viewed at my “stationery show 2013” flickr set
If you’re looking for the very best in ribbons, Angela Liguori’s Studio Carta should be at the top of your list: her Italian ribbons are simply sublime. At the moment, I’m besotted with the thinner 2/8″ ribbon in tightly woven cotton, and I think 2013 is the year I treat myself to a pair of ribbon scissors. Hands off, boys.
the colors i’m choosing between
ribbon spools in the studio carta booth
photos by jane potrykus/to see more from my visit to the show, click over to my “stationery show 2013” flickr set
