It’s been a dramatic week around here, first with the Virginia earthquake that rattled the East Coast and even managed to shake to us a little here in New York. Then, the arrival and aftermath of Hurricane Irene which many are still in the midst of recovering from. We left the city not certain if our Brooklyn neighborhood would be affected by flooding, and were pre-occupied with knowing our help was needed at my family’s house on the beach in Connecticut. After making sure the house was boarded up, basement cleared, and family members safely in a hotel, we weathered the storm with my husband’s family on their homestead just north. Despite some damage to my family’s home on the coast, the silver lining in all of this for us was the time spent together, working alongside each other, and spending some quiet moments while we waited. It’s amazing how short our conversations and overall attention span has become with most of us usually distracted by gadgets, so the simple pleasure of just talking for hours was a welcome change. I’ve been thinking about how lucky we are to have made it through, while others have not been so lucky, and their lives forever changed. It’s essential that we strike a balance between technology and holding on to the simple things in life that seem to be slipping away from us. Have you been thinking about this too?

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Photo by Irene Suchocki

Share With is one of my favorite shops to stop into when I am in Montauk. It’s a beautifully curated shop owned by former Calypso designer Joelle Klein, with carefully selected clothing, jewelry, artwork, sandals, and skin care that is beachy, eco minded, and always reminds me of the Brittany coast with their collection of Le Minor sailor tees.

Lucky for me there was a trunk show happening on the day I walked in featuring two great companies: Two NY and Tata Harper.

I always love a good caftan, so it was fun to discover Two NY founded by friends Monica & Piola who wanted to combine their talents to create a line of beautiful and functional clothing for mother & child. Using colorful cotton saree fabrics sourced from India and hand made in Brooklyn, their gorgeous line of caftans, tunics, dresses for women is the perfect frock to quickly throw on as a busy mom who still wants to look chic. The color combinations and details in the fabric were dazzling, and I could see how it would be easy to get used to this no-fuss way of dressing for mothers and non-mothers alike.

I am always on the lookout for the latest in natural and non-toxic products, especially when it comes to beauty and skin care. Tata Harper’s all natural skin care line has been on my radar since last fall, and have been wanting to try it, but have been holding back after having a bad experience with one particular natural skin care lines that created breakouts. Tata’s line took 5 years to develop and is made on her farm in Vermont.

Keri from Tata Harper was offering facials during the trunk show, so I jumped at the chance to finally try the line. Well, all I can say is that it blew me away, and I finally got what the hype is all about. Throughout the 8 step process, my skin felt so clean, hydrated, and nourished. Your skin just soaks in the product, and is left dewy and glowing, and you don’t need to apply a lot to see the difference. It’s really impressive that she also manages to keep her all-star anti-aging product, the Rejuvenating Serum, completely natural. I bought the deluxe beauty set to continue trying it before committing to any of the full size bottles, but I have a feeling I am going to want to invest in them permanently! Fig+Sage did a good interview with Tata and reviewed each product in the line if you want to read more here.

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Images via Two NY and Beauty Blogging Junkie

Despite coming down with a virus that knocked me out all day on Saturday, I managed to check out this year’s Renegade Craft fair in McCarren park on Sunday afternoon. I always admire the hardworking crafters/artisans that come from all over the U.S. to display their goods. Here are some of my favorites from the show:

Sustainable, hand made clothing with screen printed designs from Make It Good based in Portland, Oregon

Brooklyn neighborhood series: Williamsburg and Greenpoint by Two Arms Inc

The always amazing bags from Forestbound.

Perpetual Gardening Calendars from Krank Press. There are a few versions available for various regions throughout the U.S.  For each month there are two lists: planting recommendations and my favorite part: what is in season at the market. I picked up the New York edition.

Hand-dyed and hand-embroidered linens from Love, Daniella

Fabric jewelry made from hand-printed fabrics by Amie Cunningham of Thief & Bandit

Posters illustrated by Jack Dylan of Toronto

Hand printed & hand crafted homewares, accessories & bags by Appetite

Watching our friend Jon Beacham of The Brother in Elysium letterpress cards while Woody Guthrie crooned from a pair of speakers. Check out some of their beautiful new editions.

Reclaimed wood and ephemera from Peg and Awl

Multi-layered silkscreened prints and posters by Jason Cantoro and Alice Jarry of Cinqun Quatre

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I loved Sibella Court’s first book Etcetera, so I have been anxiously awaiting her second book: The Stylist’s Guide to NYC filled with all of her favorite haunts. A native Australian, Sibella spent the last 10 years living here in New York as an interior stylist. She has since returned to Australia to open a hardware and haberdashery store: The Society Inc. Her second book is every bit as gorgeous as the first, with stunning photography and beautifully designed pages incorporating a collage of textures and type. I love the paper used in both books that brings out the rich colors and nostalgic feel of her subjects. It has that “good book smell.” With the warmer weather approaching, I am looking forward to retracing her footsteps.

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All images from The Stylist’s Guide to NYC by Sibella Court. Published by Murdoch Books Australia

One of the most exciting things about living here in Brooklyn is being surrounded by fiercely creative artists and designers. The last few years has seen a surge of Brooklyn-made products & services accelerating this borough as an epicenter of design, style and locally made goods. So much so that it could be called the Brooklyn Boom. Photographer Jennifer Causey, has started the The Makers Project inspired by artisans who “embrace a more tactile way of living.” Here are three of my personal favorite Makers that she has captured in the series so far.

Morris Kitchen makes the best Ginger Syrup I have ever found. It’s perfect for home made ginger ales and cocktails, or you can use it as a marinade, or in baking. I always keep a bottle in my fridge. It also makes a great gift, that’s why it was featured in my Holiday Foodie Gift guide.

Lena Corwin is a well-known textile designer and illustrator {I always love her city maps for Elle Decor}, and author of Printing by Hand. I’ve been following her work since I read about her wedding several years ago. She holds classes in her Fort Greene brownstone, curates the Lines & Shapes book series, and posts observations on her blog.

Saipua has made quite a name for themselves as the purveyors of stunning and original floral design. They also make beautifully packaged Olive oil based soap. Last year Sarah and Nicolette of Nicolette Camille Floral Design started the Little Flower school and I have really been wanting to take a class.

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All photographs by Jennifer Causey. Found via Destined to Design

“Max’s Kansas City was the exact place where pop art and pop life came together in New York in the 60’s.” – Andy Warhol

Andrea Feldman in front of Max’s  |  photo by Anton Perich

I finally got a chance to check out the Max’s Kansas City show at Steven Kasher Gallery that coincides with the book release by Abrams: “Max’s Kansas City: Art, Glamour, Rock and Roll.” The show is a well rounded collection of photographs and original art curated by Steven Kasher.

Paul Morrissey, Andy Warhol, Janis Joplin, and Tim Buckley  |  photo by Elliott Landy

Opened by Mickey Ruskin in 1965 at 213 Park Avenue South, Max’s Kansas City was a restaurant/nightclub in its heydey of the 6o’s and 70′s. The front room was the bar/restaurant, upstairs you could catch live shows by Iggy Pop, Blondie and the Velvet Underground. The famous back room became a VIP hangout with Andy Warhol as king of the court and with no rules other than you had to be fabulous.

{Clockwise Left to Right}: Mick Jagger, Bruce Springsteen, model Bebe Buell (Liv Tyler’s mother) with an unidentified woman, and David Bowie

Debbie Harry  |  photo by Nicky L

{Top}: James Williamson, Iggy Pop, Lou Reed  |  photo by Danny Fields  {Bottom}: Eric Emerson & Nico  |  photo by Anton Perich

One of the best features in the show is a jukebox at the front of the gallery with a selection of tunes that were playing in the original jukebox at Max’s.

Here is a playlist I put together from some of the songs playing when I visited.

“Max’s Kansas City” is on display until October 16th at Steven Kasher Gallery, 521 West 23rd Street, NYC. To read more about Max’s, check out this website which re-creates the experience of Max’s.

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Finally checked out the Hester Street Fair in the LES on Saturday after hearing a lot of buzz about the food vendors, and one vendor in particular who makes affordable letterpress business cards while you wait. Richard Meneely has been in the printing business since 1986 and is at Hester Street Fair every Saturday and Sunday this summer. He has a binder where you can choose your card stock, typeface and any other details you’d like on your card.  Then, you write out what goes on the card and how you’d like it laid out on an index card. After he spends some time setting up the plates, and then printing a couple to make sure there are no typos or other errors, he begins the stack of 100 or 200, whichever quantity you would like. And voila, letterpress business cards in about 30 mins!

Coincidentally, last spring I picked up a card at one of my favorite florists, Nicolette Camille, and loved her card. After visiting Richard’s booth, I realized she prints her cards with him as well, so I ended up with something quite similar to the above style.