flor

My son Loch and I wandered into Flor this afternoon completely intrigued.

and though i had heard of flor the modular flooring system of carpets..i had never smelled it tasted it or felt it in real life!

the new boston store is so so cool..you can design your own rug based on any number of plain or patterned 20" squares...and add to it later..putting your look together with stickers..so you are free to change the design over time..otr replace a yucky square in the future..

there were so many fun options to choose from we so fell in love..it is fun AND fab over there.

Laduree {Branding}

 my mom told me that when she lived in paris in the 60's near the madelaine, she would stroll over to Laduree nearby, and nab a chocolate macaroon!  ( like going to the local starbucks..not!)

so while i was in paris, i made the required pilgrimage over to her old stomping grounds to have one said choco-mac of my very own..and check out the original  Laduree.

i was instantly struck by several things all at once.  first ..the BRANDING of things!  anything that is good these days it seems is massively and cleverly branded to maximize profits..or something like that...there can't be just one amazing original on a special spot in paris..there has to be a gazillion of them (on madison ave..in airports!)so that every one can share in the delight of the PRODUCT.

BUT! as a product designer myself i get it.  Laduree rocks as a brand.  i appreciate the genius of it as a business..but as a romantic i sort of bemoan the loss of the specialness of one off shops.

trust me..if i was looking for something fabulous to brand..this baby might be the ticket..i mean look at how gorgeous..the colors the packaging the font!  fab-rageous!

and oh miracle! they even taste good.

  hey.. since when did macaroons supplant the cupcake?  just sayin'

fall boot conundrum

can we talk? the thing is..lately fashion is pain to me. i really don't know what to buy my people!. i am at a loss. my mother claims i am uncertain about what image i am trying to project..but i beg to differ. this is truly not the case. it is not i who is conflicted..it is the fashion world foisting it's unrealistic ideals upon me, and i am forced to swim in these waters.. a girl cannot go barefoot in boston..and the old dogs have had one too many facelifts according to my man. so here goes..my thoughts on the boots for fall. oh..and once again i could use some solid advice here peeps. so..apparently ralph is saying that the numbers above finished with shearling are a must..but i say no way, no how, non non s'il vous plait. i need to be able to walk my girl. and to me these simply say hobble.
are we bowling now..or walking? no thanks.
ok..michael kors. these have class..but they're rubber..and unless it's raining..faggedaboutit!
oy with the bondage trend. je don't think so.
pocahontas i am not!
do these come with the little round granny glasses? yuck.
puh-lease..when i see girls in these..i am seriously tempted to knock them over..it wouldn't take much.
tie me up tie me not. ewwww.
ahhhh. this is more my speed (franco sarto on piperlime). walkable..pretty..if a bit butch. but i work in a studio not an office park. so now i am just a tad worried..is it really going to be uncomfortable shoving all the fabric of the jeans down into these? heeelp!

boston architecture

i am always caught off guard by the gorgeous pieces of architecture in my back bay neighborhood. there is so much lovely detail in the most humble sections of many buildings i see around town. these examples are from the art deco former site of Shreve Crump and Low


and these are the tree grates from Copley Square..also from an earlier part of the last century.
it must have been a time when there was a budget that allowed for decorative detail on buildings, and also a time when the work of artisans came very cheap.

bergstrom originasls

before entirely abandoning the theme, i thought i would also mention bergstrom originals, a cute toronto shop owned and operated by clothing designer christina bergstrom. i was instantly drawn to the colorful and lively sense of design here, and highly recommend a stop by her shop..if you happen to be in town.
..remind you of anyone?

anthro crush

for a little design inspiration, i stopped by anthropologie on my way to the market last night, and was greeted by this amazing bouquet of dipped paper cones a masssed into the arrangement here..incredible! in my opinion, merchandising can be one of my greatest challenges (struggles) when setting up for a show. it is just plain hard! sometimes i just think..either you have it or you don't. and anthropologie just puts them all to shame..except for the master simon doonan. more on this at a later date!
i do hate the word creative..but this is so that. i mean the floating boat? and the stuffed pillow anchor? come on!


super preciosa. no? rid-unck-u-lous.

i was lucky enough to read some of the New York Times this past sunday and there were some stunning photos of the Villa Necchi Campiglio, a 1930s modernist mansion in milano where they have just filmed the new tilda swinton movie I am love. i am not sure if i am lovin ol' tilda swinton, but i do know that this villa is very bella indeed!

Oilily

When my daughter was a baby, there was no place in Boston that made me happier than our local Oilily shop. I just loved everything about going in there, and without a doubt my visit would provide me with if not some precious garment for Thea, a giant dose of inspiration. Now that Oilily is no longer I feel that there is sadly nothing to fill the void.

Zero Motorcycles

I don't know about you, but I have been waiting since the beginning of time for a car that would get me 80 miles to the gallon. Where is that car? Yesterday, I got a little lift listening to Neil Saiki talk about his company Zero Motorcycles. He was saying that the military developed these tiny powerful batteries that could now be applied to vehicles for the general public. Hence, this bike rides for about a penny a mile, is lightweight, makes virtually no noise, plugs into a 110 outlet, and goes up 67MPH!! OK, I say..bring me the car. Nein motorcyclen for moi.

Loving Frances Palmer

What's better than porcelain..particularly porcelain handmade by master potterer Frances Palmer. She gives me major clay envy! Mme. Palmer makes things that look like jewelry from one of the toughest materials around. Kudos girl.

new links rug

i just received these pix from the PR department of Surya who is my rug manufacturer..i am loving this new links pattern in the chocolate..how fun!

my booth at NYGSHEW

i didn't share this with anyone yet, but we were looking so great at the new york gift show last month, and i thought gaw'rdarnit i ought to show everyone our booth at the really big shew! the exeter links cylinders were a smashing success.

anthropologie

every time i go to anthro i get blown away by their amazing displays. they are truly breathtaking, and so truly original. you can feel the art department and skillset as you wander through the store. i have heard that each one of their stores has its own design department. no wonder it looks so good in there. the only rub is that there is no coffee table book that has documented what they have done over the years..with all of us fans taking snaps..it might just be do able.



a touch of tara donovan.













just rolled up pages!

Spring 2010 continued...

here is the second image from our spring 2010 collection. this one has a strong suzani vibe that has been so hot for the past few seasons. i am loving the navy backgrounds on these pieces..it is a color i have hardly ever used and to me it is so refreshingly bold.