NYC gift show and The Bowery

the night life

me

me

from freemans website

from Freeman website

from The General  website

from the General website

The gift show is always fun, tiring, visually stimulating,  predictable, exciting, confusing and lots of walking. Usually for me it's with George which is nice because he keeps me together and besides companionship and support he helps carry my junk. I never thought of it but he acts like my assistant. I think I need one full time:)  He's great and puts up with me as I maneuver through it all with minimal growning. This trip around I went with Deanna which was wonderful. She's a hoot and hopefully we can go again. I promise I won't make you run to catch the train back. We'll wait for the next one:)  The first night we met up with 4 of her friends on the lower east end. They were on a girls get together and had been doing the town for a few days. We met them for drinks at a cool place called Freemans in the Bowery area. We were forewarned to not let the pee stained alley we needed to walk down make us turn back. It would be all worth it. They were right on both counts. I have to say at one point when the taxi driver dropped us off a little distance away from the address that I wondered....hum! The street was a little desolate and not well lit  and as we got to the address the doors was closed. Windows blackened out.  Where the heck was this place? Deanna always able to laugh in any situation helped calm me but all I could think of was if George was here he'd be having a bird:) He's mister cautious about everything. We asked a couple of nice ladies walking their dog if they knew the restaurant. They didn't look scared....what's my problem? maybe they were carrying mace? They told us to walk down to the next corner and turn right, then go down this alley. An alley?  Freeman's alley.....oh right that's the name they gave us. They were right, lots of graffiti on the walls but I didn't look for the pee stains.  There were lots of pretty twinkling lights at the end of the alley.  Nice touch,  twinkling lights are friendly. I felt a sigh of relief. We walked thru the door and immediately ran into a long black curtain. Ok this is weird, is this a theater? but as soon as I pulled the curtain open it was magical, warm and filled with people. I almost wanted to share my surprise with the first person who would  make eye contact with me and say something stupid like " were you scared too? but wow this place is really cool! "  We were swept up these big stairs by the hostess to where they were waiting for us at a cozy sitting area. Drinks already waiting for us and some of that yummy artichoke dip you see in that  photo.  Did I tell you Deanna I love your friends?  I didn't take enough good photos. Mine are the dark moody ones.  Notice all the taxidermy. Deanna's friends thought that she would love it. She and I both did. I am now hooked on the whole natural history look.  Freeman's was a great choice for the start of our evening. We later went to an asian restaurant for dinner called The General only a couple of blocks away. So much fun and loved the streaming service (means it comes out one at a time and you are encouraged to share) I was good.... I shared. Everything was delish. 

Afterwards we went to check out the fab decor at Gemma's and have a drink of course....that's the one with the dripping candelabras. I will never clean candle wax again. Think of the time saved. I am starting one right now but I have mostly the good non dripping kind so will have to buy the cheapy ones that leave the mess I'm after.  

They are on my list and so is going back to these places .....with George next time. I promise

"Fun" NYC, Grand Central and the big show

Trying to find photos for this post was harder then I thought it would be. I love the video and wanted to capture the feel of it from my own experience in the city. Because I don't spend my time at a pub with a boat load of friends singing songs it's not the same. I do though love entering Grand Central. They just celebrated it's 100 yr anniversary. A long time for us in the US. When they shot the video it was very empty and I kept thinking that you NEVER see it that way, but actually that's not entirely true as you can see in the photo there are very few on an early Sunday morning. It's tourist day and not the usual commuter traffic. I do like both ways. Hubby will be staying home this time and taking care of the pup and the kitties. Deanna will be my buying partner,  going our own directions but meeting up for lunch. It will be fun to hear what great stuff she ordered and discovered. Hopefully I will return the favor and share my own discoveries.  I hope to get some good photos for you of the show. This time I am only taking my phone. I think the last time I took my big camera and never took one shot with it. People look at you funny when you whip it out. Plus I can sneak more with my phone. I know it's bad. SO  if you're a company from China please don't steal to copy. That sadly does happen. Even Pottery Barn does that. Yep I didn't want to mention that but one place even had a sign saying "Please no photos....especially if you are Pottery Barn" They were suing them:(   Ok now that I just brought the whole mood down I am off to do some last minute stuff.

Carry on......get it?

(well if you listened to the song)

A Gift and a Giveaway

                                  

Valentines Day is only 2 days away.

Are you ready???

Me neither but that’s ok it will be wonderful because I will be spending it

with my friends at Evi’s houses.

You may remember me talking about it

Here.

I missed it last year because of jury duty and Laura wasn’t able to be there either.

Laura has been in Florida but is coming home earlier then planned so….

YAY she’ll be there too.

With the holiday of Love just around the corner

I wanted to share with you one of my dearest friends

 Julie of Being Ruby.

We met quite early in our blogging life. I immediately liked her and

we have grown closer throughout the years….gosh how long has it been?

Feels like I’ve known her all my life.

That’s a good feeling.

To think, we have never met face to face or talked on the phone but there isn’t a

day that I don’t think of her.

We may write everyday, sometimes not for weeks or months but she knows how much she means to me.

That’s when you know you have a good friend….you can catch up right where you left off  like

no time has passed.

Last month I received from Julie this sweetest little box.

It must have been made for someone dear.

It looks handmade.

A picture of a little girl holding an umbrella, though maybe more to

shade oneself from the sun then protect from the rain.

It comes from a brocante in France.

Inside a small delicate piece of lace and sewing needle.

I started playing around with some of my own sewing goods.

A small spool of thread, buttons, and sequined applique that

I bought at the flea market not too long ago.

On the other side of the cover a lovely print of a

 dove and  French saying.

I still speak some French but

my French reading shhhhheee….

how you say...?

not so good.

so Google came in to help.

WHITE DOVE, UNDER YOUR WING BRING TO THOSE

WHO HAVE MORE

FAITH, HOPE,

CHARITY AND SUBLIME VIRTUES.

isn’t that wonderful?

I wonder if it’s a common saying in France?

maybe we in the US should borrow it.

Thank you Julie I will treasure it forever!!!!

So in the same spirit of giving and to thank all of you that

come here and leave comments of encouragement and love,

I would like to have another giveaway.

The last one was so much fun.

                                                                            


                                                                

Yes the next issue of Jeanne d’Arc Living.

All you need to do is

1. leave a comment for one chance.

2. blog about it for another chance

3. become a follower on linky since google friends connect will be ending sooner and let me know for another chance.
(anyone who has already commented and have followed the old way will still be counted)

Just because I’m lazy  let me know how many times to enter you and

you only need to comment once.

Winner will be picked on Sunday  2:00 pm February 19th.

Bonne Chance!!!!

and Happy Valentines Day!

Carole

Vintage Living for Christmas

  

Imagine my surprise when on Christmas Eve Day

( I know I’m a little late in sharing this with you)

a big box showed up at work.

When the UPS truck pulled up I thought it was a

long lost backorder from one of my suppliers.

Misguided hubby thought I should refuse it.

Can you imagine?

With all the commotion of Christmas I had forgotten I was expecting a parcel

so I take a little responsibility but

Thank goodness I didn’t listen to him!!

Rebecca  (A Repurposed Life)

sweet girl that she is, sending me gifts and also  

3 other lucky winners on her birthday.

I knew as soon as I opened the box and laid eyes on the

card that this was something special and

certainly NOT from my suppliers.

                                         

Delicately hand glittered and embellished with

tinsel, ribbon and glass ornament enclosed with vintage music paper.

Now I would have been happy with the card alone. hehe

But I was given this gorgeous church.

It had arrived at the perfect time

since I had been struggling with what to use

on my back table in the Family room.

It’s an area that needs something large

and up until then had my array of old apothecary and

chemistry bottles ……more Halloweenie then Christmas.

Now it was time to clear all that and Christmas it up.

I know I’m late but this is always the time

I decorate.

Most of you are tearing it down…..

I’m just putting it up!!!!

The Christmas season is the time to enjoy being home and relaxing

but for us it begins after the 25th.

My decorations will stay up until February.

I’ll slowly take it down room by room…..removing

the real Christmas ornaments (Santa Claus stuff) and keeping what I call Winter decor last.

Do you do that too??

or do you decorate on or before Thanksgiving?

If you thought the church looked wonderful in the sunny window

then you should see it at night with

the lights on.

These photos don’t do it justice.

It’s spectacular looking at night with the warm glow that it gives the room.

Showing the photo in this polaroid format reminded me of an old

50’s photograph.

Like it’s been in our family for decades.

…..and every year from now on when I pull it out

 and set it up I will be reminded

of you Rebecca, my dear sweet friend.

I think many of you bloggers already know Rebecca but for

you non bloggers you really should visit this talented lady.

Here’s just a tease of some of her

creations and her home.

Rebecca’s gorgeous stars

Rebecca’s home is quintessential Romantic Vintage Victorian

full of incredible marble fireplaces and

chandeliers dripping in crystals.

She just recently converted part of her attic as

her very own sanctuary. She painstakingly wallpapered the room from

old bible pages. It was so worth all the work because it

came out beautifully.

Easy for me to say! 

I didn’t do all the work))

The curved window is festooned with antique lace.

Oh, how I would love sitting in that nook in the morning

feeling the sunshine on my face and quietly pondering the rest of the day.

Look! she’s even left me a cup of coffee

on her desk!

Or maybe I would be content just sitting back and gazing upon all the

lovely handmade treasures that she has been given by other bloggers

or made herself.

Her lacy and feminine photo albums

notice the bible cover on the wall

I could just be happy taking a nap on this daybed and lose myself in those soft cloudlike pillows.

I think she’d have a hard time getting rid of me….

can you blame me?

Thank you Rebecca for letting me dream of your space….

and of course the wonderful Gift!

Thanks also to you all for stopping by……

and with all this Pretty WHiTe

I just have to link up to

White Wednesday with

Kathleen

Of Faded Charm