Field Trip: Fashion District

I've needed more obscure materials recently for a few wedding projects and have discovered that some of the best shops to find unique odds and ends are located in the Fashion District... in the heart (er, armpit) of Midtown. I’ve been venturing there on my lunch breaks in search of vintage ribbons, spools, trim. The sweet spots are along 37th and 38th streets, home to the shops Tinsel Trading Company, M&J Trimmings, Hyman Hendler, and B&J Fabrics. In addition to those, there are countless other great shops sandwiched in between to make the trip worthwhile.

London Calling

I've been a fan of Liberty fabrics for a long time and finally visited the department store during our recent trip to London. Not once, but twice! I picked up a few fun items and would have gone nuts had the rate of the pound not kept my wallet in check.

Field Trip: Pins & Needles

Kari had noticed Pins & Needles from the bus one day and wondered why she had never noticed it before--turns out that's because they're new to the neighborhood. This charming shop on the Upper East Side offers sewing classes, a unique assortment of fabrics, embroidery threads, ribbons, notions... you name it. Purl is still my favorite go-to spot for materials, but this little shop is a great alternative when I find myself uptown.

Field Trip: Tender Buttons

Tender Buttons, an upper east side institution, is an emporium devoted to vintage buttons. Rows of cardboard boxes line the walls containing buttons, each one carefully organized by color, motif, and material.

Hunting and Gathering

This past trip to Paris I was on the hunt for inspirational materials to work into my projects. Everywhere I looked I found graphics, colors, and materials that excited me. The hard part was finding the time to shop with only 5 days, and a million beautiful sites and things to do. Alas, I think I gathered enough to keep myself busy for a while.


In the Marais I returned to one of my favorite shops, Entrée des Fournisseurs, a beautiful shop tucked in a courtyard off rue des Francs Bourgeois. Stepping into the store I was greeted with a vista of ribbon spools, bolts of fabric and buttons filed neatly on cardboard. My favorite finds this time were embroidered sew-in labels: one that reads "Crocheté main" for my upcoming crochet projects and another that reads "Fait par Maman" for my mom.





At Ultramod I rummaged through vintage ribbons and made out with a collection of blue & gray striped ribbons to feed my maritime obsession. They're almost too precious to use. I could have spent hours at La Droguerie in the 2e arrondissement sifting through jars full of beads, buttons and feathers. There I found bias tape made of Liberty fabrics(!!).


The Marché aux Puces turned out to be another great source of inspiration-- furniture, prints, clothing, brocante. I happened upon a booth selling bundles of vintage piping. I couldn't decide over red or blue, so in the end I just bought both.

All the Trimmings

Vintage trim make me giddy, and the variety available is unbelievable-- jacquard, braid, lace, fringe, bias tape, piping, ricrac. I can't resist picking up a yard here and there, and subsequently have quite a stash.

Having just been gifted a few more yards from my dear friend Silka I am feeling inspired to find uses for all this trim. In the meantime I'm satisfied just to admire all the beautiful patterns and textures wound up on spools or just tangled en masse.

Tiny Treasures

Whenever I'm in Montclair I make a point to stop by Parcel, an extraordinary stationery shop that sells vintage paper supplies, game pieces, ribbon, party favors, and nostalgic odds and ends. I'm not able to get there very often (which may be a good thing), but when I do I take the time to scour every corner, shelf and basket in search of unique gift wrap adornments. There always seems to be an unintended harmonious palette and theme running through the items that I compile.