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.

Field Trip: Terrain at Styer's

It's always a good feeling when you can finally put a face to a name. That's how it felt when I visited Terrain with my mom and Rachel for my birthday this past weekend. Because there's only one store (located in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania) I have only ever shopped with them online. I can say now that the experience is a whole lot better in person.

As soon as we pulled into the driveway we knew the two-hour drive (plus traffic) had been well worth the trip. Pumpkins, flowers, and a plethora of seasonal plants awaited us, and that was just the parking lot.

The shop itself consists of sprawling adjoined rooms, with each nook devoted to a different category: canning, terrarium, kitchen, bath, tabletop. The use of skylights and natural materials made it hard to tell where the outdoor ended and the indoor began. We looked at each other with wide eyes and broad smiles each feeling the same inspiration overload, which is never a bad thing if you have the time to enjoy it.

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.

Neighborly Love

When I saw that Madewell was coming to 19th and 5th, I literally let out a squeal of delight and started skipping down the street. An unexpected and embarrassing reaction to my love for the store that is a cross between Anthropologie and JCrew.  On opening day, I was one of their first 'customers'. Not that I bought anything, but rather ogled the product, the beautiful displays, and the inventive way they transformed the vacant space where Nine West used to be.

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.