Antiquing at New England’s Brimfield Fair

                This beautiful covered wagon greeted me as I drove into the J&J Promotions fairgrounds.

I’ve been waiting to go to the Brimfield Fair for years – literally.  Held three times a year (May, July and September), the fair’s 55th season did not disappoint.  Granted, I only made it to about one-sixth of the entire fairgrounds, but what I saw was exciting and inspiring.  There’s something about all those beautifully worn items ~ clothes, kitchenware, furnishings, and all the oddities ~ that speaks to the history of so many people’s lives.  How they used these items, what they meant to them, and why they were discarded.  Part of why I saw just a fraction of the fair (besides the sheer size of it and the sweltering late summer heat) is that I met several exhibitors whom I spent a lot of time talking to.  For me, it was a lot like going to a design trade show, in that I knew that I’d find some kindred spirits as I perused the booths and happened upon some truly remarkable objects.

Minding Mindfulness.

As one who has practiced meditation for some time, it is an essential part of my life – at this point, I really can’t live without it. Nonetheless, I’ll sometimes go for long stretches without “taking the time” to really relax and savor the opportunity to be mindful. While it does happen more naturally these days, I still go through cycles where it gets pushed by the wayside as more important things come up.

A Recipe for Memories.

Please welcome Allison, our newest “Curious” contributor!  Allison’s first post pulls at our sentimental heartstrings, loving anything that refers to the slower days of handwritten, photocopied memories, much like this post that was created a while back. 

We hope you enjoy it.  Stay curious…

T.C.O.

3-ring recipe binder, courtesy of DesignerBinder’s Etsy shop.

Recently one Sunday morning I was sitting at my kitchen table planning my meals for the week. This is always quite a production as I am one of the few people who still uses hard-copy recipes. I have no filing system, other than a few overstuffed manila folders, so it inevitably takes me several minutes to organize all of my recipes before I can even begin to make a grocery list.

10 Brass Side Tables.

Some great finds from a recent client shopping trip. Brass accents lend a lovely, warm aesthetic to almost any design style, and can really soften up a modern interior. Enjoy!

Antiques-Sourcing.

image courtesy of antiquesdiva.com

Antiques Diva Founder Toma Clark Haines turned her love of antiquing into the largest antiques touring and buying services company in Europe.

Overwhelmed by the Paris Flea Market? Eager to explore London’s Portobello Market?  Toma’s team will take the reins and guide you through these and dozens of other European markets.  Or, if you can’t make it across the pond but are dying for the perfect Italian marble mantlepiece or Mid-Century Danish dining set, let Toma’s team know and they will source it for you.

My Favorites from the Architectural Digest Show

Calvin Klein Home’s DIFFA Table Setting

What better way to re-ignite my posting than with a trade show roundup!

The Architectural Digest Show is back again, and yesterday’s trade-only day proved to be an invigorating one.  Besides saying hello to some of my favorite vendors as well as meeting some new ones, I got to attend some very worthwhile talks.

So, a little mashup below of my favorite finds of the day:

Knitted Love.

A hand-and-machine knitted stool from Claire-Anne O’Brien.  As a “designer meets artisan” project, Claire met with local women in the Himalayas to develop her product, as well as further develop traditional local products.

Lovely, isn’t it?

New Year. New Projects.

Usually we find the fall months (particularly September) a natural “renewal” time, when many businesses launch new initiatives to follow on the footsteps of the post-summer, back-to-school wave.  The new year doesn’t usually lend itself to this.  Yet two exciting projects just happened in the span of two weeks that brought a little lift to my post-holiday slump.

2012….Curiouser and Curiouser

It’s a new year, and I must say, I’m looking forward to it.  I’ve enjoyed several curiously-filled months (albeit mostly offline), occupying myself with wedding plannning and execution (for myself), wedding planning (for my sister), and shower & reception planning (for us both).  Oh, and I managed to kick-off two new design projects, as well as attend to my blogging duties over at Apartment Therapy.  In short, it’s been fun, but busy.

Before I dive into the thoughts that have started to bubble up in the first two weeks of the year, it’s best to start off on the right foot.  Here’s a humble nod to my muse, Miss Alice, who reminds me to remain curious in the new year, and to observe trends (design, food, or otherwise) as they unfold around us.  Looking forward to a fun, post-filled world in 2012.

Meeting Great Designers – Part 1

Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan & Kevin Sharkey

Each month, Apartment Therapy (the blogosphere’s leading design site) holds an “offline” Design Meetup. These Design Evenings give anyone the chance to come hear 1:1 interviews with some of the most exciting members of the design world.  Whether this is your business or your passion, it’s a wonderful way to get inspired and hear about how these designers got started, what motivates them, which projects they’re currently working on, and to ask them direct questions through audience Q&A.

I’ve been attending for almost two years and write up the evening’s events for the site.  We meet at ABC Carpet & Home in Manhattan (join us!) but the design evenings have also expanded across the country (check here for one in your city).  All links to our New York Design Evenings are featured here, but I wanted to start highlighting some of my favorites – this week, I’m featuring two designers who use color in fantastic, eye-catching ways.