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.

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.

Reaching Towards The Sky The Ironworkers of One World Trade Center

“Sky Cowboys” – courtesy of the NY Times 9.11 tribute site

You don’t want to be afraid of too much. 
You definitely need to be a little wild. 
That’s why they call us the Cowboys of the sky.

I had the unique opportunity to visit the unfinished 48th floor of WTC 7 last spring (my former architecture professor was one of the project leads).  As we walked the perimeter of the floor, we marveled not only at the artwork being done by the few artists allowed to call this unfinished space their studio, but also, of course, at the skyline.  It is a breathtaking experience to view the city from a space like that, but what really got my attention was the workers at WTC 1, almost eye-level with me from that vantage point.

These workers are fearless.  Called the “Sky Cowboys” in the New York Times video for their 9.11 tribute, many of the ironworkers are 3rd, 4th, even 5th generation.  Although legally required to harness, I saw a few walking untethered across some suspended beams.  They think nothing of it – which I guess is the point.  Look down too long and your mind starts going elsewhere.  At that height there’s no time to second-guess.

It’s these types of fearless leaders whom I think of this weekend.

Listen to the story of the Ironworkers who built New York via NPR’s All Things Considered.
Read about another fearless WTC daredevil.
Learn about other modern-day cowboys.