Stuff-ing

Moving on up

2007-03-27T08:20:00.000-05:00

Over the next couple of days there will be radio silence here as I am working on moving boring old stuff-ing.blogspot.com to exciting and new stuff-ing.com. You are welcome to check out the new space, but it is definitely a work in progress. Any input from all you creative people out there is very welcome...if you have any ideas for what you would like to see on stuff-ing in the future now is the time to speak up! Thank you so much for reading my blog, and I hope to have a lot of new features to check out very soon!
See you at our new home...

Cheese and beer are good

2007-03-23T10:29:00.000-05:00

Good lord, what a terrible photo to go with such a lovely evening! Did I learn nothing about pairing when I attended my Artisanal cheese and beer pairing class??? Actually, yes I did learn something...I love cheese and beer in any combination!
Let me tell you a few things that I did learn from my evening of higher gastric education...
First and foremost, the beers from Blue Point Brewing are really delicious. Apparently the brewery is accessible from Manhattan via train (it's in Patchogue, Long Island after all) and get this, they have all you can drink sampling at the brewery and an outdoor patio for seating! Hello new summer weekend adventure!
We enjoyed their Toasted Lager, Fresh Hops Pale Ale, No Apologies Imperial IPA, Oatmeal Stout, and Sour Cherry Imperial Stout. My favorite had to be their Oatmeal Stout, but I am a big dark beer drinker. Their Sour Cherry Imperial Stout and No Apologies Imperial IPA (10% ABV) were also winners for me.
Ok, so we also had cheese...I mean we had some of the most awesome, stinky, blue, melty and delicious cheeses I have ever eaten! I have to tell you that I do believe after eating all these beauties that the Hoja Santa from the Mozzarella Company in Dallas Texas is perhaps the best cheese to pair with beer ever created. This cheese is a young goat's milk cheese that is wrapped in leaves from the Hoja Santa plant. This gives the cheese a peculiar (but yummy) flavor that Jon Lundbom (the cheese expert teaching our class) said tasted like sassafras. Not having eaten much sassafras in my time, the closest I could describe it was similar to the flavor of epazote. Now this may not sound like a match made in heaven to pair with beer, but let me tell you it is so dreamy and creamy and just plain great...try it yourself!
Other cheeses we sampled were Comte Saint Antoine (superb), Gorwydd Caerphilly, Montgomery's Cheddar (cheddary and yummy), Epoisses (stanky but delicious), Brillat Savarin (maybe even creamier than butter...to die for), Bayley Hazen Blue (I hate blue and liked this) and Valdeon (I don't like blue cheese).
Most of these cheeses are available from the Artisanal website, and they have a bunch of other great classes to attend so please check out their class list.
If you are interested in the class I took, there are three more sessions scheduled:
Thursday, April 12th - with Ithaca $75.00
Thursday, May 3rd - with Kelso $75.00
Thursday, June 21st - The Spices of Summer $75.00
I hope you will take my advice and check out one of their many classes, but if you are unable I hope you will look for the Hoja Santa cheese and amaze your friends and family with your terrific beer and cheese pairing abilities. I won't tell where you got this insider info...wink!

I want to be grossed out by this

2007-03-22T16:20:00.000-05:00

I present the Dram Sandal from Reef. Apparently hidden deep within the recesses of this innocent looking flip flop lies a canteen designed to conceal your booze. Let me just say now that I wish you the best of luck in getting through airport security with these babies on...and please at least keep your toenails trimmed if you're going to wear these. Blech!

Seriously hungry

2007-03-22T16:14:00.000-05:00

You must go read Serious Eats today. They've got a story on wine in juice boxes made by Bandit Winery, an impending worldwide chocolate shortage (gasp!), and notes on Willie Nelson's new ice cream flavor for Ben & Jerry's (and no, it's not that flavor).

Flor for the people

2007-03-22T15:56:00.000-05:00

Wha??? When did Target start carrying flor carpet tiles? That is downright exciting! Now my parents have absolutely NO reason to avoid these most convenient carpet tiles because they can acquire them right there at their neighborhood Tar-jay.
Via notcot.org

Handy bag

2007-03-22T15:39:00.000-05:00

Thank you Etsy, I am always able to find something unique and fun there. Check out this tree painted handbag and tell me it is something I do not need...it's so Orla Kiely-esque. Love it.

Most genious idea ever

2007-03-22T15:29:00.000-05:00

So sleepy...can't talk. Lucky I've got my pillow bluetooth!

Anchors away!

2007-03-22T15:12:00.000-05:00

Ahhh, I need all three of these necklaces from Giles & Brother. They make some really trendy and fun jewelry and can be purchased at BlueBee.com. I like it I love it I want more of it.

Enamel love

2007-03-22T15:07:00.000-05:00

Alright, slap me...I've been away too long! Terribly sorry.
I am going to do my best to post a whole bunch of groovy stuff like these lovely enamel jewelry boxes in order to make it up to you. Stay tuned!

Comfortable chic

2007-03-20T10:37:00.000-05:00

Riley just sent over these images of the new line of Crocs for Spring 2007. I can't wait to get some of those thongs, as I am not supposed to wear regular flip flops this summer and have been feeling very sad about it. I can't see why my middle aged feet wouldn't be able to handle these cushy babies though...now those crazy wedges I'm not so sure about...

Mice vice

2007-03-19T16:38:00.000-05:00

I totally need a diversion while working (as if blogging wasn't enough...), and a fun mousepad like this would work wonders. Ooh, and their selection of coaster sets are good stuff too.
From mirrorgirl on Etsy

Glass blowing 101

2007-03-19T11:09:00.000-05:00

Friday night Riley and I trudged through the deep deep snow to go out and learn how to blow glass at One Sixty Glass studio in Williamsburg. Let me tell you, glassblowing is the strangest, most exciting art project I have ever done, and it is nearly impossible to describe. I guess the best thing to compare it to is wheel throwing in pottery...you spin the glass and get it all centered, then open the hole in the center to create your shape. Ok, that is sort of a simplification of the process, but you get the gist right? Oh did I mention that it totally burns your hands and arms? Yeah, that's some hot molten stuff you are working with...
So how do you like our pint glasses that we made??? Pretty attractive eh? The beer sure tastes good out of them though...

Glass class

2007-03-16T14:01:00.000-05:00

Just in time for my first glass blowing lesson tonight I found these very cool glass earrings from Rare Device. If I fail at making the beer mug I am supposed to make tonight at the One Sixty glass blowing studio, perhaps I will fling some molten glass through my ear holes and make some earrings.
Yeah, alright I'll probably just buy these instead...

Darn these modern contraptions

2007-03-16T13:56:00.000-05:00

Well, last night we went to our cheese class at Artisanal. For some reason my photos are not cooperating with me today, so I am going to wait to post fully about this until tomorrow. Believe me, it will be worth it. I think we tasted the best beer cheese ever created, so be sure to check back for all the cheesy details...how's that for a teaser!

More fun with etsy

2007-03-15T13:32:00.000-05:00

Fun cards from laladexpress for your viewing pleasure...

This one's for my peeps

2007-03-15T09:53:00.000-05:00

Last year was my first year of trying to make homemade marshmallow peeps from the recipe on Martha Stewart online. I have to say that it was terribly fun, although most of them turned out to be marshmallow worms due to my lack of piping skills. I thoroughly recommend trying out this recipe though, it's a great Easter project!

Clean living

2007-03-15T09:39:00.000-05:00

Isn't this cute? It's a birdhouse...it's a washing machine...it's a washing machine birdhouse. Via Swissmiss.

Today is the day!

2007-03-15T09:26:00.000-05:00

Oh hooray for today...it is finally the day of my class at Artisanal Cheese which will have me pairing artisanal cheeses and beers like a pro. I look forward to bringing you some hot beer and cheese related content tomorrow. Yippee!!!

Shelf lining paper

2007-03-14T15:59:00.000-05:00

Yesterday in my bumblings on the internet I uncovered this awesome Mexican Papel Picado resource (bottom photo) and an example of how to use the paper (top photo) here. I hope I don't go crazy and paper every shelf in my apartment, it's tempting!!!

Plasticize me

2007-03-14T15:46:00.000-05:00

By now you must know that I have a soft place in my heart for plastic jewelry. Why? Probably some deep seeded psychological trauma from way back...anywhoo...here's another link for you plastic lovers out there from the lovely blog Modish.

Real sugar high

2007-03-14T15:40:00.000-05:00

So here's something I never knew before today...apparently during Passover Coca Cola makes a version of Coke that is sweetened with sugar, not high fructose corn syrup so that observant Jews can drink it. This exciting news comes to me via Serious Eats, and they even link to an article giving you the lowdown on where to purchase the good stuff. Mmmm...sugar.

And away I go

2007-03-13T10:56:00.000-05:00

This passport case from Tiny Meat is just too cute. Alright, gotta run! Please browse around in the links I've got along the right hand side in my absence.

More roundup

2007-03-13T10:41:00.000-05:00

Next up: Parrot pouches, and Love Bee Mirrors from Little Odd Forest. File under great little gifts.

Etsy roundup

2007-03-13T10:29:00.000-05:00

Today is a WILD day here at work, so I will posting some groovy goods I found over at Etsy it lieu of a real post. Click on through and enjoy the etsyness.
We begin with Rainy Day Prints which has all sorts of goodies...from artwork worthy of framing, to magnets, to bookmarks. Cool stuff.

Charting design

2007-03-12T09:26:00.000-05:00

Cool chart from Ebay

Chinese face reading chart

German charts from Decor8

Aaron and I have been on a quest for instructional charts to be used as art lately. I guess it must be in the water or something because over at decor8 today they have a great blog entry about German instructional charts and resources for acquiring them. Also I found an interesting resource for the Chinese face reading chart above (which would be truly fascinating bathroom reading), and a cool anatomical chart being auctioned on Ebay.

Let the sun shine in!

2007-03-09T11:26:00.000-05:00

I know all the design blogs are all hot under the collar about yellow this season, so I will throw a little yellow in today to feed their fire. I present this sunburst pillow from Hybrid Home that could brighten up even the greyest and rainiest of days. Available at designpublic.com

Happy Friday

2007-03-09T11:08:00.000-05:00

Eskimo kisses to you all!

Gummy de-light

2007-03-08T14:56:00.000-05:00

The only issue I can see with hanging this beautiful gummy bear chandelier in my apartment is the temptation to eat the darned thing...especially when it gets warm from the light bulb and emits that delicious fruity aroma. Mmmmm.

What a headache!

2007-03-08T11:21:00.000-05:00

I love the idea of these origami pillows with space to hide your special treasures...although I'm not too sure you want to store your books or other items with hard edges inside your pillow. Ouch! They sure are cute though.

Cool bookplates

2007-03-07T10:42:00.000-05:00

There is nothing worse than borrowing a book and keeping it so long that you completely forget who it belongs to (yes, I am a bad borrower...so sue me). With these gocco printed bookplates I will be armed with the tools to be sure I will never be a bad friend again.

Wow-paper part 2

2007-03-06T11:30:00.000-05:00

Last week I was lucky enough to meet rug and wallpaper designer John Mahoney, and I am delighted to share his designs with you. I especially love the sort of industrial looking paper shown above. The pattern is Mota Shang and is available in several colors...the "pistol" color is to DIE for! Be sure to check out his rugs too, there are some beautiful pieces there as well.

Weddings on the web

2007-03-06T11:20:00.000-05:00

Aaron just sent over this fun wedding website called Something Old Something New which looks to be a great resource for brides that want something original on their special day. Although my own wedding is now just a memory, it's still too much fun to look at ideas for flowers, cakes, and dresses. Fun stuff!

I am a lamp nerd

2007-03-05T13:18:00.000-05:00

I have to admit, I like lamps...like a lot. This new collaboration between the delightful folks over at Agnes & Hoss and lampmaker Stonegate has me wanting to drop my next paycheck on one of these beauts.

Metallic Monday

2007-03-05T11:01:00.000-05:00

Check out these truly awesome pieces of jewelry and art from Gregmetal. I love the colors in that tile, wouldn't it be beautiful in the sunlight? Be sure to browse the rest of their etsy shop as there are other gorgeous pieces to be had.

Hard core chicks cross stitch

2007-03-02T12:08:00.000-05:00

These are the absolute coolest cross stitch patterns I have ever seen...Sophia Loren, Margaret Cho, Frida Kahlo, and Deborah Harry. Need I say more? Available from cut + paste. Looks like they are sold out of all of them except Sophia Loren, but with enough Stuff-ing pressure maybe they will re-stock soon!

I've been known to wear my heart on my sleeve...

2007-03-02T11:29:00.000-05:00

Check out these little stuffed brooches made from canvas with prints of 17th and 18th century encyclopedia images on them. Aren't they the coolest? Each one is hand stitched and beaded by artist Lyndie Dourthe and comes in it's own painted box. Available from my favorite of favorites Egg Mercantile.

Here fishy fishy

2007-03-02T10:30:00.000-05:00

Ahhh Etsy, home of some really super weird stuff...take for instance this line of necklaces from Paraphernalia. Eccentric just doesn't say it. Somehow I am sort of liking it though in a punk rock "I wear fish around my neck" kind of way. What do you think?

One more etsy post...

2007-03-01T11:25:00.000-05:00

I couldn't resist posting these lovely bird prints from Bird Nerd. This is some gorgeous stuff, and even the original pieces are very fairly priced.

Affordable art - the reprise

2007-03-01T11:12:00.000-05:00

I love these works by St. Louis illustrator Ashley G (hmm, can't seem to find her full name on her Etsy site). Everything is really quite reasonably priced, and I love the new birds print above...$20? Super!

Earrings to die for

2007-03-01T11:04:00.000-05:00

There's just something about enamel jewelry that really gets me. I love the sort of rustic look to these fabulous ear-fobs, and I think that the poppy red and light blue will be my official colors of summer 2007. Available from Tina Rice's etsy shop.

Great escape

2007-02-28T11:27:00.000-05:00

I need an escape today, and these prints from Creo Ingero via decor 8 are helping a little...as much as super trippy graphic pattern can.

Rafe for Target

2007-02-27T17:14:00.000-05:00

Hey, here's some good news! Rafe has put out a new line of lovely and cheap handbags for my absolute favorite retailer, Target. I have not gotten to see them in person, but if the Fall collection for Target is any indicator, these are going to be great. Hurry, I almost had to wrestle someone last season to get my hands on one!

Corn Mo is a star

2007-02-27T14:16:00.000-05:00

It's not everyday that one of my friends gets interviewed by a super important news source, but today one of them was! Please check out our friend Corn Mo's interview on Gothamist. Also if you have a few web surfing moments free check out the Corn Mo website, and be sure not to miss the KungFu Teenage Bigfoot trailer...it's a wonder the academy passed up this one!

Time travel

2007-02-27T11:02:00.000-05:00

This is perhaps the coolest thing I have ever seen...a clock with faceted sides with cities on each side that represent all the world's time zones. Need to know what time it is in Sydney? Roll the clock so that Sydney is on the top and voila you know what time it is! Available from the Moma Store. Via notcot.org.

Howdy

2007-02-27T10:48:00.000-05:00

I love these note cards from Etsy seller Pumpkingirl. She's got a bunch of fun cards for sale so check it out...

Botulism is delicious

2007-02-23T11:57:00.000-05:00

This sounds like a fun project for a wintry weekend...cakes baked in a jar. According to deliciousdays.com these cakes can be stored for quite a while as long as they are in a cool dark place. Does anyone have any experience with canned baked goods? Sounds scary to me!

Great post...great blog!

2007-02-23T11:48:00.000-05:00

Let's say you want to know everything in the entire universe that is cool in home decor right now...but you only have 5 minutes and one post to look at (alright it's a stretch). Well, look no further than the "Trends 2007: Beachy Keen" post on delightful design blog decor 8. What a great post, with lots and lots (and lots) of links and references. Enjoy!
Image from West Elm.

Breakfast decor-yum

2007-02-22T16:22:00.000-05:00

Oh boy, there is a lot of breakfast food excitement a brewin over at notcot.org today...from the breakfast food pillows (shown above), to the alarm clock that awakens you with it's sound and smell of sizzling bacon...I'm getting really hungry. Might have to hit Waffle House on the way home!

Tiny garden

2007-02-22T15:53:00.000-05:00

Everybody needs a plot of land to call their own, and this tiny garden from Pretty Good Goods is about as much land as I'm bound to own anytime soon. This kit comes with all the miniature goodies you might need to furnish your own little desktop oasis...well except dirt and plants. Happy planting!

Test print journals

2007-02-22T14:39:00.000-05:00

Just the other day I came across an article online about test prints and the collectors market that goes along with them. Basically a test print is the paper they stick in the printing press to test that the image is going to work. Usually a printer will use the same piece of paper over and over leaving a really cool sort of mishmash of images behind. Apparently people collect these pieces and frame them up, but here the people from Hammerpress are using these to make cool one of a kind journals. They are available from one of my very favorite online retailers, curiosity shoppe.

Fun Frank fabrics

2007-02-21T13:03:00.000-05:00

Loyal reader Aaron pointed me to this great resource for all things Scandinavian here in NYC. They have a truly fabulous selection of Josef Frank textiles for sale...many of these I've never even seen! The store is called Just Scandinavian, and it looks like you can contact them via phone to order if you happen to not live in the city. Check it out!

Stationary with a powerful message

2007-02-21T10:57:00.000-05:00

Hee hee, this stationary speaks to my inner 11 year old. Get it? Guess what...chicken butt! Available from Young and With It.

Who needs to pay the rent anyhow?

2007-02-20T11:10:00.000-05:00

For those of you with a little deeper pockets comes this line of MP3 players from Gresso Ltd. These little 1 MB puppies are made from African Blackwood and feature a gold trim. You had better start collecting all your spare change for their Spring 2007 introduction because the price is a little shocking...they will set you back between $4,000 and $6,500 each. Yowza!
From core77

A little color

2007-02-20T10:53:00.000-05:00

I just noticed that everything I've been posting has been white and bland, which is so unlike me! Here is a quick injection of color for this FAT TUESDAY from a favorite design site ohjoy. I think it would be an impossibility to be sad while wearing one of these lovely bangles by Alex Perfido. They make me happy just looking at them!

Art on a budget, part deux

2007-02-20T10:24:00.000-05:00

Ooh! Look at these new wall hanging kits by Marimekko for CB2. I especially love the black and white print, it's so NYC. These would feel at home in the living room, bedroom or just about anywhere that could use a little scandinavian pizzaz.

Apple of my eye

2007-02-19T15:05:00.000-05:00

I think I need this apple container from the moma store...I could keep stuff in it...important stuff...like kosher salt. Yeah, that's right I absolutely must have this little dish for salt...that officially makes it a practical purchase right?

Dividing made easy

2007-02-19T14:43:00.000-05:00

Hmm, I can see lots of possibilities with these room dividers made by dVider. You can order them plain white, or they can custom print the screen for you with your own artwork or photographs. Personally I think it would be a lot more fun to decorate it yourself.
Via notcot.org

Sweet kicks!

2007-02-19T14:15:00.000-05:00

Design blog oh joy posted these extremely cool new printed skimmers from Keds which are designed by Philadelphia artist Eleanor Grosch. I was lucky enough to purchase a pair of these with a seahorse print last summer, and can't wait to get my hands on the navy ducks print ones above. They are so comfortable and I absolutely love them! Available at keds.com.

Wheel of lunch

2007-02-16T13:42:00.000-05:00

There is hope for all of us indecisive diners out there...drumroll...I present the wheel of lunch where you enter your zip code and then spin the wheel to decide where to eat out. Granted, the first time I spun the wheel it told me to eat at a donut shop, then the second spin gave me a convenience store. Alright I guess there are still a couple of kinks to iron out, but for the truly indecisive this could prove a powerful tool...and who said you can't eat donuts for lunch anyhow?
-Via seriouseats.com

Jonathan Adler sale

2007-02-16T13:04:00.000-05:00

Thank you Decor8 for the hot tip that Jonathan Adler online is having a sale! There is certainly something for everyone on sale and most of the prices are fairly reasonable...for Jonathan Adler that is. www.jonathanadler.com

Oprah hearts bloggers

2007-02-16T12:24:00.000-05:00

We got some exciting news from our friends at Apartment Therapy today. On Tuesday the 20th of February Maxwell, the founder of this notorious design blog will be on the Oprah show! It is unclear what exactly he will be doing on the show since that is still a closely guarded secret, but I will be totally tivo-ing this one. Check your local listings!

Spring is coming!

2007-02-16T11:34:00.000-05:00

Drool! Look at these great bags from Orla Kiely I discovered this morning...dandelion print tote and matching shoulder bag. Don't forget that super cute clutch too!

I feel ALIVE!

2007-02-15T13:37:00.000-05:00

ALIVE! notecard from the apak store on etsy.com.

Cool jewels

2007-02-15T11:12:00.000-05:00

Wow. That is all I can say about these awesome pieces by Kyo Hashimoto from her collection entitled "I blame the uni". These particular pieces are available from shopmoose.com, but she also has a blog with photos of her other super creative designs.

My new bookmark

2007-02-15T10:50:00.000-05:00

Somehow I came across this fabulous site in my wanderings on the internet, treatsandtreasures.com. It is a web journal of sorts with all kinds of funny things on it, but all done in collage on what appear to be notecards. Thank you to the creative Marieke Berghuis for this unique look into your very colorful day to day life. Fun stuff!

Spring Fling

2007-02-15T10:31:00.000-05:00

Ah, the sun is finally shining after our "huge" snowstorm here in the Northeast and it's got me thinking about Spring...it's got to be right around the corner doesn't it? These porcelain earrings and brooches from Casalinga in Copenhagen are on the top of my must have list of springy accessories. Well, these and every single item from the Spring Anthro catalog that is.
From Peek Keep.

Gifts for the men-folk

2007-02-14T11:54:00.000-05:00

I am sure you can think of at least one guy in your life that deserves a nice gift like these neat marble-y cufflinks made from Pyrex available at Auto.com. For me one of those persons most deserving is my husband who gave me the teeshirt that I was dying to have for Valentine's Day. Thanks honey!

Woe is the bag hag

2007-02-14T11:34:00.000-05:00

Check out this article from the Chicago version of Apartment Therapy for excellent ideas for storing handbags. Of special note is the advice to NEVER HANG A BAG BY IT'S HANDLES which apparently causes undue strain on the leather and the construction of the bag. Thanks for the advice, I guess my strategy of just strewing my collection of bags across my bedroom floor was the right one after all!

On why I have no money

2007-02-14T10:55:00.000-05:00

Anthropologie is just unbelieveable...they manage to find out about every single little thing that I like and produce it. How is this possible? They found the very company that printed the paper from my "wow-paper" link from months ago and covered furniture with their gorgeous gorgeous prints. Darn it! Now my furniture at home is looking very bland and brown in comparison.
Thanks a lot Design*Sponge for giving me the news.

Upcoming beer news

2007-02-14T10:45:00.000-05:00

News flash...news flash
Here are a couple of awesome upcoming beer events that I thought you might want to know about, especially because I keep gushing about Sixpoint beers. Here's a great chance to taste them and help to celebrate their second birthday.

Tuesday February 20th, come to the Kettle of Fish between 7 and 10 p.m. for Wisconsin brats (a pint of Sixpoint and a brat for the nice price of $7) along with the Kettle's usual variety of Sixpoint brews on tap--Sweet Action CreaAle, the "Ryeteous" (sorry!) Rye Ale, and Brownstone Ale, plus newcome Poppa's Pilz (the first lager ever brewed at Sixpoint) in honor of their second anniversary.

Then on Sunday, February 25th, the party moves to Brooklyn, where from 4 to 7 p.m. Flatbush Farm hosts a wintertime brat roast in their outdoor garden (don't worry, you're only grabbing your food off the grill then moving indoors). Five Sixpoint beers will be on tap, including Bengali Tiger IPA and Otis Oatmeal Stout. Pints will be $4 each and the food will be cheap and tasty (think bratwurst, oysters, burgers and other summertime barbecue delicacies.)

Kettle of Fish: 59 Christopher St. (near NW corner of 7th Ave.)
Flatbush Farm: 76-78 St. Marks Pl. (between 6th & Flatbush Aves.)

Hooray it's finally here!

2007-02-14T10:39:00.000-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day everybody!

Bourdain does it again

2007-02-13T12:35:00.000-05:00

Oh good grief, this guy is keeping me in absolute stitches...I can't take it! Check out Anthony Bourdain's rundown of Food Network stars. - From Elise.com
Truly comedy GOLD.

Extreme blog guilt

2007-02-13T12:17:00.000-05:00

Sorry for the lack of posts so far today...it's been absolutely nuts at work! The good news is that Spring merchandise has arrived, so I should have some new and exciting ro products to post soon.
In the meantime check out these cute votives and tees from Maryink on Etsy.

Trilobite tastes like chicken?

2007-02-12T13:00:00.000-05:00

I have sort of a strange sense of humor, and this recipe for Trilobite cookies from Professor George Hart made me chuckle.

From the good professor's website:

"Trilobites are extinct marine animals which lived gazillions of years ago. Real trilobites may or may not have tasted like chicken. (who knows?) These cookies are the result of my most recent research into what ancient trilobites would have tasted like if primitive biochemical processes were based on jam/chocolate/cookie molecules. Independent paleoconfectionary laboratories often ask for my formula, so I have placed it here for the world to enjoy."

-via Serious Eats

Ah the memories...

2007-02-12T12:32:00.000-05:00

Not so long ago my friend Chris and I lived above a Popeye's Fried Chicken chain, so I can fully understand the plaintiffs in this lawsuit against Subway. They are suing Subway because the smell of their baking bread fills their homes with "nauseating food odors". Too funny, I will be curious to see how this turns out and boy could I tell a story or two about the "nauseating" odors coming from Popeyes...that delightful cajun aroma will never leave my mind...plus I must have gained 25 pounds because it made me hungry all the time!

Kids have to dwell too!

2007-02-12T12:19:00.000-05:00

Many of my favorite sites have been blogging about the gorgeous new bedding from Dwell, but they've all completely missed the Dwell Kids line which has some of the coolest sheets and duvets I have seen in some time. I am seriously considering getting a twin bed just so I have an excuse to get these cowgirl and cowboy sheets. The hard part is choosing between the "boys" print and the "girls" one, but an inside source tells me that the cowgirl who is on the girls print is none other than June Carter-Cash so I say GIRLS WIN!

Slink to slink

2007-02-12T10:26:00.000-05:00

I know a lot of my readers come here via apartmenttherapy.com, but I just had to post about these stained glass tables they linked to. These tables are made to order from byGabriella. Aren't they the absolute coolest tables ever? Granted I would probably drop a brewsky through the top within the first couple of days of ownership, but I still want one! I might suggest putting a piece of clear glass on top of the artwork to protect it from the Mrs. Butterfingers like me in your life.

2007-02-09T14:01:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday to my father in law Pat!
I really appreciate all your support with this venture, and you're just plain the best! Have a great day
Love, Riian

Nightmare fodder

2007-02-09T12:08:00.000-05:00

Although this chandelier is supposed to be for a child's room I can see this being somewhat frightening for a wee one. The dolls are super scary right?
I would love to have it hanging in my bedroom though! It is kitch to the MAX. Available from nonewstuff.com.

Crocheted baubles

2007-02-09T11:28:00.000-05:00

I found this hand crocheted jewelry by Karla Schabert in the German section of the NYIGF, sadly her site is in German and I can't seem to find her pieces for sale anywhere. The pieces she had on display at the show were so delicate and ladylike, just beautiful. Check out her site in the meantime for images, and I'll keep trying to find an online source.

Handbags from heaven

2007-02-08T13:01:00.000-05:00

Agnes and Hoss bags are totally going to make me break the budget this month. I love every single one, and let me tell you they are even better in person. Can you imagine? I feel faint!

Look...books!

2007-02-08T12:38:00.000-05:00

Wasn't this a clever idea? These posters were created by a company out of the UK called Bookish Design UK. They are large scale posters of the great book covers of all time, and are certainly nice enough to be framed. I could see these gracing the living room of any avid reader or aficionado of graphic design. How smart...like literally.

Clay play

2007-02-08T12:05:00.000-05:00

There are so many pieces from the Art Department website that I wanted to post here, but my site is already taking too long to load all the photos...sorry! Art Department is based in Boston and makes some of the most imaginative pottery wares I have seen in a great while (that is except for my father in law...hi Pat!). Please be sure to click on the link to check out all their super creative houses, jewelry, tiles and other goodies.

Update

2007-02-07T17:14:00.000-05:00

Oops, it seems that I had an old link posted below for the re-surface lamps that were linked to by Apartment Therapy. Please use this new link to access all of their new designs. Especially cool are the d-lights pictured above, which are glass votive candles like the kind you find in the grocery store, but with cool industrial scenes on them. Thanks to Donna from re-surface for alerting me of the old link.

Dog day afternoon

2007-02-07T14:48:00.000-05:00

How about a little doggie art to feed your already overwrought brain this afternoon. The Wurst Gallery has a collection with just about any breed that you can think of on their website and profits from the sale go to an animal hospital in Portland, Oregon. I see some of my favorite illustrators represented here, as well as pieces made in fabric, yarn and even google eyes.

Rhythm-less

2007-02-07T12:33:00.000-05:00

Well, it's been a week or so since my now infamous run-in with the world of tap dancing. Here's a brief overview for those interested:
The class was in the building of my last job...you know the one that I'm not exactly allowed to go into the building of? So naturally I felt a little naughty going in there...I go up to the floor that the class is being held on and WHA??? It's a Broadway studio...as in people are trying out for Broadway shows in there. Ok, now I am feeling a little more than overwhelmed. I hear from behind closed doors someone who took a few notes from the TV show Fame and is screaming FASTER FASTER FASTER to her poor students. I hurry along the corridor and am nearly bowled over by a huge group of nervous looking tall dudes all of whom look almost exactly alike. Apparently they are trying out for Avenue Q. I come up to the door of my dance studio and it is locked so I sit nervously with the nervous people in the hallway and listen to some lady belting out a song I've never heard before. I'm thinking oh my god get me out of here!!!!!! So I start feverishly texting people...basically everyone I know saying help me! Get me out of here! Finally I get inside the room and find that I am one of two people in my class that actually have tap shoes. The rest are trying to tap dance in running shoes...ugh. Needless to say every mistake I made resonated quite loudly throughout the room. I think my worst moment in the class was when I couldn't stamp correctly. Stamping is exactly as it sounds where you stamp your feet, and I could NOT do it. The teacher had me stamp stamp stamp across the floor three times in front of everyone and I still couldn't do it. I was so humiliated I can't even tell you. I am so not a stamper.
So anyhow, at the end of the class I was so elated that I now knew a few tap steps that I rushed up to the teacher and recounted how when I was little I felt tap dancing in my heart and how I used to tap dance in the grass at outdoor concerts in my hometown. All of this got me the craziest look...I don't know if I will be going back. So that's the story. Well at least it's the bad parts of the day, it really did turn out to be fun after all, and I got a DVD so I can practice my stamping at home. Sorry downstairs neighbor!
If you want to take your own tap class here's my teacher's website, he does workshops in SF and NYC and he's cute to boot!

Pee Wee tee

2007-02-07T12:06:00.000-05:00

Are you a loner, a rebel, or just a die hard Pee Wee fan? Maybe you need one of these Pee Wee tuxedo shirts available from chocosho.

Great minds think alike!

2007-02-07T10:15:00.000-05:00

I was working on a post yesterday that just wasn't turning out right...I was just having the worst time wording and getting the photos to sit correctly. All the time I was feeling guilty knowing that this just was not going to work because the items I was trying to post were from a woman I met at the gift fair that was just terrific. Fast forward to today where I am clicking through my favorite blogs and voila! There in the new design sponge shop for February are the very lamps that I was trying to post about. They are created by artist Donna Brady and the shades are photos of scenes in Brooklyn. She even hand creates the ceramic bases that are on the ones for sale at design sponge (not the one shown above which is from the Re-surface website). Cool stuff!

Eep op ork means I love you

2007-02-06T16:03:00.000-05:00

Robots in love cards for your nerdy but loveable sweetie.

Additional knitted wig patterns

2007-02-06T12:54:00.000-05:00

You know, sometimes when you google things like "knitted wig" you come up with some pretty interesting stuff.
Follow the links to the Princess Leia knitted hat, and the knitted Elvis wig. Fun links I just had to share.

One more project I will never finish

2007-02-06T12:43:00.000-05:00

I started knitting this knitted wig approximately 2.5 years ago and it remains a 2 inch strip of hot pink knitted sadness today. At about the 3rd row I lost track of whether I was on the knitted or purled side and ruined the whole thing. Shortly after that point I threw it into the menu drawer and never picked it back up again. Darn knitting, it's so frustrating!
Maybe this year I will treat myself and start the thing over again. Sigh...

Thinking back on the weekend

2007-02-06T11:29:00.000-05:00

Ahhh the weekend, those were the good old days...
This past weekend Riley and I were lucky enough to get to go to a beer, cheese and pickle tasting over at Jimmys in the East Village. It was a trifecta of terrific tastes (say that three times fast!) and we were joined by the usual motley crue of folks we call friends. The beer was again provided by Six Point Ales and again I truly enjoyed every sip...it's delicious stuff for sure. Cheeses were from Saxelby Cheesemongers, and I had the good fortune to meet the owner, Anne Saxelby herself. Although she was up to her elbows in cheese she was still just the nicest lady you could meet. She was selling these clever tee shirts that say "Craft" on the front, and "real american cheese" on the back...love it! Also in attendance was Rick from Rick's Picks who I am sure I need not tell you is the man that brought the lowly pickle back to the hip set. His pickled beets and mean beans tower over the pickles on the grocery store shelves...they are so good. It twas a great weekend in the city to be sure!

Don't call it a blanket

2007-02-06T10:49:00.000-05:00

Please direct your attention to this most important invention...the slanket. It is a blanket with large sleeves to stick your arms through so they never get cold when you are reading. This version was posted on apartment therapy, but it seems to me it would be easy enough to alter a knitting pattern to make one of your own...that is of course if you were unlike me and were able to actually finish a knitting project.

Are snowpants business casual?

2007-02-05T16:10:00.000-05:00

Today's posts have been cut short due to a deeeeeep freeeeeze here in NYC, I have returned home to avoid being frozen completely solid in the office.
A couple of exciting things arrived in the mail today...for one I finally got my llbean duckboots which came just in time for the frozen weather. Also I received my second copy of Enjoy Your Recorder by the Trapp Family Singers. This is the book I originally used to learn to play the recorder at age 8. Looking back through the pages I see so many familiar tunes, and there are plenty of lessons inside to help remind how to finger all the notes. This should be a good project for today, and hopefully my neighbor will be understanding...poor thing!

Wholegrain chocolate

2007-02-05T13:11:00.000-05:00

The true breakfast of champions:
Jacque Torres' chocolate dipped cheerios.

Bag attack

2007-02-05T12:34:00.000-05:00

Design Sponge turned me on to these neat-o patterned bags from Hau Hauz of Finland. As I am sure you have noticed by now I am a major pattern junkie, and these are exactly what I look for in a bag...easy fabric (linen), neutral colors, big bold pattern, great shape...perfect!

Baby it's cold outside

2007-02-02T15:41:00.000-05:00

Notonthehighstreet.com has an excellent collection of cold weather wear in groovy Scandinavian patterns. I only wish I had time to import one of these pieces before the frigid walk to the subway tonight.

Yards of cards

2007-02-02T14:56:00.000-05:00

More neat cards from the gift show. I am totally loving the brown craft paper/botanical/monsters theme.
Binth cards

Weekend spy like project

2007-02-02T14:33:00.000-05:00

I have always secretly wanted to make one of those super cool hollowed out spy books. While researching how to make a time capsule on Wikihow I stumbled upon the seemingly simple directions.
me + glue + exacto knife = pure comedy gold.

Stuff with a cause

2007-02-02T12:39:00.000-05:00

Here's a cute little knitted squid phone cozy from plinkonet. They are custom made, so you could obviously order one to fit an ipod, or whatever your little heart might desire. Proceeds from the sales are going towards the artist's goal of earning $30,000 for her 3 day breast cancer walk. Great gift idea!