Category — Gift-aholics

more & more Antiques is the kind of store you’ll pass several times before going in. It’s on a good corner (78th and Amsterdam) but the storefront windows look, well, busy! And they are: on this March day the three windows framing the entry are cluttered with dishes, dangling Easter eggs, chocolate foil and papier-mâché bunnies, gilded mirrors, lamps, secretaries, silverware, glass fruit, paintings…and more.  It’s all too, too!

Get over the clutter, open the door, and go in. You won’t regret it.

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Forget the t-shirt: I’ve discovered the perfect souvenir gift: small, inexpensive, and comes in all sizes and colors: Socks!

A recent weekend in Vermont yielded these adorable moose themed sockies for my favorite 2 year old niece and nephew. I even bought a pair in xlarge for one of our fave guy friends celebrating his 56th!

My trip to Holland found me wearing these hot pink delft socks

Guests visiting me in NYC love to take home these subway map patterned socks

One of my favorite gift shops is Little Miss Matched, where I can find colorful, mismatched 3-to-a-pair socks for kids of every age: and even little coin purses made out of socks

A perfect baby shower gift is this adorable boxed set of Trumpettes

And of course, what would a Notre Dame fan do without a pair of Go Irish socks

Who Knew? Sock it to me!

When I’m in one of my favorite NYC neighborhoods Union Square, checking out ABC Carpet and Home or the GreenMarket, I never miss checking in at Fishs Eddy. In the neighborhood over 20 years, right now its easy to miss under all the scaffolding. But don’t miss it: drop in, and you’ll smile, and find something special.

Fishs Eddy sells dishes and glassware. And a whole lot more.

Not just dishes and glassware: stacks of hotel dishware, Chrysler Building Lanterns, barrels of silverware, Brooklyn skyline umbrellas, wooden cow-shaped cutting boards, toile blue teapots, floorplan dishtowels, strip tea coasters: it’s all here.  And of course Moi passion: cake stands!

If you’re looking for a

• souvenir of NYC, check out 212 New York Skyline dishware: perfect for a housewarming gift to an NYC newcomer!
• bridal shower, maybe a green glass cake stand
• birthday present: porcelain glove mold to display necklaces or scarves
• baby gift, try an Alice in Wonderland plate and mug set
• bon voyage gift? she’d love a United Airlines serving tray
• get well soon: Wizard of Oz  glasses for drinking juice when confined to bed

The Details:

Moi Tip: Fishs Eddy offers online shopping and flat-fee delivery

Valentine’s Day is just 1 week away, and my catalogue fetish has yielded a few fresh and fun ideas to proclaim your love:

je t’aime / j’adore Reversible Pillow

Exclusive to Ballard Designs, this limited edition pillow shares your deepest feelings with someone you love at only $49

Red Velvet Whoopie Pies

Homemade, chocolate, and red: all your Valentines Day favorites to make for your family from Williams-Sonoma. This set at $34.95 includes the whoopie pie pan and red velvet whoopie pie mix. Yum

Heart of Gold Paperweight

Having this daily reminder of your love will give someone special time to think of you everyday. From RSH Catalog at $15

Love and Kisses Etched Tumblers

Buy a pair, or a set of 4: proclaim your love with these fun glasses for wine or juice or anything else. Wine Enthusiast at $19.99-29.99

It ain’t easy being green – Kermit the Frog

Trying to be eco-conscience with an extra hot Starbucks chai latte in hand is not as easy as it sounds…Moi needs those cardboard cup sleeves to prevent hand burns.

Lucky Moi: eco-friendly and super-chic CoMo bff S gifted me this reusable knit cup sleeve.

Crafted in Missouri by Jolene of 3 MOMS Creative Outlet out of recycled wool sweater cuffs and buttons, the felted wool cup cuff can be carried in a purse or stored in your glove compartment for coffee on the go.

Eco-smart!

Moi tip: are you a crafty lady? I found a site that shows you how to make your own recycled wool cuff cup

Just spotted an ad in the NYTimes for this 8-strand freshwater pearl necklace from Ross-Simons: only $39.95! Honestly, this picture on the Ross-Simon website would never have interested Moi:

Clustered with eight twisty strands of 4-4.5 mm gleaming, white cultured freshwater pearls, it creates an amazingly flattering neckline – for a price that’s pretty amazing, too. Necklace is set with sterling silver hook clasp.: RS

But this ad in the NYTimes immediately caught Moi eye: for that price, a great necklace!

3 lengths available, also in brown cultured pearl. $3.95 shipping fee. Stock up: these are great for birthday, Christmas, graduation or any special occassion gift: perfect for your gift drawer. But hurry…several of the styles are already on back order!  www.ross-simons.com/THEBEST or 1.800.556.7376 offer code: THEBEST

I wasn’t always a pen-atic: I acquired my recent pen fetish from TBG. I think collecting pens is a very typical male obsession: as they climb the corporate ladder, whipping out important or unusual pens to sign the business document is a status symbol. TBG started his pen collection over 30 years ago, inspired by an antique crystal and wood inkwell and pen holder he inherited from his grandmother.  Over the years he’s acquired gorgeous, expensive and unusual pens (new, vintage and antique) and out of necessity, cases, stands and holders to display and store these pens.

Having a spouse with a pen obsession or other mantique passion is very desirable to antique, flea and vintage market lovers like Moi:

• he’s always willing to accompany me to a market or shop as he has his own interest to track down
• when I’m browsing alone I can keep an eye out for the perfect gift
• he totally gets why some things cost what they cost
• he understands that something “similar” won’t do: I can spend years tracking down the exact thing that I want

Over the years I’ve gifted TBG with pens, cases and other accessories to support his collection (and to prove that I was thinking about him while I’m off traveling on my own, such as the flower frog to hold pens on TBG’s desk).

It’s also lucky to have friends who are on similar hunts! I recently visited bff The Antiques Diva in Berlin, and of course we spent much of my visit exploring the antique markets of Berlin. I’d been to Berlin several times before with TBG, and was eager to revisit with a shopping list in mind. And one of the items on my list was a gift for TBG. Fortunately for me, the AD is married to The Wine Guy, and TWG is also an avid pen collector (who discovered several years ago he could research and buy antique and vintage pens on French ebay). So one of the first steps on my mission was to consult TWG for advise as to the perfect German pen to gift TBG.

TWG knew the exact pen to track down: a Pelikan pen, and to complete the gift, a Pelikan pen holder. Pelikan is a German brand, so the perfect souvenir gift. TWG also happens to be close friends with The Pelikan Pen Guy! He even could recommend which market was most likely to offer the pen, and gave Moi guidelines on style, price and condition.

TWG’s Pelikan Pen shopping guidelines included:

• pen should be manufactured around 1950’s
• buy from a pen specialist, not just a stall with pens
• a fountain pen is interesting but roller more practical
• spend time writing with the pen to be sure the ink flows smoothly, the pen feels good in the hand
• preferably the classic cigar-shaped pen
• spend no more than 50€
• look for the Pelikan display case: again not more than 50€
• accompanying filled ink jar and nibs would be interesting (if I went for the fountain pen)
• try the flea market Straße des 17. Juni
  

So with our Pelikan pen mission clearly outlined (plus a shopping strategy of our own) the Antiques Diva and I headed toward Straße des 17. Juni.

What do you think of our find? TBG loves it!

I love finding something special when I’m not even looking. Whether it’s for Moi or a gift, the surprise find brings extra pleasure.

Last week I visited the recently completed Seagate Hotel & Spa in Delray Beach, Florida. We’ve been watching the construction for several years, and reading the signage each time we passed by, and TBG and I were excited to walk in and finally have a chance to investigate. First stop: the shops.

etc. café & gifts is filled with magazines and sundries, gourmet foods and candies (indulged in 2 boxes of Fran’s Smoked Sea Salt Chocolate Caramels), palm leaf shaped serving trays and glitzy utensils, logo-ed sweat shirts, sparkled Christmas ornaments, and lots of fun beach accessories, toys and souvenirs. But tucked in the corner of a shelf I spotted a small plexiglass display housing 10 slim, gold pens with beaded tops.

So different than anything else in the shop, I quickly got the scoop:

A warehouse in Maine burned down and someone had salvaged a box of early 20th century glass beads and semi-precious stones. Someone else (no one seemed to know who made the pens, I’d love to share their name with you) had fashioned these little antique treasures into one-of-a-kind pens. And 10 of these pens styled with antique beads found their way to the newly opened Seagate Hotel and Spa.

And now, for only $20, a slim gold pen with a blue and gold beaded fob is tucked inside my bag, ready to dazzle as I autograph my credit card receipts.

Moi tip: if you’re staying in the charming seaside village of Delray Beach I’m loving the Seagate to stay a few days, enjoy the spa, lunch at the Atlantic Grille, or just browse the shops.

The outdoor art and craft festival season has arrived to South Florida.   Moi has attended several times for the fabulous artisans… and the sunshine and warm weather   Along with all the New Yorkers and Canadians who flock to SoFlo for the winter, fabulous artisans and crafters arrive to share their sculpture, paintings, photography, ceramics, jewelry, clothing and more. And always, great food booths available! And when you tire of shopping, the beach is always just footsteps away.

Mark your calendars:

Boca Raton Fine Art Show

• January 2 and 3, Saturday and Sunday
• free admission
• 10am-5pm
• Royal Palm Place, 302 S Federal Highway, Boca Raton

22nd Annual Las Olas Art Fair Part I

• January 2 and 3, Saturday and Sunday
• free admission
• 10am-5pm
• 600 East Las Olas Boulevard, Ft. Lauderdale

23rd Annual Boca Fest:

• January 9 and 10, Saturday and Sunday
• 10am – 5pm
• free admission
• The Shops of Boca Center, 5250 Town Center Circle, Boca Raton

21st Annual Downtown Delray Festival of the Arts

• January 16 and 17, Saturday and Sunday
• free admission
• 10am – 5pm
• Atlantic Avenue, Downtown Delray Beach

CityPlace Art Festival in West Palm Beach

• January 23-24, Saturday and Sunday
• free admission
• 10am-5pm
• CityPlace, South Rosemary Avenue,  West Palm Beach

Boca Raton  24th Annual Juried Art Festival

• February 6 and 7, Saturday and Sunday
• free admission
• Mizner Park: 327 West Plaza Real, Boca Raton

13th Annual Downtown Delray Beach Craft Festival

• February 27 and 28, Saturday and Sunday
• free admission
• 10am-5pm
• 4th Avenue & Atlantic Ave, Downtown Delray Beach

22nd Annual Las Olas Art Fair Part II

• March 6 and 7, Saturday and Sunday
• free admission
• 10am-5pm
• 600 East Las Olas Boulevard, Ft. Lauderdale

14th Annual Lauderdale by the Sea Craft Festival

• March 13 and 14, Saturday and Sunday
• 10am – 5pm
• free admission
• A1A & Commercial Blvd. in Lauderdale by the Sea

Mirror purchased at Delray show

Moi tip: for more  listings of art shows in South Florida visit Art Festival

I’m a browser. I love to shop, but I don’t necessarily want to buy. I’m not always looking for a great deal, the find or anything else. Sometimes I’m just looking.

If you look long enough, you eventually find things.

Antique shows, garage sales, swap meets, vide-greniers, flea markets, brocantes, tag sales. Call them what you will, but they’re basically old stuff for sale. Price negotiable.  Caveat emptor: buyer be ware.

In my thousands of browsing expeditions, I’ve seen hundreds of small, glass half-circles with lots of little holes on top: flower frogs. Priced anywhere from $3-50, clear to pale pink to blues and greens and blacks. Even swirly multi-colored frogs. Tennis to soft ball sizes.

For years and years I passed them by, then one time in Paris at a weekend street brocante, the brocanteur displayed his glass frog next to his cash box, with several pens and pencils poking out of the holes, like little flowers.

Voilà: a gift was born [Read more →]