January 2011 Archives


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Will Ryman's roses are blooming from 57th to 67th Street,
on Park Avenue, NYC ....
Even in the snow!!!!

Using stainless steel, fiberglass resin,& automotive paint ...... 
Ryman has created 38 enormous pink & red roses ........
ranging from 3 to 25 feet high, plus 20 rose petals, 
that are scattered on the Park Avenue Mall 
between 63rd & 54th Streets.

AND you can't forget the creatures that are hidden 
among the roses ......
oversized brass ladybugs, spiders, beetles, and bees!!!!

If this isn't an "ultimate accessoration" .....
I don't know what is!!!!
SPECTACULAR!!!

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Israeli designer Gal Ben-Arav's bamboo bench is sooo smart!!!

Bamboo is quick growing, extremely plentiful, 
& almost impossible to kill ....
the more cutting, the more growth .....
And it's strength makes it durable seating material!!!!

Creator Ben-Arav wants "to maintain the materialism, simplicity,
& natural morphology of the quickly growing species."

Creating two separate cast aluminum framing pieces
allows the size of the bench to adjust,
depending upon the length of the cut bamboo.

The bench is sustainable, ecological & innovative ......
creating a new category of accessorations!!!

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I saw these two divine 1970's Mickey Mouse chests 
in the window of a Paris antique shop .........
it was  closed!!!!!
But, I was already in love & I had to take their pictures!!!
Low & behold I looked them up on the web .....
and the blue one is on 1st Dibs!!!!

If you love 'em as much as I do .......
Here's the link & I'm sure the red one is at the same shop!!!!


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PAPERCUP

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PINK HENNA

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MARIAN HALIOS DESIGN

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DIANNE FERJANE

There are so many new shops & shopping areas in Beirut .......
It's hard to keep up with all of the great finds!!!
My favorite new area on this trip was one block long .......
Pharaon Street in Mar Mikhael!!!

PAPERCUP is a divine bookstore, magazine shop, coffee shop, 
& great place to meet friends!!!!
It has an international selection of great reading material,
a well-edited selection of unusual cards, notebooks, & ephemera ...
plus a selection of coffee, teas, & sweets that are yummie!!!

PINK HENNA is a shopping bazaar.
There's a bit of this & that for your home .....
antique, new, and gently used furniture, pillows, & accessories .....
Plus wonderful bags, scarves, hats, jewelry, & stuff for gifts,
 as well as things you'll never want to give away!!!

MARIA HALIOS DESIGN has created her own collection of furniture ...
interior & exterior, made from a variety of materials ....
blending Lebanese craftsmanship & details 
with contemporary design!!!!

DIANNE FERJANE's vintage inspired clothing collection .....
hanging in her eponymous shop is charming .......
the designs are unique and everything has a bit of a twist!!!

And this is just the beginning .....
the tip of the shopping mecca that's coming to Mar Mikhael!!!!


The Fondation Pierre Bergé  Yves Saint Laurent has the most
innovative, imaginable, incredible exhibition .......
David Hockney: Fleurs Fraîche
It's a collection of drawings made on iPads & iPhones
"made for the screen, totally on the screen ... it's not an illusion," 
and they are exhibited on the devices!!!

The second part of the installation is a video of the images ......
I videoed a section of the video & that's what this is!!!!

The video is not perfect ..... it's my first video!!!! 
But, it gives you an idea of how fabulous work this is!!!
Isn't it amazing????


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In 2009, Dior designer John Galliano commissioned 
four directors to create short films, 
starring the brilliant French actress Marion Cotillard
and the legendary must-have handbag......
 the divine Lady Dior!!!

The final episode of the Lady Dior saga,
Inspired by Galliano & directed by John Cameron Mitchell,
was released in December!!!!

"Lady Grey London" is sensuous, stylish, & stunning......
 A must-see for all accessorators!!!


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Marrying "the collective force of the world's leading contemporary galleries with the unlimited reach of the internet" .....
the VIP ART FAIR goes live tomorrow!!!!

It's a first and must see!!
125+ international galleries all selling art online!!!!
It's beyond my imagination, but I can't wait "to go"!!!!!
Wonna go together!!!!


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Designer Karen Chekerdjian opened her eponymous store last month in Beirut, blending this ancient building with her modern design aesthetic. Featuring her unique brass collection, made in collaboration with Lebanese craftsmen, she marries contemporary pattern & design with traditional workmanship.In addition, her furniture collection also mixes clean, linear lines with a middle eastern aesthetic. Karen has also selected a collection of accessories to compliment her own designs. On the front wall her logo boldly states ...... Karen Chekerdjian Store "things we make, things we love."

I am also crazy about her logo and the cloth bags that contain the brass pieces. 
The packaging is as chic as the product!!! 
Of course, she did start out as a graphic designer!!!!


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One stop shopping for great kids gifts .....
at My Little Sunshine, a recent addition to NYC's kids scene!!!
This precious store has the most yummie "things"......
boys and girls, infants & toddlers ....

And it's "accessorated" with the best stuff ......
Especially the red airplane for haircuts!!!!
Don't you want to take a ride too!!!

MY LITTLE SUNSHINE
177 ninth Avenue
NYC 10011
917 892-1975

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Across the pond, they are flush with wedding fever!!!!
Designers are designing all kinds 'a stuff!!!
I think these gloves from Donna Wilson are fabulous!!!
Don't you????


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I spent days trying to get a picture of the STREET CLEANERS 
in downtown Beirut!!!!
And this was the best I could do .........
 'cause I spent most of my trip sitting in traffic!!!

Anyway, how fabulous is this color-story .....
my favorite for summer 2011!!!
DIVINE ...... & the trucks matched!!!!

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I have a divine friend Darius Monsef IV (Bubba to his pals)!!!
He has a fantastic company COLOURLOVERS....
a world-wide creative online community .......
sharing colors, palettes, & patterns!!!

We met last fall, traveling with E-I-C Newell Turner  .......
to House Beautiful's Design Institutes!!!!
We bonded over color, design, & wedding plans!!!

The wedding took place last month in Hawaii .......
& these fabulous wedding cake pictures arrived last week!!!
This gorgeous cake was designed, baked, iced, 
& assembled by Darius's mother!!!
It is 60 colorful layers & each is a different color!!!!

A PERFECT CAKE FOR COLOURLOVERS EVERYWHERE,
 & THE ACCESSORATOR'S ULTIMATE FANTASY!!!


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Opened late last month, Ginette is a chic & stunning 
addition to Beirut's growing retail scene!!!

In the spirit of Colette in Paris ..... 
this beautifully designed space incorporates 
the "ultimate" of everything.....
men's & women's clothes, jewelry, accessories, & great stuff ....
Plus a divine restaurant with the best 
baked goodies around!!!!!
 
Ginette is the "in" happening place for the hip of Beirut ......
breakfast, lunch, or coffee & great shopping!!!!
It's every Lebanese girl's dream!!!!

Mine too, I loved it!!!!


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These fabulous Big Feet arrived in Miami last month!!!!

Spanish designer Marti Guixé's store for Camper's To&ether brand celebrates the company's collaborative philosophy .....
"the ability to integrate different creative expressions and  
cultures into one project."

Leading contemporary designers........
 including the Bouroullec Brothers, Konstantine Grcic, 
Hella Jongerius, Jaime Hayon, and the Campana Brothers 
 have created exclusive product and 
outstanding one-off stores with Camper!!!!

I think these stores are fabulous "accessorations"
 and applaud the Camper philosophy!!!


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The English are totally obsessed with Royal Wedding fever ......
& there are going to be a zillion souvenir items,
t- shirts, mugs, plates etc ....... 
But, these commemorative "designer plates" are hysterical!!!!

Sent from London by my design-driven pal Martha ......
They are the work of 7 designers for London's KK Outlet ....
And will be available on their website january 15!!!

How many do you want????

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