Bergdorf Goodman's Holiday Windows part II

So here is the second round of Bergdorf Goodman holiday window photos. After the last round, I'm sure you'll all agree that the artistry in the windows is undeniably superb. Still this round has some of my all time favorites. So here they are:

All Queens Play The Game Bergdorf Goodman Window photo by marisol diaz Her Tower of Cards Bergdorf Goodman Window photo by marisol diaz Curiosities Bergdorf Goodman Window photo by marisol diaz Uprooted Home Bergdorf Goodman window photo by marisol diaz

And we're not done yet! Stay tuned for another round with mirrors, monkeys and galloping topiary horses!! Hope you're inspired...-Amarettogirl

Bergforf Goodman's Holiday Windows part I

So as promised, here are some of my fave Bergdorf Goodman holiday window photos. The artistry in these windows reminds me why 'window-dressing' was one of my life's ambitions when I was a student at the high School of Art & Design in NYC. Well it was the 80's and the movie Mannequin was quite popular but...in all honesty I think window -dressing was the first form of Installation art and we just didn't know it yet! I hope you enjoy these as much as my fam and I did this holiday season.

Alice? Bergdorf Goodman Window 2009 photo by marisol diaz Everything of Paper Bergdorf Goodman Window photo by marisol diaz Paper, Paper, Paper Bergdorf Goodman Window photo by marisol diaz Bergdorf Goodman window photo by marisol diaz Bergdorf Goodman Window photo by marisol diaz

Fifth Avenue Luxe - Bidding 2009 Farewell Window Dressing Style

For the past few years I've enjoyed taking photos of NYC windows; specifically during the holidays when shops like Henri Bendel and Bergdorf Goodman go all out with artistry. I hope you enjoy these window shots as much as I do...these are of Henri Bendel's window's but next post will be Bergdorf Goodman's so stay tuned!

Say Goodbye to 2009 - 5th Ave Henri Bendel Window photo by marisol diaz Lets get the Party Started! 5th Ave Henri Bendel Window photo by marisol diaz Blogging Through the Holidays 5th Henri Bendel Avenue Window photo by marisol diaz Say Hello to 2010! 5th Henri Bendel Avenue Window photo by marisol diaz

Happy New Year!!! -Amarettogirl

French Macaroons at Starbucks!!! Limited Time Only!!

Open package of Starbuck's French Macaroonsdifferent flavored macaroonsme at Laduree 2 yrs ago

During my last visit to Paris, I was in a vehicle and passed by a shop with a line a folks outside all carrying small mint green bags. The shop's windows were stacked with pastel colored baroque like boxes and I knew something edible was being featured as an art form inside. I made a mental note to return that spot on my free time to see what all the fuss was about.

The shop turned out to be LADUREE a very well known bakery and cafe/ Patiserrie. In fact, Laduree was the shop commissioned to make the cakes for Sophia Coppola's Marie Antoinette film. On that Parisian trip I fell in love with macaroons.

When I returned to the US I tried to get macaroons from Paris here and it was futile. Laduree has opened some shops in other global cities and there were plans to open one in NY, but that still hasn't come to fruition. For my fortieth birthday I discovered that there are places in our east coast area that make delicious french style macaroons like Dean & Deluca and my new favorite bakery La Promenade here in Tenafly, New Jersey (they placed macaroons on my BDAy cake for me!!)

Package is $9.99 for 12 French Macaroons made in France by Chateau Blanc

So yesterday I was on line at Starbucks (to get myself my fave seasonal Caramel Brulee Latte) and lo and behold sitting in the refrigerated counter section were four boxes of French Macaroons! For a box of 12 macaroons made in France by Chateau Blanc you'll pay $9.99. They are slightly smaller than typical French macaroons but you'll get 2 of 6 flavors -Chocolate, Coffee,Pistachio, Raspberry, Vanilla, and Lemon.

BUT DON"T GET TOO EXCITED rumor has it that these babes will only be around from Dec. 13th - Dec. 24th - So GET THEM WHILE YOU CAN!!! They make an awesome gift too!

-Amarettogirl

Adventures in making Martha Stewart's Haunted Halloween Cake

Warning some halloween adventures are harder than others!!

Martha Stewart's Inspiring Haunted House Cake Last year one of the stellar ideas I got from Martha Stewart Living for my murder mystery party was this 8 layer haunted house cake. Grant it I'm not a professional baker, and in the past I had some not-so-great experiences trying some other MS halloween cake ideas (which aren't always the simplest for civilians like me to produce). Yet, I attempted this gem of an idea anyway.

So here's a warning for all those 'creatives' out there thinking they can do these recipes...an 8" round baking pan is not the same as a 9" and the stacking of a cake is seriously affected by the thickness of the cake. If you've never made a tiered cake perhaps there should be a difficulty level symbol starring this particular recipe to let you know you may be getting way over your head the day before 12 people are coming over for a murder mystery!

Lastly, you can be sure there were many a professional involved in the making and photographing of this marvelous Martha cake.

My version of Martha Stewart's Haunted House Cake My haunted house cake lit up from behind! The whole NIGHTMARE of cake before it was dismantled to be eaten! The cake WITHOUT the Haunted house and our little mysterious man revealed!

Charlotte's Tea Room- One of My Favorite Places when living an Art- full life!

While shopping for my own pocket full of sunshine this past summer, or as Edward would say 'my own personal brand of heroine' (which tea just happens to be for me), I discovered Charlotte's Tea Room in Warwick, NY.

Charlottes Tea Room in Warwick NY - photo by m.diaz

Whenever we visited historic Warwick (which is a around a 40 min drive away for us) we would drive by the big Tea Room sign and I would pine away for my desire to go inside...we were either headed toward the community center for a film, the arts and crafts community Sugar Loaf, Warwick's Drive-in and needing to pick up some late dinner or quaint store-front shopping and we therefore never made it in. Then this summer's issue of Where Women Create (as my readers know, I love that mag!!) actually featured Charlottes Tea Room and I was like "today we are going to Warwick with only the intention of going into that tea house!" And so we did!

Charlotte's is only an hour drive from NYC and it is an award winning Tea shop set inside a gorgeous Victorian home.

My teapot as part of my Queen's Tea order - photo by m.diaz

The restaurant utilizes three different rooms and a wrap-around porch and each have a different design theme! There is the Blue Willow Room which is laden with blue and white china (I want to sit in there next time), the Library which has an English 'cloak and dagger feel inspired by the board game Clue', and lastly the Garden room which is where I sat on my first visit. In each room the furniture and tableware reflects the theme.

So in the garden room all the tables are white wrought iron, the windows have topiaries and all the tea sets are embellished with flowers.

A shelf in the Garden Room of Charlotte's Tea Room - photo by m.diaz My cup of Paris Black tea - photo by m.diaz

I was there for lunch and was so impressed not only with the quality of the artistic culinary experience, but also the affordability! I ordered the Queen's tea, there was also the princess tea (and of course wee-tea's for the little ones!) and the menu also offers countless other options. My Queen's tea came with a large pot of tea (more than enough for two), a plate of salad, a large delicious scone, a sandwich of six rectangular cut mini tea-sandwiches AND dessert!! I chose Key-lime pie - yum! All of that was just $13 - Bet you can't beat that lunch fare experience anywhere in NYC!

My husband ordered his own entree, with the intentions of sharing only my tea, but he shared my scone and dessert too!

My Queen's tea order @ Charlotte's Tea Room! photo by m.diaz

We have researched recipes from England, Ireland, and our own grandmother's kitchen's to bring you sweets and savories, that will not only please your palate, but will be a delight to your eyes.

The hydrangea lamp on our table - photo by m.diaz So if this Labor Day weekend you're looking for a day trip that's really worth it- an experience that will transport you (like when the radio is chiming out the lyrics to the song Pocketful of Sunshine 'Take me away to a sweet escape...' consider a trip out to Warwick NY. My Key Lime pie dessert choice -photo by m.diaz A shelf in the Garden Room in Charlotte's Tea Room - photo by m. diaz

As my loyal readers know, I almost flipped when I saw these fake cupcakes since I'm a big fan and maker of faux, Trompe l'oeil sweetness!

Charlotte's Tea Room Hours!!

Since Charlotte's Tea Room is so popular on the weekends and is only open Wed thru Sunday its best to call before heading over (so they can save a table!) - the number is (845) 988-9499
The tea room has recently been awarded the "Best of the Best" by Hudson Valley Magazine and a "Reader's Choice Award" by the Tea House Times, and Teamap has ranked them #1 in New York State!

The check in a tea-cup - photo by m.diazA table on the wrap-around porch at Charlotte's - photo by m.diaz<

So if you love tea, don't say I didn't tell you where to go!

-Amarettogirl

Guerilla Knitting in NYC

Names of Participating Guerilla Knitters

Guerilla Art and Guerilla Knitting is not such a new concept but when you get to see it in action, its always refreshing and innovative.

While my hub and I were visiting the city this summer, we ran into this corner on 1st avenue on 9th St. more than once (a very cool urban art/toy and graphics store called Giant Robot resides on that street).

green flower

Guerilla knitting is a great way to add color and warmth to the cold, and often hard face of the city. In this project, which was sponsored by the PS 122 Gallery last Spring, the work spawned from, and in conjunction with, a larger effort entitled Yarn Theory.

Covered iron bars

As you can see, the project certainly does add color and warmth, but I also think it creatively adds to the interdependent nature of the chaos and distraction of the city, especially into a space that is already a stimulating environment. That sounds negative, but I see it as a positive contribution to the meaning and symbolism evoked by the architectural features we walk by daily in the city.

iron fence on an angle

The PS 122 Gallery presented an exhibit this past Spring from April 25th to May 17th called Yarn Theory in hopes to spur on the realization that there is a deep relationship between science, math and knitting and crocheting:

Highlighting the work of some of today’s most interesting practitioners, Yarn Theory juxtaposes installations and art objects made with a scientific or mathematical basis as a starting point, and with mathematical models and items made explicitly to explain or clarify abstract concepts, which end up being compelling aesthetic forms unto themselves. Because of their incremental structure, the crafted shapes often mimic growth systems found in nature. Today’s needle workers, many of who are also scientists and mathematicians professionally, are exploring such correlations.

whole web

My personal favorite out of the Guerilla knitting on the corner of 9th St. is this grey web. It is brilliant in the way that it complements the color, complexity and interconnectedness of the city. The relationship between the yarn and the iron fence becomes truly symbiotic and relevant.

The way the web travels up between the iron bars is nothing short of artistic brilliance in my humble opinion.

detail of web

Discovering a Crafter in Sugar Loaf, NY - The Arts and Crafts Community

Finally, this Memorial Day weekend gave me some time to scout out a local town that I've been really curious about, Sugar Loaf, NY. The Welcome to Sugar Loaf Sign at the Town's Precipice.

The hamlet of Sugar Loaf is a community of creative craftspeople and artists nestled under Sugar Loaf Mountain in picturesque Warwick Valley, Orange County, New York. Surrounded by apple orchards and horse farms, it has had a distinguished reputation as a crafts community for over 250 years, Today, Sugar Loaf remains true to its heritage as the year round home of over fifty independent business men and women. Many of these artisans live and work in the original barns and buildings which date back to the 1700's.

While I was walking along the street of candle, leather, potters, painted gourds and art frame shops, I came across a place named FRUITION Time Well Spent owned by Linda Gargano. The second you walk into this fabric filled store with hand-sewn delights dangling in every nook, you imagine yourself walking into a no-longer-virtual Etsy shop...but as I found out Mrs. Gargano doesn't have any Etsy shop! Which to me, makes her and her wares highly exclusive, since I equate having an Etsy shop with being accessible to the world.

As it stands, you'll have to contact her through her website or make your way to SUGAR LOAF NY if you want one of her hand-made art dolls, bags, aprons, eyeglass holders, or countless other pattern and fiber-filled treasures. Like me, Mrs. Gargano can't bear idle fingers...hopefully I can convince her to open an Etsy shop!

Linda Gargano owner of Fruition Time Well Spent

"I began sewing at a young age of 11 and had always busied myself by drawing and coloring before that. My hands were always doing something and to this day the aroma of a box of new crayons still brightens my day! I'm happiest when my hands are busy and I have something to show for my efforts. I've dabbled in many art forms but I always wind up in my chair behind a sewing machine (or two) and find it's where I am most creative." - Linda Gargano

My new Apron made by Linda Gargano owner of Fruition in Sugar Loaf Ny

Marie Antoinette Display Doll Dress

The front pattern sewn the first skirt layer The button detail Unfinished torso...almost finished by marisol diaz

Stay tuned for the up and coming sleeves, the second and third layer of the dress and the coat!

Everyday Typography..

sample of a Primitive Country Folk art sign

I went up to the North Country this past weekend to visit my in-laws. We even crossed over the border to Cornwall, Canada for an afternoon of consignment/thrift/antique/ (really window) shopping. One thing that shows up in all the country decor and antique shops on the way up North are those "Primitive" (I just learned that is indeed what they're called) country folk art wall quote signs saying things like "I don't repeat gossip, so I'm only going to say this once" or "don't look down on someone unless you're helping them up" or "family is..." you can fill in the blank with any sugary heart-warming thing you like (cuz it all looks good on an antique-treated, wood stained, framed sign).

An embroidered primitive sign from Susie's Bittersweet Treasures

However, I'm partial to the hand-lettered signs as opposed to the computer generated ones that are meant to imitate the hand-lettered look with a cleaner polish. I am also partial to the beautiful hand -embroidered quotes that are sewn on to tea- or coffee stained fabric. As they are meant to be, all of them are very inspirational.

So for today I thought all of us 'creatives' in cyberspace could all use some inspiration and motivation to put our hand and art back into writing. I discovered this 'envelope' (scroll down) in my writing desk (its origins unbeknownst to me) and I thought I would share the images of the writing tools and eloquent instructions that came within the envelope with you.

Instruction #1

A well positioned desk is an invitation to write.

detail of pen nibs

Instruction #2

Dip the nib in the ink-pot and try first on scrap paper: otherwise the first line might be a spot or ink blot. Use a protective sheet to cover the blank part or your sheet as you write. Always write with the full width of the nib.

front of envelope envelope insert

Instruction #3

Do not use pads: use single sheets. To begin the quiet art of beautiful writing, inner calm and concentration are required.

back of envelope

Instruction #4

It might be that at first your hand will not accomplish what you expect. Try again. Eventually you will reach your goal, and, in the process, gain a true feeling of peace.

When finished with your writing thoroughly clean the nib. You are now experiencing the pleasure of writing.

For really wonderful examples of lettering one of my favorite art magazines Somerset Studio has a wonderful section entitled Lively Art of Lettering that you should be sure to check out!