More from New York

 

So Etsy finally posted about the Pop-Up shop on their blog and posted their photos on Flickr and ya, I am still riding the vibes of this good times event. Seeing the photos was like re-living the experience and I just love how experiences become so much richer with time in memory, don't you?

I was really happy to see a few photos of my work station so I could post here as that was what is was all about for me. Also, wanted to show you a few photos from the last night, the big party that ensued with The Letterman Gospel Choir as that was one of the highlights for me. Also, that adorable girl with the blonde hair and the wings on her little gold shoes on stage? That's Jessie, the genius behind this whole event.

All photos were taken by Sarah Kerens. You can view all of them in the Etsy Photo Labs photo stream on Flickr here.

New York Part 2

I'm finally getting around to posting the rest of these pics and talking about this trip, though it is old news. Things are starting to get busy around here -  though I'm not complaining. I've been in a Pinterest cave for more than three weeks and, as it turns out, you can look at too many pretty pictures on the internet. One of my new years resolutions was to pay more attention to this here space so I'm trying to get on top of things and get a few improvements happening.

When I look at my photos they seem kind of grey and dismal for the most part and I have to admit, it was kind of gloomy. I didn't think it affected me but realize in retrospect that it was a sort of melancholy time despite the obvious amazing-ness of why I was there.

1. A shot of the Brooklyn Bridge from underneath. On my last day I had the opportunity to visit the Etsy headquarters in Dumbo and it really blew my mind. From the living wall when you walk in to the hand knit viaduct covers to all the amazing meeting rooms, it is a pretty neat place, to say the least. Afterwards I went for a walk in the rain and snapped a few photos, like this one. 

2. & 3. Morning coffee in my super cool hotel, what became a ritual. I adored this hotel, The Jane. Even though my room was the same size as my closet at home, I really enjoyed being in the West Village and walking to Soho for work each day. And, I especially loved this restaurant/cafe downstairs, Cafe Gitane where I found myself hanging out quite a bit. The third photo is of their ballroom where I snuck in and took some photos. The whole hotel has this wild 1920s French Moroccan theme going on mixed with aquatica. The rooms are done up like ships cabins and I just read that the survivors of the Titanic had stayed there.

4. Interesting Speakeasy Bar situation. Some friends knew about this bar in the East Village wherein you enter a hot dog stand, then a phone booth, pick up the phone and dial. A secret door opens and inside, voila! an exciting bar. My friend, who is a sommelier, said it was known to be one of the best bars in North America. I just like that it was inside a hot dog stand!

5. & 8. More shots from my walk over The Brooklyn Bridge and through the Lower East Side, all the way to the West Village. In the rain. Yep.

6. Kelly & Pings, a delightful resto in Soho next door to Etsy. One day I went for lunch there and Jon Bon Jovi was dining next to me. Ha! I looovvveee vintage Chinese and this place looked like something out of Shanghai in the 1920's. Love.

7. No trip to NYC is complete without a visit to one of my favourite shops in the world, Pearl River. I happen to like Chinese kitsch thank you very much and I got my fill of velvet Chinese slippers, floral oil cloth and Chinese tea tins. So much fun.

A few other notable events that didn't make it into photos; my new friends Aymie and Zach took me vintage shopping in Brooklyn on Sunday, a total treat. Nice to have guides to show you all the cool stuff.  A brief visit to the MOMA. (definitely need more time with the museums of NYC, on my next trip in the Spring that will be a priority.) And mainly, just wandering. Every morning I just wandered until I found myself at work in Soho and it was such a delight to not exactly be lost but have every turn be new with possibility. 

New York Part 1 - Etsy Holiday Pop Up Shop

 

Annnnnd here I am, finally reporting on important life events, several weeks after the fact. Sorry! As you know, regular blogging is not my forte. I have to break this momentous trip into two, maybe more parts. So many grainy Instagram photos to share, ya know? So, here we go, Etsy! 

I should preface this entry by explaining how this all came about. Etsy contacted me a few weeks back and said they were doing this pop up shop over the holidays and would I like to be a guest artist and come down to NYC. The idea is that they would carry some of my bags in the shop but my main responsibility while there would actually be to be on site, making bags, not actually selling them so people who came by could see more of the connection of the handmade items they were buying and talk to the individual behind the goods.

The day leading up to my arrival was intense and stressful. I tore down from OOAK show and then had 24 hours to get settled and then packed up for NYC. Then, all of my supplies and materials got held up in customs, surprise surprise. US customs has issues with textiles, can't image why. So, the most horrible possibility flashed before my eyes as I was racing in a cab through Queens early Tuesday morning chatting with Mike from Fedex. That is, the possibility that all of my materials might be rejected and sent back to Canada and I would then have to go on a manhunt across Manhattan in search of kimono's to save face and still make the bags I had been invited to come down and make. Luckily it all worked out and my materials arrived at the same time as I did on Wednesday morning. In another stroke of luck, the flu I had been fighting magically disappeared on Wednesday morning and all was suddenly right with the world.

The shop itself was nothing short of amazing, no surprises there. Huge, spacious, right in the heart of Soho, nestled in between Dior and Costume National was this monster of a space (by NYC standards anyways). It took me a few days to really absorb all of the details because it really was just that, a remarkable, beautiful space with every gorgeous detail attended to. There were shopping areas, a barber, seating areas, a large area for workshops, a stage where bands played every day, a giant swing in the middle of the shop, artists in the window creating art and us, the featured Etsy artists making our stuff on site each day. One of my favourite things was seeing Etsy's interpretaion of my company - the little cards with doodles of my bags on them and the big Grace Design sign hanging above my workspace.

Every day was pretty fun, so much going on around us all the time. The first day I met Chad, the CEO of Etsy and was involved with some interviews with MSNBC. I also met the editor of Lucky magazine which was pretty freakin' awesome. Some really great bands - one of my faves was Jem Club. Also, The Letterman Gospel Choir! Reggie Watts was hilarious and there were some great workshops too. (Hello, wreath making with the editor of Design Sponge anyone?) The whole week was intense and a whirlwind and I am still processing it. I can't even believe I was chosen, what an honour and an awesome opportunity. Thanks Etsy!!

Recap + Etsy Holiday Pop-Up Shop

So, The One of a Kind Show wrapped up yesterday. Mon dieu, what a marathon. And, surprise, surprise, I am now sick. I couldn't be happier with everything though - how the show went, the fact that it is over and all of the amazing new cool stuff I traded for on the last day. Pictured above are two beautiful screen prints on wood by Unik. Gorgeous gorgeous solid wood cutting board by my pal Jana at Swaine and a super awesome Hudson's Bay pillow with appropriate monarchy print by Identity. Such talent, these folks. Sorry my photos do not do them full justice. Thank you to everyone that came by, supported me and said hi. I am sincerely touched by all the support and positive feedback.

And now, an exciting announcement which, for some reason, I have neglected to mention until now. I am heading to NYC tomorrow! You may have heard, the word on the street - Etsy is doing a surprise Holiday Pop Up Shop in Soho.  It opened last week and goes on until next Saturday. And yes, yours truly was invited to come down and produce my bags on site for a few days. I am not entirely sure what to expect but I do know that there is a glorious big shop component complete with peeps like me making stuff on site to buy as well as daily workshops and bands playing at night. I am beside myself with excitement. Now if only I could ditch this sore throat routine. In any case, I will be taking photos like crazy and blogging when I can so stay tuned. Can't wait!!