inspiration

We went down to Brooklyn a few weeks ago to visit friends, go to the New York International Gift Fair and visit a few of our favorite shops. The first two pictures are from the NYIGF. Honestly every year I go down thinking there can't be anything new to find, everything has already been done - and every year I come back wanting to sell everything in the shop and start over! There are always new ideas & styles I have never considered before. The second two pictures are a sampling of the amazing entrepreneurial spirit that is happening in Brooklyn. Mast brothers Chocolate is really in a class of chocolate I never knew existed. Small handmade chocolate bars with the best ingredients every bite was crazy good (and kept me awake and caffeinated until 6am!) - even the packaging was just beautiful. The wine we bought from Dandelion Wines where we were given the time and consideration to guide us to exactly what we wanted (even with our smallish budget). It's that kind of comfortable customer service that makes us want to go out of our way to return. And in the last shot we are at the Bedford Cheese Shop , where we were able to sample a few cheeses of our choice and learn about where they come from. Quite a few cheeses they offer are from Vermont and I am reminded of just how many wonderful small business are working together to create this small quality driven economy. Lastly I have to tell you about Marlow & Sons. Our friends took us there for birthday oysters and martinis. I have no pictures since the light was so low, perfectly rustic and cozy. The crowd was mixed and mellow and I will most definitely go back again.

The trip was perfectly inspirational and I can't wait to bring a few of these ideas to the shop this spring!