Trendspotting

Made Goods - Mirrors with Style and Grace

                           

Made Goods mirrors have certainly caught my attention lately.  The company, based in California uses innovative materials such as coral, shells and hammered brass to create the most magical designs!  Made Goods believes that mirrors should take center stage - and I can tell you, the designs on their website are sure to make that happen!  Their whymsical, globally inspired shapes will make the mirror a focal point of any room.  I encourage you to visit their website to see the three collections, Romantic Statements, Global Inspirations and Modern Glamour.  You are sure to find a style and size that is perfect for every room in the house! 

Fair Trade - Full Style

   

Fair Trade handicrafts take on a whole new meaning with Children of the World India's Vocational Academy. Established in 2005 to help Tsunami affected young adults, the Academy pairs vocational training with real world experience in order to help transition skills in traditional handicrafts into products that fare well in the modern marketplace.  Students study and train for 10 months then work with partner companies for the last 2 months in a variety of fields ranging from garment technology, catering to metal working.  Now what I really love is the shop and design studio associated with the Academy called Artyzan.  Artyzan is not only the name of the studio, but its the Academy's official brand that produces limited edition luxury garments, interiors and accessories for international private customers and companies.  The Artyzan website is in the beginning stages, but I encourage you to check it regularly for updates!  In the meantime, if you wish to purchase products or support their cause please go to:  artyzan@cwindia.org.

Cupcake Craze in Manhattan

                                                               

Cupcakes galore:  Magnolia, Buttercup & Billy's - the list could go on!  I don't know if it's just me, but I feel like cupcakes are invading Manhattan.  Everywhere I turn, a new bakery pops up.  Magnolia Bakery, a West Village native, now has two more locations in Times Square and the Upper West Side!  Buttercup Bakeshop has control of the Upper East Side, and in case you are in Chelsea don't forget to try out Billy's Bakery.  Cupcakes are so hot right now, I've even spotted new ways of "consuming" your cupcakes without getting a sugar rush!   Delish Gourmet Bath Bakery is bringing fizzy, yummy smelling and cute-as-a-button cupcakes into your bath!  A fun take on the original bath bomb, these cupcakes smell and look real, and fill your bath with the scent of fresh baked cupcakes.  Check out all the different flavors on their website - ordering your very own is easy!  Not to be outdone, at the NY Gift Show I found cupcake cookie jars by Byrd Cookie Company- the Cupcake Cookie Jar Tower is my favorite - it comes pre-loaded with Byrd Cookie's famous cookies and is 20 inches tall!  Man, all this talk has made my sweet tooth tingle, i'm off to Buttercup to grab my favorite red velvet cupcake!

Grandfather Clocks ~ Scandinavian Style

Studio Jan Habraken's vinyl wall decal is totally bringing the grandfather clock into the 21st Century!  Based in Brooklyn, NY this dynamic design studio takes Scandinavian style to a whole new level.  This 2 piece decal works perfectly with an existing clock you have in your house.  Feel like changing the color? Well the amazing designers have thought of everything, you can mix and match colors ranging from tangerine to sour apple - yummy!  I have always admired Scandinavian design and style for it's simple lines and modern trimmings.  Wall decals I've been spotting for a while, but never before have I seen old world charm and Scandinavian aesthetic so beautifully orchestrated!  In fact, I encourage you to go to the Blik website where you can find your true artistic flair and pick and purchase from a multitude of funky wall decals to individualize your home or office.

Hip Housewares by Alice Supply Co.

Chic takes on a whole new level with these creatively designed housewares from Alice Supply Co.'s founders Maria Barnes and Raili Clasen.  I saw this collection of brightly colored tools for your home at the New York Gift Show and fell in love.  This is totally the wave of the future; gone are the days of drab brooms, plungers and toolboxes.  Women come get your goods, these edgy products will make cleaning, watering plants and building things fun again!  No need to hide behind frumpy household products anymore, visit Alice Supply Co. online to get your "clean" on.

Snuggie - a Trend No One Saw Coming!

The Snuggie has taken the U.S. by storm in recent months.  How could I have missed this trend!?  The Snuggie, an over-sized fleece blanket with arms, is absolutely so out of style that it's in!  This fad is no joke at all.  In January, CNBC reported that over 4 million Snuggies had been sold and that they were on back-order.  The Snuggie has a cult following from Williamsburg Hipsters to Upper East Side moms, in fact you could read about it in the Sunday Styles section of The New York Times last weekend when Allen Salkin tested its outside use.  Of course, like all musings on the Snuggie it was a "tongue in cheek" description of its merits and weaknesses.  Well, for now i'll let everyone else wear their Snuggie, but I'll be wearing my friend, Jennifer Wolinetz Feldman's Nuddle Blanket, a more plush version of the Snuggie with a pouch for your hands, and pockets for your feet!