Happy Holidays!

I'm going to be taking a break from posting until January 2nd so that I can enjoy the holiday with my family and friends. Thanks so much to all of you for reading Homestead each day. I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday and a great New Year!

The Mina Perhonen Chair

Oh how I love the Mina Perhonen Chair, designed by Akira Minagawa. The perfect blend of mid-century and Japanese design, the round back section can be removed, and the fabric can be changed whenever the mood strikes you. The lovely Mina Perhonen Chair is more than a functional piece of furniture, it is a sculptural showpiece for your home.

Reinventing the Apron

I admit it, I don't like to cook. I don't have the patience, energy or desire to wash, chop, measure or stir. I'm more of a, how do you say, "take-out aficionado." But after coming across the incredibly stylish and vintage-inspired aprons designed by the company Busy B Aprons, I've decided that I want to give cooking a try...immediately! Busy B's A-line style aprons, which come in half and full-length hostess styles, are perfect for entertaining or just heating up a meal if you ask me. They're just that beautiful! Each little number is handmade and inspired by a combination of vintage and modern elements. Busy B Aprons can be purchased on Etsy.

Ann Wood Handmade

While at the Gift on Grand craft fair this weekend in Williamsburg, I fell in love with the unbelievably beautiful handmade birds created by Brooklyn-based designer Ann Wood. Made from vintage and antique fabrics, Anne's birds are one-of-a-kind and can even be custom made using your own heirloom fabrics. Anne has masterfully fused Victorian beauty with the purity of nature to create the most stunning little creatures!

Mela-what?

Melamine is everywhere lately! No, it's not the latest trend in the fashion industry, but it is the latest trend in housewares. What exactly is melamine? Basically, melamine is a durable, lightweight and shatterproof plastic material that was popular in the 60's and is making a huge comeback today. My absolute favorite melamine collection right now is the line of plates, platters and servers designed by Jackie Shapiro of French Bull. I'm a sucker for anything with loud, vibrant colors and big floral patterns, and Jackie's line has a whole lot of bold, graphic patterns going on. French Bull is sold on-line at Orange Lola.

Letterpress Love

There is just something about the look of letterpress. Stationery and invitations seem classier and more elegant. Artwork and the printed word is crisper and more vibrant. Perhaps it's the vintage feel that comes with the fact that letterpress is the oldest form of printing. No matter the reason, letterpress is making a comeback in the printed stationery market, and I couldn't be happier. As luck would have it, while searching for wedding invitations recently, I found the most phenomenal letterpress studio right in my own backyard. Sesame Letterpress, located in Brooklyn, NY (right under the Brooklyn Bridge), was founded by husband and wife team, Matt Heindl and Breck Hostetter. Using 19th century presses, Matt and Breck produce gorgeous invitations, cards, coasters, tags, and other printed goods that are incredibly rich in color and exquisitely detailed. I can hardly wait until its time to design my wedding invites!

Inner Beauty

In reading Inhabitat, a fantastic website devoted to sustainable "green" design, I came across the work of Studiobility, a team of Icelandic designers who make exquisitely beautiful furniture that is unlike anything I've ever seen. Each piece is masterfully crafted using laser-cutting technology to carve out decorative floral patterns inside each structure. I especially love their "Visual Inner Structure" chairs, consisting of felted wool and second-hand chairs, and their "Inner Beauty" tables. You know that old saying - "It's what's on the inside that truly matters"- well, Studiobility certainly got that right!

From Eyesore to Eye-Catching

I had so much fun this weekend shopping at the various craft fairs in Brooklyn and Manhattan. Family and friends are all getting indie gifts this year, and I couldn't be more excited about my purchases! While I was at the Bust Craft Fair, I met Brooklyn-based designer Jamie Hardy, whose company Gremalkin caught my eye. Jamie makes decorative switchplate covers to hide those unsightly electrical outlets in your home. If you're a city-dweller like me, then you probably live in an apartment where electrical outlets have been built into random and nonsensical locations - like dead center in your living room wall for instance. Jamie's switchplates turn what was once an ugly eyesore, into a really great accent piece. Each is coated in a glossy plastic resin and costs between $6-$20. You can purchase them on the Gremalkin website or on her Etsy shop (along with the other great products she makes including totes, knitting bags and neckties).

Buy Indie for the Holidays!

Happy Friday friends! Haven't done your holiday shopping yet? Me neither. Not to worry though because this weekend and next, the area's best local indie craftsters will be selling their one-of-a-kind wares at local holiday fairs throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn. Why not get all your holiday shopping done while supporting local indie artists and designers?! You won't be disappointed!

When: Saturday, December 9th, 2006, from 11 am to 9pm
Where: The Warsaw, 261 Driggs Ave, Williamsburg, Brooklyn


When: Saturday, December 9th, 2006, from 12pm-6pm
Where: Union Pool, 484 Union Ave, Williamsburg, Brooklyn


When: Sunday, December 10th, 2006, from 10 am to 6pm
Where: The Divine Studio, 21 E. 4th St, Ste 605, New York, NY


When: Saturday, December 16th, 2006, from 11am to 8pm
Where: 33 Grand Street, Brooklyn, NY


When: Sunday, December 17th, 2006, from 12 pm to 5pm
Where: Micro Museum, 123 Smith Street, Brooklyn, NY

Feeling Crafty?

I always love getting my weekly e-mail newsletter from the gals at my favorite indie shop in Williamsburg, Treehouse. This week, Siri and Rebecca featured a great holiday card making stencil set from Stencil 1, which is available in their shop for a limited time only. Each set comes with 3-limited edition stencils - a pine branch, a snowy pine tree, and snowflakes - and they're only $10 per set! They're extremely easy to make, but no one needs to know that. So go ahead and brag about your craftiness. These one-of-a-kind beauties are all you!

Three-Dimensional Textiles

It's not often that one looks at a cushion and ponders its three-dimensional nature. That is, until you've had the Oromono "experience." Oromono is the innovative textile design company founded by British designer extraordinaire, Kirsty Anne Powell. With each piece Kirsty designs, she magically weaves fabric into what can only be considered a sculptural form. Her cushions will make you want to touch, pet and examine each and every one of them. And it's no wonder - they're vibrant, they have depth, and they're beautiful! What's also nice about Kirsty is that she is environmentally conscious as well. Recently, she designed a new eco-friendly home collection called PAPER, which is made from an innovative new fabric constructed with paper. It's a strong washable material derived from sustainable resources that can be recycled. Go Kirsty! If you're so inclined, take a look at the Oromono website for more of Kirsty's home products, as well as her lovely slippers, throws, stockings and bags. There's no doubt in my mind that you'll be seeing lots more of this fabulous designer in the near future.

Mobiles - Why should children have all the fun?

Remember the peace and warmth you felt as a child, staring hypnotically at the playful mobile that fluttered and twirled above your head each morning while you lay sleepily in your bed? Well, friends, I am happy to report that Helene Ige of Ige Design has created a collection of lovely modern mobiles for us "sophisticated" grown-ups. They're still whimsical thank goodness, as well as extremely beautiful and stylish. My favorite of Ms. Ige's mobiles include the "Chandelier," laser cut from museum board, and the "Birds of a Feather," made from Walnut Veneer. Both mobiles can be purchased on-line at Friend.

From Ordinary to Extraordinary

You know those boring old vases that come with flower deliveries - the ones that clutter your home, but you feel guilty throwing away? Well, leave it to brilliant Tord Boontje to come up with a beautiful, functional and environmentally-friendly solution to this dilemma. In the spirit of recycle and reuse, Tord's laser-cut metal Vase Covers called "Thinking of You," enable you to mold and shape them around old vases, jars, or bottles. What was once an ordinary plain vase can now be transformed into a visually stunning centerpiece! Each Cover features sparkling flowers, butterflies, and nature-inspired shapes on arching vines that flutter and twist. Tord's Vase Covers can be purchased at Unica Home, Friend, and DWR.