There are weekends that just go by, unremarkable in the best way, involving laundry, take-out and Netflix.

For me and my cohort, Emily, this past weekend was on the other side of the spectrum, a James-Bond-meets-Martha-Stewart-48-hour-extravaganza. 

The mission? To install handmade wallcovering in a 200 year old house in the Bahamas. 

The challenges? Well, for starters, neither of us had ever done anything like this before. Then there was the intense tropical heat, the uneven, bowed walls, and the unwieldy nature of the product itself. And did I mention neither of us had done this before?

In my nominal understanding, installing wallcovering is like putting together a large puzzle. First, you measure the walls. Then based on the dimensions of the wallcovering, you figure out the sizes of the pieces needed to cover the wall in the most aesthetically pleasing way possible. It sounds simple in theory, but like most things, it's actually quite challenging in reality.

The more I think about everything that could have gone wrong, the more impressed I am that a) we didn't maul each other or meltdown, in spite of the stress and heat and b) we got the job done. By the way, when I say "we," I really mean Emily. I basically handed her razor blades, cracked jokes, and made sure we were fed and caffeinated. 

We made quite a number of fairly disastrous technical errors, but in the end, the room looks amazing. We finished exactly fifteen minutes before we had to leave for the airport less than 24 hours after we'd arrived, exhausted and elated. 

Definitely not your average weekend. 

Front gate of the house

I'm having a moment with decals and stencils - I love the way they transform a space without a major commitment of time or money.  

Playful yet chic cascade of gold dots from Amazon

Animal stencils from the charming blog, This Little Street. These wonderfully whimsical shapes are downloadable on the site with a great tutorial.

Is it wrong that I want this in my room?

An Etsy find from ZapoArt

This image is from one of my favorite design books, Marrekesh by Design. I'm thinking about doing a sneak make-over on the stair- case at my mom's house with some stencils of my own. I'll let you know how it goes!

It might seem ridiculous to talk about ice cream on the first day of fall. But Morgenstern's "New American Ice Cream Parlor"  is so special, it defies seasonal logic. 

Start with the inexplicably clean, retro-styled interiors. Then the preternaturally friendly staff in paper hats who discuss your ice cream selection as seriously as a second mortgage. Fast forward to the maker of your cone or cup, who places your scoop with scientific precision. 

Then, the ice cream. Ahh, the ice cream. The consistency is perfect, creamy yet firm. Each unique flavor (I've tried four at this point) is packed with unusual intensity, at times almost uncomfortably real. But in this strangeness comes a kind of kind of joy...

If I'm making this sound like a mystical experience, it's because it kind of is. Next time you're in the Lower East Side, check it out. You won't be disappointed.

Banana Curry

Cardamom Fig Jam

Burnt Honey

Szechuan Peppercorn Chocolate

Dispatches from Renegade Craft Fair

It's almost officially fall, which means I officially have permission to start holiday shopping. This might seem a) a touch neurotic, and b) a tad preemptive. But for me, the quest for gifts is also an opportunity to find inspiration for my own projects. And yes, update my home/wardrobe (or both).

Last weekend, my little sister and I braved the rain and trekked to Williamsburg for Renegade Craft Fair. Despite the water sloshing off the tents and the unfortunate feeling of wet sneakers, we managed to buy some gifts from grateful vendors and avoid catching colds. 

Here are some items I particularly loved for technique and use of materials:

Simply Curated
Hand poured, 100% soy wax scented candles in vintage glassware - Great scents and glamorous gold details.

Check out their Kickstarter!

S.L.S (Shanya Lewis Stuff)
100% vegetable tanned leather bags - I especially like the hand-punched details and unexpected color combinations.

 Old Blood
Eclectic handmade jewelry - the brand name is a little macabre but I really enjoy the matte blue/green patina.

Sugar Weather Textiles
made of organic cotton hand-dyed indigo strips  - a lot of love went into these pillows!

ABJ Glassware
Handmade terrariums with metal accents and decorative glass pieces - ethereal and modern.

This year, I traded July in New York for a month-long workshop at Nrityagram, a dance village and modern gurukul an hour outside of Bangalore, home to the most extraordinary Odissi dancers in the world.

How to summarize my experience? Physically and emotionally challenging, for sure, but also marked by moments of pure wonder and peace. 

Designed by Goan architect, Gerard de Cunha, the campus was as inspiring as the dance itself.

Cottages based on the yurts of Tibet

A peaceful space to wait before class

The office

View from the office 

A pretty nook

A performance space and site of Vasantahabba (Spring festival), an all-night showcase of music and dance

Cows intercepting my morning jog

A panorama of the grasslands surrounding the campus

A flower like I've never seen from the cannonball tree

Hand-washed saris, drying in the breeze

Me in my dance sari, our daily uniform

I'm still marveling at how easy it was to leave my life for a month - perhaps a sign that I should do things like this more often...

The highlight of my day today was making a set of cards using one of artist Ed Roth's stencils from his book, Stencil 101. For this card, I used gold acrylic paint on a bright fucshia handmade paper.

Interwoven Globe

Recently I had the opportunity to write a piece for Maharam Stories, the blog of one of my favorite textile companies well known for contemporary design, interdisciplinary collaborations, and modern branding.

Click here to check out my piece on the Metropolitan Museum of Art's exhibit, Interwoven Globe: The Worldwide Textile Trade 1500-1800.  

Mid-18th century Indian palampore, or bedcover

For "ties that don't suck," check out Cyberoptix Tie Lab for fun, well-designed, hand screen-printed men's accessories. I bought one for my brother-in-law last year, and apparently he wears it to every event. Here are a few of my favorite designs from their collection.

Constellation necktie

Ahh, the end of a Monday. Tonight I'm winding down by shopping. Or, more specifically, window shopping via the internet. I'm the best dressed in my imagination...

A piece by Mona Baltazar, jewelry designer, rock star mom and incidentally, my hair stylist of six years and counting (Let me tell you, this woman cuts a mean pixie). I love the simplicity of the wood and metal elements, and the kind of tribal, urban nomad aesthetic of her line. 

I've never been one for stones, but I fell for the modern look of this piece by Beach Bones jewelry at the Renegade Craft Fair. 

Renegade was not a great place to shop for clothes, but still I managed to shimmy myself into one of Elizabeth Suzann's minimalist pieces (sadly, it did not come home with me). This washed silk blouse is the perfect canvas for all the bold jewelry I covet. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

I know Thanksgiving was last Thursday, but for me the holiday ends today with this bowl of turkey soup, the last vestige of our feast. 

Admittedly, I was too caught up in the flurry of cooking/eating/cleaning to document much, but I thought I'd share this recipe for Pumpkin Pie, courtesy of the Food Network's Alton Brown. I ended up double the proportions and skipping the brulee, but it still turned out amazing. Everyone loved the gingersnap crust, and the fact that the pie itself wasn't too sweet. Definitely a recipe I will save for next year, or maybe even sooner to warm up a winter night...

Pumpkin Pie, from Alton Brown's recipe on www.foodnetwork.com
Ingredients
Crust:
6 ounces gingersnap cookies
1 tablespoon dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 ounce unsalted butter, melted


Filling:
16 ounces Pumpkin Puree (Alton Brown might be horrified, but I used canned pumpkin)
1 cup half-and-half
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 cup dark brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 large egg yolk

Directions
Heat the oven to 350 degrees F.

For the crust: Combine the gingersnaps, brown sugar, and ginger in the bowl of a food processor. Process until the cookies are fine crumbs. Drizzle the butter into the crumb mixture. Pulse 8 to 10 times to combine.

Press the gingersnap mixture into the bottom, up the sides, and just over the lip of a 9-inch glass pie dish. Place on a half sheet pan and bake the crust for 10 to 12 minutes. Cool crust at least 10 minutes before filling.

For the filling: Bring the pumpkin puree to a simmer over medium heat in a 2-quart saucepan. Cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the half-and-half, nutmeg, and salt. Stir and return the mixture to a simmer. Remove the pumpkin mixture from the heat and cool for 10 minutes.

Whisk the brown sugar, eggs, and yolk until smooth in a large bowl. Add the pumpkin mixture and whisk until thoroughly combined. Pour the prepared filling into the warm pie crust and bake on the same half sheet pan until the center jiggles slightly but the sides of the filling are set, 45 to 50 minutes. Cool on a cooling rack for at least 2 to 3 hours before slicing. Pie can be made and refrigerated up to 2 days in advance. Pie is best the day after it is made.

Thread and Paper

Meet Thread and Paper, a Brooklyn-based brand founded by my friend and colleague. Emily Yurkevicz. Understated downtown style meets old school craftsmanship in her collection of bags, scarves an jewelry, all handmade by Emily herself.

What I personally love is the brand's simplicity and versatility. As someone who travels often, I am always looking for easy pieces that will work in any time of day or in any country. Thread and Paper's classic two-toned tote has been with me all over the world and is still kicking.

This week, in honor of the upcoming holiday season, Emily offers 25% off her wares. Click here to browse, and read on for a brief interview and some fun process shots.

GFG: From where do you draw your inspiration? 

EY: I really love different materials and usually that's where an idea starts. Simple shapes and a mix of materials. I do a lot of brainstorming and problem solving on the Q train during my morning commute with headphones. 

GFG: Describe your design process. 

EY: I have a sketchbook that I use to quickly get ideas out. It's not the most beautiful thing, but it makes sense to me. I am an impatient sketcher though, so I usually jump to making a prototype right away, which can be a great and rewarding thing or it can be incredibly frustrating. That being said, I think the best way to learn is by trying something. Every time I make or remake an item it's a little bit different, a little bit improved. Nothing is ever done. 

GFG: What do you see as the future of Thread and Paper? 

EY: I have no idea. There are a number of things that I think would be fun to do or try but I am pretty much open to wherever this venture takes me. While it is not the most relaxing thing to have a full time job and then Thread & Paper on top of that, there is also a creative freedom that comes with a steady paycheck. I can do what I want and make what I want and see how it goes. 

Renegade

Today I'm excited to spend the afternoon at Renegade Craft Fair in Brooklyn with my mom and sister, shopping off my hangover. Happy weekend!

Evidence

As wary as I am of superlatives like "uplifting" and "dazzling," these are the words that come to mind when trying to describe choreographer and artistic director, Ronald K. Brown's "Evidence." I had the pleasure of seeing the company perform last night at the newly opened Bric House in Brooklyn. Evidence, which was founded in 1985, offers a soulful, high energy blend of traditional African dance and contemporary choreography. The show's Stevie Wonder-dominated soundtrack helped to make the performance accessible, but the dancers' strength and individuality are what made it truly dynamic.

Outtakes from Harbor Island, part II

As the weather in NYC grows colder (and sadly, colder and colder), my thoughts turn once again to Harbor Island. As a part II to this extraordinary trip, I wanted to share pics of the guesthouse where we stayed on Hibiscus Hill, the secluded compound of designers, David Flint Wood and India Hicks. I love how their spaces are clean and modern while still conveying a sense of worldliness, intimacy and island charm.

One of the designer guesthouses on Hibiscus Hill. Our timing was technically off season, which meant we had the whole place to ourselves! 

The chic yet casual dining room

A chest of drawers covered in old maps (a great idea that T and I are planning to steal!)

The living room separating the bedrooms on the second floor

The second story porch, which is off of the living room shown above

A well curated vignette, replete with telescope for star gazing

Who doesn't love a four poster bed?

The gate behind the house leading to the private beach

My only question is - when can we go back?