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Adventures in NYC: Tinsel Trading

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These long days in NYC are making for a tired Claudia! When the round trip involved is about 4 hours and the rehearsal day is a long one…well, I just get tuckered out. I don’t always have time to do anything other than run to rehearsal, but the other day I did a speed walk to Tinsel Trading on my lunch hour. That would be about 9 long city blocks. I was on a tight schedule so I could only ooh and aah and then I had to get back to rehearsal. But yesterday, after a lighter coaching schedule, I went back and took some photos just for you. I even delayed my trip home. It was worth it. This shop is amazing. And the staff is wonderful, warm and welcoming. I asked if I could take some pictures…no problem! Here we go…I’ll try to add a brief description when needed.

This is the outside of the shop. You can imagine how I drooled over these vintage dress forms. Tinsel Trading is on 37th, just west of Fifth Avenue.

Ribbon…
And more ribbon.
Lots of lace and trims.

These are vintage rosettes. I didn’t buy any, but I’ll be working in NYC for another 3 weeks. Uh oh.

Wendy Addison glitter bunnies.
Wendy Addison pure glass glitter.
Millinery flowers – some vintage, some new, all of them beautiful. Looking at this display is truly a gasp! experience.
More Wendy Addison.
There’s even more, of course, but I had to do some shopping. My budget is beyond tight, so I bought a few little things that pleased my eye.

Counter clockwise from bottom left: Pink and cream mother-of-pearl buttons, vintage aqua ribbon, 5 vintage spools, some suede ribbon in a tealy aqua (the photo didn’t capture the color), little millinery flowers, some vintage blue and white ribbon, and vintage velvet millinery flowers and leaves. I could have done a lot of damage in this store…oh, and look what’s stamped on the top of the large spool:

If you haven’t been to Tinsel Trading and you find yourself in Manhattan…run, do not walk, right to Fifth and 37th. You will love it there. There’s so much there that it’s impossible to take it all in. I want to thank the staff for letting me walk around with my camera and snap away. New York has lots of energy and hustle and bustle, which is great, but when you walk in the door of Tinsel Trading, you can slow down, sigh and bask in the prettiness that is everywhere you look.

I’d like to work there. Wouldn’t that be fun?

I’m not kidding.

Hope you enjoyed the tour. And if you are interested in a great mystery to read, scroll down and read my book review.

Comments

  1. Stunning! I’d love to go there but since I don’t fly anymore I doubt I’ll get to see it in person, but thanks to bloggers like you, sugar, I can dream and sigh. ;-) Thanks!
    xoxo,
    Connie

  2. OH. MY. GOODNESS. I would have to be dragged out of this store- most likely kicking and screaming like a child! What a little piece of heaven- lucky you Claudia! I would delay my trip home too :) I love the purchases you made too ♥ Thank you for taking pictures to share with us!

  5. Hi Claudia~ oh wow, it’s a good thing Manhattan is 4 hours away (but 4 hours is not really that far is it? a spring trip to manhattan may just be in the works!lol:)
    I scrolled down and not only read your book review that I missed but your Vday post as well “to thine own self be true”…love that post, we are kindered spirits! Happiness comes from finding your own path…that’s what I like to live by:)
    Hope you are able to get some rest and revisit that awesome store!
    hugs,
    paula:)

  6. I’m oohing and aahing! I’d love to get in there. Don’t know what I’d tackle first. But that lace and trim would be toward the top of my list!
    Brenda

  8. Be still my heart! They can hire me now…I’ll move! hee hee Oh my gosh, how I’d love to go in this shop…maybe one day. {sigh} I’ve never seen that particular glass glitter either….oh how I miss the BIG cities.

    I know you are exhausted but I’m so glad you are taking the time even if it is for only minutes to submerge yourself in all this beauty.

    Have a wonderful day,
    Stephanie ♥

  9. hi my claudia!

    i am so thrilled that we both finally made it to tinsel trading (even if it wasn’t together). time really does stand still in there, doesn’t it? was wendy or marcia there? so glad you treated yourself!!

    nyc is so cool. hope you are able to enjoy yourself despite the long days, my friend.

    xo
    elyse

  10. Oh…I’d feel like a kid in a candy store…so many treats, so little time! I’m enjoying it vicariously!
    Cheryl at My Sister’s Cottage

  11. Hi Claudia,
    This shop looks like Paradise! I could spend hours in there and never want to leave. The rosettes, the ribbons, the buttons, the french ephemera…..I love it all!

    Thanks for the lovely tour!

    hugs
    Sissie

  12. Thank you so very much for the beyond amazing visit to Tinsel Trading. Your treasures are wonderful. Luckily you have more visits to the city and can hurry on lunch hour and purchase some additional treasures. I just wish we had that fabulous store here!!! Happy resting Miss Claudia…

  13. Oh Claudia, Visiting Tinsel Trading has been a long time dream of mine. I like to browse the online shop but now at least I have had an “insider” experience through your eyes. Thanks for the tour. Hopefully by the time all of your crazy running and commuting slows down, the weather will give us more than a glimpse of spring. Then you can take a well deserved break and enjoy!
    I love a good mystery and I really love finding an author I like that I haven’t read before. Thanks for the review too.

  14. …oh the vintage millinery!!
    I’ve long read of this most fabulous store of lovely, creative items!!
    Three weeks would do me in ~ LOL!!
    have fun:)
    xo, Rosemary

  17. Oh Claudia, such wonderful artsy-crafty goodness! All that glass glitter took my breath away. I really love the goodies you brought home~ especially that french spool and the aqua/teal ribbon. Thanks so much for sharing your photos with us~ I will live vicariously through you!
    Hugs,
    Jill

  18. Claudia, I knew it would be divine!!!! Love that store, oh my, I can only dream of being there!!!!
    So glad you had a chance to see it and do some shopping!
    Hugs,
    Margaret B

  19. Oh, please, I want to come with you there!!!
    how fantastic a shop- I could stay there for dayes :)
    Thanks for showing, Claudia.
    Hugs,Dorthe

  20. Oh wow, I would be drooling over the items they would have to kick me out. I would never want to leave the store. And I see wood spools… dont see now days.

    Oh to be able to visit that store!

  24. What a neat store and really nice pictures, I like your purchases. I wish I lived within driving distance of NYC I have never been. at least I can view through your eyes
    Sherry

  25. DO YOU BELIEVE THIS STORE, IT IS SO WONDERFUL, AND I THOUGHT AC MOORE WAS GREAT. I WOULD LOVE SHOPPING THERE. HAVE FUN, WHEN YOU CAN.
    RIZZI

  29. Hello Claudia!

    And here I thought I got my EYE CANDY groove on today with my post! this shop is amazing..and I know I’d be staring at that wall of trims for hours on end…I’d probably still be there in a trance or a creative coma in the very least! yummY!!!

    thanks for sharing…

    ciao bella

    Creative Carmelina

  30. I’ve always wanted to visit this store, and one called “Tender Buttons” too. One day! In the meantime, I thank you very kindly for the tour Claudia.

    I hope you have a great day!

  31. Granddaughter Jasmin and I loved visiting this shop when we were in the city just before Christmas 2009. We spent an hour or more looking at everything – and I admit I went a little nuts and bought lots of stuff – who can resist, it’s all so fabulous! Definitely a must stop for any creative gal who’s in town for a visit – and lucky the ones who actually live there and can go every week!!!!

    You did get lots of great walking exercise Claudia, but it’s really enjoyable in NYC where there’s so much to see.

  32. Jeez-Louise… I could live in that shop. All the years I spent in NYC when I was a Travel Agent and I never, ever saw a shop as cute as this.

    I knew you would appreciate my rant the last two post. I know you carried on about this the other day. But, when I read how the music needed to go. Well, that was it for me. Steam was coming out of my ears. It took me so long in life to find my voice and my own secret little place in my garden to write. I for one am not really wanting to follow the crowd now.

    Off to fix some grub,
    Kate

  35. So much deliciousness! YUMMMMY! I was truly drooling…I don’t think that’s good for the keyboard, is it? I want to go there sooooo badly. I’d have to take out a big load from the bank before I left…. And, take some extra luggage. That place spells T.R.O.U.B.L.E. :-)

    Thank you so much for popping over…. I have actually had you on my mind and was going to come and visit you. I’ve been such a lousy blogger lately and haven’t done much visiting… I always love coming to see what you’re up to….and to admire your pottery and COLORS….always soooo pretty.

    And, thanks for the well wishes too. And, prayers. I need them.

    Huggies and lovies,
    Spence

  37. Hi Claudia! Oh how I envy you right now!! Martha Stewart did a feature on her show several years ago of this wonderful shop. I must say however, that your review of it is far better than hers was! Beautiful pics Claudia. I also agree with you, it would be so lovely to work at such a charming and inspirational place!!

    Lots of love,
    Susan and Bentley
    xxoo

  39. W0W, that looks like heaven to me! Love your purchases, especially the spools. Take a bet, you will go back before you finish working in the city. Who could resist.

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