Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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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.

Perle Cotton in Manhattan

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Hello, on a sleepy (for me) Saturday morning.

I’ve been working in Manhattan the last 2 days. I usually take the bus because it drops me off right in the Midtown theater district. Not to mention the fact that it is quieter, more comfortable and closer to my house. When I arrive, I have to walk a mere 2 blocks and I’m at the rehearsal studios. However, since my trip into the city is, at minimum, an hour and a half each way, I usually go right to rehearsal and afterward go right back to the station and hop on the bus.

Yesterday, I took the time for a brisk 20 block walk around Midtown. I love walking in Manhattan – in any city. When I lived in both Philadelphia and Boston, I didn’t have a car and I walked everywhere. For hours. I have long legs and I walk quickly. It was such fun to do that again. I think that’s the thing I miss the most about living smack dab in the middle of a major city. It’s hard to walk around here – we live on a busy country road with no sidewalks and people drive much too fast.

A shorter journey (merely a block from the station) took me to Daytona Trimmings. Rebecca of Drop Cloth wrote about this shop a while back and I couldn’t wait to explore it. Embroidery floss is readily available everywhere, I know, but separating the strands drives me nuts.  I much prefer to embroider with #8 Perle Cotton. The thicker non-divisible single strand is much easier to use. For some reason, the big craft stores only carry it in white, ecru, and blue – sometimes red. Daytona Trimmings? Oh my gosh. Drawer after drawer of gorgeous colors. I bought 9 different colors.

Isn’t it pretty? Here’s my plan: I will make a list of the colors I have so far. Every time I visit the city, I’ll stop in and buy a few new colors. It is only a block from the station. It’s sort of my duty, don’t you think?

By the way, it’s snowing again.

When will it all stop?

My Stuff is Everywhere (& Cupcakes)

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It’s now official. I have taken over every available surface with my various projects. Yarn for an obsession scarf on a chair…

Dollhouse, paint, brushes, and other supplies in a corner of the den….

Script and all Shakespeare research materials on the kitchen table.

Yes, I have a studio upstairs, but none of these projects can fit in that tiny space. So I guess you could say my studio space has expanded to include the entire house.  There is relief in sight: I have one more act to research in The Merchant of Venice and then the books can be removed from the table. Speaking of MOV, as it has been dubbed in all rehearsal correspondence, I officially start rehearsals this coming Monday. My days will be long, but exciting, for about 5 weeks.

Yesterday, I needed to catch an early bus to Manhattan. When I woke up there were 2 additional inches of snow on the ground. If you had driven by MHC, you would have been treated to the sight of me shoveling snow in a parka and pink flannel pajamas. Oh, what blackmail photos could have been taken! Upon seeing me out there, Don yelled out the window and berated me (kindly) for not waking him up to help. Can’t help it…I just get a notion in my head and I start in.

It was a snowy bus ride to Manhattan and as I walked around Greenwich Village with big, fat snowflakes falling, I fell in love with the city all over again. Though there are some taller buildings in the area, the predominant style is a 2 or 3 stories. You aren’t surrounded by skyscrapers. It has much more of a cozy, neighborhood feeling. Very picturesque yesterday and very photo-worthy. Alas, when I am toting a bag full of the books I need for my work, the last thing I need is the additional weight of my camera! Once we get into the rehearsal space, my books can stay there and I will once again have my camera in hand. It will be fun to share some shots of the city with you.

Where did I stop? Do you have to guess?

The Magnolia Bakery, of course. As you gaze upon these lovelies, say a fond farewell. This is the last hurrah – at least for a while. We have been indulging in way too many sweets this winter. After the last cupcake has been consumed (and two of them are already gone) it’s lights out for sugar. This winter is one of the toughest we’ve had in a long time – more snow is due tonight – and since we have at least 2 more months of it, we’ll really be packing on some pounds if we continue at this rate.

I will miss you, pretty and delicious cupcakes. Sob.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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