I originally took this photoof a giant paper mache (guessing) Pink Bunny Storage Ottoman (guessing again) at a NY Now gift show in August of 2019. I found it in my photo archives while digging around for a pink thing to post this week. How fortunate.
You can see it is rather big, so it would probably be a great addition to a child’s bedroom or playroom, as the back has a removable “lid” and I am sure you could store lots of toys and kid’s crap (or even linen) inside it. It’s pretty cute, definitely unique and also quite practical. Although I neglected to note the vendor, I did a search for “paper mache animal heads” and found this site, where I immediately recognized the Rainbow Striped Cow Head in the background. I have no idea if that is the correct vendor, but if you want to have a hand at doing some research Googling on your own, please leave any information in the comments.
Do you like being thought of as ‘edgy,’ while also maintaining impeccably-groomed hair? Then allow me to introduce you to the Sharks Tooth; the compact, foldable comb and brush that keeps you looking sharp! Just open up its tooth-filled jaws to quickly attack those tangles. The Sharks Tooth snaps shut, making an it easy-to-carry (in a purse or a pocket) grooming tool that goes anywhere. Expertly crafted by Fred, you can purchase the Sharks Tooth for yourself at This Link!
Photographed at the NY Now Winter 2020 Gift Show in NYC
Yes, I know it’s way too early for Christmas but I could not resist showing you these delicate, ice Pink Hamsa Hand tree ornaments by Cody Foster & Co, the same people who make the highly collectible David Bowie Ornaments that I wrote about last December. In the months between now and the holiday season, perhaps you can find other uses for them in your home decor, such as hanging one above a home alter?
Photographed at the NY Now Winter Market at Javits Center.
Ah, the cuteness. This super comfy smiling Shark Lounge Pillow was spotted at the recent NY Now Winter Market and we find it irresistible! A lounge pillow lets you effectively make a chair out of your bed, so you can read, watch TV, or mess around your electronic devices all day long! Made of soft, easy-care fleece with polyfiber fill, this pillow sells for $71.00 and is from I Scream products. You can purchase one for your shark-loving self on their website at This Link!
The NY Now winter retail market and gift show is behind us, and I came home with a ton of photos of cool stuff to share with you here on The ‘Gig; including several excellent additions to our beloved Shark Attack series (one of which you saw right here just last week)!
These adorable felted booties are sold by The Silk Road Bazaar, a fair trade wholesale representative of marginalized artist groups located in Central Asia. These fiercely cute booties are part of their Zooties series of baby booties designed in the likeness of animals. Watch out for your little toes!
Better be careful when reaching into this glazed ceramic bowl for a handful of chips or nuts, because you might be dipping your hand into the gaping maw of a big blue Shark!
Say Ahhhh!
Dubbed the ‘Shark Attack Snack Bowl‘ by me, this visually delightful and seriously functional bowl was spotted in the booth for Italian decorative glassware manufacturer Egizia 1949, which is based in Tuscany. Additional examples of their their glassware can be seen in the background of the first photo in this post.
Sadly, I was unable to locate the bowl on their website, so I can’t quote a price. This bowl is perfect for filling with the snack of your choice at your next Shark Week party, and of course it makes an ideal gift for your loved one who loves Sharks.
Nothing says ‘Have a Glam Holiday” like a couple of David Bowie ornaments on the tree. I spotted these beauties last summer at the NY Now gift show and have been holding onto them since then, just waiting for the seasonally appropriate time to share! The ornament above depicts Bowie in his “Life On Mars” Suit. Designed by Freddie Burretti, Bowie’s go-to fashion designer (as well as lover and protege) between 1970 and 1974, this turquoise “ice-blue” suit was featured in the music video for “Life On Mars” from the album Heroes in May, 1973. You can watch the video here. It’s a bit lame that the ornament’s designer has added the facial lightning bolt from Aladdin Sane to this piece, but I guess they were going for maximum icon appeal.
On the far left in the photo above, you’ll see another ornament that’s a bust-only attempt at a likeness of Bowie where he’s probably meant to be wearing the “Space Oddity” space suit, with its flared shoulder pads. Bowie wore that suit in the early days of the 1972–73 Ziggy Stardust tour. Once again, they added the lightning bolt adornment to Bowie’s face, which is historically inaccurate, but kind of necessary for identification purposes, since the face looks nothing like Bowie at all. These ornaments are available from Cody Foster & Co on Amazon Dot Com for $24.99 each.
There is little doubt that a fashionable handbag can tie a look together like no other accessory, and in many cases it ends up being the conversation piece of an outfit. While “It Bags” from design houses like Hermes and Moschino can set you back thousands — or even tens-of-thousands — of dollars, it’s possible to own a super cute handbag that is truly a work of art for a very affordable price. Allow me to introduce you to the Signature Handbag collection from designer and artist, Kent Stetson.
Oyster Clutch $230; Donut Clutch $212
Kent Stetson creates functional, wearable art which he refers to as Art-To-Go! His handbag designs include popular themes like food, fashion, pets, flowers, cocktails, special interest hobbies, and his own abstract patterns, so there really is a bag to suit every taste. Assorted designs feature a novelty closure adornment, such as the faux oyster or donut seen on the bags in the above photo. Stetson’s bags are so visually exciting, you may not be able to resist the urge to own more than one!
Snakeskin Clutch $212.00
The Signature Handbag collection has a fascinating origin story, which Stetson shares on his website; “In 2003, after the disappointment of dismantling an exhibition of my paintings where nothing sold, I started cutting up the canvas pieces and sewing them into bags.” Kent found that these fun and unique handbags sold immediately.
American Express Clutch, Price N/A
His story continues, “Raised on a farm, watching my mother repair and maintain the harnesses for the horses, I gathered a sense of the craft of leatherwork. I had the tools that I needed, I simply had to connect the dots to my paintings. It turns out that I did not need a wall to display my art, and that a bag was a perfect way to package it.”
Splash Clutch $198; Buddha Clutch $208
Originally, the bags were a framing device but they since have become his medium. Stetson’s designs are an instantly-recognizable wardrobe staple enjoyed by celebrities and collectors worldwide. These signature clutch bags are made from luxury-quality coated canvas, and range in style from traditionally artistic to kitsch. You can see that these designs are a great way to spark a fun conversation that breaks the ice and turns everyday adventures into an opportunity to make new friends.
Lipstick Clutch $208
Succulents Clutch $212
The designer employs a team of highly-skilled technicians who work alongside him to produce each piece, and his Rhode Island-based workshop has a high bar for excellence, having earned many awards. There are nearly 50 steps in making each signature bag and all pieces are produced to order, making each one specially for the recipient.
Christmas Lights Clutch, Price NA
Stetson never loses sight of the fact that he had to fail hard in order to become a success. “Whether you are one of our early first patrons, or a new collector,” he offers, “it is an honor for me to make something that I know you will enjoy using. Thank you for helping me turn what was a disappointing start to my career as an artist into something more wonderful than I could have ever imagined!”
Macaroon Clutch $212
Mary Jane Clutch $208
All handbags come with a removable cross-body chain, a logo dust bag, a clear vinyl inner pocket, and each is individually signed. All prices include shipping. Shop Online for Kent Stetson’s Signature Collection at This Link!
All Photos Taken at NY Now Summer 2019 at the Javits Center.
Do you like shopping? I sure do. Imagine that you own a store, maybe one that sells neat things like those you find on this blog, and you had to shop for cool inventory to sell in your store. Where would you go to find those neat things? Well, one place you can go for your one-stop shop shopping is the Retail RenaissanceNY Now wholesale gift trade show, which features thousands of handmade, home, and lifestyle gift items all under one roof. NY Now takes place at the Javits Center twice annually, in the winter and summer, and it gets exponentially better with each passing seasonal edition. I always have a fun time at NY Now, but the Summer show that just happened in August was mind-blowingly great. Really. Wow.
I tend not to recap my visits to NY Now because it’s massive, and I just end up blogging about a handful of the coolest items spotted on the show floor. But because I had so many great photos this time, I feel compelled to share them with you. Don’t expect much commentary, because this post is mainly about taking you on a little visual journey, but if you have questions about anything in this piece please speak up in the comments and I’ll be sure to address your inquiries!
There is no delicate way to put this: when you share a home with other people, maintaining the quality of the bathroom “atmosphere” is an ongoing consideration. It’s easy enough to light a match or spray some room fresher into the air, but when a solution that’s both discrete and longer-lasting is desired, I’ve got just the thing for the occasional malodorous situation: POTTYMINTS.
I discovered POTTYMINTS at the recent New York Now home show, when I was trawling the aisles fro free stuff and was charmed by their attention-grabbing booth display, featuring an extra tall toilet with an extravagant bouquet of flowers extending from its bowl to the ceiling. Very impressive! I stopped to talk to POTTYMINTS representative, Matthew Grobman, whose sister and business partner Suzanna Grobman, invented the product after taking a vacation (my guess is they went to Mexico) with her then-boyfriend-now-husband. You can read an abridged version of what I assure you is an hilarious story here.
Matthew gave me a few sample packets of POTTYMINTSto try at home and here is what happened next.
Behold, the POTTYMINTS displayed on the seat of my toilet! Please note that correct use of the POTTYMINT involves waiting until after the flush (#theafterflush)!
After flushing, drop one POTTYMINT into the clean water and watch it go!
The POTTYMINT will effervesce and dissolve, leaving the air sweet smelling for, not even kidding, a few days! POTTYMINTSare sold in assorted sizes, including a small packet perfect for traveling or just keeping in your purse or bag. All packaging embraces a minimal-yet-elegant design aesthetic — like something you would find in the bathroom at a very fancy hotel and want to take home with you! POTTYMINTScome in two very appealing fragrances: Arancia di Capri (Citrus) and La Fleur (Light Floral). These varieties are effective and impart a fresh and enduring scent without becoming cloying, as some sprays or atomizers can be.
Find out more about POTTYMINTS, and get a 10% discount on your first purchase, at This Link!
