Brooklyn Blossoms

Although the Brooklyn Botanical Garden hosted Sakura Matsui aka the Cherry Blossom Festival last weekend, the CherryWatch Blossom Status Map shows that the trees lining the Cherry Esplanade are still in first bloom.


I went a couple of weekends ago and caught the Japanese Garden in full bloom. Just beautiful - even on a cloudy day.




Pssst: When there aren't special programs running entry to the BBG is FREE on Sat mornings from 10 am - noon. More info on hours and admissions here.

Fleet Week 2012

This morning we took a walk down to Piers 7 and 8 off of Columbia Street. For reference, Pier 1 is just south of the Brooklyn Bridge. We strolled on and off of a handful of beautiful ships both sail and military: ETOILE (France), CUAUHTEMOC (Mexico), JUAN SEBASTIAN de EL CANO (Spain) and JS Shirane (Japan), FNS Pohjanmaa (Finland) plus several Coast Guard ships.

All of the ships are open for tours (some guided) from 8 - 5 today and 8-4 tomorrow. Then they start to head out of town up the East River on Tuesday and Wednesday morning. Full schedule and more info here.

I couldn't help looking at all the sail material and thinking about all the upcycling potential!

Enjoy the long weekend!

Resolutions

Hey, so how is that first week of resolutions going for everyone?
Me? I have a few and I'm at about a 75% success rate and slipping.

I love the sweeping generalization of this resolution that was posted outside of Van Leeuwen's in Boerum Hill: treat yourself. Very obtainable, don't you think?

Have a resolute weekend.

MIB3 - Brooklyn Filming

MIB3 has been filming in Brooklyn lately. They were in Red Hook near my studio earlier in the week. Yesterday afternoon Court Street and several of the side streets downtown were lined with vintage cars in preparation for filming that was scheduled to go throughout the night.



I thought the taxi's were great.



Especially the fares!




This little red sports car was my personal favorite. I love how the owner is lovingly doting on it making sure it's ready for its close up. And it was - every part was perfectly polished. Sure wish I had this car on a day like today!



Enjoy the long weekend - hope you get a chance to get out and play.

Reclaimed and Upcycled

Here's another 'new' tote.





The handle material was reclaimed form a local belt factory that went out of business. The same place where the red patent leather bands on the 'Look at Me' tote came from in the previous post. Both totes are available here.

Good news, the old belt factory building was reclaimed and upcycled, too. It's been restored and revamped into The Invisible Dog Art Center. They always have interesting events going on: art openings, plays, open studios. Definitely worth a visit if your in the neighborhood.

Have a great weekend!

Piled High

Brooklyn got walloped with another snow storm last night which resulted in a snow day today.
I've been dreaming of tropical vacations (like every New Yorker these days!), but I must say, today there's no place I'd rather be than Brooklyn, NY.

I've uploaded a few more photos on flickr

Sunshine Harnessed

Today is about as grey as it gets.

But, remember those fantastic bright sunshiny spinnaker sails that I posted about last week? Well, here is the sail upcycled and transformed into accent throw pillows. They are light and fun. Flip them over and you've got a different color combo.
Available in my Etsy shop.

The Fish That Got Away

As mentioned in yesterday's post, there were several nautical decor items that didn't make it into the Shopping With feature that ran in the Homes section of the New York Times yesterday.

I like nautical decor when it's not hitting you over the head (with an anchor). But instead suggests the sea in subtle, yet graphic ways. Here were my additional picks:

OK maybe the wallpaper by isn't very subtle - but it sure is fun! ‘Shore Leave’ Wallpaper ($150 per roll) by Brooklyn based Flavor Paper.

Haus Interiors in Nolita has a lovely selection of modern nautical decor. So much so that it was hard to choose. I can easily picture the Feed Stripe Throw ($178) slung over a couch and I love the Sea Grass Cube ($72), too.

Made from re-purposed fishing line woven with vines around a strong metal armature this Fishing Sphere Chandelier ($410 – 630) from Seaside Inspired evokes a images of sand dunes and surf for me.

Hand-printed organic linen tea towels ($18 each) by Madder Root available on Etsy. I love the graphics and the fact that they are made with organic materials and thread as well as solvent free water based inks.

I chose this octopus pillow ($60) by Utilitarian Franchise, another Etsy seller, also for the great contrasting colors and graphic plus the white eco friendly water based paint that they use in the process.

Down East Doormats by Maine Float Rope Company. Above is a medium hand-woven stripe doormat made from reclaimed float rope formerly used by Maine lobstermen $49.95. great background story on their site - worth a visit.

Barmaid cast iron bottle opener ($30) by Nauti and Co a NY based company looks like an artifact that you might find while beach combing ... if you're very, very lucky!

Mast Brother's Chocolate

.

I have tasted Mast Brothers chocolate and it is everything they describe it to be. This is a beautifully shot portrait by The Scout - well worth viewing in it's entirety. Bonus: there is a sailing connection!

Found via ABCD Designs

4 K8

I recently made this custom recycled sail 'Kate' tote. Get it? K8 = Kate

It is a second anniversary gift - lined with organic cotton. I'm loving the custom orders that are coming my way. It gives me a chance to hear the stories behind the order and in this case, to meet the local gift giver - a real perk of my job.

Keep 'em coming!

Brooklyn Renegade '10

Hey, hey! It's the Renegade! The 6th Annual Renegade Craft Fair in Brooklyn is this weekend: June 5 + 6 from 11am – 7pm in McCarren Park. The fair will go down Rain or Shine.

It's FREE-TO-ATTEND! It's a craft, art, design and DIY spectacular and has over 300 of today’s finest indie-craft talents from all over the nation, free workshops, entertainment + other features!

My booth number is 208 and it's on the Lorimer Street side.

Hope to see you there!

Brooklyn Renegade '10

I'm excited to share that Reiter8 will back at the 'Renegade' this year!

Mark your calendars for this year's Brooklyn Renegade Craft Fair at McCarren Park on June 5/6 from 11-7.

Because She Can

Never underestimate a captain when there's the promise of warmer weather (tomorrow's Brooklyn forecast: Sunny and 69!) and fair winds. One more Brooklyn Public Sail has just been planned for the Sloop Clearwater on Wed, October 21st (yep, that's tomorrow!)

The sunset sail (last one out of Brooklyn this year) is planned to leave the Fairway ferry dock at 5:30.

Kids and adults can cast a net and catch fish in New York Harbor - yes, real live fish!

Are you weighing going to the gym vs. going on the sail? No worries! Enjoy both a light workout AND a sail: help set the 3000 sq. ft. Mainsail - Heave, Ho!

If you choose, bring a picnic and a bottle of wine.

Partake in everything or nothing at all. No matter what, you'll enjoy a peaceful evening on the water amid your busy week.

Because this sail is a little shorter than their normal sails, the prices have been adjusted: $40 for Adults, $30 if you're a CW member and $10 for kids under twelve!

Reserve your place by calling 1-800-67-SLOOP x107 or just stop by the boat at the Fairway ferry dock and speak to a crew member. To find out more about membership, programs and future events go to www.clearwater.org

Welcome Back!

Be a part of the official Welcome Back to Brooklyn for the Sloop Clearwater this Sat October 17th. There are a series of events planned that will appeal to all ages:

3-6 pm: The Sloop sets sail from Manhattan at 3pm and arrives in Brooklyn at 6pm. Pricing: $60/adults; $40/members; $20/kids. Reserve your spot and find more info at Clearwater.org.

5pm to 6pm: Start your evening off with a family-friendly rendez-vous aboard the Historic Waterfront Museum, a beautifully restored showboat barge and floating classroom. Catch great views of the historic tall ship Clearwater as she returns to the Brooklyn waterfront. Donations accepted; snacks, music and fun provided.

6pm-7:30pm: Welcome the Sloop to the dock (located behind Fairway), then hop aboard for a tour of the deck and meet n’ mingle with the Captain and crew!

8pm – 10pm: Head around the corner with the crew to Sunny’s Bar, a Red Hook mainstay for sailors for over one hundred years. A suggested donation of $5 or $10 gets you more great music, refreshments, and a warm mug of mulled cider.
Sunny’s weekly bluegrass jam follows close behind, so be sure and bring an instrument along!

See you there!

NY400 and Harbor Day

Spent a fantastic day on the Sloop Clearwater yesterday. Starting in Brooklyn, we sailed in the NY Harbor then up the Hudson River to the 79th street boat basin in a flotilla of historic and modern dutch and american ships. This sail was part of the NY400 Harbor Day celebration commemorating Henry Hudson's first sail up the Hudson 400 years ago.

The weather was outstanding and the water was sparkling. By the end of the day I'm sure I wasn't the only one fantasizing about living on a boat. Ah, the lure and romance of a sail!

More photos on flickr.

Truck Farm

Truck Farm photo by Ian Cheney.

I have passed this parked truck many times on Van Brunt Street in Red Hook this summer. Ian Cheney and Curt Ellis had the ingenious idea of growing veggies in the flat bead of a 1986 Dodge truck. And what ingenious idea is not complete by filming it these days? Truck Farm is no exception and has documented it's progress with a solar powered cab mounted time lapse camera. The folks at Wicked Delicate have created a series of videos complete with quirky soundtracks that sing the story of Truck Farm.





For $20 you can subscribe to the farm are received an 'unknowable amount' produce, a dvd of the short film and an invitation to the WD Truck Farm Summer Picnic. Not close enough to picnic? Subscribe anyway and you'll get a bottle of smokin' hot sauce made from the Fall habaneros pepper crop.

But, Wait! There's More!

The Sloop Clearwater has added an extra public sail to their schedule in Brooklyn! It's TONIGHT from 6-9. Bring a picnic and a bottle of wine and enjoy! Call 1-800-67-SLOOP x107 x107 or just stop by the boat at the Fairway ferry dock and ask a crew member. Check it out:


Happy Sailing!

Clear Sailing

I had the good fortune to go for a sail on the Sloop Clearwater the morning it docked behind the Fairway at the end of Van Brunt Street in Red Hook Brooklyn. Sunny weather and gentle winds made for great harbor exploring.

I joined a summer day camp as they broke into smaller groups and cycled through different educational stations on the vessel lead by the knowledgeable crew that works great with kids. 'Our' net caught flounder, crab, mussels, and other small fish that they kids identified, discussed and touched. The kids learned about climate change, navigational charts, wind and water, sailing, safety and communal life on a boat. And we hoisted the sails - how could I forget!? - Heave Ho!

There was a moment of silence where everyone just stopped and listened - fantastic! Guitar sing-a-longs kept kids mesmerized as we docked once again in Brooklyn.

The Clearwater is schedule to be here through 8/3 for deck tours and sails Check out all the info on their website here. If you can't catch it this go around check the schedule for other dates and locations. It's a great experience. Not to be missed.

Thanks to the crew and Captain Sam for a fantastic sail!