Patch NYC

In the summer of 2009 I had the pleasure of accompanying my husband to Boston for three weeks.

He was in school and had classes and tons of work. His choice.

I, on the other hand, had three weeks to fill! Some people can't quite get this, asking why would I want three empty weeks. I was thrilled!

Being the design junkie that I am, I researched and explored every art and design museum, every art gallery, antique store and home furnishings boutique. I learned the public transportation system in Boston and I wandered streets all over, admiring architecture, from old historical..................

The Paul Revere house

 to the most contemporary.

Boston ICA - Institute of Contemporary Art

I always tear pages from magazines when I stumble upon an interesting shop, gallery or museum, in hopes that one day I will get to visit whatever town it might be in. 

That summer I had a long list of places to visit in Boston, and Hudson , in Boston's South End, was at the top of that list.

I walked into Hudson and was immediately taken with the design aesthetic there -  perfect mix of vintage and modern and loaded with charm.

 I soon learned that I had, most unfortunately, just missed a special "Pop Up Shop" within the
Hudson shop.

 Patch NYC had taken over the back room and literally made it into their own "pop up shop" for one week.

Take a look at some of the photos from that short visit and you will see why I was so disappointed.

I had the nicest conversation with Lindsay, the manager of the shop, and she told me all about the creative two behind this clever and amazingly delightful collaboration.

Don Carney and John Ross established Patch NYC in 1997 with a collection of hand crochet wool hats inspired by a hat made by John's mom, Yasuko, for her son's first winter in New York City. The rest, as they say, is history.

John and Don
 Boston Globe Photo - 2008  Photo by Yoon S. Byun/Globe Staff 

Read more here.


I was smitten with their style, attention to detail and artistic, witty talent.
So, a few years passed and I followed Patch NYC - noting they partnered with

anthropologie
and
 West Elm ,

creating unique and imaginative products for each.

Each time I would walk into either store, I would immediately scan to see if I could spot what might be "Patch", as I call it in my mind.

I wondered if they would change - if the partnership with big name stores might affect their individual style, their distinctive and original flair.

Fast forward to last week - May of 2011, and I found myself in Boston again for my husband's graduation.

Big event, BIG.

I would be remiss in not bragging on him for obtaining a Masters Degree in Health Care Management from Harvard!
It has been a long, tough road, and he works full time too - very full time.

His journey has affected our entire family, and we were all ready to celebrate his accomplishment, AND his completion of the degree!!

And, one last hurrah for me as far as having an excuse to fly to and explore Boston!

I did not have time to visit all of my favorite haunts, but we did venture down to the South End on Saturday for a bite of goodness at the Buttery and a few stops in the neighborhood for me!

So, quite a while ago, my husband decided that he liked the bench outside of Hudson. After our afternoon snack, he headed next door to take his spot while I wandered.

He is voracious reader, so he is quite content here for hours......okay maybe not hours, but for quite a while!

I have to tell you, he is most patient and a great companion.

He comes along if I ask, actually shows interest if I want to share, but is also quite content as a "husband bench sitter" - you know what I mean.

 (He couldn't find a bench at the SoWa market, but found a window sill that was perfect to lean into and read away!)

anthropologie NYC one Christmas - I think he was getting tired here.

The man is a saint.

 Oh look - back at Hudson!!

Again - do you think the folks at Hudson recognize him yet? This time my younger daughter hung out with him. These two can be dangerous together.....dangerously hilarious.


Oh, but how I digress...................

Now, back to PATCH NYC!!

So, I hope you are still with me because here is the good part.

I knew that Don and John had a small shop just around the corner from Hudson.
I had made several futile attempts to visit and they were closed each time. So, this trip I decided to give it one last try.


I was accompanied by my older daughter, who, I have to brag again.....

just graduated a few weeks ago from Vanderbilt!!

She is the cutie who asked me to go to San Francisco to "look at lots of art and design" over her last spring break.

I posted about our trip here.

So, we left the two clowns sweethearts on the bench and off we went to see if we could find the Patch NYC studio open.....and......

TA DA!!! 

They were open and both were there in their PATCH NYC SHOP,( in the courtyard at 46 Waltham Street  - corner of Washington Street)  and I got to meet and visit with each of them.

Now, one might expect two such talented guys who have had so much success and tons of press over the last ten years to be, well, a bit arrogant, or  at least, slightly aloof ....... not at all. 

 We were greeted warmly by John and invited to look around the tiny, treasure filled space.

As we browsed, Don appeared and asked me if I was familiar with the shop.

I confessed my semi - stalker status  (I think I just told him I was a "Patch follower" ) and we chatted a bit.

There could not be a nicer, more down to earth person, and I loved comparing notes on antiquing and flea markets.

In my reading for this post I came across this post from design sponge, and if you have the time you might want to read it - very good info for shopping flea markets, straight from the Patch guys, Don and John.

I didn't have my camera with me, but have taken the liberty of borrowing some photos from the

Patch NYC blog of items I saw in the shop.

Enjoy!

 Vintage photos framed in black crochet with charms.

Charming, charming, flowers made from vintage neck ties.

Delicious smelling candles with designs from Don's hand inked drawings.


Speaking of hand inked drawings, Don told me about his love of vintage frames, and how often the frame inspires his drawings.

Source

I have one of his originals on my wish list. Now my challenge is choosing which one.

They are each hand drawn, and framed by Don in which ever special antique frame he chooses from his collection.

I might even ask him to do one especially for me - he will do that for you, too!! 

To find out more about this design duo, check out their website and look for their creations at such places as Barneys, ABC Home and Carpet, and Jonathon Adler.


About that concern I had  - would they lose there individuality and charm partnering with the big name stores?



Not a chance - my guess is that they will continue to invent and evolve and create and change and grow.

Meeting creative, authentic, genuine people might just be my most favorite thing in the world.
I found meeting Don and John heartwarming and inspiring and
  I can't wait to visit Boston again to see them and their shop.

Meanwhile, thank goodness for email and blogs!

Blogging My Way through Boston

Poking around Cambridge yesterday, I had to take a peek in Paper Source on Massachusetts Avenue. It is a wonderful shop with locations around the country. It doesn't feel like a chain store, though. Had I not known, I would have thought I had stumbled upon the coolest neighborhood small business ever!

These are the kinds of shops that make me want to have a party just so I can buy some of the clever , well designed invitations. Journaling is another thing that suddenly becomes attractive when I look at beautiful blank books.


The window display is enough to draw one inside - not only the promise of a sale, but the giant sunflowers are just plain fun!

Custom design anything you can think of - any color, any shape, any font, you name it - it can be found or designed here!

Who can't spend hours reading all the great greeting cards that are produced these days. I love finding the perfect card for a friend and stashing it for that perfect time!

Paper flowers, garlands, wreaths - file folders in gorgeous prints, stickers, all tempting!! Click for more detail.
Tons and tons of papers, stamping supplies, custom as well as ready to go invitations, cards, wrapping papers, stationery, the list is endless. Loved my visit to Paper Source!!




Oh well, you aren't really surprised that I would come all the way to Boston and find the best shop ever with Mexican, Indian and Moroccan imports! Nomad, (whose owner, Deb, as well as the others who work in the shop, was especially friendly), was a wonderful treat and fed my love for all things Mexican, colorful and intriguing.


Nomad has a collection of amazing textiles, including a wonderful collection of new and vintage ralli quilts. Ralli quilts are made in the area of Sindh, Pakistan and western India. (Read more about them on the Nomad website) I love the vintage ones for their softness and faded fabrics and threads, but many of the new ones are made with just the same care and detail.

Great Day of the Dead objects and of course, lots of saints of all varieties!

Taking a peek downstairs where there is more treasure to be found!

Of course, my favorite Mexican pottery made by Gorky Gonzales, made me feel quite at home here!

The glassware was beautiful with the sunlight shining through.

Pretty much anything ethnic, handmade and colorful can be found at Nomad. I do not think this was my only visit . Should I feel a little homesick during my stay here, a trip back to Nomad and I am sure I will feel right at home!

Hill Country Girl Goes to Boston

I have the good fortune to be spending a few weeks in Boston with my husband. He will be studying at Harvard. I will be studying, of course, all museums, art galleries, antique shops, and anything design or art related!


After getting tips from good friends, Carolyn and Nikki, of red fame, reviewing the guide to Boston by Design*Sponge, and getting a few ideas from blogging buddy, Michele, at My Notting Hill, I am ready to discover every unique, interesting shopping and dining establishment in the city!

Sunday evening, tired and hungry from traveling, we let go of "unique and interesting", and walked around the corner to Legal Seafoods. Although a chain restaurant, it was just what we needed. Friendly service, great seafood, and a short walk back to the hotel for a much needed night's rest.

Photos so far are taken with my iPhone, so pardon the marginal quality. I liked the fish sculpture outside of Legal Seafoods.

We are staying in Cambridge, so Monday I set out to Harvard Square and a few shops recommended by Carolyn and Nikki.

Black Ink did not disappoint. Although a small space, it is chock full of goods from floor to ceiling. It was hard to take it all in at one time.

Home accessories, lovely glassware, dogs toys, wonderful books and gift items, lots of whimsey..........the list is endless.

I loved all of these gorgeous papers. I think it is such fun to see all the different colors and patterns hanging together, almost like fabric swatches!

How about these cool bins for all sorts of organizing. I would have loved to have had them when we had piles of toys in the family room. They would be great, now, in a playroom or office - maybe good for fabric swatch storage - the possibilities are endless.

I would recommend Black Ink to anyone who is looking for that special something - a gift or item you don't even know you need until you see it!! What a treasure trove packed into a small space - beautifully styled and fun to explore!

My lunch stop was pure serendipity, and it was wonderful.

Cafe Crema is easy to approach - ordering at the counter and friendly service are part of the casual style and the food is amazingly good! I am not usually one who take pictures of food - I wouldn't call myself a foodie and have never posted about recipes or the like. However, I always appreciate great meals, and this was the most delicious sandwich I have ever eaten - honestly!

Thick slices of avocado, slices of sweet potato, granny smith apples , sprouts, and some magical vinaigrette dressing on toasted wheat bread - I can't even believe I have posted a photo of a sandwich on my blog - it was just so good!!

Didn't get as many shots that first day as I would have liked. I walked a long, long way so that I could see as much as possible on my first day out. So, here is the pharmacy where I bought the band-aids I needed for the new blisters on my feet! You can see, though, the charm of the village like atmosphere in this area. I look forward to more tomorrow, in my comfy walking shoes!!