What I loved at the NYIGF

<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6dPH3S9Du8ldwsIm4ed8HdCcn1YeN356LJ5NDgUlsTZeFDxQatC1wNjbF_ePAHlnbY8TnPoBcuCqkQiLvda0IM0RsRG6I7T3fso8BgOpeAMCzjXalvcare45iK36jVb7tfFPigxRxMxGw/s1600/duneswithduchessNYIGF.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568371641187286914" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6dPH3S9Du8ldwsIm4ed8HdCcn1YeN356LJ5NDgUlsTZeFDxQatC1wNjbF_ePAHlnbY8TnPoBcuCqkQiLvda0IM0RsRG6I7T3fso8BgOpeAMCzjXalvcare45iK36jVb7tfFPigxRxMxGw/s400/duneswithduchessNYIGF.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 246px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Two-talented: </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><a href="http://stacystyle.wordpress.com/">Stacy Kunstel</a> (aka Duchess) and</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><a href="http://www.michaelpartenio.com/">Michael Partenio</a> (otherwise known as Dunes)</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >at their nautically-inspired booth at this week’s<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">New York International Gift Fair</span></span> </div><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Last night I returned home from a weekend trip to New York to scope out the <a href="http://www.nyigf.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">New York International Gift Fair</span></a>. This was my first time attending and I am so glad I went! My traveling companion (and guide) was Rosanne Palazola who pens <a href="http://thefocusondesign.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Focus On Design</span></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >,</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> shares retail space with me and others at <a href="http://www.newenglandfineliving.com/retailstore.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">New England Fine Living</span></a>, tends design clients of her own, and has been to the gift fair a number of times while working with <a href="http://www.tuttleandco.com/about.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tuttle and Co.</span></a></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE22krpOjshR1y18slnkrQn3Kuf9p183I0aFXqzhzDlItubRDjzeuscMvFDB87o_ljblpTSyfc3RokazLr2bb2_AWo7PxE0ElFCuGOOFaQ_s3_D_dre0at7s-XhyphenhyphenBqY7C43PkaS1lN2gLp/s1600/roseannetina.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568450044543943762" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE22krpOjshR1y18slnkrQn3Kuf9p183I0aFXqzhzDlItubRDjzeuscMvFDB87o_ljblpTSyfc3RokazLr2bb2_AWo7PxE0ElFCuGOOFaQ_s3_D_dre0at7s-XhyphenhyphenBqY7C43PkaS1lN2gLp/s320/roseannetina.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 286px; height: 320px;" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Roomates Rosanne and Tina</span></span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi028ThVTfiYAnvcVHJudafhmB2npw6mfYNtU-0tXShPibSuhneXw7Njjk2E0wwMJS0ihh5htGUB_3mK6T-JHJfprGytXr5t5RkMUVRjdDR1F-EeBHquozA7XT_jeZyG2fqNf0ETDZrOdD2/s1600/swanmuffins.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568465914285419186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi028ThVTfiYAnvcVHJudafhmB2npw6mfYNtU-0tXShPibSuhneXw7Njjk2E0wwMJS0ihh5htGUB_3mK6T-JHJfprGytXr5t5RkMUVRjdDR1F-EeBHquozA7XT_jeZyG2fqNf0ETDZrOdD2/s400/swanmuffins.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Snacks-to-go: Blueberry muffins</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />wrapped in swan-shaped tinfoil</span></span><br /><br /></div><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">We arrived in New York just before noon on Saturday and quickly hailed a cab to the NY apartment of Rosanne’s friend, Tina. The apartment was a delightful pied-a-terre with plenty of room to entertain overnight guests, and blessed with its own courtyard garden that looked charming even while blanketed beneath a white-winter snow.<br /><br />The three of us headed over to the Pier section of the gift fair on our first day and then visited the Javitz center on day two. Aisle after aisle of gorgeous home decor products and gift merchandise greeted us upon entering each section of the NYIGF. While I did not take photos of everything I saw (honestly, it would have considerably decreased the amount of goodness we could squeeze in if we stopped to photograph every booth) I did collect the cards of my favorite exhibitors for future reference (and journalistic posts!)<br /></span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6OoIpE3HgSCBqLAp7vjc0ZKtwLwKSxGISI3rDDjxg8vY-OPWQ3JbhoCnftKeh3R-bqdZNL0NQp8mzAntiZmziJkyNZ1o468N2Ad1fP-teVAI44MO1xI6E5rBB-sMof3S0f5U68ntFm6gH/s1600/DandD%2540NYIGF.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568464884582293314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6OoIpE3HgSCBqLAp7vjc0ZKtwLwKSxGISI3rDDjxg8vY-OPWQ3JbhoCnftKeh3R-bqdZNL0NQp8mzAntiZmziJkyNZ1o468N2Ad1fP-teVAI44MO1xI6E5rBB-sMof3S0f5U68ntFm6gH/s400/DandD%2540NYIGF.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 313px;" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Find the Dunes and Duchess at this well-styled space at the NYIGF</span></span> </div><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />While there, we made sure to visit our Boston design friend, Stacy Kunstel at the <a href="http://dunesandduchess.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dunes & Duchess</span></a> booth located at </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Pier 94, Booth #41059</span><span style="font-size:130%;">.<br /><br />On display were new products like cool mirrors and elegant sconces that were added to this stylish line of accessories that includes lamps, candelabras, and giant hurricanes.<br /><br />I finally got a chance to meet the talented and gracious Michael/Dunes in person, and he showed me a new free-standing pedestal that I know would look fabulous in the next design show that I’m working on : )<br /><br /><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicKVRmQxcvO18ACvVUPh5w7RG1PAbAAVHtcMqeQ7rtxHdTOAsTBrtg4y35UY4gxw5Yc3mmzn2YkynXpYHoLi1byIBaPXpE6SW_h6lWiuYPWgIDjXorLqgDgbx4KvrerYGe1UeZCnc5nl6r/s1600/artecnicaNYIGF.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568480745116312530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicKVRmQxcvO18ACvVUPh5w7RG1PAbAAVHtcMqeQ7rtxHdTOAsTBrtg4y35UY4gxw5Yc3mmzn2YkynXpYHoLi1byIBaPXpE6SW_h6lWiuYPWgIDjXorLqgDgbx4KvrerYGe1UeZCnc5nl6r/s400/artecnicaNYIGF.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 246px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >I would love to see the eco-friendly design-conscious lighting<br />by <a href="http://www.artecnicainc.com/">Artecnica</a> offered at <a href="http://www.newenglandfineliving.com/retailstore.html">New England Fine Living</a></span><br /></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />The energized crowds in the exhibit halls were just as stylish as the products being displayed. It was quite the fashion show! When I called home to check in with my family, one of my sons inquired whether I had seen anyone famous. No, I did not see <a href="http://www.nateberkus.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nate Berkus</span></a> this time, but I did meet Lisa from the design blog <a href="http://www.hamptontoes.blogspot.com/">Hamptontoes</a> who had a <a href="http://hamptontoes.blogspot.com/2010/10/air-date-today.html">House Proud segment</a> on his show early in the fall. I have somewhat of a photographic memory and rarely forget a face, so I noticed her right away when she was visiting the Dunes & Duchess (plus I had seen her <a href="http://stacystyle.wordpress.com/2010/09/13/the-nate-berkus-show-premiere/">on Stacy’s blog</a> after Stacy saw the Nate Show last August, so it was easy to put two-and-two together.)</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >More designer sightings ...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">While we were admiring a gorgeous room decked out in lavender and linen designed by <a href="http://www.olystudio.com/tradeshows.html">Oly Studio</a>, I noticed a woman strategically shooting best-angle photos of the space. I figured she must be with the press since many exhibitors prefer that photos are not taken. When she turned around I immediately recognized her as Heather Clawson of <a href="http://habituallychic.blogspot.com/">Habitually Chic</a>. I introduced myself as a fan of her design blog, but I could tell she was just like us, trying to see and record as much of the show as possible, so we didn’t chat long.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_nDGn5hlcCGTv9xAmECnSM-6nJevtm5HkBwYV5nz2I4-_hyaAgp09f6OvXJcPyX7yYOF4dlgH1b2L9BsvMGybB70r19qMSvTBSNdGsTUThhumNouyHe0XU60zhysmPZvXI85A3d-m0aUH/s1600/littlenestKarenAlweil.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568483918304479138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_nDGn5hlcCGTv9xAmECnSM-6nJevtm5HkBwYV5nz2I4-_hyaAgp09f6OvXJcPyX7yYOF4dlgH1b2L9BsvMGybB70r19qMSvTBSNdGsTUThhumNouyHe0XU60zhysmPZvXI85A3d-m0aUH/s400/littlenestKarenAlweil.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 262px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:85%;">Designer eye-candy: <a href="http://www.karenalweilstudio.com/merchant.php?id=72">Little Nest by </a><a href="http://www.karenalweilstudio.com/merchant.php?id=72">Karen Alweil Studio</a></span><br /></span></div><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Going to the gift fair can be much like visiting an amusement park for design lovers, but it is also a work-related field trip that involves research and analysis. Designers are thinking “What does my client need?</span><span style="font-size:130%;">”</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> Store owners are wondering “What would my customer like?</span><span style="font-size:130%;">”</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> Writers are looking for products to engage their audience, and many of us are wishing we could take home all of our show favorites and not just order slips, catalogs and memories! </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">When the weekend was over we were like little kids wishing we had time for one more ride on the merry-go-round. But we knew our time was up, and to be honest, all the pretty-shiny-colorful objects had left our senses overindulged (in the best way, of course!)<br /><br />As I notice posts about the show this week (it goes through February 3rd) I will add them to this list. If you post about the show, please leave your blog address with the post link in the comments. I would love to see what <span style="font-style: italic;">you</span> loved about the NYIGF.<br /><br /><br />• <a href="http://habituallychic.blogspot.com/2011/01/gift-show-guide.html">Habitually Chic</a>: Gift Show Guide<br /><br />• <a href="http://habituallychic.blogspot.com/2011/01/nyigf-2011-jonathan-adler.html">Habitually Chic</a>: Jonathan Adler<br /><br />• <a href="http://habituallychic.blogspot.com/2011/01/nyigf-2011-few-of-my-favorite-things.html">Habitually Chic</a>: Favorite Things<br /><br />• <a href="http://habituallychic.blogspot.com/2011/02/nyigf-2011-ox-bow-decor.html">Habitually Chic</a>: Oxbow Decor<br /><br />• <a href="http://habituallychic.blogspot.com/2011/02/nyigf-2011-for-birds.html">Habitually Chic</a>: For the Birds<br /><br />• <a href="http://habituallychic.blogspot.com/2011/02/my-nyigf-trend-reports-for-elle-decor.html">Habitually Chic</a>: Trends Report<br /><br />• <a href="http://ishkadesigns.blogspot.com/2011/01/new-york-international-gift-fair-part-1.html">Ishka Designs</a>: NYIGF part 1<br /><br />• <a href="http://hamptontoes.blogspot.com/2011/01/giveaway-your-tour-of-nyigf.html">Hamptontoes</a>: Tour of the NYIGF</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">• <a href="http://hamptontoes.blogspot.com/2011/02/your-tour-of-nyigf-part-two.html">Hamptontoes</a>: NYIGF part II<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;">• <a href="http://frugalfarmhousedesign.blogspot.com/2011/01/my-ny-gift-show-observation.html">Frugal Farmhouse Design</a>: Gift Show Observations</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">• <a href="http://www.prettylittlegreenthings.com/2011/01/new-york-international-gift-fair-pier-94/">Pretty Little Green Things</a>: NYIGF Pier 94</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">• <a href="http://www.prettylittlegreenthings.com/2011/01/new-york-international-gift-fair-javits-center/">Pretty Little Green Things</a>: NYIGF Javitz Center</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">• <a href="http://www.shelterpop.com/2011/02/01/roost/">ShelterPop</a>: Roost at NYIGF</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">• <a href="http://www.shelterpop.com/tag/NYIGF-2011/">Shelter Pop</a>: NYIGF – Favorite Booths</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">• <a href="http://itsyfactor.com/2011/02/01/nyigf-baby-child-2011-review/">The Itsy Factor</a>: NYIGF Baby & Child Review</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">• <a href="http://mymomshops.blogspot.com/2011/01/nyigf-part-1-best-new-baby-child.html">My Mom Shops</a>: NYIGF – Best new baby & child</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">• <a href="http://mymomshops.blogspot.com/2011/01/nyigf-part-2-new-melissa-doug-toys.html">My Mom Shops</a>: NYIGF – Melissa & Doug</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">• <a href="http://www.ivillage.com/new-york-international-gift-fair-finds/7-b-319524">IVillage Home & Garden</a>: NYIGF – Favorite Finds</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">• <a href="http://www.ivillage.com/best-kid-friendly-design/7-b-320408">IVillage Home & Garden</a>: Best Kid Friendly Designs</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">• <a href="http://www.ivillage.com/best-pet-toys/7-b-319652">IVillage Home & Garden</a>: Amazing Finds for Pets</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">• <a href="http://www.prettypinktulips.com/2011/02/my-first-nyigf-new-york-international.html">Pretty Pink Tulips</a>: My First NYIGF</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">• <a href="http://thezhush.blogspot.com/2011/02/nyigfa-newbies-perspective.html">The Zhush</a>: NYIGF A Newbie’s Perspective</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />• <a href="http://www.5thjoy.com/2011/02/03/the-best-of-ny-international-gift-fair/">Fifth Joy</a>: The Best of NYIGF</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">• <a href="http://rhballard.blogspot.com/2011/02/dolan-geiman-art-with-southern-accent.html">Maison de Ballard</a>: Dolan Geiman Art at NYIGF</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">• <a href="http://www.designspongeonline.com/2011/02/morihata-international.html">Design Sponge</a>: Morihata International</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />• <a href="http://blog.lonnymag.com/ninas-finds-from-the-gift-fair">The Lonny Blog</a>: Nina</span><span style="font-size:130%;">’</span><span style="font-size:130%;">s Finds from the Gift Fair</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />• <a href="http://design-milk.com/new-york-international-gift-fair-2011/">Design Milk</a>: New York International Gift Fair</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">And from my traveling companion ...</span><br /><br />• <a href="http://thefocusondesign.blogspot.com/2011/02/road-trip.html">Focus on Design</a>: Road Trip<br /><br />• <a href="http://thefocusondesign.blogspot.com/2011/02/road-trip-day-two.html">Focus on Design</a>: Road Trip, day 2<br /></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXcTTtslKwJ3A9AEaJm__It4idaxakU51g5LGcMtJKH0jhUQ6aVZTURcMiGpdN5AL4ZoTQ_YvScRR4-Sz8KKqrwqLyUc0l17FFMOBh7x0FNn8X4Uw03jXlsIm4C-jKg1sVFTrfe9TizDeR/s1600/swanmuffins.jpg"><br /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZCPxq7MJTEWO9-ZAr9XerTsyNTEiQFoUxdpHtyscS_nN3RdQGI2ktArq91LJOzsXAAIfaQZapa0l8Gz3aBfEyh1mvHPpqESur0mcO3vnNhD-kIkbIvQ-K2WYpNQo1ZJVQ3WzT7ABQcgHE/s1600/mirrorsD%2526D.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span><span></span></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW5M3D5TLhrWgTZcxzq518i6_lmK-024ANNUJ0EIA3RcpaQbFOw1GokI5H0U8lIAQa_Kc8Q6dGYMbryt7zXhfL55OFGVm1ApaMgNgGd6B0vi5mSjjjgVgwAbNEH1t43hKvqQBm-Z9q-ncl/s1600/lampD%2526D.jpg"><span><span></span></span></a>

What I loved at the NYIGF

Two-talented: Stacy Kunstel (aka Duchess) and Michael Partenio (otherwise known as Dunes) at their nautically-inspired booth at this week’...

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