Made In Detroit

The Sunday NY Times Style section featured an article about Shinola, a new Detroit design company opening a flagship store in the TriBeCa area of New York City this week.  The name Shinola comes from a American shoe polish company but the current designs from Shinola are watches, bicycles, leather goods and journals.

I didn't have to travel to NY City to visit Shinola.  Saturday, hubby and I drove into Detroit (about 30 minutes away) and visited the Shinola showroom there.

The collection was artfully displayed.

The back wall of the showroom has a display of bike parts in various colors.  Bikes are custom made in the shop.

The watches have achieved a cult status and the demand has made supply very limited.

The watches are assembled in Detroit.

Our day in Detroit included a visit to the Corktown section of the city and lunch at Slows Bar BQ.  

I've heard about Slows many times and the accolades it receives are well deserved.  The smoked meats were tender, flavorful and smokey good.  Generous portions and great side dishes.

The meats are smoked with dry rubs and you have your choice of sauces, ranging from sweet to hot.  My favorite was the pulled pork with the NC sauce, a vinegary sauce favored in North Carolina bar bq.  The seasonal flavor was pineapple-habanero.  

Just a few doors away from Slows is Astro Coffee.  A great cup of coffee in an eclectic, fun, neighborhood coffee shop.  They have a small selection of baked goods and lunch menu. The cafe features a great communal table for eating, surfing the web or hanging out with friends.

With all the bad news about Detroit last week, it is nice to know that there are a few bright spots in such a troubled city.  Best wishes Detroit!

Aalto Stool: The Icon turns 80

Aalto 60 stool

Alvar Aalto designed this stool in 1933.  It is just as fresh today as it was 80 years ago.  To celebrate the anniversary, an anniversary edition is now available in the five colors you see above.  

At over $250, the Aalto 60 stool is pricey.  

How about this Ikea knockoff for $11.90?  Now you're talkin'!!!

image

And why not paint these stools for some added panache.  

This is the stool I painted for my studio.

Don't think of the stools just as extra seating.  They work as plant stands, side tables, nightstands too.

Quince and Apple: Tart Cherry Grenadine and Rhubarb Hops

Quince & Apple is a small batch, artisanal company specializing in preserving fruit. The preserved fruit is of two varieties, spreadable and syrups.  

I purchased two of the syrups from the Madison, WI producers.  My order was delivered via Fed Ex within two days of my order.  The packaging was cleverly done in a little wooden crate and nestled in a box filled with crinkle-cut shredded paper filler.  

One of my syrups was Rhubarb Hops.  This syrup of sour rhubarb and and hops was delightful in a drink with orange juice, bitters and prosecco.  You can read about it here. 

The other syrup was Tart Cherry Grenadine.  This syrup is so easy to use.  It would be great with club soda or champagne, mixed with lemonade or drizzled over ice cream.  I tried two cocktails suggested on the website. 

Gin Daisy Cocktail

This light drink is composed of 2 oz gin, juice of 1/2 lemon and 1/2 oz Tart Cherry Grenadine.  Add all to glass and fill half full with crushed ice then fill glass with seltzer.  

Wisconsin Old Fashioned

Rather than whiskey, this old Fashioned uses brandy.  Muddle 1 wheel of orange with 1/2 oz tart cherry grenadine, two dashes bitters and then add the brandy.  Fill glass 1/2 full with ice and then top off glass with seltzer.  This drink is very "rich" but the seltzer lightens it and makes is more refreshing and highlights the fruit than tasting like liquor. 

I really like the syrups from Quince & Apple.  They add a new dimension to mixing cocktails.  Wouldn't they make a perfect hostess gift?  Much more clever than the standard bottle of wine.  Order online here.

Restoration Hardware Now Offers Tableware

Restoration Hardware has just launched its online tableware collection.  I love collecting all matter of tableware: new, vintage and quirky, and then setting an interesting table.  

There are three styles of dinnerware in the tableware collection:

color, white

Classic Coupe,

color, prairie

Rimmed Square,

 

color, graphite

and Grand Rimmed. 

color, ivory

Each pattern is available in all five colors enabling mixing of patterns within a set.

color, fog

Serving pieces are available in all colors and patterns.

Choose from among fifteen archival flatware patterns.  

Bois flatware

Some handles feature bone or horn and another is modeled after that used on the Titanic.

A variety of stemware and glassware is available ranging from casual to elegant, juice glasses to champagne flutes.

Belgian linens are the perfect accompaniment to the Restoration Hardware tableware.  These stonewashed linens are available in twenty colors and in three style.  Five other types of linens are available to compliment the tableware.

Restoration Hardware offers an extensive collection of items for entertaining.  My favorite is the hotel silver collection.  

Seeing this collection online is one thing but I can't wait to actually view the pieces in a store.  

Friends of Finn: Shoes with a Mission

It isn't too early to start thinking about espadrilles. Many people are headed for warm spring-break destinations and summer really will be here before we know it although it is snowing outside as I write this.  

I received a very thoughtful gift of Soludos espadrilles.  Not only are these very well made and comfortable shoes, this particular pattern benefits "Friends of Finn".  

Who is Finn and why would I want to be his friend you may ask?  Finn is a dog belonging to  Amanda Hearst (yes, that Hearst family).  Amanda purchased Finn as a puppy from a pet store and most pet stores acquire their puppies from puppy mills.  Since then she has become aware of the inhumane manner that puppies and their "parents" are treated in puppy mills.  Friends of Finn is a committee founded by Hearst, who has gathered her friends and joined with the Humane Society to educate people about the abuse in puppy mills and this .  Click here to view a video of a puppy mill raid.

Soludos supports the efforts of Friends of Finn by donating a portion of the sales this pattern of their espadrilles to the cause.  Look carefully at the pattern.  Do you see dog bones?

I love my Friends of Finn, Soludos espadrilles and can't wait for a warm day to wear them outside.  You can buy your own pair by clicking here.

Chive Wall Dots

Color! I am craving it right now as it is still very gray here in Michigan.  Chive Wall Dots are just the answer.   

Wall Dots are 6 inch X 1 inch deep round ceramic vessels. 

The "dots" are available in 13 hues.

Dots have rubber cushions to protect your walls and a hole for hanging on a nail or hook.

This side view show that the vessels can be filled with water to hold flowers, or instead of water and flowers, use it to hold pencils or something creative.

A vessel with a tulip.

I mentioned that I was painting my powder room.  I used Benjamin Moore suntan yellow on the walls.  The glossy dots really pop on the sunny walls.  I really like the 3D quality of this wall art as well.

The wall color make the hardwood floors look very rich.  

I used some Bahama beach finds on the glass shelf above the sink.

I'm very pleased with the powder room now and I may just find a few more places in the condo for a "dot" or two!

Spring Cleaning with Magic Erasers

If you've got to clean, why not use a product that really does the job?  

I've used Magic Erasers with great success to clean the marks off walls and baseboards and to clean the bathtub.  The erasers will remove crayon, Sharpie, grease and nail polish.

                                    Source: household-tips.thefuntimesguide.com via Karen on Pinterest

 I was checking out Pinterest and noticed one of my sister's pins for Magic Erasers.  This tip is to put a "slice" of Magic Eraser in the toilet overnight and when you wake up, no more toilet ring!

Outdoors:

Clean the cruddy inside of coolers, 

and get the nasty stains off outdoor furniture, boats, aluminum and plastic siding as well as window sills.

In the kitchen:

Clean your oven and shelves.  Clean the greasy hood over your stove.

Remove tarnish from silver.

Use the eraser to remove coffee and tea stains from cups and mugs. 

For a longer list of what Magic Erasers can do, click here.   What are your success stories with these cleaning gems?

POPSUGAR Must Have Box

 Yesterday I received my March "Must Have Box".  My blogging friend, Elle, blogged about her subscription to POPSUGAR Must Have Boxes and I was intrigued and subscribed.

March Must Have Box

Each box is $35 and has a value of at least $100.  This is similar to the Bespoke Post Box of Awesome that my husband subscribes to and I posted about here.

I was excited to receive a 16oz bottle of concentrated Delicate Wash from The Laundress.  This retails for $19.  I've heard a lot about The Laundress and I look forward to trying this product.

I've read about Buxom products and a new beauty product is always welcome. ($19)

To prevent wardrobe malfunctions, some Fashion Tape and a Sweater Saver to remove pills from sweaters, tights, etc. ($11 total)

Heather Belle tassel necklace is supposedly the cornerstone of the box but I can't find it on line.  Peeps!  Love them (about $1) The New Black nail polish twin pack ($10) not my colors but I'll find someone who likes them.

Cockatoo corkscrew ($16.)  Love this!  Cute and sturdy.  

How do I feel about my box?  For my $35, I got products that are valued at more than that. The only thing I won't use is the nail polish.  I've been introduced to new products that I look forward to trying.  AND I had a pleasant surprise on a rainy Monday.  Click here to visit the POPSUGAR website and sign up for a box for yourself.