We are Moving…

come with us to our new blog

Mini Tug Boats

Makr Carry Goods

It’s always fun when it turns out that our customers make things we want to sell. Not too long ago, Jason Gregory from Makr Carry Goods came to our store to buy a present for his girlfriend, and we ended up ordering some of his wallets and bags. Made by hand in Florida, these are some of the best leather goods we have seen in a long time.

Makr Leather Flap Wallet

Makr Horizon Two Wallet

Makr canvas and leather farm tote

Brahms Mount

We have just returned from a short visit to Maine, where we bought some great vintage stuff for the shop. We also had a chance to stop by the Brahms Mount textile mill, where they make some of our very favorite and most luxurious items: linen towels and linen day blankets.

Here is a short video of the 1930s shuttle looms:

Pictures of new vintage items to follow soon. Meanwhile, here are some more photos of our trip:

Happy Mother’s Day

I Know How to Cook

I Know How to Cook is to France what The Silver Spoon is to Italy. First published in 1932, it is the cookbook that every young person receives as a housewarming gift. It is passed from mother to daughter, educating each new generation about most important thing in life.

With over 1,400 no-nonsense recipes, helpful hints for choosing wine and cheese, a selection of suggested menus from celebrated French chefs, and instructions for how to make everything from herb butter to omelettes, canapes, croquettes, and sauteed frog legs, to all sorts of delicious soups and salads to cassoulet, lamb cutlets, fricassee of sole with asparagus, steak a l’allemande, and of course, all sorts of delicious desserts ranging from flambeed bananas to chocolate mousse to ice cream, crepes, fruit tarts, creme caramel, creme brulee, strawberries and cream – the list goes on and on.

This is the first time I Know How to Cook has been translated into English.

Here is just a small taste of I Know How to Cook:

All photos are from I Know How to Cook, copyright 2009.

The Silver Spoon

The Silver Spoon cookbook is to Italy what The Joy of Cooking is to America. It is the huge cookbook that young married couples and people starting out on their own are given. It is the cookbook that people inherit from their moms and grandmothers. It is the cookbook that has recipes for every dish imaginable; from basic soups and salads to crostini and pizza and pasta dishes galore, to guinea fowl with truffles baked in a packet, to all sorts of yummy Italian desserts like raspberry semifredo and tiramisu.

First published in Italy in 1950, The Silver Spoon has over 2000 easy to follow recipes, and includes a glossary of cooking terms, menus from famous Italian chefs, basic instructions for how to make all sorts of sauces, preserves and jellies, as well as wine pairings, cheese suggestions, and almost every other important food and eating related matter you can think of.

Here are just a few our favorite photos from The Silver Spoon:

All photos are from The Silver Spoon, copyright 2005.

City Gardening

Working on our little backyard plot of post-industrial Brooklyn dirt has made us think about the possibilities of city gardening.

No matter where your garden is- country, city, or windowsill- you will need a few basic tools.

You can find these on our website:

garden fork and trowel

pair of secateurs

But for these you will have to come visit us in the store:

Japanese Trowels

Glass Plant Misters

Stainless Steel Watering Cans

Happy Earth Day!

Aigle Boots

In 1853, Hiram Hutchinson, who would later start his eponymous rubber company, famous for their high quality bicycle tires, established Aigle Boots, the first American company to manufacture in Europe. Handcrafted in France for over 150 years, and made with 100% natural rubber, these boots are perfect for any weather. We have just received two styles of their classic sailing boot, the Malouine and the Glenan Botillon.