Must Have: A Stylish Bicycle

I recently stopped by the Renovo storefront in Sausalito to gaze, lovingly and longingly, at their collection of  superb hand crafted wooden bicycles. 

The Audi Duo

The Badash 29er

The style you eschew on a bicycle is limited only by your imagination... or, in the case of Lance Armstrong, by your calf muscles!

On the Street….Place Vendôme, Paris  by Sartorialist, Scott Schuman

Tour de France 2004.  Lance rides the Madone by Trek

 

Board Games & Back Woods

Deep in the woods of Northwestern Wisconsin, on the Brule River, there is a  magnificent log home shared by 80 family members, descendants of my great great  grandmother Agnes Noyes, who, along with her husband Judge George Noyes, built this 'camp' in the early 1900's.

The Dock

 Favorite Place

Enterprising Visitor

The lodge can accommodate up to 20 family members and their guests.  The living room is a favorite gathering place for young and old.  Many an evening has been spent at the bridge table, crafting a puzzle, playing backgammon, or hunched over the chess board.

These fabulous game boards remind me of those gatherings. 

Leather travel backgammon set rolls up for easy packing.

  

Bauhaus-inspired Chess Set

A luxury all-leather Scrabble to be handed down through the generations!

'Star' backgammon set, from the  Lucilla collection by Ercolano.  Generations of talented artisans have perfected the artistry of inlaid wood patterning.

    Interior of Star backgammon.

All of these geat games are now available at our online store, Chic by Design Collections.

Etsy Pick-Of-The-Week

The promise of Springtime hangs heavy in the damp, chilly Northern California air.  We yearn for renewal and remind ourselves that Easter is around the corner - April 24!

These simply delightful, whimsical creations by Bossy Feltworks make us smile. 


What could be better than a lasting token for a child's Easter basket from this collective of talented women, who toil joyfully together on Orcas Island, in Washington State?

Etsy Pick-Of-The-Week

We salute and hold close to our hearts the people of JAPAN, as they struggle to come to terms with the devastation caused by the recent earthquake.

Sheryl Iledan, a talented San Francisco graphic artist with a shop on Etsy, has created several 81/2x11 prints and is generously donating the proceeds to the American Red Cross.  Be sure to check out her shop , purchase a print and 'like' her on Facebook!

Etsy Pick-Of-The-Week




I love these witty Letterpress messages from Lisa Krowinski of Sapling Press.

Check them out in her store on Etsy.

  

                        

You Are The One

  


 

The cards are 'printed one by one on 100%  post consumer paper made from recycled clothing'

Image Credits:  Sapling Press

 

     (Image Credit:  Nicole LaFave)

At Chic By Design, we're  committed to the craft and elegance of Letterpress.  Both our business cards and gift notes were made locally for us by Dependable Letterpress and  designed  by the multi-talented Nicole LaFave. 

The cards, though expensive to produce, always elicit raves!

And on that 'note', it's time to send out my weekly handwritten notes to everyone I came in contact with this past week...

Happy Gifting!

Heather

 

On The Hunt In New York City

When it comes to finding the stuff that makes my heart sing, I am relentless in my quest.  You cannot call your company 'Chic by Design' and offer anything less than, so finding those ‘pearls’ takes drive and abundant energy, not to mention shoe leather.  When I find ‘it’, I know it at once but oh!  the journey getting there could be a prescription for the next great fitness workout, especially at a gift show the size of the Jacob Javits convention Center, with 675,000 square feet of exhibition space!

February’s trip to the New York International Gift Show, two days after a blizzard had blanketed the city, was no exception.  I hit the aisles running, despite a sleepless night on the red-eye from San Fran. After a welcome shower and nap, I put on my winter gear and headed out on foot (my preferred way of navigating NYC), trudging happily through Hell Kitchen’s snow covered side streets, stopping for a delicious lunch at my favorite bakery on 9^th Avenue, Amy’s Bread. Restored, I was primed and ready. 

Last year, my first at the show, I was determined to find the ‘perfect’ wine holder, but it wasn’t until my 3^rd day there (and many, many vendors of less-than-chic wine holders) that I discovered the charming duo, Holger Graf & Daniel Lantz, and their eponymous LA based company, Graf & Lantz. I instantly fell in love with their felt and leather wine holders, and returned the following day to propose a bespoke order of felt baskets with which to anchor our collections.

This time, my all-consuming objective would be to discover exceptional items to merchandise as part of a Baby Collection.  With that I became obsessed with finding the perfect mobile to hang in the nursery.  Two days and countless miles of aisles later, far away from the Baby/Child section, I fell upon a small company from Canada called Pi’lo .  There, hanging above my head, were the most perfect mobiles - handmade, white felt, fairies, angels, birds and tiny teddies.   Pure whimsy!  Delightfully etherial!

Eureka!

Heather

Happy Gifting!



 

Gifts, Bosses and the Workplace

We recently fielded  the following request from a Senior Manager at a high profile tech company:
                 

‘Can you make recommendations for potential gifts for someone I work with - she's an admin, not my admin but has helped me a bunch.  Should I wait for Secretary's day?’

Waiting for a Hallmark Holiday, such as Administrative Assistant’s Day, April 27, is too far off in the future.  Express your appreciation once the job is done and the memory is still fresh.  This will go a long way towards cementing an ongoing positive working relationship.

Knowing only that the Admin is female, I would suggest a gift that she can make use of on a daily basis, at home or in the office, one that is practical but also attractive, a gift that indicates that  you have gone to some trouble to find something unique, and of good quality.

After all, flowers fade, and chocolates could send the wrong message (too personal, flirty) but a distinctive picture frame makes for a much appreciated desk accessory and is great way to express gratitude. 

At Chic by Design Collections, we feature three unique choices:

The leather  'Croc' Embossed Frame  is the more conservative and luxurious of the three. Pictured here with the Old World Paperweight, both make for excellent corporate gifting.

The Stainless and Wood  frame, which can be engraved, is a sleek, modern option.  Pictured here with the Globe Puzzle, another great corporate gift option since it, too, can be personalized.

The Mini Frame by L'Objet, aglow in Swarovski crystals and backed in leather, is bound to delight the Moms in the office.

Happy Gifting!

Heather

At Chic By Design, our 'Raison D'être' is to assist individuals, businesses and corporations in finding, quickly and efficiently, creative and distinguished gifts with which to make a lasting impression. Call us at 800.745.9239 for immediate service and check in with us regularly by visiting our Facebook page, for updates about events and exciting additions to our collections.