Bloesem

New York

{nope that is not me in the picture but jewlery designer Zelda from the Netherlands}

Let me start with some personal words about my trip to NY last August. The last time I was there was in August 2001 when we were getting ready to move back to Amsterdam.... yes, about a month or so before 9/11...in a way I felt lucky that I had experienced NY at its best...or had I...? Truly incredible how this city has rebounded after going through such a traumatic episode...NY remains one of the most fascinating places that I know...

Living in NY has changed my life ... it gave me confidence and I started believing in myself.

It all started when I got this idea to develop my own stationery line. After 1 year of learning the basic Adobe illutrator skills and with the help of an illustrator my first collection was born and was sold via some great department stores. But even more importantly, I finally knew then what I wanted to do in life...so I have a lot to thank NY for... my business blossomed and organically grew to the launch of Bloesem in 2006.........................................[READ MORE]

Anisa reporting from Portland, Oregon

Anisa and I 'e-met' (i like this, to me, new word very much) via her wonderful shop Makhool Loves You...where you can always find one of kind, different pieces, when I aksed her to join us for the Bloesem World Tour she responded very enthousiastc, so I'm very happy to show your her great information about her her favorite spot in Portland: the Clinton neighborhood...enjoy!

My favorite neighborhood in Portland is the Clinton neighborhood in south east.  It's off the beaten path,  quaint, charming and tucked away on a bike path, in a beautiful residential neighborhood.  Most of the home owners in and around Clinton have restored their homes to the original character of  Craftsman or Victorian style.  The businesses that would bring you out of your way into this neighborhood are mostly amazing restaurants, dotted with a few vintage boutiques, and one great spa. **For breakfast you'll want to head to Broder, sorry no website, for Scandinavian fare. Portlanders and Scandinavians share similar food tastes, and you can get wild berries, wild mushrooms, wild salmon, and world famous Stumptown coffee all right here. It's very hygge. **A few blocks down from Broders you'll find Zenana Spa, they cater to new mothers, but I would like to point out that I had the best pedicure of my whole life here, so don't miss out. **Before you head to your appointment at Zenana stop into The Press Club, they carry a wide range of design magazines, pick up a few up to take to the spa.  If you are hungry, you're in luck because they are a crêperie, a wine bar, and a coffee shop. **After your spa appointment head over to Division Street and grab a table at the kitschy and adorable Pix Patisserie. Choose something decadent like "The Royale With Cheese", it's a chocolate mouse praline with a slice of creamy French Brillat Savarin.  Or you could try the Amélie, winner of the Patis France Chocolate Competition. **After you've had your dessert you might want some dinner, I would reccomend Pok Pok, Thai street food.  Or if your in the mood for something a bit fancier try Lauro Kitchen, for Mediterranean-inspired fare.  {Thank you Anisa}

* * * Makhool Loves You
* * * Anisa's blog

Victoria and Angie Cao

And here is Victoria's second gorgeous post ... one of her favorite San Francisco photographers for interior design, Angie Cao...



"Angie Cao is one of my very favorite lifestyle and interior design photographers. Based here in San Francisco, I met Angie when she photographed designer Eszter Rabin of Emma Rose Papery's home and I  fell in love with her work then and there.
 
I then invited Angie to shoot my apartment for Apartment Therapy's House Tours book,

and then again for an article on my place in Australia's Real Living magazine.
 
She manages to make everything look so sublime, calm and peaceful, with just lovely natural lighting. Angie shoots commercially, but her photos don't look commercial and I find them completely inspiring. Angie says she began her love for photography while attending an all girls Catholic school, where without boys as a distraction, she focused all her attention on her photography.

She eventually found herself with a degree in advertising photography from the prestigious Brooks Institute in Santa Barbara, California. I hope that one day Angie compiles a book of her work, as it is certainly one that I would want gracefully displayed on my coffee table. For more about Angie and to see more of her work, you can take a look at her online portfolio on her website."

{Thank You Victoria  for these superb posts}

* * *sfgirlbybay
* * *contact Victoria

Victoria reporting from San Francisco

It's truly fun to go from place in the world to the other in just a second via our marvellous internet...yesterday we visited beautiful Denmark today my dear blog friend Victoria from the wellknown sfgirlbybay blog is introducing us to a great store in San Francisco...I've only visited SF once in my life and it may not come as a suprise to you but that city really touched me...if you ever have a chance...then GO but before you do, don't forget to visit sfgirlbybay, Victoria writes with so much passion about her city and seeing her images will get you in a even better mood...

"Nest is one of my very favorite places to visit in San Francisco. It's quite like a French flea market with lots of multi-cultural, cosmopolitan flair. The shop carries gorgeous home decor accessories with a unique, vintage look, all found under one Fillmore Street roof.

Nest has great coffee table books, the most beautiful vintage furnishings, delicate etched glassware, soaps and candles, colorful, bohemian and luxurious bedding, quilts, pillows and hand knit throws, in French, Moroccan, Indian, Chinese and a variety of other ethnic styles.

A wonderful spot to pick up unusual, one of a kind gifts. Nest is definitely one of those places that's truly unique and just a great place to visit, even if it's just for the eye candy and the loads of inspiration you'll find.

There's everything you weren't expecting, including lots of kitschy Parisian knickknacks and souvenirs, girlie jewelry and feminine clothing and accessories, from around the world including Paris, London, the Far East and even our local flea markets, all gathered on buying trips by mother and daughter team, Judy Gilman and Marcella Madsen. Definitely a must see on your next visit to San Francisco."

{Nest, 2300 Fillmore Street, San Francisco , CA 94115, 415.292.6199}

* * *sfgirlbybay
* * *contact Victoria

Erin reporting from Los Angeles

Another special day today...one of my favorite bloggers is reporting from her hometown...Erin from Design for Mankind doesn't need much introduction...I'm sure most all of you know exactly who this incredible talented women is...I believe that her blog is the most passionate and inspiring of all...Erin lives in Los Angeles and reading a little bit more about the street were she lives will definitely put a smile on your face!

"I live in Los Angeles. Which is fine, but really the only part I like about it is how it will sound at my ten-year high school reunion. Because I think people automatically assume that if you live in Los Angeles, you're (a). following your dream, (b). famous, or (c). brushing elbows with other people that are famous.

I'm (d). none of the above.  Although, I must admit, L.A. has its perks.

My favorite spot of LA is the street I live on. It's so so diverse, and on it exists my favorite people:
1. Saisha from the corner market, who never charges me the extra $.06 of tax when I stop in for some juice.
2. Hugo, a homeless man who knits the most beautiful sweaters for children. I'm trying to start a shop for him, but we're still working out the details. He's promised he'll knit one for my future child, and I promised him I'd spread the word about his talent. You owe me one, Hugo! ;)

3. Tony, the cobbler who fixed my heel last Thursday and saved me from a MAJOR crisis... all in just under an hour and $10!
4. Scout, the BEST. DOG. EVER. He co-owns the thrift shop down the street and always finds me the best deals. Maybe that's why his name is Scout! :)
5. Kate from Cucina Calabrese--- a yummy local Italian restaurant that I frequent with my husband. I swear she gives us extra breadsticks, but don't tell the owner! :)

Although LA isn't my hometown (I'm a southern Indiana gal), these five people [ok four and one dog] make it as homey as it could EVER be. Indeed, I'm a lucky gal!"
{ps. and I've attached a map of my street--- it's in the south bay of LA, a mile from the beach, Artesia Blvd}

* * *Design for Mankind

* * *contact Erin

Joanna reporting from New York

In World Tour like this New York city is a must and I'm really happy Joanna from a Cup of Jo is doing us the honor of giving us some great insight information from New York city by showing us a favorite spot of hers...
"Hello, Kiosk...I live in New York, and I love heading over to Kiosk, a shop in Soho with a very cool concept. Every few months, the owners visit a different country (from Japan to Sweden to Mexico) and bring back tons of very cool, authentic pieces from that country. For example, at the moment, they're spotlighting Hong Kong, and they have a "fighting kite" and pinwheels to string up in your backyard, among many other things. Check out the shop here and be inspired with wanderlust!

* * *A Cup of Jo