park in bloom {central park}

A quick uptown and run {106th and 5th Ave to be exact} and it's almost like you are not in NYC anymore~ There are these beautiful gardens in Central Park - and right now there are endless tulips, lilacs, azalea bushes and much more in bloom. My mom tells me that it's healthy for your eyes and mental state to see lots of natural greens...I think I'm all set ;) Here are some photos I took...{Although the flowers are amazing, we can't forget about the gardeners - whose presence you see in the bottom photo - who take care of it all~} Have a great weekend!

march 2010 {tota press}

This year, the east coast has gotten more than a full dosage of snow. But as the bright sun shines and the white melts away quickly, there seems to be some signs of spring approaching. With that anticipation in mind, this month's cards are inspired by that burst of light and color that the spring season seems to bring to us.

I've had a few days here and there where I've been awed by the bright sun shining through the trees, off the snow and onto the glass facades of our NYC skyscrapers. It seems to be most noticeable that moment you walk out of your apartment building or come up the stairs of the subway, and I find myself uplifted by the bright rays {even if my boots are still jumping slushy puddles...well, baby steps}. As the sun goes down a tiny bit later every day, I daydream about putting my flip flops on and doing summer strolls through the street while trying out a new gelato flavor~

As a designer, I also know that March and spring are here because my work load includes wedding invitation designs! June brides {congratulations to you~!} are getting their planning underway and wedding invitations are a fun step in the process. I recently completed an custom-designed and hand letterpressed invitation package for a couple getting married right here in NYC in June. As I peruse through websites and magazines for inspriration, my eyes are filled with soft color palettes, light fabrics, garden parties, bright flowers and more.

Winter is beautiful in it's own way, but at a certian point we are ready to move onto less layers and more time spent outside. So I bring to you a burst of yellow on natural craft paper, as well as a sprinkle of lavendar on the classic white paper and share the hope of March bringing some spring to us all very soon.


Many much more photos on our Facebook page - March 2010 album »


We are accepting orders now...go to www.totapress.com and click on "Yes, sign me up".

Become a TOTA Press fan on Facebook to get the latest news + updates and to share with your multitude of friends~
Join the mailing list...go to www.totapress.com and click on "Join Mailing List" on top right of page.

pulse nyc 2010

Tis the season of the big art fairs in NYC - and this morning I got to check out the Private Preview of PULSE New York. Above are some shots of the space located right along the West Side Highway and Houston. The big industrial space is filled with galleries from around the world representing up-and-coming artists of all sorts of mediums. Photographed below are some my likes. The bottom photo is a "self-portrait" as a camera captured passerbys {me!} and interpreted them into crayon color swatches. PULSE goes on until the weekend so check it out for fun~

taste of 7th st

Over the weekend, Scoop St. had a really great idea group deal called Taste of 7th St. Promoting the idea of "collective commerce"," this deal was a ticket pass to try the foods of some great eateries on 7th Street in the East Village. Below are bad blackberry photos {in the order of my attendance} of the locations: Caracas Arepas Bar, Luke's Lobster, Porchetta and Butter Lane Cupcakes. For $18, I got to fill up on an arepa, mini lobster roll, snack porchetta sandwich and 2 cupcakes. I will definitely be frequenting Butter Lane for their really cute cupcakes where you can choose your bottom cake {vanilla, chocolate or banana brea} and icing {list of 12+ icing flavors including caramel, french vanilla, mint chocolate, etc.} Mmmm....great idea Scoop!

brook&lyn

Check out these super cute things found at a friend of a friend's shop of pre-loved items, called Brook&Lyn. The little mouse is a ring holder and the foot form is a paperweight! She also has shoes, accessories and clothes - and from the selection, a really good eye for rare finds~ {thanks A for introducing...}


{Photos courtesy of Brook&Lyn}

i ♥ ny {christoph niemann}

Over the weekend I was at Rizzoli and to my utmost pleasant surprise, I saw this book - Chrstoph Niemann's I LEGO NY - on the front desk. As a big big big fan of Abstract City, especially of this visualposting just about a year ago, I didn't even hesitate to grab a copy {this one as a gift to a fellow Niemann fan}. Here are a few excerpt pages of this board book that is a perfect little gift for a fellow NYer. Can you tell I'm excited? ;)


{Photos courtesy of amazon}

hearts to you

This weekend is ♥ day and I wish you all a fun weekend...whether it be with friends, a loved one, family or your dog who gives you unconditional love and kisses. Found some yummy looking treats at Bergdorf Goodman, including chocolates from Vosges and Charbonnel et Walker or candy hearts from Papabubble. XOXO to you~

we're hit!

After a fake-out warning of snow last weekend {at least for NY-ers}, today we are hit with a white blanket over the city. Here are some snow photos {from my back window}, urban style...pretty in it's own little distressed way. Or for more picturesque views {that's plenty here too!}, check out the NY Times reader submissions...

morgane le fay

I'm on the search for some dresses recently, and I discovered a {new-to-me} designer Morgane Le Fay. Apparently a shop that started in Soho back in the early 80's when Soho was REALLY Soho...they have established themselves to presence on Madison Avenue now. Their style is to create mysterious pieces that can be worn in various ways - use a sash as a tie piece around the waist or bring it up and over your shoulder to create an asymmetrical accent. Creating maybe a dozen cuts of outfits, they are executed in some basic hues to create a full collection. "Our sole concern is for fit, ease, and elegance - not for age or background."...which was seen as the dressing room was comprised of totally different types and ages of women. On a fun note, Morgane Le Fay debuted costumes for the world premiere of Peter Martins new ballet for the New York City Ballet last fall - which I can totally imagine seeing all the flowing chiffon and silk materials used in their pieces. Here a few snapshots - and check out their website for a better look at their beautiful collection~

chamber music @ the met

Yesterday, while it drearily rained outside, I spent a few hours at the Met Museum where there was a chamber music concert at the Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium right inside the museum. With a program of Mozart, Ravel and Brahms pieces, the intimate auditorium space was filled with soothing music from string instruments and piano by Yefim Bronfman.

After the concert, I visited the Temple of Dendur and the Impressionist section of the museum - how can you not see some of the great art while you are there. These are some paintings that particularly caught my eye on this specific visit...

Mada Primavesi (1903-2000) - Gustav Klimt - 1912

The Bath, Javea - Joaquin Sorolla y Bastida - 1905

{forgot to capture info!}

{Photo of Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium courtesy of here}

brief encounter

Over the weekend, I saw the play Brief Encounter at St. Anne's Warehouse - and what a great stage production! Based on David Lean's 1946 film {same title Brief Encounter} about a doomed love affair between two married people, this specific production is by the Britain-based Kneehigh Theater. With actors performing in front of originally created black-and-white film clips, they are trying to honor the spirit of the film that inspired it from the 1930s. The talented cast plays multiple varying characters, sings while acting, and does a lot of the stage setup themselves {moving set pieces, producing sound effects, etc}, which I loved. I really admire the creative direction taken by Emma Rice to put on stage her very unique take of the story - that all can enjoy. It's no wonder that this performance got extended {the reason why I was able to go check it out!} for more people to experience...


{Photos courtesy of NY Times and here}

art of the samurai {met}

This is the last week for the Met Museum exhibit called Art of the Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armor. I went to check it out as I know there is so much rich history, culture and artistry involved with anything samurai - Japanese warriors who were members of the feudal military aristocracy. Aristocracy, being the keyword, samurai held a high and respected role and led lavish lifestyles for their time. The Met collection {apparently the first comprehensive exhibition devoted to the arts of the samurai in the US} featured samurai helmets, armor, clothing, swords and their cases, saddles and artwork. The objects date from the rise of the samurai in the late Heian period, ca. 1156, through the early modern Edo period, ending in 1868, when samurai culture was abolished. Every item is hand crafted with artistry, which shows the high respect and honor that was given to these warriors. You get to see many pieces that are practical warrior tools that also embody many layers of symbolism. Various helmets were crafted for indiviuals that represented their philosophies and beliefs. There was a helmet that was in the shape of a swallow's tail {bottom image} that was not only aerodynamic, but also represented the speedy force in how a swallow flies. My other favorites from the exhibit included a video that showed how 15 people and 6 months are involved to create 1 sword, as well as jinbaori {surcoats that warriors wore off of the battefields} that had amazingly modern motifs despite them being created in the 16th and 17th century. I recommend the exhibit for anyone who wants a glimpse of this realm of Japanese culture {up at the Met until Jan 10}.


{Photos courtesy of Met Museum - photographs were not allowed for this exhibit}

more feasting {adour}

Yesterday was my mom's birthday and so my family and I celebrated her special day at a special restaurant here in NYC - Adour Alain Ducasse at the St. Regis Hotel. The concept of the restaurant is to create a classic-turned-modern menu that pairs well with wine - so the decor {interior by the Rockwell Group} of the space complimented that idea with a few largely prominent wine vaults as well as glass walls with grape + vine etchings. The food was phenomenal - everything cooked to perfection and the presentation being small works of art. And speaking of art, there is a beautiful large installation mural by Nancy Lorenz {top middle photo} that caught my mother's and my attention. With thick organically flowing gold gesso and mother of pearl inlays, the relief piece creates the mood of the dining room. Adour is definitely a special occasions kind of place and if you have the chance...bon apetit to you~

Main Dining Room

Poached Lobster Entree, Chocolate Leaf Dessert & Birthday Hazelnut Souffle

Beautiful Decor of the St. Regis Hotel