By a Nose

We've been holding onto this image of a scandanavian album cover since we ran across it on Ebay. We've got to say, we like the nose! So, here it is, peppered with a few other finds with larger-than-life beaks...

Fabric 38, M.A.N.D.Y., via Amazon

Painted long-nose, iron nutcracker offered by Skinner auctions in July of 2010

Gorgeous, vintage photo of a parade float via Anonymous Works

Old Man Nutcracker at Conestoga Auctions via Liveauctioneers

White Rainbows

With all the snowfall lately, we've been able to see the different kinds of whites created by fractions of light. From soft touches of cream, to warm yellows and hints of pink, white seems to span the rainbow. We've complimented nature's "whites" with Matteo bedding below--a collection of soft hues and an even softer hand.

Matteo bedding

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One Woman's Junk is Another Man's Treasure

Last night we learned about the street photography of Vivian Maier and were immediately intrigued, even before seeing her work. Little is know about Vivian, except that a few years ago over 100,000 of her photo negatives from the '50's and '60's (many still in rolls) were emptied out of a storage locker for delinquent payment and sold at auction in Chicago. Her work captures a very specific time and place with humor, warmth and compassion. Here's a sampling...

Self portrait via Vivian Maier - Her Discovered Work

New York Minutes

Our friend Chris Mooney has taken up photography recently. When we say that about most people, they shoot family, friends and pets with reasonable results. But for Chris, "taking up photography" means he's developed an alternative means of communication for a voice that's been latent for sometime. What he tells us through his lens is a love story with New York, from Manhattan to the Catskills, but we'll let him tell you himself:

Brinkmanship

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Inevitable

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Village Walk

Catch of the Day

Today's find is the sculpture work of Spanish artist, Antonio Valverde. The palette, texture and simple complexity immediately brought to mind the fresh seafood market at Mario Batali's Eatly. Here's why...

Black granite sculpture, Antonio Valverde

Catch of the day at Eataly

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Peridotite sculpture, Antonio Valverde

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Crystal Peridotite sculpture, Antonio Valverde via dear ada

And the Dish Ran Away with the Spoon

Our country escape this weekend consisted of moving boxes and furniture out of storage. We can't say it was relaxing, but it was certainly rewarding to rediscover some old "finds." And when saw the industrial silverware molds shown below, we knew we had to share them. We never gave any thought to how silverware was made before stumbling upon them--positive and negative dies that puzzle together to make some of our most useful domestic tools. Their beauty is only matched by the pieces they were designed to make, and their other compliments on a well dressed table.

Cortland Berry Fork dies, front & back, dated February 21, 1929

Vintage Arabia Finland tableware set (in our dinning room cupboard)

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Coffee Spoon dies as book-ends

Stamped August 5, 1955

Tablespoon die as a door-stop

Heavenly Bodies

The windows at Bergdorf's are always a favorite of ours, and this holiday season they didn't disappoint. Layered with color and texture (and of course product) each window is an art installation onto itself. This season, Bergdorf's takes us on a journey through time and space that has us thinking about our horoscopes.

Window, Bergdorf Goodman

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Constellation card of Scorpius

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Constellation card of Cancer

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Constellation card of Aries & Musca Borealis

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Snow and Ice

Islands of ice at the base of our waterfall, New Hampshire

Mid Century cement tiles filled with snow during December's blizzard, NYC

Elly Prestegard's Freeze via Portraet.nu

Ice cubes on Crosby Street, Soho

Icicle in the West Village, NYC Blizzard of 2010