Nov 5, 2009

Visiting The Big-Ass Button


Hello! Hello! Hello!

Yes, it has been a while since my last posting, and I have missed you, but you haven't been far from my mind. And to prove it, I want to share with you my latest adventure. In fact, because I was thinking of you, I purposely took along my little pocket camera when in all honesty, on this adventure, I wouldn't have stopped long enough to snap photos....and what exactly was I doing that I didn't want to stop and take any photos?


I was in the Garment District of NYC exploring (okay, touching, grabbing, oohing, and aaahhing) all the fabrics and buttons and trims and laces and ribbons and tassels and baubles and bears oh my!! You know how they say NYC is the "Big Apple"? When I came across this sculpture (photo left) I actually squealed in delight and really said aloud to myself, "Now, that, is one big-ass button!" So, to me, NYC, is no longer the "The Big Apple" but rather "The Big-Ass Button," well, at least to me.


So, let me back up a bit and begin my story from the beginning and catch you all up some. I have been on the run a lot lately. From my last post, I am still working on that lovely home and completed the bedding and the sofa pillows. I just haven't had time yet to shoot the photos, but I will! I am now working on her hearth room. I have since began another bedroom project for another client that is still in the design stage and has a way to go yet, but it is very exciting as well and very detailed.



It seems I have been here, there, and everywhere lately. Randy and I flew to Dallas, Texas recently to visit my brother and his family and while there we went to the Cotton Bowl to watch the OU and UT football game. Randy's cousin, Tyler Evans (number 75) plays for OU and he got us tickets to watch. OU didn't win, but they played very well, and the day was just beautiful!! If you are a football fan, you must look up Tyler - he is headed for the NFL, and he is only a freshman - but he is very talented and a really good kid (well, not really a kid anymore).





While in Dallas we went to the Texas State Fair where everything is fried: I heard of fried Twinkies before and even fried Oreos...but have you heard of fried guacamole? Fried butter? Fried cookie dough? Fried snickers bars? And they had the usual fried cheese, fried onions, fried ice-cream, fried pickles, fried gum - just kidding, no fried gum. Just checking to see if you are really reading this, or if you are skipping down to the NYC story :-)

Here are some family photos of my visit:


Randy and my nephew Broderick, were always together. It was funny how Broderick used Randy as a piece of furniture...sort of like his own personal lazy boy chair that would rub his head now and then.




My beautiful niece, Mackenzi, always smiling and always gabbing and gabbing and gabbing....can't imagine where she gets that from?


I don't like rides and my brother, Bill knows it. He talked me into this "glider ride" which wasn't suppose to be a big deal....which of course turned into a big deal which I unfortunately did not realize as you can see by my big pre-ride smile. You can see the look on my brother's face that basically says "I got her" and after the ride, I got him.


I came back from Dallas with a cold and cough that lasts a week and the following weekend Randy and I go to our place at the lake of the Ozarks to close it up for the season. I then get notice that my friend, Bob, who lives in NYC, has the opportunity to have his play "workshopped." Bob and I were college theater majors and we studied theater together. And once upon a time, I performed on stage and directed while living in Germany and I was the director of performing arts at a private school in Princeton, NJ. My love and appreciation for the performing arts has never left me. Getting a play "workshopped" on off-off Broadway is a very, very big deal and I wasn't about to miss it. Basically, before a play is produced, it must be rewritten many times and worked out professionally which is very expensive and very competitive and an honor to get selected to have this done.

Three days after coming back from the lake, I leave for NYC to see Bob and his play. One of Randy's clients is a pilot and he gave me a round plane trip ticket for $45 on stand-by. While trying to find a room in NYC I discovered there were no rooms - little did I know it was the weekend of the NYC Marathon - and Halloween. So, I go on a great website called airbnb and I rent a living room with a sofa bed from a total stranger in NYC. This site is a place where people rent out their entire apartment, or just a bedroom, or in my case, a sofa bed, to guests. It was SUPER cheap - a typical, decent hotel room is going to cost at least $200 a night. You can find rooms for $75 on airbnb. I got an entire living room for $100 a night.

So as Randy summed it up, he basically said the day before I left, "So, you don't know which flight you are leaving on, or which day, and you don't know the person you are staying with or how to get there either, is that right?" And as I packed and tossed in my google map of the garment district, I replied, "That is about right." And he just shrugged and smiled and said, "Better you, than me..." I just laughed and told him not to worry.

For those of you that have never been to NYC, this story is for you. For those of you who have been to NYC many times, you can either pretend not to be interested or excited like a lot of people who go to NYC often do, or, you can be honest with yourself and admit that you too, get giddy with the energy, the lights, the buildings, the 100's of coffee shops, the endless sidewalks that lead to zillions of adventures and read this story as well. And by the way....I lived in NJ for four years and have been to NYC at least 20 times, and to this day, I am still amazed by the city, and I don't hide it either. It is a great city...so here we go...

I left on Wednesday, got on the first flight out, and had a voice message waiting for me from the apartment owner, took a bus from NJ airport into NYC, met Miriam (hostess) at her apartment, got the keys, called Randy, and went on my way. It was so simple and trouble-free. The apartment was great, very clean, safe, and you get to feel like a real New Yorker, "living" in an apartment verses "staying" in at a hotel. And it is way cheaper!

It is still pretty early so I head out for the Antique Cafe, for a coffee and lemon bar (I googled it) and while walking I spot a glass store window filled with vintage clothes - well, I just have to pop in and see what's what. But I had the hardest time finding my way in...I had to go around the street corner, up some marble steps and inside was a giant foyer with a security guard. What kind of special vintage store was this anyway? The guard asks me if he could help me and I tell him I was just trying to get into the "vintage store" and I point to it, and he looks at me with a puzzled look but lets me in.
I cross this huge lobby and go into the store and was so disappointed that it was so small, but the stuff seemed so cool. But the clothes didn't look old and the young girls working the counter looked so trendy...what kind of store was this anyway? I am informed that I am in the NY school of Fashion Institute of Technology and the clothes I am looking at were designed by the senior designers that were in previous fashion shows! Well now that explains the fancy-schmancy lobby and security guard for such a little "vintage store" and why I had to make my way around an entire block and up huge steps to just get in....my street view of the store was only a tiny window of the clothes housed by a huge block-sized building! Well, if you ever traveled or even walked with me, this would not surprise you that I was so oblivious....I tend to be caught in the moment and see what I want to see in the moment.

I turn my attention back to the clothes and think, "Shoot, these clothes are only going to fit those food-deprived-pseudo-women-that-get-air-brushed-anyway" and I won't find a thing that will even go over my ankle much less my butt.....but wait! What is this I see? It is a beautiful, beautiful baby-doll chiffon dress! Never mind that I always hated baby-doll dresses and never mind that I had no interest (until this moment) to even own one. But this one has beautiful elastic all across the back (beautifully stitched I must say)and elastic is a middle-aged woman's best friend! This baby-doll dress is looking better and better. The chest area is covered is tattered chiffon black roses sewn all over it and the bodice is drapey gray/slight plumb chiffon hanging to right above the knee. It has two simple black shoulder straps.

I go try it on and it fits! Being not so well for months did have an upside and having lost a little weight paid off :-) I think how I would wear black tights with it and my black boots and a black short jacket and hopefully not look too stupid. But I don't care. It was only $40 bucks! I think it was the idea of owning couture, having a one-of-a-kind, getting it from (I am sure) a very soon-to-be famous designer, and getting it from FIT in NYC made this dress, ahem, I mean, couture, so special.

I go back to my apartment and drop off my couture (when you acquire couture, something prevents you from just calling it a "dress" I discovered), and I finally head to the Antique Cafe once again. The coffee shop is long and narrow with a fabulous bar and a cute guy behind it whipping up coffees and serving all sorts of pastries. Interestingly, no one is on a lap top. Comfy over-stuffed chairs are in the front, and people are chatting. Small, tiny chairs and tables line the long wall and hip people (old and young) sip, chat, clink, and chat some more - but all at a low murmur which is really nice. The wood floors are dark, and the guy behind the counter is very polite. Rude service is only a rumor in my opinion when it comes to New York. I always get polite service.

Perfect timing - the woman at the huge window gets up and I grab her table and watch people pass on the street and listen to the couple next to me. Apparently they are just friends having a visit. The guy had his girlfriend spend the night with him the night before, and they slept together, but he isn't serious about the woman anymore and he feels really bad. His coffee companion is very sympathetic and offers support and comfort and advice. He rattles on and on about what he should do and how to break up. She comforts him some more but then tells him to spend the night with her while he works it out. Not sure what that was all about. Very Seinfeld in a way.

But I digress. I love being in NYC alone. I have been alone in NYC only one time before and you don't need company in NYC....the city is great company on its own. the Garment District awaits!

As I walk towards the district I practically spend all day Wednesday and Thursday in a two block radius of 39th and 38th. I am a big walker. If you visit NYC, be in good health, be willing to walk, and wear comfy shoes. I wore boots because it was raining and wet most of the time and nothing is worse than walking in wet shoes. Big puddles are everywhere and boots take care of that issue. And forget the tiny, cute purse. I wear a satchel. EVERYONE carries a satchel, or a backpack of some sort. New Yorkers don't drive anywhere - they walk. And when one stops to get the newspaper, or a bottle of water or stop on the way home to pick up a can of cat food or a pair of socks, you can't be carrying a lot of bags around while trying to hold your umbrella, answer your cell phone and hold onto the rail on the subway all at once. That is where the satchel comes in handy.

The Garment District...it was love at first sight. At first I couldn't figure out why I loved this dingy, dark street with really no personality or color or anything really exciting about the buildings. Then it struck me after a while. It reminds me of a street I would shop on when I would go to Brussels. There is a street in Brussels, Belgium that has a lot of lace and lace factories that isn't too exciting, but has signage everywhere, it is narrow, and a little dark. I realized that the Garment District reminded me of that street in Brussels and I felt so at home and a little homesick at the same time.

I took photos of the street signage to give you an idea of what I saw. It was rainy and busy, so excuse the low quality. I snapped them quickly and stuck the camera back into my pocket. This is an area of NYC that I have been wanting to visit and believe it or not, I have never made it here! I am either too busy, or on another mission, or with someone who would just not get why I could stand in a store for three hours staring at trim or buttons. This trip was best done alone and I loved it.



I love this sign: "Fabric Czar" It was the first sign I saw and I knew I was home! :-)

This is what I mean when I say that the street of the Garment District is nothing to write home about. It is dingy and the buildings aren't special....but it reminded me so much of a particular street in Brussels that I felt right at home.

I just love all the signage along the buildings:





I didn't just stick to the streets...the alley proved to be interesting too. I saw these steps and they called my name. I poked around and snapped a photo and discovered more fabrics.




I had seen so many signs and store fronts, I couldn't decide which to visit first, so I just started to go in stores and found it so hard to go out. But in and out I did! And I did all day long....




I realized after I took this photo that it would have been smarter to have taken it BEFORE I got my hands on it and turned the once neat row of trim into a row of tormented pile. Photographing the aftermath isn't nearly as pretty as the "before." But I did have fun, fun, fun!










This is just one giant wall of many giant walls of many giant stores that houses 1000's of buttons just waiting to be discovered and sewn on projects that are housed in one little head....mine :-)










When I saw this huge wall of rolls and rolls of white lace trim, I just about experienced the big "O" right there in the aisle, and I'm not talking about Oprah!




I came across this vintage brooch in one of the trim stores and fell in love with it. The irregular shape and size caught my attention and the price kept my attention - it was only $15!

The exciting street scene makes up for the lack of exciting buildings in the district. As I rounded the corner, I almost got ran down by a rack of beautiful wedding dresses. If it was my time to go, it wouldn't had been so bad to have been smothered in satin....I whipped out my camera to snap the beauty of the dresses against the grime of the streets.

Just as I turned, a factory employee pushing a beat up cart of fabric, passed the wedding dresses and again I snapped a quick photo and loved the extremes between the two. The street scene continued to be entertaining and I was so glad to be a part of it.



What is it about seeing fabric on a rack on the street that makes me convinced that whatever it is that is being unloaded has got to be ten times better than what is waiting for me on the shelves inside? Of course I ran across the street, felt up the fabric, slowed down the delivery a bit and thanked the man for tolerating my mania for material...I think he was use to it :-)


After all the activities of hunting down buttons, snapping photos, copped a feel of fabric from the street, buying a brooch, almost smoothered by satin wedding dresses, that is when I saw this sign of ribbons and a coffee shop in the same building...well...I would swear I saw the sun come out and heard angles sing. What more could a girl want?? A bakery and buttons under one roof? So, after eating a huge chunk of NY cheesecake and a real coke (really now, would a diet coke make a real difference?), I head out on my hunt again. You know how sometimes you feel like the universe is trying to tell you something? Well, when I left the coffee shop and turned the corner, the universe had a friggin megaphone yelling out to me with some signage staring at me right in the face (see below):



Okay, maybe I should have had the diet coke.
Damn universe.

My adventure led me to another exciting discovery. I learned where a lot of "my girls" are "born" and how nice to know that as much as I love my European gals, my American gals are chic New Yorkers. In this district, mannequins are manufactured, sewing essentials, tools, and other garment gadgets. I found it all so very interesting and never really gave it much thought until I ran across it.






Seeing my "girls" lined up got me a little choked up - it seemed like they were all headed out to wonderful adventures and I wish I could have taken them all home with me. In case you haven't noticed, mannequines are the chic girlfriends that always make you feel in style :-)



While in the Garment District, I wanted so much to spend, spend, spend, but the reality of the situation was, I looked, drooled, and fantasized.....but darn it, I had to get something...and then...just down the sidewalk, I see a table full of wonderful colorful scarves (I LOVE scarves)!

Upon closer inspection, these super soft scarves were Pashmina! Well, I just had to have one - and to say I got them in the Garment District made them even more special. They all have a very elegant slight embossed print on them that you can't see in the photo.






Well, the more I looked the more I loved. And when I went around to the other side of the table and saw the price....$5 dollars each - well - let the Christmas shopping begin! I got all my Christmas shopping done in stop - so I shopped and shopped.....




So to those of you who may find a pashmina scarf waiting for you under your tree, don't think of it as a $5 dollar scarf...think of it as it a gift that was bought on FIFTH AVENUE in the Big-Ass Button (aka NYC) in the Garment District and I have proof, below:


But then again, I got some really cool colors....they may be hard to give up.... ;-)




I hope you enjoyed my adventure to The Big-Ass Button City. I flew back 4 days later. My visit with Bob went well. We visited the Whitney museum and saw the Georgia Okeffe exhibit - which was great. His workshop was fantastic and I am so proud of him. My apartment was super and the location wonderful. Every evening was spent in Times Square and Off Off Broadway. Drinking lattes in coffee shops, reading the paper with my cheesecake, and people watching are all wonderful...but the time alone surrounded by millions of people is really a special thing to experience.
This Sunday we will be celebrating our first year of marriage by flying to Marco Island, Florida for a week. Having a loving husband who takes such good care of me, protects me and supports me through so much is something so few wives really get to experience. While sitting alone in a cafe, sipping coffee and people watching, I was thinking about my Randy, who happened to be on the lake fishing while I was in NYC. I was thinking how he was quietly fishing while I was in a noisy cafe in a very noisy city. How funny our chosen weekend locations exemplifies our very distinct personalities.
But yet, I was quiet in my thoughts while surrounded by so much activity and I was thinking how very blessed I am to be so loved and cared for. I felt so content and so comfortable in the giant city with the hustle and bustle but what a comfort to feel my heart wanting to be with Randy and feeling so sure that it belonged next to him and wanting to be next to him. I think when one is truly loved, it is then that one can truly feel free to be oneself and independent.

The freedom that comes when one is "freed" only increases closeness and trust. Having a husband who joyfully gives me the gift of being alone only increases my love of wanting to be closer to him. I too often see people cling in fear of losing. And it isn't clinging only with a relationship, but it can be with your ownself, your passions, your business, your decisions. Sometimes, joyfully "letting loose" a little gives you the room you may need to reconnect with what you may be fearing all along: your job, a major decision, a career, a relationship, your children, whatever it may be....

Just know that "letting loose" is just another way of saying "having trust." Trust a little more in yourself, others, and in God, and just see what happens. Sitting in that little coffee shop, watching all the people rush by, listening to all the sounds, enjoying my own thoughts....I felt so independent and happily alone and very, very happily connected to the one who let me alone - and I couldn't wait to get home to share my adventures with him.....but not until I really scoped out the Big-Ass Button City first though!!

May your trust and faith allow your next adventure discover a big-ass connection that brings you a joy of independence in which you can't wait to share with a loved one.


Now that is a true adventure!

From my house to your house,
Elizabeth






P.S. I have received several emails regarding the chiffon dress - I mean courture :-) And many of you wanted to see a photo of it. So....just for you...I took a few photos in my dressing room for you with my little camera so please excuse the low quality. But isn't it pretty? I forgot the straps had roses on them too! Enjoy!













































































































































































































32 comments:

*The Beautiful Life* said...

Wow. So now my little post on the re-painting of my kitchen cabinets is seeming pretty lame-o! ;)

NYC... nothing like it. And when I read that this post was about the garment district, before I even read your article, I wondered.... "Did she go up there to get another "gal" for her collection? (Dress form). :)

One of my favorite signs was "Stretch World"! Too funny! What DO they make out of all that spandex? On second thought... I don't wanna know. :)

Great to hear your adventures again. Always exciting!

Thank you, again, for all your tips on painting! i'm so happy with the way it all turned out.

~Ruth

trash talk said...

What could be more fun...couture buttons and couture dresses in the Big-Ass Button?
Debbie

the wild raspberry said...

you have done it all elizabeth!
i enjoyed our tour of ny...never been.
loved the buttons and the fabric and the lace....sigh....
didn't see a pic of you in your couture~did i miss it?
have a lovely weekend~
chasity

Unknown said...

Elizabeth,
Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment. Be sure to check back for the big reveal on my project!
I'm so glad that you are up and running again, feeling better and writing. I so missed your posts and the wonderful pictures you 'paint' for your posts. Ya know, if you produced a coffee table book, I would buy it in a heartbeat! :-) Have a great day! Tami E.

Sweet Old Vintage said...

Hi Elizabeth.... I have never in my long life been to any embellishment heaven that you showed in your pics.... I was so glad to see you had posted as I love reading your blog and can hardly wait to see more pics of the home you are doing... Your talent is like no other and I love that... Blessings to you and hubby for the upcoming holiday season.....When I see some of the lovely objects and fabrics it makes me dream and wish I had more of a budget as I know I should not want for more... but who says we can't dream?

Garden Antqs Vintage said...

E: sounds like you had a fantastic time, so envious. I'd love to visit NY someday. My son went during New Years eve one year and said how cool and different the city is. Enjoyed your story and have missed you in blog land, T

Janice Selby said...

YOUR BEST POST YET, well your wedding is best I guess. Loved all the pictures of NYC what an experenice. Those scarfs were wonderful.
Now I am going to read it again, your post that is.

Anonymous said...

Oh what a weekend...I love big cities. I love people watching and its always better with a cup of coffee.

Anonymous said...

Happy Anniversary to you and Randy. Both of you are blessed and so are the readers...to see NYC/B-ABC through your eyes has been fun, fun, fun! Will you post a picture of your new chiffon babydoll dress with the beautiful brooch? Hope so!

Elizabeth Maxson said...

Thank you everyone for such lovely comments! I did have a good time and just to let you know....I just posted photos of the chiffon dress I bought - I got several emails requesting it. The photos are at the end of the post. Thank you again and now I am off with my Randy to Marco Island!

Elizabeth

Debra@CommonGround said...

Well, dear Elizabeth, you make the three month wait well worth it. Love hearing and seeing NYC thru your eyes and cell phone. You make "dingy streets" look magical. Your couture dress is divine, maybe you can wear it on your trip...Happy Anniversary you two! Oh, and the sight of all "the girls" in a row made my heart skip a beat. perfection!
Blessings,
Debra in Springfield

Claudia said...

So glad to hear your 'voice' again! I love NYC - I live just 70 miles NW of Manhattan and I never get tired of it. But usually I am running in for a specific thing and don't have time to roam. I'm so happy you had time to explore. And I feel so silly - I've been wanting a mannequin to 'age' and have in my home - was looking on ebay...duh! Why not get one in the city?

I loved your post!

Deb M. said...

Dear Elizabeth,

I love my pillows, and can not wait to see the hearth room
draperies. I feel so lucky to
have you designing my windows and
pillows. I feel like I am in
a house in France in the 1700's.
I sure love the settee you
photographed behind your new chiffon dress. Happy Anniversary.
Thanks for the fun.
Love Deb

Linda said...

What a great post! How I miss NY ... nowhere on earth is more exciting or vibrant. I'm glad you had such a good time. And I love, love, love The Dress. Absolutely divine!

Tricia said...

Elizabeth-
You have been on my mind so much lately that I thought I'd check in to your blog to see what you were up to. Imagine my surprise to find out that you were in NYC, the same week that I was there! And, we were about 2 blocks from each other. Would have loved to catch up with you, especially in that fabulous city! Thank you for putting in to words everything that I have felt for NYC for the past 16+ years that I've been traveling there. Rob says hello and we miss you!
Happy Anniversary!
Tricia

Day Dreaming And Decorating said...

What a wonderful trip. Here is a bit of history, did you know that in 1965 95% of the clothes we purchased were made in New York's garment district now only 5% is made there, the rest is imported

Unknown said...

Wow reading that was so much fun! You crack me up. I lived vicariously thru you! ABC store is always a must for me whenever I'm in the Big Ass Button:) but after seeing all those shops I don't know if I'd make it there.
Oh and Happy Anniversary, and many more!

Unknown said...

Wow reading that was so much fun! You crack me up. I lived vicariously thru you! ABC store is always a must for me whenever I'm in the Big Ass Button:) but after seeing all those shops I don't know if I'd make it there.
Oh and Happy Anniversary, and many more!

Unknown said...

Wow reading that was so much fun! You crack me up. I lived vicariously thru you! ABC store is always a must for me whenever I'm in the Big Ass Button:) but after seeing all those shops I don't know if I'd make it there.
Oh and Happy Anniversary, and many more!

Unknown said...

Wow reading that was so much fun! You crack me up. I lived vicariously thru you! ABC store is always a must for me whenever I'm in the Big Ass Button:) but after seeing all those shops I don't know if I'd make it there.
Oh and Happy Anniversary, and many more!

rivka said...

I've been checking your blog so often waiting and waiting for you to come back! I am so glad you are fine and enjoying life. I adore every word you write and how generous you are sharing your work and loves. Please keep on writing and keeping us up to date on what you are up to! LOVE YOU!

Anonymous said...

Elizabeth, I discovered your blog and I love it. I own a small bridal salon here in Troy, Mo. Your wedding was beautiful and special. Your trip was so fun, I work night and day here getting this store past these rough times and your post reminds me how much I love weddings and fabrics, fashion, etc. You have wonderful taste and I look forward to more pictures of your work.

Angie
theweddingshoppetroy.com

Anne Lorys said...

I am so thrilled to see you back! You are my blogging inspiration, the biggest reason I started doing all of this in the first place (blog, booth/shop, Warrenton, etc...).
Just wanted you to know that!
Be well,
Anne

Diane Irvine Armitage said...

Oh my - this post was worth the wait! I love your blog and your style. Thanks so much for the fun trip to NY! Love the dress!

FILIGREE MOON said...

Such a fun post! I enjoyed each and every bit of it. Really, you should write a book. I laughed out loud. I eagerly read, waiting for each anecdote! Funny Seinfeldian adventure. Just the kind of observations that make my day. I know what you mean about shopping alone when in the Big-Ass Button; never actually been to New York, however, your descriptives and photos were just so "REAL", for lack of a better word. My Mr. is a fisherman as well, and HaPpY is being able to have the time to explore at my own pace, while Mr. is, well, fishin'. Exhilerating! Thank you for such a delightful read. Truly an adventure that's just my cup of tea (or real Coke in the Big-A garment district)! BTW - the lovely frock (couture) is simply a work of art! Should be divine on you! Have a wonderful everything ~ Angela

lori miller vintage design co said...

E
As always, love your tale - adventure! OMG! The dress. Good for you. It is beautiful....the color...the detail...the roses! Love. L

Elizabeth Maxson said...

Hi!

Claudia - You are so funny! Now you know where to find you "girls"! I always smile when I click on your site seeing you in your blue glasses :-)

Tricia! Oh! Only blocks away from each other at the same time! Shoot! Well, how fun it would have been to have seen each other by chance?! Give Rob a hug and thanks for commenting - did you get a chance to visit the district?

Merri - thanks for the trivia - how sad to know that only 5% of our clothing is now made there. I had no idea, but not surprised. After seeing my little dress, I know our designers can design, I just wish we could now produce. It would be exciting to see that.

"OKay" What a lovely comment - I don't care what people say, but having a "stranger" say "LOVE YOU" over the computer is so nice - thank you for making my day. I just love to write and I am not "just saying this" when I say how amazed I am when I get emails from people I have never met telling me how much they enjoy my posts. I really, really enjoy writing. :-) LOVE YOU too :-)

Deb M: You make me laugh with you comment about my settee in my dressing room - I know what you are thinking.... :-) I am so glad you like the pillows. I just got back yesterday from my Florida trip. I will be in touch soon! Miss you!

Lula Jean and Angela - thank you for staying so patient between my postings - you both are so wonderful for being so devoted. It is readers like you that make me want to write more often. Actually, I am finally getting at a place in my life where that is about to happen - more on that later:-) But thank you!

Anne and Angie - Thank you so much for letting me know that my work as a business owner and troubles I had with it gave you some kind of encouragement in that you aren't alone. Running a business is HARD, but also very exciting.I am very honored to have been a little voice in your very large, exciting life :-) Thank you for sharing that with me.

Thank you all for sharing - more to come soon
Elizabeth

Carole said...

Reading this was a blast. I love NY but never get to go as often as I'd like. Going with friends is fun but have made the mistake in the past going along with ones that didn't have the same passion for ribbons,buttons and fabric as I do. I could relate on so many levels with your love for the city. 20 yrs ago we tried finding a hotel room during the marathon..unknowingly and ended up in a real dump. Took my husband yrs before he ever wanted to go back....he loves it now thank god!
Ok didn't mean to write you a "book":)))
Just so enjoyed reading about your adventure in NYC!!!!
Loved the dress too....i'll have to check the place out next time!!! Hope I'm as lucky!
xxx.......C

CathyF said...

Loved your tour of the Garment District. My daughter works there in the neighborhood of the Big Ass Button. She's an account exec for Jones Apparel Group. Unfortunately she doesn't get out much to wander the neighborhood. They're so busy in the office! But that's a good thing, right?

secretleaves said...

I agree with Janice Selby--your best post yet! So lively, so well-written, so heartfelt. I can feel your joy and your excitement. So full of joie de vivre. I read EVERY WORD (which, I must confess, I don't usually do with a post this long). So lovely, Elizabeth. Reminds me why I love you.

Sharon

Anonymous said...

Hi Elizabeth!
Do you happen to know the name of the store with that huge wall of white lace? I'm going to NYC for my first time on Friday and would LOVE to get my hands on some of that!
Thanks!

Elizabeth Maxson said...

Hi Lace Seeker,

I am sorry, but I don't know which store exactly that wall is in. But all that you see in this post is in the Garment District, mostly on39th street. However, almost all the trim shops have big walls of lace like that one. You won't have any trouble finding what you like. Have fun!!

Elizabeth

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