The {NewNew} at the Union Square Holiday Market!

Ready for the holidays?  Need to get your shopping on?  Well, you will have six whole weeks to stop by one of the busiest outdoor holiday markets around -- at the Union Square Holiday Market!  Starting Friday, November 19 and going strong until December 24, pop on by to the {NewNew} booth where you will find everything from jewelry, accessories, ceramics, artwork, ornaments, and fashion wear from these local Etsy artisans:
Hand Hammered with Amethyst Hearts
EnchantraGirl.Etsy.Com
PATTERN - Berry Bag
KnitKnit.Etsy.Com
Holiday Baubles
ClaudiaGPearson.Etsy.Com
Olive Green silkscreen printed tshirt (geometric city scape) longsleeve
KimmChi.Etsy.Com
Reindeer Oval Serving Platter Holiday Tabletop Hand Painted
LennyMud.Etsy.Com
Olive Oil Label Penny Necklace
WabisabiBrooklyn.Etsy.Com

Barred Owl Note Cards
JTopolski.Etsy.Com

Rusty Pups Tooth Wool Newsboy Hat - M - Janis
RocksandSalt.Etsy.Com
Buttons
VirginiaKraljevic.Etsy.Com
Leather Wallet Women's Olive Green
LolaFalkDesigns.Etsy.Com
Aqua-holic
Joyella.Etsy.Com
Find us at the south end of Union Square at West 14th Street.
Open Every Day from 11AM - 8PM
November 19 - December 24, 2010
(Closed Thanksgiving Day)
Subway: N, R, Q, L, 4, 5, or 6 Trains to Union Square/14th Street

Around the Corner: Governors Island.

So yes.  It's that time again.  I'm back with another free thing to do.  And no surprise, today I take you to Governors Island!

Yep, Governors Island, NYC's hidden treasure, is just a free ferry ride away.  Open to the public Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through the summer, this gem always has amazing things to do or see.  You can do everything from renting a bike, seeing a concert (there are many throughout the season!), checking out the galleries, to even shopping at the {NewNew}'s very open Etsy pop-up shop, The Treasure Chest.  Check out G.I.'s list of 2010 events here.

En route.
The ferry.

Lady Liberty in the distance.

Arriving to G.I.

Landed!

The island is shaped like a foot!



These are just some photos of the beginning of the island, you'll have to visit to check out the rest of it!!

Until next time,
Virginia

Treasures Abound on Governors Island!

Okay, so you may have heard us buzzing the word about our summer-long pop-up shop on Governors Island.  You may have also heard that each item featured in the shop is 100% handmade and/or upcycled by local artisans/members of our Etsy Street Team.  But did you know that some of the product was either exclusively made for the island shop or is Governors Island-themed?  How neat!
Governors Island Tea Towel
Claudia Pearson Illustration -- Governors Island Tea Towel (a super memento of your trip here!)
Anchor Necklace
Knit Knit -- Anchor Necklace (for the sailor in all of us!)
Bubble earring
Metalicious -- Bubble Earring (they're bubblicious!)
Magritte Nicked My Bike
May Luk Ceramics -- Magritte Nicked My Bike (for the Governors Island bicycle enthusiasts)
Shipwrecked Necklaces
J Topolski -- Shipwrecked Necklaces (for the pirate lovers -- arrr!)
Art Wallet with Crayons and NYC Coloring Book - Transportation Pattern
Windows of Agate -- Art Wallet with Crayons -- NYC and Governors Island Coloring Books (for the little ones to remember their trip!)

And much, much more!  You can stop by our Treasure Chest at Nolan Park House 6B every Friday, Saturday and Sunday until September 5th!

For more info, please visit our official site here.

We look forward to seeing you!

Reported by

Before and After: the Treasure Chest at Governors Island

Who doesn't love a before & after?  Well, I for one simply love transformations of all sorts and that is why I am going to take you on a little adventure from the very beginning of our Governors Island project to now!

Governors Island, you ask?  You know, that lovely little island just off of Manhattan -- just a free five minute ferry away.  What's there you ask?  Among the beautiful tree-lined roads and turn of the century houses, The {NewNew} and Etsy proudly present to you the Treasure Chest, a shop full of locally handmade treasures (from jewelry and home decor, to artwork, clothing, and more!).

Day 1.  We scouted the place out.


Day 2. We explored and measured.

Day 3.  We moved into to our summer home.

Days 4 and so forth.  We decorated!
And decorated...
Until finally... drumroll please...
Ta Dah!









We welcome you to the Treasure Chest - where each weekend the artisans themselves are at the shop to answer your questions about their craft, our shop, our Etsy Street Team, and even New York.

Open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from now until September 5th!  Stop by and say hello!
And for more info, please go here.

Reported by
Virginia Kraljevic

Around the Corner: Wave Hill

Passing through my old neighborhood the other day, I decided to make a pit-stop and visit Wave Hill in Riverdale, NY.  Where Theodore Roosevelt's family, Mark Twain, and other notables once called home now is a 28-acre public garden overlooking the Hudson River and Palisades.  Wave Hill makes one seriously beautiful place to visit -- and it's right here in New York City!  Plus, there's a very cute gift shop and a cafe that served me the most divine latte...

FYI: Tuesday mornings -- FREE admission!

How to get here: Metro-North, Subway line #1, car, foot... click here for more info




So what's around your corner?  In the comments section below please recommend a place near you that's really neat to visit *and* either free or on-the-cheap.  Thanks!

See you next time,
Virginia Kraljevic

Sneak Peek: Spring Handmade Cavalcade

With Earth Day (April 20th) turning 40 in just a couple days and the {NewNew}'s very own Spring Handmade Cavalcade (SHC) just around the bend (April 24th), today's tutorial takes you behind-the-scenes of a SHC craft night where a few {NewNew}ers get together and try out some green craft ideas.

Q: What do plastic bags, a stack of old magazines, and a bunch of clear glass bottles have in common?
A: Fun & Free Craft Projects!


Quick Papier Mache project:
Boil 1 Cup Water with 1 Cup Flour.  Pour into large bowl.  Mix until you have a smooth consistency of glue (you can work with it hot).  Take your favorite fashion magazine or newspaper, rip or cut out strips of images that catch your eye, and proceed to dip each strip into the glue, and squeeze excess out with fingers.  Now your damp paper strip can be applied to most surfaces or folded into neat shapes.  We made triangles and mini roses:

Try this idea.  Clear glass bottles rescued from the recycling bin are washed and painted.  Rolled up plastic bags are shaped into flowers and inserted for such an effect:
Magazine tear sheets are adhered together to make a fancy tablecloth.  Magazine strips are woven with wire to create a ruffle effect to adorn the table:
Fused bags (plastic bags that have been ironed between two layers of wax paper) and rolled up plastic bags can create large flower decorations like the one shown here:

Want to see more?  
Well, there will be much, much more this weekend.  Make sure to check out the Spring Handmade Cavalcade this Saturday, April 24th from 10AM - 5PM at Berry Park in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.  Over 25 {NewNew} artisans will be selling their eco-friendly handmade wares and wearables at this super cool locale!  
See you there!

Virginia Kraljevic