Graffitti that adorns New York

I wanted to share some photos I took whilst on holiday in NY last Christmas. I loved every minute of being in the Big Apple. It was such an assault on the senses but in the most wonderful way! There was so much to see from the fashion on the street and architecture, to the build boards and lights displays. Kunal and I went through New York ... charging ahead each morning on foot... Sipping coffee from the chic-est little cafes with character and lunching and dining in only A-listers and highly recommended ones. It helped to have local friends - Karan and Vira who had edited the list for this refines selection. One would think breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and a snack at different places would have pretty much covered it all... but New York is a feast for gourmands like Kunal and I. We still didn’t have enough time to fit in all the ones I wanted to visit. Every time I stepped out side my hotel I felt such a buzz from everything going on around me.

One of NYC’s many pleasures is turning a corner to find a street-art mural taking up an entire wall, or spotting a piece by a well reknownded artist. It’s up there with yellow cabs, steaming manholes and hot dog stands. I have to admit, I don't understand Grafitti art much – It’s really a mixture of fine art expressionism with exciting street edge. Some of it is not even to my taste.. i am more of a canvas with abstracts on a wall. But some of these defy my sensibilities and there is something that appeals even to my mind. As I rode the red tourist bus around NYC I went click click click on my camera to find these amazing life size artworks.

National Stationery Show Favourites 2014 !

Above: One of Margins’ beautiful moon phase calendars.

Over the past few days, I’ve been calling out some of my favorite emerging trends from this year’s Design Week and National Stationery Show. So far, we’ve taken a look at 2014′s slew of canine-covered stationery and the new tropical color palette we saw everywhere. Some of my favorites from the National Stationery Show, however, defy categorization. From Margins‘ stunning moon-phase and snowflake cards to Azuline Design’s herb-scented scratch-n-sniff stationery (you read that right, and it’sfabulous), these designs are awesome by their own merits. Check out all of my best-of-the-rest faves from NSS after the jump!

Above: This card from Ladyfingers Letterpress speaks the truth.

Above: Fawn Paper Co’s sympathy card is sincere and funny—a great combination!

Above: These scratch-n-sniff herb garden cards from newcomer Azuline Design are pretty and they smell like the real deal!

Above: This encouraging card from Ghost Academy wins ten points for sheer adorableness.

Above: Wish your favorite millennial happy birthday in style with this snazzy card fromHolstee.

Above: This bunny clearly knows how to have a good time. Card by Dear Hancock.

Above: Wish a favorite pal good luck and congratulations with this awesome card from9th Letter Press.

Above: Santa doesn’t mess around—duly noted. Card by Power & Light Press.

Above: Same-sex marriage was making its way into cards this year in a big way. Let’s hear it for gay! Cards by Red Cap Cards.

Above: These fabulous birthday cards from Smudge Ink are perfect for any age.

Above: These wonderfully multi-function cards from Rock Scissor Paper double as snazzy decorations.

Above: You can never have too much Dowager Countess. Downton Abbey Coasters bySmokey Road Press.

Above: Take your relationship smugness to a whole new level with this awesome “I’m taken” buttons from Regional Assembly of Text.

Above: All of the buttons at Regional Assembly of Text knew how to keep it real (and cute).

Above: I would be remiss if I didn’t speak for all the cat ladies (and lads) out there. This lovely newsprint wrapping paper from Knot & Bow is right up your alley.

Above: These floral woodcut cards from Katharine Watson are just lovely—beautiful and simple.

Above: This gorgeous card from Margins depicts actual snowflakes—designed by NATURE.

Above: Show of your NYC pride with style with this wonderfully understated pennant from Three Potato Four. 

A SOLARIUM MADE FROM SUGAR

Yes, you read it right. All 162 windows of this jaw-dropping jeweled solarium were made from caramelized sugar baked into the glass. William Lamsen, built it for the Storm King Art Center's Light & Landscape Show in New York, to function as a citrus tree greenhouse and meditative sanctuary.

I'd love to spend some quiet time alone there, wouldn't you?