TAKE THE TIME FOR A PROPER CUP OF TEA

Photo Courtesy of Wedgwood USA
Taking its cue from early American silver tea service, this teapot from Barbara Barry has soft clean and feminine lines. Make a statement on your tray with this piece. A great benefit to the silver is that the water stays piping hot! Get yours from Wedgwood

Photo Courtesy of Mighty Tea
This tea is incredibly good. It brews like a dream in a silk pouch and tastes delicious. Get it for yourself and a friend, from Mighty Leaf




Photo Courtesy of Les Palais des Thes
The ultimate book on brewing and types of tea, this book is for affecianados everywhere.


Photo Courtesy of Neue Gallery
Bone china cups lined in gold?! You are not dreaming--these beauties actually exist. Make a statement with these stunning cups. Your guests will feel like they are getting the royal treatement. Exclusively at The Neue Gallery




Photo Courtesy of Neue Gallery
Hans Przyrembel designed this tea caddy in 1926, and the design looks do current now. Italian design powerhouse Alessi produces this stainless steel version.
Create your own tea ceremony--the caddy complement your tea service be it modern or classic. From New York's Museum for Austrian and German art, The Neue Gallery

GIFT GUIDE: SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE ON YOUR LIST

FOR STYLISH FRIENDS
Photo Courtesy of Jayson Home and Garden
If you love hobnail and mercury glass, this is the gift! The vase and urn shape look great with tall arrangements or anchoring the ends of a mantel. Shop around at Jayson Home and Garden


FOR THE GARDENER


Clip and prune with these English Pretty Useful clippers and gardening tools from England's Wild and Wolf. The handles are covered in William Morris fabric patterns. Oh so Merchant Ivory British!Wild and Wolf

FOR THE ANIMAL LOVER


For the interior designer that loves animals, these aged hogs are just the thing!
Chelsea Textiles has achieved a lived in appealing finish range for their furniture, good thing they are now doing decorative accessories with the same great patina. These little piggies have gone to market, from Chelsea Textiles

FOR THE DOG LOVER


After taking the graphic world by storm ten years ago with his cut out collage people doing chic things on stationery, R. Nichols has finally branched out onto other surfaces! These mugs are adorable, get them for all your coffee drinking friends at R. Nichols


FOR THE SOCIAL BUTTERFLY


For the hostess who drinks the mostest and needs some beauty sleep, these peeper keepers from Kerry Cassill let you snooze in style, from Kerry Cassill


FOR THE FESTIVE CHRISTMAS ENTHUSIAST

Photo Courtesy of Emma Bridgewater
Take a moment to relax over a cuppa with the perfect teapot from Emma Bridgewater. A holly pattern could not be more festive!
Import it from Emma Bridgewater

FOR THE BIBLIOPHILE


Hold magazines and books with flair by using these flexible rubber Buddha bookends that are attached and expand the more you put in them. Wise Buddha will guide you to make the most erudite reading selections. Get yours to give and keep one for yourself, from Kikkerland where you can find a store near you

FOR THE LAPTOP LOVING TECHIE


So you know someone this is perfect for: those always upgrading their gear for the newest ipod, the tiniest camera, the sleekest cell phone. Keep plugged in with this USB Man. It also fits nicely into a stocking. Get yours from Kikkerland

FOR THE SIBLING THAT NEEDS A LIFECOACH


Photo Courtesy of Red Envelope
Forget the lifecoach, get a Year of Journals instead. Write it out. Each month you can make a to do list, stay on target and get it done. Don't forget about your hopes and dreams while you are at it! Start journaling with these bright Thai silk books from Red Envelope

FOR THE SERIAL STATIONERY COLLECTOR

Photo Courtesy of Felix Doolittle
When you loan out your Billy Baldwin collection to a friend redoing their house, you kinda want to get it back. Keep track of your books with handpainted personalized bookplate designs from Felix Doolittle

FOR THE SPA GOER


The newest craze in spa therapy is now available for home use!! The kit will offer a new and eco-conscious way to destress with body heat therapy and bring the spa experience home. The shell stays hot because of a special theraputic teabag that is inserted into the shells. They are sold through the wonderful spas listed above.

DECORATE YOUR TREE HANG THE STOCKINGS WITH FLAIR

Photo Courtesy of Cody Foster and Company
Mercury glass balls, pastels silvered in ice cream colors and tinsel are not the traditional holiday colors, but add a nice glow by the fire.


Photo Courtesy of Cody Foster
Vintage decorations and glitter with the patina of age bring charm and character to your home. Check out other character laden decorations at Cody Foster and Company

Photo Courtesy of Jamali Garden
Red berries look great on the tree. Faux branches are malleable and tuck into branches well. Drape them off your mantel, and tie sprigs into bows on gifts. Available through Jamali Garden

Photo Courtesy of Anthropologie
Bright and handmade, this folkloric chic stocking takes your mantel to the old country. From
Anthropologie, where their holiday mix celebrates handmade, unique materials in a global way.

HO HO IT IS TIME TO SHOP: WHERE TO HIT IN BOSTON

Hudson carries some great brands: Oly, Verellen, Shine lighting and casegoods, Dermond Peterson pillows, Kobo and Seda France candles, spicy chocolates from Cowgirl Chocolates in Idaho, pillow, totes and jewelry from PatchNYC and a custom line of pillows and re-upholstered vintage furniture By Hudson.

Says store owner Jill, "If i'm not buying at the gift shows, you can always find me in the summer at Brimfield Antiques Fair, or taking road trips to Maine or Western Mass. I like looking for vintage pieces but fun, old pieces that speak to me! Hopefully one day, I can start traveling a bit further away (perhaps in the french countryside) but really what i want to do is go to the 20 mile flea market down south!"

It is a must visit for those on the gift hunt in Boston:
HUDSON
PURVEYOR OF FINE HOME FURNISHINGS AND ACCESSORIES
312 Shawmut Avenue
Boston, MA 02118
t: 617.292.0900
f: 617.292.0901

All photos courtesy of Hudson

CONVERSATION PIECES: SET THE TABLE WITH WIT

Photo Courtesy of Watts Contemporaries
Leave it to the British to create such a stunning Bloomsbury reminiscent pattern. For this the Kinnersley pattern, the inspiration is drawn from wallpaper drawings by George Frederick Bodley 1827 - 1907; first chairman of Watts & Co in 1874. The rich turquoise and red of the floral pattern on fine bone china are striking. From Watts Contemporaries, the new design house carrying on the Watts 130 year old history.

Photo Courtesy of Eloquent Ink
This Carp Platter from Eloquent Ink is so interesting to look at you might want to hang it on a wall. The detail captured in black and white makes this piece a beautiful one.

Photo Courtesy of Watts Contemporaries
Drawing inspiration from glasses created in Florence during the Renaissance, these updated stems from Watts Contemporaries are similar in silhouette only--the brilliant turquoise reflects the current color in stemware trend. Order yours online from Watts Contemporaries

ELEMENTS OF DESIGN- THE LATEST BOOK FROM NINA CAMPBELL

Photo by Paul Ryan


Nina Campbell is a truly modern British Interior Designer. She combines an artful mix of colorful fabric and furniture silhouettes, making each room come to life. Always done with a touch of whimsy, which Nina herself knows a thing or two about that. Never seen without her trademark rose heart shaped glasses, her sense of fun immediately comes across. You will get an opportunity to be amazed by her as she introduces her third interior design book, Elements of Design: Elegant Wisdom That Works For Every Room In Your Home published by CICO Books. Brightly colored cut crystal, a colorful velvet stripe on a sofa, a well placed seating area-- these are elements that Nina incorporates that essential to creating a dynamic, comfortable room. Some eye catching sparkle and a vividly colored upholstered piece give the eye focal points around a room. There is no shortage of stunning examples in this book. For those that think bullion fringe and trim are over, Nina will show you inventive ways to incorporate it into a space providing a visual surprise.

Too bad Nina could not bring her Mini Cooper painted in pink hearts from London to park in front of Rizzoli! Come see this forward thinking dynamic designer in action and get a signed copy:

Date: Wednesday, November 28
Time: 5:30-7:00 pm
Location: Rizzoli Bookstore, 31 W. 57th Street (between 5-6th Avenues)

Then, head to the Nina renovated Campbell Apartment at Grand Central for a nightcap. No relation between the two Campbell's, just kismet!

THE END OF AN ERA: HOUSE AND GARDEN MAGAZINE FOLDS

Conde Nast Publishing announced today that it is closing its publication, House and Garden Magazine after 106 years. House and Garden had its unique take on the design industry and I for one will miss it.