As we enter a leaner year economically, I thought to share some inexpensive ways to add a little holiday sparkle around the home.

I don’t know about you but I have cabinets filled with vases, decanters and other objects that rarely see the light of day. This holiday, I created little vignettes around my home with some of my tabletop items to add a little holiday sparkle. The above picture shows a few decanters that I normally would decant wine from partnered with some greens and a fun hourglass. I bet you would be surprised what gems you will find hidden in the attic or in your china cabinets. Consider making a display of bottles, fill a favorite teacup with holiday chocolates, put pictures of family members in inexpensive frames on a wall or sideboard for the holidays or when entertaining. Another quick inexpensive fix is to add greens and lots of candles.

Lastly, holiday twinkle light add such sparkle. I like to add them outside of a room so they can be seen from the windows for drama.

Ok, so it’s a busy time of year! I always find this time of year extra busy since I’m not just buying gifts but selling them as well. To save time, I’ve been doing alot more more shopping online and have found some really great websites this season to share. The first one is an extreme foodie website that has the most amazing products like truffles, truffle honey, rare meats for the adventurous eater and artisanal pastas. The little gem to the left is a peppercorn ravioli stuffed with asiago, ricotta and mozzarella cheese. YUM!!! I mean what’s not to love about that! If you are looking for a really neat gift consider some of our hotel sized pasta bowls… and some of these pretty raviolis to knock your friend out. http://www.marxfoods.com/

Another great find this season, is Moolka.com

I happen to be a fan of toys that look like they came from Santa’s workshop for little children at Christmas. I really liked how many of the toys at Moolka were not made of plastic(from you know where!) but made from wood and painted in exciting colors. Check them out at http://www.moolka.com/

Lastly, I’m crazy about jewelry. What woman isn’t? This year, I had a special necklace made with charms of my children from Jennifer Fisher. Check her out:
http://www.jenniferfishernyc.com/
On my personal Christmas list this year, I wanted to add a charm of my Chow-Chow, Asbury. Jennifer has a website where you can order charms online instead of going all the way to her studio. Everything she makes is very high quality so you can’t go wrong.

I had to share this customer email on the question “Should we or shouldn’t we do a Holiday Pop-up?”
The above picture was 150 Spring St. a few days before the set up (see below)

Hi all!

For a number of years, now, I and my friends have relied upon you to be the place we can purchase interesting, high-quality gifts at reasonable prices. Where will I go, if you don’t do a pop-up store this year?

Where will I go to find something like the Andy Warhol tree ornament my niece (now in college) insists on hanging herself every year? Or the Bjørn Wiinblad serving bowl my mother loves so much she won’t even use for fear of breaking it? Or my father’s “scotch glasses” which are “just the right size and heft”? Or the lovely little crystal cruets my parish uses every day during the celebration of the eucharist? Or so many other things which have brightened so many other people’s lives?

Or (and this is the best of all):

You’re wandering around mid-town or SoHo frantically looking for something which has artistic merit and practical function and a price you can afford.

You’re beginning to despair.

And then, all unexpectedly, you discover a shop which hadn’t been there the day before — and which will have disappeared again by the time you leave for Midnight Mass. A magical mushroom of a place. A Brigadoon of retail. A Crystal and Crockery Salvation for the Crazed Christmas Shopper. Hundreds of people like me have walked in, realized what’s happening, breathed a sigh of happy relief, and later, walked out rejoicing with heavy shopping bags and a light heart.

Please, please, please! Try, once again, to summon the energy, commitment, fortitude, and long-suffering necessary. No one will blame you if you want to take a break. But…

It just wouldn’t be Christmas in New York without the eTable Pop-up Shop!

Whatever your decision, you have my best wishes for the Holiday’s and a Joyful New Year.

Yours very sincerely,
Father Craig

I have gotten calls this week from many of you, our loyal customers asking us…”Will you have your holiday Pop-up Shop this year?”
My initial reaction was that given the economic climate this certainly didn’t feel like the year to do it. The above picture was the interior of a raw space that we converted this time last year into a winter wonderland at 150 Spring St in Soho.

It was my 7th holiday shop and hands down my most favorite. Today, like most of you, I will be getting in the car to visit family and have some turkey. I do love this holiday because it’s all about sitting at a beautiful table and being with the ones you love most in the world. Ahhh and this year…no shop, no hard work.
But wait not so fast! I will be making one stop before sitting down to Thanksgiving. I’m actually going to check out a potential retail space for this year’s eTableTop holiday pop-up! Yes that’s right, I may be nuts but I’m actually thinking about it. What do you think? Should we or shouldn’t we have a shop this year? Please write and let me know what you think.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Tonight I attended the Greater New York Councils, 2008 Exploring Awards reception at the Union League Club in NY. My husband Eric Michael Anton is Chairman of Exploring Group which is part of The Boy Scouts.

Exploring, is a career awareness program for high school students in New York City. Businesses, non-profit organizations and law enforcement agencies open their doors to young people to offer them first hand information about what specific careers entail. Each year the group gives both an award to an outstanding contributor of The Exploring Leadership Program and a Women of Achievement. This year’s honorees were Deborah Axelrod, M.D. and Wenda Harris Millard, CEO of Martha Stewart Living. Both of these dynamic women told inspirational stories of how mentoring is effective in shaping the careers of the next generation. Here is a picture of my husband Eric Michael Anton with Wenda before the event started.

To participate in the program you should be willing to host an after school program at your organization. For more information visit www.nyexploring.org