Stoopher and Boots

Stoopher and Boots is a new store on the Upper West side of Manhattan (Amsterdam between 78th and 79th St.) whose items are just as cute as its name. Sisters, Stephanie and Elizabeth, were given these nicknames, respectively, by their father. Seeing as how the store is filled with adorable items for babies, children, and adults alike, it is completely appropriate. Check out some of my favorite items from the store:




What started out as a simple etsy shop has turned into a "brick & mortar" filled with the whimsical, fun, and funny.

Here's the best part (for me, anyway): Stoopher and Boots will now carry selected Mulryjewels items!

Check them out online or in person!

First Sales at GI!

So, I'm not sure which items yet, but I sold my first 2 items on Governors Island this past weekend! I suspect that it was a rivoli ring and a crystal ball necklace (pictured below). I don't actually work there until July but I want to go visit this weekend if I can find the time. The house is great and it is a really great day trip from NYC. Hope to see you there!

Governor's Island is WHERE its at!

So, I visited the {newnew} street team's House on Governor's Island this afternoon. In a word: WOW. This house is amazing. The jewelry is set up like any chic NYC "Brick & Mortar" boutique.

The shop, located at House 6B in Nolan Park, Governors Island, has somewhat of a nautical theme, calling itself the etsy {newnew} "Treasure Chest" and all of the catalogues, press releases, and other promo material is amazingly designed like old treasure maps. This was a genius idea and the house looks fun, inviting, and chock-full of amazing products.



Click here to take a look at the Ferry Schedule. There are ferries from Manhattan and Brooklyn.

The island itself is an old military base and the buildings all look uniform and historical. It is like a journey to another part of the country in one 8 minute boat ride. It is tranquil and covered in green grass and shady trees. The island was closed for years and recently reopened to the public. Ther are art exhibits, food vendors, activities for kids, shopping (that's where we come in), and even theatre pieces being developed there this summer. I am so excited to be a part of this. Find out some more interesting stuff here.

Watch the ABC 7 News story here!!!

Governors island opens tomorrow, June 5th. This weekend Etsy's {newnew} street team will be virtually all over the city at various fairs. Look for us (though not me, I will be in rehearsals all weekend) at the Renegade Craft Faire in Brooklyn, The Brooklyn Flea (ooh, fish tacos, yum) at Fort Green and at the Bank at 1 Hanson Pl., the Hester St. Market downtown, The Brooklyn Indie Market , and the Fulton Stall Market at South Street Seaport!

Its a beautiful day to support local artists! Thanks, everyone!

Crafts in Chelsea

What a great street fair! Everything on 21st st. between 9th and 8th ave's was handmade and original works of art by local talent. No mass produced crap and no sneaky sales people. We had a great time...until the winds came.

I learned that whatever hollywood or the media, or pop culture says about New Yorkers being rude people is complete crap. My tent blew right into the street, Mary-Poppins-style, and 4 different people caught it and helped me take it down in the blustery wind. I also got help from my fellow {newnew}-ers when my jewelry started blowing into the middle of the street.

Even with the record-breaking winds I sold pretty well and there was no rain. I am so proud to be a part of a team that can pull together for this kind of awesome event. Thanks to Lorrie from Lenny Mud for organizing this event. We even managed to raise money for a local Public School!

$500 Worth of Giveaways!

Wow! This is the biggest giveaway EVER from the {newnew} etsy street team! This is a group of fantastically talented designers. Giveaways are for everything from clothing, to jewelry, to soap, to pottery. New giveaway every day through Friday! Enter each day! Check it all out here at http://www.thenewnew.blogspot.com

Enter, spread the word, and Happy Winning!

Thanks for the porn

So apparently people think they can comment with links to inappropriate asian websites and that's ok. Sorry

Shame on Sugarplum

(Since I just did a glowing review of a store, I would like to continue these. Here is my next one....)

During tax time we are forced to review all of our purchases for the year and re-evaluate their importance. It can cause a montage of memories of purchases past. This year, picking up the receipt from Sugar Plum in Lynbrook, NY, I took one look and started to get really annoyed.

Last spring I was lucky enough to get to sing with the Chelsea Opera. This was an amazing opportunity that required me to wear a gown. I thought nothing of this because I do own a couple of gowns. However, when it came time to pick a gown I realized that one did not fit me correctly anymore, and the the other was severely showing its age. I decided that, though I clearly can not afford it, I do need to buy a new gown for such occasions.

It seemed like fate that later that day I heard a commercial for Sugar Plum in Lynbrook. The big draw for me was that they touted their "plus-sizes on the rack." Being a plus-sized gal myself, I realize how difficult it can be to find things in my size without ordering it in advance. Very soon after I made the trip.

I figured this would be very easy: "I need a dress...Today! I am going to spend money here! Easy commission." I thought they would be thrilled and very helpful. The woman that was helping me,however, kept saying to me that they don't have much in the way of my size. First of all, "my size" is a 16, NOT a 24, and they advertise to have sizes 2-28. It was their big selling point. She had a very "Well, I'll show you what we have, but..." kind of attitude about the whole thing. As a girl of a bigger size I have heard this comment before, but usually not from stores that talk up their plus-size section.

As I interacted with her and tried on the measly selection that they did have I became increasingly disappointed, pressured that I may not find a dress, and actually apologetic for being the size that I am! I would hear her say "well, if you had let us know earlier we could have ordered this in your size." This is not the ideal shopping experience. The one great thing was that I ran into my Boss from my Summer job who was there buying a dress for an upcoming event. I knew SHE, who is very fashionable (size 6-8 TOPS) and a great lady, would at least be honest with me and keep my head in reality.

As we both tried on dresses I did eventually find a dress that fit and was not ugly on me. Here is the thing: after you have tried on things that are so wrong for your body and you find something that "fits and is not ugly" it starts to look pretty good to you. Thinking that this was my last hope I showed it to my boss and she say is was "good." Not great, but good. She was trying to tell me that I could do better. The dress was basically the same color as the Statue of Liberty (ick), which totally washed out my skin as I am very pale and need to wear saturated colors. It was also SATIN, which is super-unforgiving, even for skinny people!! The logical side of me would have never even tried that dress on, knowing these two facts. However I did need a dress for a concert later that week and felt like this was my last chance.

Feeling not-quite-right about this I told her that I would think on it and come back later that day. My boss agreed and said the same for HER dress, which looked amazing on her! This confused me but I let it go. I did later come back and buy the dress because I figured that a dress that fit was better than a dress that didn't. I spent over 200$ on this dress that was "not ugly" and since it was on sale it was a final sale dress. I later found out that my boss did not buy HER dress because she thought that the lady was so rude to ME and she didn't want to give them any business. Too bad I already did.

Well, there you have it. I took the dress to rehearsal, they said it was pretty but I could have found lots of dresses in my size at Davids Bridal. DUH. I went there and bought a much cheaper dress that looked stunning on me and ended up wearing that one for the concert. The "lady liberty" dress still hangs, unworn, in my closet, and I am still paying the credit card bill.
Here is me in the new gown:

Jewelry by Mulryjewels, of course.

I learned a very important and very expensive lesson: DON'T COMPROMISE. That is what Sugar Plum, however unintentionally, had me do. The sales lady could have been a lot more positive about the situation and I might not have written this blog. I do not want to slam this store as I have heard reviews of people having a good experience there. I, and my boss, were not two of them, though she would have had a great experience if she did not view My experience. I will not be going there for future dress needs. You are free to decide for yourself.