Archive for the ‘new products’ Category

Give an eco-friendly gift this year!

[100% organic cotton tea towel $19, pack of 3 re-useable shopping bags $22, recycled glass tumblers $11 each, tyvek re-useable shopping bags in gold and silver $20 each, stainless steel water bottles $21-$23]

We just got new baggus in cool summer stripes and in the new *BIG* size. I have been using my big baggu for everything from carrying laundry to toting beach towels to farmers market trips (the big baggu is perfect for carrying the long sunflowers that are at the market right now). Regular sized baggus in all colors/stripes, $8 or 3 for $22. BIG baggus, $14.

I LOVE these new Tunisian towels that we just started carrying in the shop. The “Fouta” is a towel traditionally used as a Hammam (Turkish bath) towel. Made in 100% pure cotton and woven on “metiers a tisser” in Tunisia, the “Fouta” can be used as a towel to wrap yourself in after showering or at the beach or pool. Wear it as a sarong, throw it on a sofa or use it as a casual tablecloth. And it gets softer each time you wash it! Hand towel/$15, large towel/$62-$73.

It’s 60 degrees today and sun is streaming in our shop window. Spring is here!

Joanne & I are unpacking spring merchandise and freshening up the store for the new season . We just got a bundle of Swedish recycled plastic mats in spring colors. We love these for beach houses, bathrooms, kitchens…


Porcelain pear bud vases to display your spring flowers. We just got these last week and they have been flying out. Only $15/each!

New summery John Derian pieces and Frances Palmers stunning pottery.

Hable frames and storage boxes for your spring cleaning & reorganizing.


New colors & patterns of reuseable nylon shopping bags for the farmers market.

Tea towels and aprons from Skinny Laminx in summer weeds, orla and bird patterns. $16/towel and $25/aprons. These are perfect hostess and mother’s day gifts!

I love this polished plaster lamp with linen shade. $295.

We are getting lots of great, new things in the next several weeks so stay tuned!

New organic cotton tote bags with images by Hugo Guinness! $35.

We recently started carrying Llubav Choy Duerr’s work in the shop and I couldn’t be more excited. As Joanne blogged a couple of weeks ago, Llubav made some adorable sachets out of felt with her signature handmade flowers just for us! They look & smell amazing.
(http://www.abitareshop.com/2009/02/10/valentine-alert-what-every-girl-needs/)
We also have a selection of Llubav’s handmade felt flower pins. I got this black mum which Llubav described as ‘Chanel-esque’. I absolutely love it!


Llubav started out life in Peru, has lived in Mexico and Virginia and now resides here in Brooklyn. She studied at FIT and worked at Hable Construction for seven years. Now she is concentrating on her own handmade creations which include our sachets, the gorgeous flower pins, hair pins, stationery and wedding ring pillows (among other things). Here are some images of her beautiful custom ring pillows.


And check out the flag garlands and ADORABLE felt ornaments. I can’t wait to get these in at Christmas!


You can check out more about Llubav by visiting her new website: www.llubav.com. And she will be at our shop on April 4th for our first ever women artists event. Stop by for a drink! 1-4pm.

We just received these whimsical boy shorts sachets filled with french lavender. Handmade by Llubav Choy Duerr from wool felt in jelly bean colors or white iridescent linen. Guaranteed to make her smile!($26)

Felt flower sachets ($26), rose pin ($50)

the cow parade is the largest public art event in history. artists in cities across the world interpret the life-sized cow sculptures and then their creations are displayed in city squares, on the street and in public parks. the cows are auctioned off and have raised millions of dollars for charity. we carried these miniature versions of the cow parade cows in the spring and they flew out! we have added some new styles for the holiday including the pop art cow and the americow (representing our renewed hope for america!) They about 6″ long and are made from ceramic or resin. $17-$23

We love textile design and especially Japanese fabrics so we were thrilled when we found these pin cushions made from antique kimono fabric. They are handmade by a retired couple in Japan, the husband does the wood part and the wife does the kimono bit (she has been collecting kimonos for years). It is the perfect gift for someone who sews or someone who loves textiles.

And Katsumi Yumioka’s book, Kimono and the Colors of Japan, (pictured below) gives a beautiful visual instruction on the meaning of kimono colors in Japanese culture.

It has been 2 1/2 years now since Joanne & I started abitare. Sometimes we work so hard I don’t take time to reflect on all that we have accomplished! But now that we’ve hired some wonderful employees, I have a little more time lately to pat myself on the back and enjoy. What brings me the most joy & fulfillment are the relationships that we have built with many incredible artists & artisans. I think because we are two women who love art and making things ourselves, we are drawn to the work of female artists. Of course we carry plenty of “man-made” products as well, but it brings me special satisfaction to feature the work of these amazing women! So over the next few weeks I will post about some of our favorite female artists.

Skinny laMinx is an illustrator, designer and writer living in South Africa. The images on these 100% cotton tea towels and aprons are screen prints of her own illustrations.

“Borrowed Spoons” in Red & Stainless Steel
This design is inspired by Skinny’s own wooden spoon collection. Tea towels $16/ea, aprons $25/ea.

“Orla” in Dark Charcoal Grey & Chartreuse
An homage to Orla Keily’s famous stem pattern. Tea towels $16/ea, aprons $25/ea.