Designers only: discount on linens and home accessories

Nancy Koltes fine linens has been providing luxurious linens and decorative home accessories since 1984. The company is known for classical colors, rich woven jacquards and timeless patterns in textiles including European down comforters and pillows. Its custom workroom allows interior designers to create custom linens and down products for their clients.

Selected works of Mexican artist Karla d’Lara

Phillips Collection showed 350 works of Mexican artist Karla d’Lara at the High Point market earlier this month. The company featured her sculptures, tables and accessories for 2011.

The Phillips Collection provided this statement about the artist:

Making use of her memory, Karla d’Lara recreates a universe of atmospheres touched by the mystery of that which is poetic. Her work is an expression of genuine character which reveals itself as a powerful wave of technique, color and vivid movement.
Memories…to create atmospheres, defines Karla’s intuitive sense of art. Memory is the storehouse for abstractness which may materialize during a walk on a summer’s evening, like a voyeur in a faraway place. Its unstated goal is to discover the essential aroma of emotions resulting from a process of seduction. Expressed through the hands of an artist, its immense power is revealed for all to see.

She began to study photography as a teenager during summer trips abroad, and it became her first great passion. After taking advanced courses and accumulating plenty of experience, she traveled through Europe, Asia, and the Americas capturing the images of different cultures.

Karla is able to amalgamate her ideas with the help of skilled and exacting craftsmen, who have shared their homegrown techniques from workshops in Tonala, Jalisco, a hotbed of artists and great authors. A case in point is artist Salvador Rabelero, an expert in ceramics, glass, pigment combinations, acrylic paintings and mixed techniques. Today he is Karla’s inseparable partner in artistic creation.

Home decor for winter holiday 2011

Hanna's Handiworks introduced Snow Birds at the winter wholesale gift markets. These holiday ornaments sport holiday-appropriate red hats. The company also offers home decor items for autumn, garden and everyday, as well as a line of collegiate gifts.

Well-designed and stylish housewares from Mexico

At the Housewares show in Chicago this month, Sogbo will present 25 new products in what it calls "A Revolution of Home Products.” The Mexico-based source offers housewares, furniture, textiles, barware, kitchen accessories and furniture. Catalogs are available on the company's website.

Download the catalog at www.sogbo.com.mx

Fireplace screen for lodges and wooded cabins

"Deer on the Loose" decorative fireplace screen

Meyda Custom Lighting's Deer On The Loose Fireplace Screen (model #50971) is a folding screen that can be used with a working fireplace. The screen features does and bucks scampering through the woods. Hand finished in black, the fireplace screen was custom-crafted by artisans in Yorkville, N.Y., located at the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains. The screen can be used in homes, lodges, cabins, restaurants, inns, hotels and commercial spaces. It measures 62 inches wide and 40 inches tall.

Award-winning baby and child products

The first “Best New Product Awards” at Baby & Child, one of 10 divisions of the New York International Gift Fair, were presented this month. A panel of 10 editors from trade media and kid-centric blogs and websites selected winners from 111 products. The winners and finalists are:


BLOGGER’S BEST

Maple Landmark, Inc. (Middlebury, Vt.) for Rocker-Feller Rocking Horse. A carefully-designed and crafted rocking horse featuring laser-engraved details, made from responsibly harvested solid pine with a non-toxic naturoil finish. Made in the USA.

TOY
Winner: Tegu (Rowayton, Conn.) for Magnetic blocks. Wooden blocks that defy gravity with safely embedded magnets inside. Blocks are made from eco-friendly hardwoods, making them both sustainable and durable.

Finalist: Maple Landmark, Inc. (Middlebury, Vt.) for Rocker-Feller Rocking Horse.

Finalist: Geared For Imagination (Fairlawn, Ohio) for Topozoo.

DÉCOR
Winner: Oopsy daisy, Fine Art For Kids (San Diego) for A to Z Animal Prints. Canvas wall art reproductions featuring colorful and exotic animals, printed in the giclée method and stretched by hand over a wooden frame with a decorative edge, eliminating the need for framing. Made in the USA.

Finalist: Zutano Inc. (Cabot, Vt.) for Owls 4-piece crib set.

Finalist: manny and simon (Del Mar, Calif.) for Duck wooden step stool.

MadPax

GEAR
Winner: MadPax (Phoenix) for The Spiketus Rex. Over-the-top creature feature backpacks for kids of all ages that allow children to store books, gear and more, while expressing one-of-a-kind style.


Finalist: Buggyguard (North Palm Beach, FL) for Stroller lock.

Finalist: Innobaby LLC (Hoffman Estates, IL) for Keepin’ Fresh Kids Stainless.


APPAREL

Winner: Loralin Design (New York) for Handmade Sweater Basket. A 100 percent cotton sweater and matching shoes, packaged in a tiny gift basket to create the perfect new baby gift.

Loralin Design

Finalist: Magnificent Baby (New York) for Elephants On Parade Take Me Home Set

Finalist: 3 Sprouts (Toronto) for 3 Sprouts Eco-Friendly Art Smock.


The Best New Product Award judges were: Melody Udell, Baby & Kids; Nanci Gregg, Baby & Children’s Product News; Leesa Valentino, TheGiggleGuide.com; Lynda Johnson, KidsStyleSource.com; Jenny Heinzen-York, Kids Today; Elina Furman, AListMom.com (formerly Mamaista); Liz Gumbinner, Coolmompicks.com; Nicole Feliciano, Momtrends.blogspot.com; Joanna Dreifus, MyMomShops.com; Caroline Kennedy and Meredith Schwartz, Playthings.

Best in Show winners from the Chicago gift market

Exhibitors and showrooms were honored with Best Display Awards at the Chicago Market, which ran Jan. 20 to 26 at the Merchandise Mart. Winners were selected by an internal panel committee and were judged on innovation, design and creativity. The winners are:

BEST EXHIBIT DISPLAY AWARD WINNERS


Beckman's Handcrafted Show winners:

• 79 West Designs, www.79westdesigns.com. 79 West Design's line of "handmade essentials" includes holiday stockings, bottle cozies, seasonal home decor, and knit dog sweaters.
• Blue Barnhouse, www.bluebarnhouse.org. Blue Barnhouse offers handmade books, letterpress stationery, and publishing services.

Home winner

• Eastern Accents, www.easternaccents.com. Eastern Accents is a Chicago-based designer and wholesaler of luxury bedding and decorative home accessories.

Gourmet winner

• The French Farm, www.thefrenchfarm.com. The French Farm has searched the European continent to bring consumers the finest in wholesale imported gourmet foods.

Gift & Accessories winners

• Pose-ez, pose-ez.com. POSE-EZ flexible figures. Bend, flex, and pose these characters into any position you want! Their patent-pending design is totally unique.
• Aesthetic Movement, www.aestheticmovement.com. Aesthetic Movement provides award-winning design services with sales and marketing expertise.

What a Girl Wants winner

• Little Gorilla Designs, www.littlegorilladesign.com. Little Gorilla Designs carries a variety of personalized items for young ones. All items are hand-painted and personalized. Great gift items for any occasion, birthdays, baby gifts, holidays and more.

BEST SHOWROOM DISPLAY AWARD WINNERS

• K&K, www.kkgifts.com, showroom 13-207. K&K features top sellers in gifts, collectibles, home and garden decor.
• Designs Combined, Inc., www.shopdci.com, showroom 13-213. Designs Combined, Inc. is a wholesaler specializing in country gifts, floral and home decor.
• Patti White & Co, Inc., www.pattiwhiteco.com, showroom 1485. Patti White & Co, Inc. has been a leader in the Midwest wholesale gift industry since 1991. Patti White & Co, Inc. offers a diverse variety of product lines including: bath and body products, paper goods, home accessories, toys, apparel, books and trend items.
• White Ginger, www.whitegingerchicago.com, showroom 130416a. White Ginger is a multi-manufacturer’s rep group whose primary goal is to make lifestyle wholesale buying as exciting and as effortless as possible. Their objective is to partner with the finest luxury, eco-friendly, and specialty gift lines in the industry.

Silverplated serveware with rope handles

The Monaco mixed-media serveware line combines silverplate with rope details. Vellum offers a round bar tray, carafe and compote. Follow the company on Twitter, @vellumnewyork.

Mexican artist Karla d’Lara to show in Las Vegas

One hundred and fifty works by Mexican artist Karla d’Lara will be shown in the Phillips Collection showroom (suite A202) at the World Market Center, Las Vegas. d'Kara has created sculptures, tables and accessories for 2011.

Luggage, aprons and manicure kits

Manicure kits in a ribbon design

Mommy & Me apron set

6-piece luggage set

Isabella’s Journey Brocade is a new six-piece luggage set from Manual Woodworkers and Weavers. (Last season's introduction was a zebra pattern.) The set consists of a traveler, a hanging jewelry/toiletry bag, cosmetics bags (in three sizes), a "Hipster" and a tote.
Other new items shown at the winter markets include manicure kits and mother-daughter apron sets.

Decorative white ceramic accessories

 Vellum is exhibiting its decorative ceramic accessories at the Atlanta gift show (in High Design) and at the New York gift show (Pier 94).

Seashore-inspired home decor

Two's Company offers shell-themed home accents and accessories. The Atlantis shell hinged box has a magnetic closure. The starfish come 16 to a bag and consist of eight finger starfish and eight knobby starfish. The decorative footed tray has a shell/silver plate trim.

Fair trade home decor, jewelry and stationery

World Shoppe works with several artisan cooperatives, non-governmental organizations and locally controlled small businesses in some 32 countries. The company is committed to:

• Providing work and income for the most economically disadvantaged artisans throughout the world;
• Promoting fair trade;
• Encouraging the empowerment of women and physically challenged individuals through raising their self-esteem, dignity and self-sufficiency;
• Creating a non-exploitive, supportive business environment in which women of different religions, ethnicities and ages can gain energy and learn to work together
• Protecting children's rights;
• And developing employment opportunities for many artisans, many of whom would not be employable in mainstream business.

See the World Shoppe website for greeting cards, jewelry, apparel, home decor, ethnic items, eco-friendly products and more.

Phillips Collection moves to new office

Press release

HIGH POINT, NC, October 15, 2010 -- Phillips Collection (www.phillipscollection.com), a leading manufacturer of high-end contemporary furnishings, is proud to announce the expansion of its headquarters in High Point, NC to the former Rose Furniture Building on I-85 Business. The expansion of our award-winning Origins Collection and the need for more hybrid showroom & warehouse space necessitated a move to the new 166,000 square foot facility.

"This is logical and exciting for us," commented Mark Phillips, CEO of Phillips Collection. "We have been admiring the former Rose Furniture building ever since moving to High Point from New York back in 2001. What a dream it is to have purchased this facility. We plan to be fully moved in and operational by the end of October. The new office and warehouse underscores our commitment to High Point and our intention to expand in our industry"

This grand new facility allows Phillips Collection to dramatically expand its existing operations and still have abundant space and resources available for complementary partners. Phillips Collection has been in touch with local, national and international colleges and universities who are excited at the prospect of having a footprint in a flagship facility, in such a design-centric community.

This new home for Phillips Collection was selected because of its location and its warehouse size, which will translate into improved logistics and ease of access for customers and associates.

Formerly located on E. Kivett Drive, Phillips Collection has been exhibiting in High Point for more than 25 years. The new headquarters will be located at 916 Finch Avenue, High Point NC, 27263.

Design bloggers have their say at NY gift show

The Bloggers' Choice Awards are presented semi-annually to exhibitors in Accent on Design, one of 10 divisions of the New York International Gift Fair. "Design bloggers have a unique aesthetic sensibility, as well as an inherent knack for identifying emerging talents," said Dorothy Belshaw, NYIGF director and GLM senior vice president.
"Accent on Design offers an excellent platform for sourcing and rewarding design innovation." Each blogger selected one product from among the thousands featured by 200 Accent on Design exhibitors.
The bloggers - and their choices for the "next big thing" - are:

Jennifer Lockwood of DailyGrommet.com:
Cast Iron Skillets by Borough Furnace (Murfreesboro, Tenn.)
"It is all about the story behind the product. From humble beginnings as scraped, upcycled iron to a cool, hip, useful cast-iron skillet that will last forever. Old made new."

Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan of ApartmentTherapy.com:
Sundara Rug Collection by Donna Wilson & SCP (London, England)
"One of the best new debuts I found at the NYIGF was the Sundara Rug Collection by Donna Wilson and distributed by SCP. All rugs are hand-made in India, using three different techniques: flat-weaving, hand-looming and hand-tufting. Like Donna's other designs for SCP - Frank, Henry & Ernest pouffes and Nos Das pillows, throws and bags - color and texture are at the fore-front for these new rug designs."

Kristin Coleman of Design-Calendar.com:
Umbrellas by Brelli (New York)
"I've been thinking for years now that the umbrella was due for a redesign. I was pleasantly surprised to discover the Brelli, which delivers a stylish, versatile and sustainable solution."

Rain Noe of Core77.com:
Chop, Patrick Jouin's bamboo chopping board, by Alessi (New York)
"This caught my eye because the indented, curved edges, in addition to making you want to touch the object, allow you to cut and swipe vegetables directly onto a plate. I think that simple, subtle human factors and details like this are what makes for great design."

Heather Clawson of HabituallyChic.com:
Michelle Parker Table Lamps by Stray Dog Designs (Chattanooga, Tenn.) for its lamps with shades made from vintage topographical maps and pages from old dictionaries
"It's such a cleaver and original idea and they look great. The company employs artisans in Haiti in Mexico so you know you are buying products that benefit those in need as well."

Marisa Marcantonio of stylebeat.blogspot.com:
Nasca Collection of globally-inspired textiles by Suki Cheema Studio (Brooklyn, NY)
"Merges the traditional craft of handmade Indian textiles with saturated colors and creative pattern play. The 100% cotton Taquile pillow is made using an ancient embroidery technique out of several fabrics, so the pieces add history and tradition to a home. The collection is very current with its playful graphic designs and cheery colors."

Jaime Derringer of design-milk.com:
Piggy by Materious (Chicago)
"A refreshingly new concept that shows us good design is more than just form and function - it's human too!"

Stephanie Murg of UnBeige (mediabistro.com):
Husque bowls by Designs Abroad (Lawrenceville, Ga.)
"I'm nuts for Husque products! Handmade in Australia, these colorful bowls and platters are not only inspired by the smooth curves of Macadamia nuts, they're also made from waste shells of the locally-farmed nuts. Queensland-based designer Marc Harrison developed the novel composite material, which is then colored and hand-polished (with Macadamia nut oil) to a beautiful luster. The resulting objects look good enough to eat - or at least eat off of."

Best new products from the textiles show

Five companies participating in Home Textiles Market Week in New York were presented with Best New Product awards last week. Designers Guild received the “Best of Market” award for its Orangerie Cushion. All of the winners exhibited in the At Home division of the New York International Gift Fair.

BEST OF MARKET
Designers Guild (New York), for its Orangerie Cushion, designed by Tricia Guild. Manufactured in the United Kingdom, the Orangerie design features hand painted florals on a fresh white base—which are digitally reproduced and printed onto the cushion’s cotton percale front fabric. The cushion’s trimming and solid silk back provide some extra contrast to its patterned front.

BED CATEGORY
Bōdmer Blankets (Carlton, Ore.) for its Jaspé Blanket, designed and hand woven by Craig Bōdmer. Made of 100% natural baby alpaca yarn and bound with 100% hand-woven silk, the blanket provides both beauty and comfort. The non-dyed blanket has an all-natural alpaca color, which is revealed as its color subtly transforms from dark to light, and is woven with a classic 2/2 twill weave structure and available in twin, double, queen and king sizes.

BATH CATEGORY
Brahms Mount (Hallowell, Maine) for its Linen Towels, designed by Claudia Brahms. The towels, which are woven in North America, are 100% linen and naturally anti-microbial and available in 3 sizes: and six colors. 

DINING CATEGORY
Blissliving Home (Rockville, Md.) for its Samsara Table Linens, designed by Mei Xu and Amber Kleiner. The Samsara Table Linens include a runner, square placemat and matching dyed linen napkin and is available in two colorways. The linens traditional embroidery is borrowed from their Samsara decorative pillow. 

HOME ACCESSORIES CATEGORY
Alicia Adams Alpaca Inc. (Stanfordville, NY) for its Travel Set. Designed by owner, Alicia Adams and manufactured in Peru, the travel set comes with a blanket and eye mask, which conveniently fit in a travel-size pouch. Made of 100% baby alpaca, this soft blanket provides the ultimate in luxury for travel. 

Award criteria included innovation in design, creative use of materials/construction and new fiber, material or technology.

Home decor winners from the NY gift show

Four Accent on Design exhibitors at the New York International Gift Fair were honored last week for "superior design creativity and innovative product design," according to the fair organizers. Accent on Design is one of 10 divisions at the show. The winners are:

Best Product Collection
Paul Smith for Stelton (Copenhagen, Denmark) "for reimagining Arne Jacobsen’s classic Cylinda-Line collection and introducing color in celebration of Stelton’s 50th year." Manufactured in Denmark, Paul Smith for Stelton features AddColour (above), a series of stainless steel iced water, tea and coffee jugs, and French press with muted, bright or pastel colored handles. Available in nine color palettes, Dot features three small, medium and large jars and bowls in stainless steel with enamel tops and mouths. The collection’s bar set, Statement, includes ice bucket and tongs, cocktail shaker, martini mixer, glass coasters and serving tray in rich, black stainless steel. Each piece features a statement written by Paul Smith. http://www.stelton.dk/

Best Product
Wabnitz Editions (Columbus, Ohio) for Boomerang Wok, by Royal vkb, for "its innovation in industrial design, solving an age old problem." Designed by Nikolai Carels, its unique patented edge shape alleviates the stresses of cooking by reducing the skills necessary for an evenly cooked meal – just a simple push towards the curved edge of the pan turns the food easily. This aluminum pan is ideal for cooking eggs, fish and meat. http://www.wabnitzeditions.com/

Best Product
Branch Lamps (New York) by Rich, Brilliant, Willing as part of the American Design Club Collection, for "a modern classic used in a multitude of ways." With bent wood arms attached to metal hubs resembling the branches of a tree, the chandeliers, floor lamps and table lamps filter light through perforated brass shades. Ebonized, natural and custom color wood finishes are available. http://www.richbrilliantwilling.com/

Best Product
The Sasa Clock  (Housatonic, Mass.) designed by Thorunn Arnadottir for HeadsUp Design Company Inc., for "its interpretation on the concept of time in an artistic and poetic manner." Made of a polished stainless steel hub and beech wood beads, time can be read from a color coded necklace—with each bead representing a 5 minute increment. The necklace is available in both 12 and 24 hour versions; natural wood with white, "hour" beads and blue stained wood, with orange "hour" beads. http://www.headsupco.com/

Retailers: Contact the manufacturer for prices and minimums.

Shoppers: Ask your favorite independent retailer to order this item for you.

Decoupage decorative objects

Scott Potter Designs creates beautiful decoupage decorative objects, including vases, bowls, plates and goblets. The company exhibits at the gift show in New York. See a previous post about Scott Potter here.

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Retailers: Contact the manufacturer for prices and minimums.

Shoppers: Ask your favorite independent retailer to order this item for you.

New furniture, accessories in transitional styles

The Santro aluminum vases are exclusive to IMAX, which has introduced a range of accessories and furniture for the summer. The vases reflect light as if it were ripples in the water. The design works in contemporary or transitional displays.

Mirabella Velvet Chaise Lounge

Manning Chair

Honeybee Trend pillows with British interior styling are reminiscent

of men's haberdashery with houndstooth, herringbone and pinstripe fabrics.

Chappin Glass Honeycomb Vases

Lightbulb tealight holders are caricatures of a lightbulb. Candle flames flicker in the holder by IMAX exclusive designer Melissa Vasquez.

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Retailers: Contact the manufacturer for prices and minimums.

Shoppers: Ask your favorite independent retailer to order this item for you.