Labor Day Musings...

Here's a peek into the studio & what's been brewing here for the last several months...we've been making a lot of jewelry & the occasional pie!

...and the reward for all the hard work....a lovely, delicious edible work of art. My mom's fig tart! I will twist her arm for the recipe and post it here soon.

Happy Labor Day 2013!!

Haute Chocolate

If you know me, then you are well aware of my dark chocolate obsession. Strong, dark, dusted with sea salt or infused with the subtle note of something unexpected, like ginger or wasabi. Today, Valerie Confections, my most favorite chocolatier in the US, is relaunching their website. I first discovered Valerie on a biz trip to Chattanooga and from the first bite of their dark almond toffee, I was completely hooked. Now YOU can have some, too. Valerie confections are artisan in the truest sense of the word -- made by hand by an artist whose medium is chocolate. From their lovely little boutique in Silverlake, Los Angeles (you must visit, by the way), they can be delivered straight to your door....And you know how delicious they are going to taste by looking at the simple, elegant little box. Details, details...

all photos: Valerie Confections

Happy New Year!

If you read this blog and have been wondering if I was kidnapped by aliens or something, fear not!  Lots has been happening in the world of Stephanie Albertson Jewelry. December was a really fun month. I was so honored to be asked to participate in the relaunch of the iconic lifestyle store, Zona. For those who remember, Zona was a pioneer in the lifestyle concept store movement. Before there even was a "movement," there was Zona, paving the way for the Anthropologies of today. With a focus on artists and their work, and appreciation for process and materials, Zona became the destination for anyone looking to find that certain something -- unique, beautiful, timeless and handmade. The original Zona closed its doors in the early 90's, but the spirit lived on, and for three weeks last month, Zona was more alive than ever. It was amazing to talk to people who were customers back in the day and hear them reminisce about the things they'd purchased that they still treasure to this day. People were nostalgic about a time in NYC that is long gone - when Soho was really an artists colony and the stores were full of merchants, gallery owners and other creative people who had something to offer that couldn't be found anywhere else. I think there is a desire to return to this kind of shopping -- people are tired of big box retail and the big branding of everything we have or use in our lives. I definitely want things to use in my home that are not mass produced, that few people have, that have quality, craftsmanship and character...things that have a story to tell. Anyway, all of this to say that the response to the pop-up was tremendous. Here are a few pics...

 A wall of bells...an homage to the original Zona on Broome Street...

the message...

jewels atop a display of alabaster fruit from Italy...

jewels...

vintage textiles...

vintage buttons...

silk rugs...nothing softer under your feet!....

fragrance and an amazing artwork by Tad Wright

a view of the Cheryl Hazan Gallery space that was home to Zona for the pop-up

more jewels...

delicious treats...

and...more jewels!...

I spent much of the month of December in the city, indulging in the holiday festivities and spirit. When I got back to Florida to be with family for the New Year, I ended up with the dreaded flu that is going around. All I can say about that is YUCK. The weather in Florida this time of year is blissfully seductive. It is conducive to resting and rejuvenating...which is what I've been doing for the first few weeks of the year.  The studio is getting busy -- a lot of new work in the making. One of the best treats I received were the lemons on my mom's tree...they are as big as grapefruit and sweet enough to eat alone! 

Here's hoping you are off to a happy & healthy New Year. 

Discovering Columbus

Yesterday, I finally had a little extra time to go see Discovering Columbus at Columbus Circle. It was the final day to experience it -- there's nothing like waiting until the last minute. For anyone who doesn't know what I'm talking about, the artist Tatzu Nishi created a living room atop a scaffold for the statue of Christopher Columbus. Nishi is known for this sort of thing, having created domestic environments around public monuments over the years. To get up to the living room, you have to walk up about six flights of stairs. A couple of things were surprising to me. First of all, it's the ultimate in NYC real estate fantasy. Columbus has the best apartment in all of NYC, even if it's temporary. Location, location, location...so the saying goes, and there is none better than this. Second, having driven past this statue nearly every day in the entire twenty-plus years I've lived in NYC, I never noticed that Columbus is facing Southwest. The glorious panorama of Central Park is behind him. Though the apartment is flooded with sunlight, he is missing out on the park view! Perhaps years ago, when the statue was installed, when the view to the south was less obstructed, Columbus could have seen Lady Liberty from his vantage point. Certainly, before the Time Warner building was constructed and the old colosseum stood in the same location, the scale of the buildings was lower, so maybe the artist Gaetano Russo who created the monument thought it would be symbolic to have Columbus facing the Hudson river in the direction of Ellis Island - the entry point to the new world for so many immigrants to our country. Whatever the case may be, it is something to think about.

In this exhibition, photography was "highly encouraged," to quote the security guard...so here are a few of the images I snapped.

Columbus' views to the north...

 looking east down 59th Street

walking into the living room...

this is the actual base of the statue that sits 70 feet above Columbus Circle. Here it appears to be sitting on top of the coffee table.

since we were instructed by the guard not to remove any books or newspapers from the setting, I'm assuming the newspapers on the table were placed there by the artist...not sure about the bubble gum wrappers.

the artist wanted to living room to reflect classic American tastes and sensibilities. Hence the kitchy wallpaper featuring iconic Americana...Elvis, Mickey Mouse, McDonalds, Coke, cowboys & indians, skyscrapers, Michael Jackson, Marilyn Monroe, hotdogs and more... 

The big TV in Columbus' living room is set to CNN...an ode to America's obsession with the flatscreen and the 24-hour news cycle? I was happy to see that Columbus turned his back to the TV!

You can read more about the artist Tatzu Nishi and Discovering Columbus here and here.  

After seeing Columbus, I headed downtown to meet a friend for brunch at Tartine. This little hole in the wall in the West Village is a delicious, cozy (as in elbow to elbow) place and the food is delicious and homey in a French Bretagne sort of way. 

It's now a beautiful and warm morning in the city -- no need for a coat. Off to enjoy the sunshine and more preparation for the next round of trunk shows.  

Happy Monday!