Taylor Aiden

WE'RE THERE

2010-10-27T08:17:00.004-04:00

If you're near Rochester, NY stop by and say hi!!!

It's a Birthday Celebration!

2010-08-27T19:14:00.003-04:00

We love to celebrate here at Taylor Aiden and when it comes to birthdays there are no exceptions. We recently celebrated Sarah's special day. Sparing no chocolate, we took down her favorite cupcakes in Manhattan.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SARAH!!

Riding the chocolate wave!!!

New Show Alert!

2010-08-26T21:56:00.004-04:00

Taylor Aiden will be at Mayday Underground Crafts + Art Show in Rochester, NY on November 6th. Come say hi - Village Gate, 274 Goodman St North. Not in Rochester? Let us know of a show near you and we'll try to make it happen! And remember, we're always open at tayloraiden.com (free shipping is happening now!).

Is Summer Really Almost Over?

2010-08-25T07:15:00.008-04:00

Well, we took an unexpected summer long vacation from this blog. But we are back and so excited to share the new happenings here at Taylor Aiden. We can almost see the colors of Fall in the distance, the warm apple cider and pumpkin pies. We will welcome that with an open kitchen but until then, enjoy the last days of summer!! Here's a glimpse of what we've been up to.

Perfecting the French Macaron

2010-06-14T06:48:00.010-04:00

It's a love hate relationship, really. So sensitive that if you don't let the eggs age properly, or let the Macarons rest before entering the oven, you may end up with a flat and unappealing Macaron. After carefully sifting my ground almonds and powered sugar, not once but twice (with the help of both my mom and dad, due to muscle cramping) I had the misfortune of mistaking decorating gel for food coloring. [insert violin here] It was a total flop. They didn't rise at all and were hard throughout. I thought I would have to leave this to the pros. Never the less, I equipped myself with a proper digital scale, now able to follow the recipe exactly in grams I went back at it. You know what they say, when you fall off the horse.... Well, my second try yielded one tray (the other two trays were overcooked) and with a taste of victory I couldn't stop there. The next two batches were a success. Well, two batches minus one and a half trays that I accidentally dropped. I'm sure you can imagine the shriek that came out when I saw all that hard work, in slow motion, come crashing to the floor. The end result was simply delicious! There will be many more Macaron adventures to come. If at first you don't succeed...try, try again!!

Make sure your meringue has good peaks!

Almost there!

in the oven too long = Macarons in the garbage

Macaron Lollipop!!!

Delicious!

Great recipe here

Colors of the Weekend

2010-04-25T11:59:00.006-04:00

Give the city some sunshine and look at what you get...

Don't Mess with Tradition

2010-04-21T22:10:00.005-04:00

Every year St. Michael's Church in Binghamton, NY has a fundraiser during lent. They make and sell potato and cabbage pierogi's. When I say that I look forward to this all year I am not exaggerating. They happen to be the most delicious pierogi's around, even Mrs. T (yes, that one) agrees with me. See for yourself here: www.pierogypocket.com. That's right, Mrs T's named Binghamton, NY the Pierogi pocket of America! I do have to say, it's about time...I've known about this little treasure for a looooong time. Albeit a little late, here are some of the snapshots from my lunch at St. Michael's.

Our orders (this was just for eat-in, we picked up our take-out later)

Hard at work (even the Mayor was helping out!)

I'll take the lot...

No, I did not eat my entire dozen but I could have had I not given in to self restraint.

gasp, glad we saw this sign on the way out!!!

Magical...

2010-04-21T21:52:00.002-04:00

I decided to take a walk through the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens last weekend not even realizing that Cherry Blossoms would be in bloom. It was actually magical....

In Like a Lamb

2010-03-05T22:31:00.003-05:00

Welcome March. I already smell your sweet flowers and delicious fruits! Please, take off your shoes and stay for awhile.

Be Careful What You Wish For

2010-02-27T12:08:00.007-05:00

A couple of weeks ago I was praying for a snowstorm. Bummed out that we hadn't had any major snowfall I finally got what I wished for and I couldn't be happier!

Sweet Temptations
All you need is a shovel...
Snowbird
Have a Seat

This tree has had enough of winter

Irresistible

2010-02-21T16:27:00.002-05:00

When I decided to go crazy on sprinkles last weekend I also felt the need to whip up some chocolate covered strawberries. I've made these in the past and always have left over chocolate that I end up throwing away for lack of knowing what to do with it. It feels so wasteful. Well, this time I had the idea of making nonpareils with the leftover chocolate and they were so delicious and adorable. They matched the strawberries perfectly!! Wishing for some leftovers right about now....

R is for Rolling Pin

2010-02-14T15:35:00.008-05:00

I've always been tempted by the pretty colors and fun shapes of sugar cookies. Whenever I would get the urge to make them I would quickly dismiss it, mostly blaming it on the fact that I didn't own a rolling pin (wine bottles have gotten me this far) and the long process (remember instant gratification is my middle name). Well, with Valentine's Day here I felt it was time to make the commitment. I found a great recipe (and blog) at www.ourbestbites.com.

I finally felt armed.....and dangerous!

What a mess they make!!

But they look so pretty!

Hands off!! A certain someone kept taking the precious dough so he got his own plate of the leftovers.

Our first casualty...

But we made it through (although there were times I wasn't sure we would)...

Time to decorate! Don't these bring back memories of childhood? Exactly the same, they still look like little elves!

I went a little overboard but who can resist?

ahh, sweet rewards.

Guilty as charged, most of the cookies didn't last long enough to take pictures of! Happy Valentines Day!!

Snow Envy

2010-02-06T09:28:00.005-05:00

Snow storms happen to be my favorite part of winter. Enduring months of cold weather seems worth it once the snow starts falling. Having been away for the last big snowfall you can imagine my excitement at the prospect of a storm coming this weekend. My camera was all charged up and boots were ready to go. When I woke up this morning I ran to the window like a child looking for Santa Claus. And, outside my window...no snow!! I immediately turned on the tv and waited for an explanation. How could they be so wrong? We don't even have an inch! So, while others are getting lots of the pearly white stuff, I'm here, with shades drawn, pretending to be snowed in (hot chocolate in hand). I'm still hoping for a big one sometime soon. Until then, I'll use my imagination!

Dreaming of Warmer Weather

2010-01-29T19:41:00.003-05:00

I recently contemplated adding another vessal to my ever growing fleet of cameras. Since I am still trying to master my old school twin lens reflex camera I decided that another man on board could cause a conflict and result in serious neglect. If there were more hours in the day however, I would experiment with the lomo camera. It's effect is reminiscent of vintage photographs, saturated colors and just lots of fun. As a sweet compromise I have spent some time playing around with photoshop (after all it's winter and I don't really want to be outside that much) and this is what I came up with, before and after. Here's to waiting for warmer weather...

Not even a month...

2010-01-28T20:20:00.003-05:00

Just wondering how the New Year's resolutions are going for everyone else. This cupcake is speaking to me saying "I dare you". But, no, no I'm not going to give in to you, temptation.

That worked until my Mom brought me her chocolate chip cookies...so much better than store bought cupcakes. Ugh (by ugh, I really mean yummm).

Just to give you an idea of how good these are: our Vet will ask for the cookies instead of money!

Taste of Spring

2010-01-17T17:01:00.003-05:00

We are busy gearing up for the Spring season. Looking forward to some new fabrics and new bags. Here's a taste of the Sac O'Potatoes, one of our new styles. This great "slouch" bag is perfect for just about anything you need to transport, including a sack of potatoes!

This Year....

2010-01-02T16:33:00.005-05:00

new year, new decade, new resolutions::

laugh more
rush less
find beauty in the everyday
send more letters
finish projects that I have started
make more time for family and friends
be more organized
spend more time outdoors
donate more of my time to help others
be happy with the little moments

What are you inspired to do this year? New dreams, new motivations? Try writing them down and refer back periodically. Set goals that are achievable and strive to exceed them. Most of all remember to smile and enjoy the day! Happy New Year to you!

Dreaming

2010-01-02T14:42:00.000-05:00

This is one of my favorite pictures of Miss Taylor. I wonder what she's dreaming about? Maybe a huge open field with all the tennis balls she could ever want. Maybe she's dreaming of tonight's dinner and hoping for a serious spill (like the scallops that fell off the plate last night). Or maybe she's thinking about a good long car ride that she can navigate. One thing's for sure, she is standing guard, even in her sleep, so that Clover doesn't steal her toy.

Fun Finds!

2009-12-12T08:47:00.003-05:00

There are so many fun things to do in New York City during the holidays. One of my favorite things is to check out all the shops at Central Park, Bryant Park, and throughout the City. A few years ago, Ann and I stumbled upon the Long Island Candle Factory at the Bryant Park shops. Well, they are back again this year. Their candles are all soy, and this year they have a wood wick "Alpine Woods" scent that I am smitten with. The wood wick crackles as it burns, so it sounds a little like a fireplace. Love it!

Prepartion

2009-12-10T07:51:00.005-05:00

First the tree...

Then the lights...
can't forget the tinsel...
and ornaments...
now it's looking a lot like Christmas...
waiting for the snow...

'Tis the Season, really?!

2009-11-29T21:43:00.007-05:00

It seems that every year goes by just a little bit faster. It's hard to believe that the Holidays are already upon us. Unfortunately, the warm weather in the Northeast and a busy schedule has left me in an October state of mind. Right now, I will realize that I can't slow down time and it is, in fact, going to be December no matter what I do, so I will accept the smile from a stranger, a warm cup of hot chocolate by my imaginary fireplace and enjoy this wonderful Holiday season.

Whether you've been naughty or nice...

2009-11-29T20:00:00.003-05:00

Our gift to you - enjoy 10% off your entire order when you enter HLDY10 now through December 25th on our web-site! Here are some tips for the people on your list:

NYC - you'll find us at BUST!

2009-11-16T07:48:00.005-05:00

Come to the Bust show - you can get all of your Christmas shopping done in one day (and some presents for yourself of course)!

We will be at the BUST Craftacular on December 6th. There are so many great vendors, it is by far one of our favorite shows! Stop by and say hi!

Metropolitan Pavilion, 125 West 18th Street, NYC
10:00 am – 7:30 pm

Rescued

2009-11-06T07:07:00.003-05:00

I've been on the hunt for affordable ways to decorate the barren walls of my apartment. I found a great frame at an antique store in upstate New York that I really liked. The picture inside wasn't really my style and I had to pop up the color. It definitely was in need of some TLC.

All it took was a little paint.

A mirror cut to size.

And Voila!

Beautiful Day in Brooklyn

2009-11-03T18:13:00.003-05:00

There are those days that you wish could last forever. The stars align and everything falls into place. Last Sunday was one of those days. We went to the Brooklyn Flea and enjoyed delicious food and good company.

Yumm...lobster bisque!

Fresh prosciutto sandwiches with ricotta and arugula. I want more!!

I'm sure someone took home this great elephant. I don't think he would fit in my city apartment!

Fun colors!

Toy soldiers guarding the gate. I couldn't figure out if they were for sale or not?!

Ms. Martha!

2009-10-29T08:39:00.008-04:00

So, the highlight of the week: Ann and I went to Martha's booksigning at the new Michael's on Columbus and 100th. I don't know what I'm more excited about...that finally there is a Michael's in Manhattan or that we were able to meet Martha.

She was super nice! She posed for pictures and talked to everyone. I, of course, was so star struck that I couldn't even speak when she talked to me. Lovely.

You decide: which sister was more red when she met Martha? :)

So many projects, so little time

2009-10-27T15:51:00.003-04:00

After the first chill in the air I instantaneously get the urge to knit. I get so many ideas and am drawn to soooo many different yarns that I have more projects to complete than time to do it in. I have a 'current project box' that I try and keep everything I'm working on in (small apartments require 'homes' for everything) and currently the box is over capacity - time for me to get working. My first project to complete is the black hat (it's shameful to admit this, but i started it, ahem, 2 years ago). Once I get all of these hats, scarves and gloves done I want to work on socks and sweaters. I think that all my friends and family may be getting handmade gifts this Christmas!

Behind the Seams: Taylor Aiden at Work

2009-10-24T09:51:00.006-04:00

We are SO excited to announce that our e-commerce site is up! That's right, it is FINALLY up! And we have so many projects planned. I think this is how race horses must feel when the gates finally open and they can unleash all that energy. We are in "GO! GO! GO!" mode. Hope you enjoy!

A is for Apple

2009-10-18T13:03:00.005-04:00

We went apple picking last weekend and if you have ever been you know that it can be very addicting; before you know it you have more apples than you know what to do with. With the abundance of apples I picked (14 pounds) I decided to venture into my first ever apple pie and let me tell you, it was simple and delicious. I highly recommend trying your own. There are many different varieties of apples that are good in pies, just ask the people at the apple farm what is fresh at the time you go.

Recipe courtesy on Bon Appetit magazine.

Yield: Makes 8 servings

Tart apples and sweet ones come together in this all-American favorite.

Ingredients
Crust (I used store bought crust)
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
10 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1/2 cup chilled solid vegetable shortening, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
4 tablespoons (about) ice water

Filling (I used 4 large Cortland apples)
Nonstick vegetable oil spray
1 3/4 pounds sweet apples, such as Spartan or Golden Delicious, peeled, cored, thinly sliced (about 5 1/2 cups)
1 3/4 pounds tart apples, such as Granny Smith or Pippin, peeled, cored, thinly sliced (about 5 1/2 cups)
3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon plus large pinch of ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon all purpose flour

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, diced
1 tablespoon whole milk

Preparation
For crust:
Whisk flour and salt in large bowl to blend. Add butter and shortening and rub in with fingertips until very coarse meal forms. Sprinkle with 3 tablespoons water; toss until moist clumps form, adding more water by teaspoonfuls if mixture is dry. Gather dough into ball; divide in half. Flatten into disks. Wrap in plastic; chill at least 1 hour. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Keep refrigerated. Soften slightly at room temperature before using.)

For filling:
Preheat oven to 400°F. Spray 9-inch-diameter deep-dish glass pie dish with nonstick spray. Stir all apples, 3/4 cup sugar, lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, and vanilla in large bowl to blend. Let stand until juices form, about 15 minutes. Mix in flour.

Roll out 1 dough disk on lightly floured surface to 12-inch round. Place dough in prepared pie dish. Spoon in filling; dot with butter. Roll out second dough disk to 13-inch round. Using small bottle cap, cut out ten 1/2-inch-diameter circles from dough for decoration; discard circles. Drape dough over filling. Seal top and bottom crust edges together; trim to 1/2-inch overhang. Fold overhang under; crimp decoratively. Brush pie with milk. Combine remaining 1 tablespoon sugar and large pinch of cinnamon in small bowl; sprinkle over pie.

Transfer pie to baking sheet; place in oven. Immediately reduce temperature to 375°F. Bake pie until crust is golden brown, apples are tender and filling is bubbling thickly, covering edge with foil if browning too quickly, about 2 hours. Cool 30 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover loosely; store at room temperature.)

U.S. Open

2009-09-14T21:46:00.004-04:00

The best thing about living in New York is you never know what tomorrow will bring; the possibilities are endless. We were fortunate enough to go to the Open on the most amazing night. The tennis was good, the new stadium great but I still missed Sampras (I know it's been years but he was the greatest!).

Hello Fall

2009-09-14T10:08:00.001-04:00

The Farmer's Market in Union Square is one of the best places in New York. You can get fresh, local and delicious things here. On my way home Saturday I made a quick stop and couldn't resist all of the amazing colors of Fall.

New York State Fair, Oh My!

2009-09-13T19:19:00.015-04:00

Well, the start of the day was great. Then it rained. And rained. And rained some more.

Walking into the Fair

Ann's eyes lit up when she saw the sign for clams! My eyes lit up when I saw the tub of melted butter that they dipped the corn in...Yummy!!

Pig Races!!

And we all fed the giraffes...

It was hysterical!

These things were huuuuuungry!

Yes, I squeeled a little... :)

Just as I remembered...25 cent milk!

Ice cream sundaes!!

Gimme. More. Now.

Yes, that's Kenny. And yes, that's a whole lot of rain...

Good-bye Summer

2009-09-08T09:53:00.006-04:00

As Summer winds down and Fall is in the air I realize how much we have neglected our poor blog. As the days get shorter and the air colder I promise we will be better. There are lots of exciting things in the forecast here at Taylor Aiden. First and foremost our grown-up web-site. We will have our very own e-commerce site. Although etsy is great I think this will be better for us. Other things to look forward to are new limited edition bags made from the most beautiful fabrics. We will also start offering special promotions (like free shipping) through twitter and facebook so be sure to follow us!

For now, enjoy the sunshine!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

2009-08-26T07:47:00.004-04:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SARAH!

Enjoy your day!!

Photo courtesy of crumbs.com. Red velvet - Sarah's favorite!

Adventures in Window Shopping

2009-08-23T10:09:00.004-04:00

I took these pictures about a month ago and just love them. The window display's at Anthropologie are always so creative and inviting. What I liked just as much as the window was the wall behind the counter - the same flowers clustered together. As I looked closer I realized they were made out of the tops of plastic bottles that were painted. This is a great way to reuse some of your old plastic water bottles!

Anthropologie - Rockefeller Center, Manhattan

How did we get here?

2009-08-04T08:32:00.011-04:00

In honor of Tara Frey's new book Blogging for Bliss, Artsy Mama is hosting a blog book release today! To see a list of who is attending this party visit www.artsymama.com.

Here is the story of how we came into the blog world.

When we started Taylor Aiden 2 years ago, our web-site did not have all of the information that we wanted to share. We decided to do the blog for updates on new products, fabrics, and general happenings in our lives. The blog has progressed, changed, gone on loooong vacations but has now evolved into something that we will continue even when we have our web-site completely finished (we are still working on that). I do have to say that I enjoy it more and more each day. It took time though getting used to sharing what felt like so much information and finding exactly what I wanted to write about.

My sister and I both post things individually on our blog and so there are days I go on and see something totally new - it’s just like visiting someone else’s page! I also enjoy going back and reading old entries. It reminds me of looking through a photo album and it is so much fun.

Another thing I love is reading other blogs and finding people who are happy doing the same thing you are: creating!

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!

Capturing the Moment

2009-08-02T20:44:00.012-04:00

When woken up at 5:30 am on a Saturday morning by very loud neighbors what do you do?

Well, I got up and walked to the Brooklyn Bridge to take pictures. The morning, while everyone else is still sleeping, is my most favorite time to shoot. I took mostly black and whites for my black and white wall (project in progress). The sun was rising just over the Manhattan Bridge when I got there, perfect timing!

Here are just a few of the shots:

Notice, no one was on the bridge yet - brilliant!!

The sun was rising over the Manhattan Bridge.

P.S. Although I love shooting digital (I am a HUGE fan of instant gratification) there is something to be said about film. I loved that when I got my prints developed (1 hour of course) there were pictures from my birthday that I had completely forgotten about.

Pickles!!

2009-08-02T19:50:00.005-04:00

Kirby cucumbers are in season right now and they make great pickles! It's a very easy recipe, all you need is fresh dill, dill seed, vinegar, water, garlic and coarse salt.

Cut and wash the cucumbers, you can do 1/2" rounds or spears, whichever you prefer. Put the cut cucumbers in a colander and cover with coarse salt. Place the colander in a bowl and let sit in the refrigerator for one hour.

Bring 2 cups vinegar, 3 cups water, 1 tablespoon dill seed and 4 cloves of garlic to a boil. Simmer for 4 minutes and then let cool 10 minutes. In the meantime rinse the cucumbers well and pat dry. T0ss with fresh chopped dill.

Once the liquid has cooled combine with cucumbers and let cool another 30 minutes.

Place in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for one week before eating.

Et voila, bon appetit!

I SCREAM

2009-07-27T20:49:00.000-04:00

Chocolate peanut butter ice cream with purple sprinkles. Mmmm, just one of the things I love about summer.

Testing Out the Quilting Waters

2009-07-26T19:08:00.014-04:00

A friend of mine is having a baby girl soon. I wasn't quite sure what to get her. She told me the exciting news when she was only a few weeks along, so I've gotten to see the baby "grow" almost every day. Buying a gift off the baby registry just didn't seem sufficient in this case, so I decided to do something I've never done before...make a quilt...and because of scheduling, I had less then a week to get it finished enough to give to her at her shower! Fortunately, I loved making it. I'm still working on some of the embroidery details, but that's okay, I have a little over a month until the baby arrives.

Adventures in San Diego

2009-07-23T19:48:00.011-04:00

Girls Trip! Mom, Ann, and I took a quick trip out to San Diego. We had a great time! I can't wait to go back there. Such a friendly area. And I could get used to that weather :)

Del Mar Sunset

Beach Day!

Cutie at the Zoo

HIPPO!!

Do you see the tree lady? She scared us a little bit!

Great trip!

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

2009-07-19T12:25:00.005-04:00

LOBSTER ROLLS!

The Lobster Pound has started making Lobster Rolls at the Brooklyn Flea on Sundays under the Brooklyn Bridge. With my love for anything lobster, I needed to have one right away, especially since it's something I've never had before. Unfortunately, I wasn't the only one who loves lobster and when I went the line was so long it was going to take 2 hours and they thought they would be sold out by then anyway. This was 3 weeks ago, so needless to say my first Sunday back in Brooklyn I was going to get there exactly at 11 (like a drill sergeant making sure we weren't meandering too long) and sure enough there was no line!! What can be better than lobster for breakfast?! They have 2 kinds of rolls, one is the traditional roll with Mayo and the other is a 'CT lobster roll' made with butter. Both were delicious and well worth the wait.

Their booth is the one straight back with the white awning. My last attempt the line stretched all the way to where I took this picture from and looped around 3 times!

At last....:)

Then we had to go for a walk on the promenade to burn the calories off. The perfect Sunday.

Adventures in Window Shopping

2009-07-19T11:17:00.000-04:00

Take it to the cleaners! The tree in this window is made out of those metal hangers that you get from the Dry Cleaners. It's advertising a collection made out of old YSL fabrics. Barneys New York Madison Avenue

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

2009-07-19T10:01:00.005-04:00

SOLAR POWER

Self-proclaimed 'First Solar Powered Restaurant & Market' Habana Outpost. The first time I walked by this restaurant I knew it was my kind of place. Bright colors, earth friendly, margaritas and great food! Unfortunately the weekends I have been here in Brooklyn there has been a lot of rain - but lucky for me, this weekend is picture perfect!! Just a short walk to Fort Greene to this little oasis and it was everything I had hoped for. There are huge solar panels that power the restaurant and even a blender powered by a bike - it's a dollar cheaper if you pedal for your own drink!! If you're in the area check it out but get there early for a table outside (the corn is delicious).

Habana Outpost
757 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, NY
http://www.ecoeatery.com/press/index.html

Taylor's Travels

2009-06-29T13:00:00.004-04:00

Coney Island!!!

This past Sunday we ventured out to Coney Island, somewhere that we had never been to in the past. To say that it was an adventure is an understatement.

Attractions at Coney Island:

The Cyclone, a wooden roller coaster built in 1926 - completely terrified me, we barely fit in the seats and it felt like we exceeded the weight limit :)
Ate the original Nathan's hot dogs and cheese fries (both delicious). Although the new rule about NYC chain restaurants posting calorie information does deter me from my love of anything french fried
Saw the Brooklyn Cyclones play, the NY Mets affiliate team (had more french fries)
Enjoyed the boardwalk and being near the beach
People watch, people watch, people watch...

It was a great time and all just a subway ride away!

Chirp Chirp

2009-06-10T10:47:00.005-04:00

Taylor Aiden is now on Twitter...follow us!!!

http://twitter.com/tayloraidenbags

Adventures in Window Shopping

2009-06-02T09:59:00.004-04:00

Accessories are something that I never have been able to and never will be able to get enough of. Yesterday I was strolling down Madison Avenue on a beautiful 75 degree Spring day. At no other time had I thought about gloves after the month of March but this window not only made me want to buy gloves but actually wear them NOW.

Sermoneta Gloves on Madison Avenue and 58th Street, Manhattan

Adventures in Window Shopping

2009-05-17T19:12:00.008-04:00

An oasis that consists of exquisite high heels, fabulous clothes and sparkly jewelry - the shopaholics version of the Secret Garden. Only instead of hydrangeas there are high heels, lilies replaced by lace and daisies swapped for dresses as far as the eye can see. Oh take me there (until then, back to the window)!

J.Crew on 5th Ave. near Union Square, Manhattan

Featured Fabric: Introducing Hand Drawn Flowers

2009-05-09T21:25:00.006-04:00

Hand Drawn Flowers was purchased to be a lining but when it came in we fell in love - how could we keep such an adorable fabric cooped up inside a bag?! She will be available in the Get Up & Go! (below) and the flirt - other styles by request.

Behind the Seams: Taylor Aiden at Work

2009-05-09T21:12:00.005-04:00

As a small company we often have to take baby steps when all we want to do is dive in. One of the things we are excited about this season is our custom woven labels. They came out adorable and are now sewn into all of the bags!

Like Candy

2009-05-09T18:51:00.004-04:00

I know we've already introduced you to the Get Up & Go! bag but they just came in and we couldn't resist sharing this with you. The bags look so happy and colorful all together, I want one of each!

Featured Fabric: Introducing Orange Grid

2009-05-09T14:31:00.006-04:00

Please join me in welcoming Orange Grid to our family of fabrics. What's so special about Orange Grid? Here are just some of the things:

1. Stain resistant, it is pretreated with a repellent to help fight off the dirt
2. Heavier cotton than most of our others, giving the bags lots of shape
3. Orange is one of the happiest colors out there

We can't tell you anymore, you've got to see it for yourself!

P.S. The lining is really fun!

Adventures in Window Shopping

2009-05-08T14:19:00.002-04:00

Eyes may be the window to your soul but windows are the soul of a store.

Window shopping is at its best these days. I have been stopping in my tracks recently to admire some of these amazing displays. Below is one that caught my eye, the window is at the Tiffany flagship on 5th Avenue promoting their line of key necklaces. These beautiful necklaces were hanging over antique door knobs. Magnificent! It was raining and I was on my way to see the Yankees play Boston so I snapped it in a rush - not the best quality.

Featured Fabric: Introducing The Metallics

2009-05-08T12:27:00.000-04:00

Not your mother's Linen - Metallic Madness!! They come in Natural and Pink and are 100% linen! With a sparkle of gold this fabric just screams Summer. Besides for the styles shown here it makes a great maneater (the Natural will go with every dress you have to wear this wedding season).

An Evening of Healing

2009-04-25T07:25:00.004-04:00

On Sunday, May 3, 2009, there will be a benefit to help those affected by the tragic shootings that occurred at the American Civic Association in Binghamton, New York on April 3, 2009. The event will take place at The Binghamton Regency from 5 pm - 11 pm and will include a silent auction, live music, and a comedy show. Taylor Aiden is donating several of our new Spring bags to be auctioned off during the evening. All monies raised will be donated to the Mrs. King Scholarship Fund, the Crime Victims Assistance Center, and the Binghamton Police and Fire Associations. If you are in the area on May 3, we hope to see you at the Regency!! For more information, or if you would like to donate an item, please contact Kristie Simonds at kristiesox5@aol.com.

Meet Get Up and Go!

2009-04-19T10:32:00.009-04:00

Introducing the Get Up and Go! bag.

Behind the Seams: Taylor Aiden at Work

2009-04-05T10:13:00.001-04:00

We have a couple of new items for Spring 2009. One fun one: the iPhone sleeping bag. Colorful and cute, it adds a little something to my new favorite toy!

Springtime Yumminess!!

2009-03-31T10:04:00.000-04:00

Finally, the weather is getting better, the flowers are out...can't help but be in a good mood. Just had to bake a little happiness...

Inspiration for the Day

2009-03-23T08:52:00.008-04:00

One of the things I have always loved to collect is great quotes and sometimes you find them in the most unexpected places. On a lazy Sunday night sometimes there is nothing better than Chinese delivery. This time the fortune cookie was a quote worth keeping:
"One dreamed of becoming somebody. Another remained awake and became."
I thought this was a great way to start the week - enjoy!

Really, the holidays are over already??

2009-01-01T21:53:00.012-05:00

How did this happen? I'm just sitting down to write out my holiday cards. Wasn't it just the summer? Ah, in any event, we had a lot of fun visiting with family and friends.

Bowling with the family:

Mom's not so happy.

Group shot!

Trouble 1 and 2 taking it all in.

Snow in the City....
And in the country....

And the skinny fake tree that the parents decided to use...

2008-12-03T11:59:00.002-05:00

Taylor Aiden is at the Market on Mulberry Street every Saturday. Be sure to stop by!

Holiday Shopping Time!!

2008-12-01T11:32:00.007-05:00

On December 14, 2008, Taylor Aiden will be at the Bust Holiday Craftacular. Stop by and get all your holiday shopping done! The Craftacular is at the Metropolitan Pavilion (125 West 18th Street, New York, NY) and runs from 10 am to 7:30 pm. Can't wait to see you!

PRESS RELEASE FROM BUST: Cutting edge women’s pop-culture magazine, BUST, extends their Holiday Craftacular to London and Los Angeles with new events taking place on Saturday, December 6, 2008. Adding to the already popular New York City event on Sunday, December 14th, BUST hopes to spread holiday shopping cheer around the globe. BUST’s Holiday Craftacular brings together some of the most unique and talented crafters from across the country for a day of holiday shopping for everyone on your gift list. From knitwear and jewelry to home décor and vintage clothing, the Holiday Craftacular is the one-stop shop for the very best in handmade gifts and wares.

http://www.bust.com/Craftacular/BUST-Holiday-Craftacular-2008.html

FAMILY REUNION

2008-10-29T21:20:00.005-04:00

I just love seeing them all together.

The Wheatfields

The Fuschia Geometrics

The Fall Harvests

The Abstract Gardens

Bags in Brooklyn

2008-10-12T22:27:00.006-04:00

Photo Shoot time! We have lots of fun fall fabrics and new designs. It's taken us a while to find some time to take pictures of all the new stuff. Today we lucked out. A few free hours and a fantastic day.

FACEBOOK

2008-10-09T21:39:00.008-04:00

Taylor Aiden is on Facebook!! Join our group, tell us what's new with you and share pictures of you with your Taylor Aiden!

PROJECTS

2008-09-26T19:29:00.008-04:00

For those of you who don't know already - we LOVE projects. Any fixer upper or do it yourself: bring it on!! This was a good week for projects, first we went to Ikea and got a new bedside table and second, a slightly bigger task was my coffee table.

Four years ago when I moved the city I was totally broke right after college but I needed things for my new apartment. As luck would have it my mom and I happened to stop at a garage sale in upstate NY and found a great coffee table that was so sad looking with stains and pen all over it (the owners grandchildren's unauthorized art project). I was unconvinced but my mom saw the potential and persevered asking how much it was, the answer: 5 dollars - sold! After a lot of sanding and staining it was a great looking piece!

As the years went by I still loved the table but I thought it needed a facelift. So, I decided to paint it black. However, without the luxury of being in the country with all my dads tools and outdoor space I knew I couldn't sand it. So as luck would have it they now make liquid sandpaper (how great is that). My father took a trip to Lowe's and got me all the supplies I would need, paintbrushes, primer, etc and VOILA - the transformation!

FAREWELL

2008-09-22T11:46:00.006-04:00

85 years - what a run

Last regular season game at Yankee stadium ever. Best part of the night - Bernie Williams back in pinstripes! “I feel as nervous as I was before a playoff game,” said Bernie Williams

Other great moments -
Babe Ruth's daughter throwing out the first pitch
Bob Sheppard announcing the starting lineup again
Fans on the field before the game
Jeter, the last Yankee to be up at bat
and in true fashion Rivera putting it all away

For now I still have hope of an October in NY.

The Minis Are Here, The Minis Are Here

2008-09-20T10:41:00.005-04:00

And finally, the fall fabric and new designs have arrived! First, up the Mini-Hybrid, because sometimes big treasures hide in small places :)

TROUBLE

2008-09-18T18:57:00.003-04:00

She may look innocent but Miss Clover has gotten to be quite the trouble maker. Her favorite pastime is chasing squirrels and birds and antagonizing Taylor. She doesn't like to listen but she sure is cute and sweet. She loves to play especially really late at night :) When she does something bad she hides under the chair - wonder what she got into this time!
Here is Clover in a fixer upper that we found at a barn sale. How great is this little truck rocker!? Another project!

AND HE BREAKS THE RECORD

2008-09-17T10:33:00.002-04:00

So, we were lucky enough to make it to the stadium one last time before they tear it down. An added perk, we got to see Jeter break the record for the most hits ever by one person at Yankee Stadium. The place went nuts. It was pretty exciting.

HAPPY 28TH BIRTHDAY

2008-09-15T22:32:00.003-04:00

It was Sarah's 28th Birthday a couple of weeks ago. My mom bakes us our favorite cakes on our birthdays - this one is called the Lady Finger cake. Of course, we couldn't finish it all after dinner - soooo it was great for breakfast the next morning too! Sarah and Chris did an upstate NY tour for her birthday this year and as any NY journey should, it ended at the Fingerlake Wineries. Here they found a great Strawberry Wine (yes, just like the song!). While burning off some of the guilt from the cake golfing we made a favorite new drink - strawberry wine and champagne! The question is, will it replace our favorite Kir Royal at this years Christmas Tea?! We shall see....

Rock the Vote

2008-09-11T10:33:00.003-04:00

Don't forget to request absentee ballots if you won't be in town to vote this November! In honor of the election Taylor Aiden is introducing a 'Be the Change' Purse. Pick yours up and don't forget to VOTE!!!

FASHION WEEK

2008-09-08T15:13:00.007-04:00

Well, it's Fashion Week here in NY - one of my favorite times of the year! Is there anything better than looking at all of these inspiring designs - I submit that there is not! Here are some of my favorite looks so far but I do have to say, it's hard to just choose a couple. Which ones are your favorite? Go to style.com to see all of the runway shows.

Summer Sunset

2008-09-06T11:06:00.006-04:00

There's something about the cool chill in the morning air and those first leaves that start to change. Fall is such a great season here in the Northeast. Warm apple cider, pumpkin pie, the World Series and Halloween candy are some of my favorite things about Fall. But this year, here at Taylor Aiden, I am excited about all the new things that we have been planning.

Fabric:
- new fall prints -- geometrics, modern, baroque, flowers and more
- solids in Sage, Navy, Natural, Salmon, Coffee w/Cream, Pansy -- they go with everything!
- new Organic Cotton in Navy -- sooo soft

Styles:
- new clutch -- we call this the maneater (more to come)
- mini hybrid -- let's face it, sometimes you don't need all that stuff
- tool belt -- makeup brush holder
- dog collars and leashes -- need we say more!

We hope to see you soon. Taylor Aiden will continue to do shows every couple of weeks at The Market NYC on Mulberry between Spring and Houston. The new items should be on Etsy and our web-site in the next few weeks so check back soon!

"To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe."
- Anatole France

Our Etsy Shop is Updated! Check it Out!!

2008-08-04T08:09:00.003-04:00

Etsy
Buy Handmade
tayloraiden

Buy brand new and unlocked mobile phones at StarMobileShop.com

Here she is...the MINI!!!!

2008-07-31T21:26:00.005-04:00

Not such a fan of the big bags? Check out the new Mini-Hybrid. She's not nearly as big as the Hybrid, but she's just as cute. I'm thinking of shrinking her even more! What do you think?

Mini-Hybrids should be posted on our Etsy shop in about two weeks.

The Market The Market

2008-07-29T21:05:00.000-04:00

Finally, Ann and I got a booth at The Market. We had a great day and met lots of super people We will definitely be doing the show again soon!!

Check out the coat rack Ann and her friend Kristen picked up at an antique store in Stone Ridge. It's the perfect display for our bags!

Up Up and Away

2008-07-28T21:14:00.003-04:00

Ann and I decided to grab some H&H bagels and have some breakfast on a rock in Central Park. We found our rock, looked up, and saw this great view!!

If you are near the city, the balloon ride might be worthwhile. I'm sure the views are incredible. And if you don't go up, just watching it lift off with the NYC skyline in the background is pretty cool.

Is there anything cuter?

2008-07-13T16:41:00.005-04:00

Our Inspiration

2008-07-12T16:56:00.000-04:00

Like Strawberry Wine....

2008-07-05T17:06:00.010-04:00

Ann's birthday is July 2nd and we like to blend it with the Fourth of July holiday weekend, making it The Super-Fun Weekend. This generally involves a big clam bake, a golf tournament and other various games. This year, we incorporated strawberry picking. It was definitely super-fun and will be added to the list of traditions for the weekend.

The Picking Crew

The City Boy did great his first time to the strawberry field while Alex enjoyed eating as many strawberries as he could.

They were just so good...

Can He Catch It?

Eighteen pounds of yumminess!

SHECKYS!!!!

2008-07-01T06:40:00.009-04:00

We had a great time at Shecky's Girls Night Out. We were a little disappointed to be stuck on the 7th floor but we met some really fun people! Special thanks to the mother for bringing everything down to the city, the father for putting together our great display, Alex (a.k.a. The Doc), Chris, and all the friends who stopped by to say hello!

SETUP

FINAL PRESENTATION

SOME FRIENDLY VISITORS

SHECKY'S GIRLS NIGHT

2008-06-05T20:25:00.005-04:00

So we decided to just go for it. On Friday, June 27th, Taylor Aiden will be at Shecky's Girls Night in New York City. Advance tickets are already sold out but you can buy them at the door OR shoot us an email. We have a limited number of tickets that we'd love to hand out to our friends!

Check it out. It's a fun evening of girlfriends, drinks and fantastic shopping!

HERE COMES TROUBLE!!

2008-05-11T08:41:00.005-04:00

A few months ago, our little Reilly Belle passed away. She was ten years old and very sick. She was a great dog, quite the cuddler, and the house has been extremely empty without her.

My parents recently decided to get a new puppy, hence the trouble. Her name is Clover and she is the sweetest thing. She's also a little punk. Talk about energizing a house...wow, she keeps everyone on their toes!!

Taylor is very happy to have a new buddy. They play together all the time. Clover's latest habit is to fall asleep on top of Taylor. So cute!

BAG LAUNCH BAG LAUNCH....FINALLY!!

2008-05-04T14:44:00.010-04:00

Wow, I don't know how this happened. All of a sudden, there is almost no time to get stuff done. We have been planning this bag launch for three weeks now and it has been extremely difficult to find the time to sit down and put everything together. Ugh. We are so excited about some of the styles that we have and some of the new fabrics that just came in. All of our bags are 100% cotton...the perfect bag to carry in the warm weather months! We hope you enjoy the launch as much as we've enjoyed designing these bags!

HOT MAMA ALERT!

2008-04-28T08:35:00.003-04:00

She's finished...finally! We designed a hot mama bag...a fashionable accessory to your latest addition. This bag has TEN pockets. It's light weight and super fun to use. Of course, if you don't have a little one running around yet, this bag is also great for a weekend trip to a quaint little B&B in the country.

Daisy May's and the Yankees

2008-04-12T08:22:00.004-04:00

For those of you who watch the YES channel, I'm sure you've seen the really great Daisy May BBQ commercials. If you haven't, it's a must see! The commercial is just hysterical, and the food is amazing! We indulged the other night while watching a Yankees game and making some bags...the perfect evening :)

SOOOO INCITED!!

2008-04-07T20:49:00.007-04:00

When Ann was little and she'd get excited about something, she'd clench her fists and shout out, "I'm so incited!!" Well, that's how we've been feeling the last few months. We promise we weren't being neglectful of this poor blog. We were off brainstorming some fantastic new things. Spring is finally here and we could not be more excited. We've got some bright colors and great new styles!

Here's a sneak peak at a few of the new things:

Springtime Treats!!

2008-04-07T20:46:00.000-04:00

I walked out of the subway this evening and looked around 72nd Street. It seems like in one day, all the trees began to bloom. Springtime in New York is so special. It called for a little visit to one of the best cupcake bakeries around.

Finn and Old Friends

2008-04-06T20:47:00.003-04:00

I finally got to visit with some old friends from high school this past weekend. My favorite part of the trip: getting to hang out with this little cutie pie.

Beautiful Lengths

2008-01-08T22:53:00.001-05:00

Ann and I decided to grow our hair out and donate it to an organization that makes wigs for women and children. After doing a good deal of research, we decided to go with Pantene's Beautiful Lengths.

Every year, the mother ship holds a Christmas Tea. She invites all the family friends (girls only, of course) and we eat lots of homemade cookies and other fun dishes that the mother ship makes. The morning before the Tea is always hectic. Ann and I make at least 14 trips to the grocery store to pick up all the miscellaneous items the mother ship forgets and then there's the cleaning and the last minute finishing touches to the favors. This year was equally as hectic.

Ann and I were anxious to get our hair cut but we weren't able to schedule an appointment with our favorite hair dresser, Danny, at Rumor's in Binghamton. The morning of the Tea, Danny called to tell us he could squeeze us in an hour before the Tea started. We immediately took him up on it...and made the mother ship and the father come with us.

Danny is a very patient man. His salon was transformed by the tornado that was the Connelly family.

The BEFORE shot:

Danny puts in the pigtails:

The mother ship documents everything:

Payback:

Oh my gosh, oh my gosh:

Really, you are going to chop off all that hair:

All for a great cause!!

And it will grow back! :)

Where did all the leftovers go?

2007-11-28T22:55:00.000-05:00

Wow, it's been awhile since we updated the blog. Things have been a little busy. It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving is over and the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is lit (it really is one of my favorite things to see in New York City).

So, we have some updates. Ann and I launched an e-commerce shop. Be sure to check it out when you can. We also launched a new webpage that is under construction. And lastly, we sent out our first newsletter today. I'm tired just typing all of this :) Hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season!

FINALLY...

2007-11-18T15:33:00.000-05:00

The KEY to the Doors of Binghamton

1. First Presbyterian Church

2. Phelps Mansion

3. Christ Episcopal Church

4. Old City Hall

5. Broome County Courthouse

6. Public Library

7. Binghamton High School

8. Private Residence

9. Roberson

10. Decker Mansion

11. Temple Concord Reform - former Kilmer Mansion

12. Private Residence

13. Private Residence

14. Private Residence

15. Private Residence

16. Private Residence

17. Private Residence

18. Old North Presbyterian Church

19. Railroad Station

20. Private Residence

21. St. Mary of the Assumption Church

22. Private Residence

23. St. Michael's

24. The "Castle", State Hospital

25. Park Ave. Baptist Church

26. Sullivan's Funeral Home

27. Binghamton Club

28. First Congregational Church

29. Ridley Lowell

30. Private Residence

31. Private Residence

32. Private Residence

33. Masonic Temple

34. Parson's Funeral Home

35. American Legion Post No. 80 on Main St.

36. West Presbyterian Church

The Answers are Coming

2007-11-12T21:27:00.001-05:00

One more day.....

We Survived

2007-11-12T21:01:00.001-05:00

Well, we made it through the weekend. Thanks to everyone who stopped by! It was so much fun seeing everyone. Here are some shots from the show:

BAGS

2007-10-29T22:05:00.001-04:00

ARE YOU READY????

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!PREVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!

HOLIDAY FUN

2007-10-29T10:00:00.000-04:00

It doesn't seem possible that it's fall already and that the holidays are right around the corner. I'm still trying to figure out where the summer went. In any case, we wanted to make some holiday-themed items for the show. Here are a few samples:

FINALLY, AUTUMN IS IN THE AIR

2007-10-26T09:37:00.001-04:00

These are vintage lucite leaves from the 60's. They have remained uncirculated until now so they are in perfect condition!

Get ready for hot apple cider; I love Fall!

EYE CANDY

2007-10-25T09:34:00.000-04:00

They just look fun! I cannot get enough of Swarovski crystals. Sometimes I'll just sit and stare at them, similar to what I do when Derek Jeter is on TV :)

Just wait until you see what we've made with these enticing, sparkly little things. Can you pick out one of the items in the picture above?

CHRISTMAS TREES!!!!

Doors Premiering at Phelps Mansion

2007-10-24T10:31:00.000-04:00

"When one door closes, another opens, but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us." -Alexander Graham Bell