The Crosby Hotel, New York City

Our family was in New York this weekend to celebrate

my brother-in law's 40th birthday.  We met my parents

at the delightful botique hotel The Crosby, where they

were staying for the weekend. The collages, artwork

and fun interior design are a real treat to explore!  My

parents couldn't wait to give us a tour of the hotel! 



The breezeway was flanked by sweet cement canines and a
quaint greenhouse display.



Across from the elevators was a beautiful painting juxtaposed
with the very modern sidetable and fresh flowers.
So breathtaking!





Fun directional signs in the hallways!







Each room is decorated differently.





This is the lounge on the first floor.  Glass doors in the back of the room open to the outdoor terrace.
I love the mix of antiques, contemporary pieces and artwork.



In the lounge there were two large fireplaces with enormous
paintings of darling pups hanging over them. 



There was even a movie theater in the basement designed in the hotel's signature colors -
orange and purple!



xx tiny bison

Mountain Lakes

These are some homes in the town next to ours. 

I love the natural stone work incorporated into the houses here.  There are many natural lakes in the area we live.  Keeping with the "lake" feel there are many houses that have river rock or natural rounded stone finishing around the basements and in the chimneys.

I love this cobblestone driveway with the grass in the center.

xx tiny bison

Spencerian Handwriting

This beautiful handwriting makes my heart beat fast!
The end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century was the height
of popularity for American Ornamental Penmanship. 
Ornamental script is another type of script during this period.

Spencerian writing samples



Louis Madarasz



Flourishing

F.B. Courtney

The Clinton Clark Scrapbook

Flourishing Sample



The Clinton Clark Scrapbook



*Contemporary Spencerian*

Alejandro Paul

Today, there are beautiful fonts based on the Spencerian script.  My very favorite fonts are by Alejandro Paul.  His Compendium and Burgues fonts are based on the Spencerian style.  Below is the New Spencerian Compendium Penmanship handbook which he used for portions of his font design.

Spencerian Compendium Penmanship

"This is a wonderful book, I'm so lucky to have one (and perfect condition!) at home, it was the source for some of my Compendium font (http://sudtipos.com/fonts/108) and obviously the name came from there too.
"Posted by Ale Paul on Feb. 11, 2010 (http://www.fontfeed.com/)



Compendium Sample from Veer.com




Burgues Script sample from Veer.com



These fonts are more expensive than normal fonts, but they are quite beautiful and can be used on notecards, invitations, gift tags and are very versatile especially when used with non-script fonts. 

xx Tiny Bison

Easter

We enjoyed the lovliest Easter breakfast hosted by Bill's parents in Virginia. 

Bill's Mom made eggs benedict with fresh fruit and

delicious pastries from HotCakes bakery in Charlottesville.

 Bill's Mom gave us the most sought-after chocolates in Charlottesville from

Gearharts Fine Chocolates.  

Look at the cute bunny!

Bill got the Gearharts man bar! 

A convenient no-fuss, smartly packaged chocolate bar!

Yummy jelly beans!

Pretty tulips

xx Tiny Bison

The Pink Cake Box. 

My sister wanted me to get a picture of this place for her.  She was thinking about using them for Rit's birthday cake.

The Pink Cake Box

 

xx Tiny Bison

 

Pots my sister gave me for my birthday from Ivy Nursery. 

Love them!!

xx Tiny Bison

Bunnies & Eggs Clip Art

Graphics Fairy has the best clip art.  Easter is just around the corner so I though I'd post some of the great clip art I found on their website.  Their new search feature is a real time-saver.

xx Tiny Bison

William Patterson University Legacy Awards Dinner

On April 8th, Bill and I attended as guest of Van Duyne & Behrens & Co.  They were receipients of a 2011 Legacy award from the University for outstanding achievement in community service.  Aaron Van Duyne is a graduate of the University and also received his masters degree from WPU in Music Business Management.

In attendance were Miles Austin from the Dallas Cowboys and Eddie Brigati from The Rascals Band, both clients of Van Duyne Beherens & Co.  Eddie Brigati is the person who Aaron credits with getting him started with accounting and business management for musicians. 

The Van Duyne Beherens & Co. group photo.

The ceiling of the banquet room painted with clouds and blue sky.

The portobello mushroom and motzarella appetizer with a balsamic glaze.

The centerpieces were in birchbark pots.  Very springy!

Aaron saying a few words after receiving his award.

Mr. & Mrs. Raymond Pinglora III.

Mr. & Mrs. William O'Brien IV

The Villa at Mountain Lakes is the location for the TLC show "Masters of Reception."

Masters of Reception

xx Tiny Bison

The East Village, NYC

We went out to dinner with our friends in NYC last night.  We walked around the East and West Villages.

It was late night and we were headed home.  The light was on in this really cool hair salon and I had to take a snap of it!

Their website is super cool!

Blackstones

xx Tiny Bison

Hoboken!

Bill and I walked around Hoboken this weekend and I took some snaps of places that are still around from when I lived there. The city remains really cute and is just chocked full of young people. Some of you readers may remember these places.  We also walked by Carlos Bake Shop.  You might recognize this place from "The Cake Boss" on TLC.

Scotland Yard.  Still there!

Carlo's Bake Shop

They were giving numbers out at the door....

...and the line to get into the bakery stretched down Washington St. onto the next block.

People in the front of the line said they waited in line for two hours!

This is the old Blockbuster store on Washington St.  Gone is the white side door with the porthole window.

Benny Tudinos pizza shop.  Home of the largest slice!

Hoboken Bagels! Yum! Located right across the street from...

My old apartment at 627 Washington Street.  Still looks exactly the same!

The church on the corner by our apartment.

xx tiny bison