If I am lucky, Or I come up with a great reason,  I get to travel to the east coast, I find the entire east coast to be such a contrast to Hawaii that it excites my creative energy. I had not gone to visit this area for at least 15 years and 5 years ago, I started to travel in that direction often somtimes 2-3 times a year. perhaps it was to runaway from the island life as we know it where really, there are no fashion rules and we wear slippers, shorts and t shirts to the mall. believe me.. the New Englanders dress nicely to stay home!

I traveledfor sourcing merchandise, ideas, personal shopping, etc. but now it is really to visit with old friends that I have met over the years, for creative candy where everything in NYC is beautiful this is where I realized that I am drawn to Architecture, history and middle Eastern and Medditeranean Foods.

  bead Stores?? there are several the only problem is that most are owned by one family many of  the stores are planned the same, and the merchandise is the same. and all the samples look like they came straight from a foreign area with no individual creativity. I do however visit the trimming shops and dream to have one like MJ trimming and Tinsel Trading.

 

My latest visit was extremely short I basically only had 60 hrs unfortuately, as I was on my way home after spending the week with Swarovski and working a bead show,  a friend Kellie Defries of Crystal Ninja ( who by the way is the most talented Rhinestone artist there is) and her husband were comming to NYC and was going to be there on my only available day so we booked a Pizza tour thru Brooklyn, we had a great adventure seeing the sights of Brooklyn including the many sights from movie scenes, multi million $$ homes and Yes Pizza.!!

after the tour we walked in the rain to SOHO where the Swarovski Creative Concept store was and I have to tell you it was beautiful! what I would do to have a crystal wall like that! but it comes with a pricey price.

I got to see the movie Wall Street with 2 of my city friends and ate dessert at one of those cute little cafes that you see in the movies,  took a coffee break at  Bryant Park which I absolutely adore. and got my hair cut by the cutest Puerto Rican Hair Stylist KIKE who I visit at every trip. and went to a Back yard BBQ in Queens, NY style and that is where everyone was surprised that I was not Hispanic!  my only regret of having such a crazy schedule this time is not going to Grand central Station, and Central Park.  so until next time..

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