FACTORY TOUR JAN 31ST, 2013

It's almost March and I'm just now wishing you a Happy New Year.  However, Chinese New Year just came to a close and the factories are finally reopening after being closed for almost a month.  Little can be done during this time.  It's difficult because we were just getting back from Xmas break and then another was upon us. So I vacationed in New Zealand with my husband - where I broke my right wrist in 2 places. But that's another adventure. 

ZHUHAI FACTORY TOURS

March Schedule

Tuesday March 5th

Wednesday March 13th

Thursday March 21st

I was able to pull a van together of 7 lovely ladies on a gorgeous and unseasonable January day.  

For many it was just scouting and experiencing Zhuhai, but a few bought some amazing pieces this trip.  

  Trina bought this unique art deco sideboard for only $2800 rmb.  We found out later it was made of huanghuali.  There was a slight flaw but after investigation we thought we should leave it alone!

We found one auctioned off in Singapore for a value of $60,000 rmb.   Not sure if it's the same item - but why chance it until further investigation.

A member of the rosewood family, huanghuali stands for rarity, beauty and in today’s Chinese furniture market, high prices. It is believed that there are less than 10,000 pieces of huanghuali furniture left in the world. Because the wood is nearing extinction, and is now a protected species, supply is very limited. Matched with the rapidly increasing demand for Chinese antiques, prices for huanghuali furniture have skyrocketed over the past five years.

Lynn headed a totally different direction as we stumbled across this piece when I had to pick something up at another factory.  A contemporary reproduction for under $2000 rmb, if I remember right. 

Julia went hunting through the screen inventory and found some fabulous antiques for a project at home.  

Veronica's Wish list

Most of these are reproductions on the wish list, but we can find something similar - or make it. 

Be prepared for the trip - you will be more successful.

Other items we saw:

Now think of these - stripped, painted black or a wow color- or add a darker brown stain.  

 Great aged wood. 

This is an antique - but I can see it painted gray outside and painted white inside.   

Fresh Idea:

This stool is 24" high - perfect for a accent side table.  Now add a piece of marble to the top in the octagon shape and you have made a beautiful conversation piece. 

IN THE MARKETPLACE below

3rd factory

4th Factory

Gold leaf

MY PURCHASE

love them because they are old, and very thin. I'm using them as a room divider. I'll temporary attach some accent fabric on the back wall for a punch of color. 

NEXT tour dates:

March Schedule

Tuesday March 5th

Wednesday March 13th

Thursday March 21st

Come join me!

Minimum of 4 people, maximum 7. 

HAPPY 30TH BIRTHDAY JT

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

Our Gift to You..........

Wednesday, March 6, 2012 - Mexican Classics
6:30pm - 9:00pm
Saveur Magazine Special Class:  (each student receives a one-year subscription to Saveur Magazine, a canvas tote bag filled with a recipe book and samples).
Guacamole
Salsa roja (tomato chile salsa with tortilla chips)
Red chile enchiladas 
Pescado a la Veracruzana (Veracruzana fish)
Frijoles Borrachos (Drunken Beans)
Sopa de arroz (rice with tomatoes and onions)
Spicy Mexican chocolate cake with Ancho whipped cream

  

Miette Culinary Studio

109 MacDougal Street, Unite 2

New York, NY  10012

212-460-9322

* Cancellation policy: No refunds are given. You can reschedule if we are notified at least 5 business days prior to the class you have signed up for. If you find you can not make it to a class at the last minute, please consider finding someone to take your place. 

Your registration has been processed and you are confirmed in the class listed below.  Class starts promptly; you do not need to bring anything with you.  Directions to the studio can be found on our web site.  Enjoy!  All our best, Miette

  

AND

SAMPLE CLASS

Classics of the Italian Kitchen - March 2 at 12PM

• Truffled Eggplant & Mushroom Lasagna
• Smoked Pork Chops with Cabbage, Caraway Seeds, & White Wine
• Stuffed Zucchini with Herbs & Parmigiano
• Slow-Roasted Fennel with Sage
• Nonna's Dark Chocolate Cake with Vanilla-Scented Whipped Cream

Homemade lasagna is one of the pinnacles of Italian cuisine, and is only as delicious as its individual components. Learn to make the ultimate lasagna in this brand new class devoted to classic Italian home cooking. Our lasagna today will be made according to a recipe I discovered in Umbria, in the kitchen of an inspiring chef named Mimma... Mimma has quite a way with fresh pasta, and her lasagna manages to be both light and sumptuous at the same time (I'll show you Mimma's trick, promise!). As a main course, we'll cook smoked pork chops with slivered cabbage, caraway seeds, garlic, and white wine, just the way the Italian farmers have done for centuries, so they emerge tender and juicy. We'll stuff baby zucchini with a delicious mix of herbs, cheese, and a secret ingredient that provides a haunting note to the finished dish, and we'll slow-roast fennel with sage until it caramelizes, creating a lovely side for our pork chops. And to complete our feast, we'll bake my grandmother's chocolate cake... Need I say more about dessert?

RUSTICO COOKING

Rustico Cooking 
40 West 39th Street 
Third Floor 
New York, NY 10018

ITEMS I JUST DELIVERED

Antique Black Chinese Cabinet - with Antique silver hardware

41" wide x 20" deep x 72" high 

The silver hardware is slightly antiqued to show off the engraving. 
Removable shelves and hanging rod inside. 

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French Style Shabby Chic Dresser

Painted in a blue gray with a brown stain top. 

50" wide x 20" deep x 34" high

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Antique style Bedside tables. Very French and very petite.

16" wide x 12" deep x 16" high

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TV CABINET

Another French style.  I actually purchase the handles in Hong Kong and take them to the factory - where they're painted shabby chic white.  

This is a slate gray with a brown antique stain - and slightly distressed. 

45" wide x 15" deep x 15.5" high

BABIES ROOM - BOY & GIRL TWINS

It's been a long time since my boys were babies... and this is the first time I've been asked to do a babies nursery.  What fun!

Originally the request was for gray and yellow. The twins are a boy and a girl - so it makes the room unisex.  However, I see it as a 'sweet' room for them both. 

You can shop some items on line.

http://www.mothercare.com.hk

GRAY AND YELLOW Color Pallette

 The dining room rug came into the room which helped ground the color palette.

I found these posters on Esty 

Make a glossy photo and frame it. 

FLOOR PLAN

Curtains should be window sill length with this arrangement so items can be placed under the window. 

BABY SOPHISTICATION

GRAYSON BEDDING on Baby Super Mall . com

http://www.babysupermall.com/main/products/glj/glj43340.html

Gray and yellow was very difficult to find - in the right tone and the right design - and in enough fabric available for the pair of crib sets. I searched  Wan Chai - Shenzhen - Ap Lei Chau and the USA. I gave up and went on line and found this. 

Blanket, bumper, skirt and 1 sheet - $307.69 each set/ $2418 hk

plus 20 % my commission. 

change pad cover:  $38.46

The customers crib sets are in a light camel wood color. So pairing it with a crib set with camel and gray made sense.  Everything is working together with the additional color. 

Sticking on the Curtain Valance and same gray stripe ticking on the pillows with yellow buttons. 

Remember your walls are white - not gray like the photo.  I think the dresser gray is too much in the room - It needs a pop - and repeat the carpet.

Add a antique dresser - to bring in the yellow.  Add glass knobs for some bling. 

BASE COLOR - THEN ANTIQUED!

The valance is in the same camel color and accented with a yellow ribbon to match the rug and the dresser. 

The gray linen curtains are lined and gathered 2.5 times to give them volume.  They would stop at the bottom of the window so you can house something underneath it like the bookcase.  

VICTORIAN IDEA

From Layla Grace I got the inspiration for the bedding.  The client likes contemporary - but has many items that are already Country French. 

I like the white mattress cover - easy to clean and bleach. 

I have the source for the white embroidered accent  (similar) - and then just an inexpensive cotton gray linen on the bottom.  What I have to know - is there enough room below the current bed designs to actually achieve this?

 The original thought of the 2 seater sofa will not fit. It's 55" wide. 

CHANGING TABLE DESIGN

42" wide x 20" deep x 36 - 40" high.  

The changing table is removable so it can be used as a dresser later on. 

I'm getting 2 quotes - to make out of plywood and veneer (it will probably be white) - and to make it out of solid wood for long term use - and paint it yellow with white Chinese artwork. 

This dresser sells for $3600 USA!  I think I can beat that.... omg. 

Whatever fabric we can find with the yellow and gray - repeat it on the bumper pillows, accent pillow and lamp shade.  This is on the gray cabinet between the beds. 

Do the curtains to the floor in a ribbed satin material. There is a very light shine.  Since all the other fabric is matte - this will bring whimsy, sophistication and interest.  To hide the hardware - we place a simple valance on top in a gray and white stripe piped in yellow. 

THE BEGINNING OF A CABINET

Not every sideboard or tall cabinet starts out as a complete original.... you only see a finished product on the showroom floor.  

What you don't see are the pieces that went into it to create and accomplish an 'old' piece.  

Here's a finished piece.  ( SOLD.)

other examples

I've just received multiple photos that a factory is currently creating.
  Check this out... amazing.   

AVAILABLE  167  x 44 x 86  (66 x 17.5 x 34)
$6440 plus shipping
Below is what it looked like in the raw staged.  

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These are 'old' body styles that are rebuilt. 

They'll be sanded, painted, varnished and hardware added - and look very different.  The nice thing -  most of it still is 'old' wood.  

 1044

 1046

 1047

 1089
220 - 230cm x 45D x 88H (87 - 90" wide x 18" d x 34.7" H)
$8780

 1090

1093

I just popped this photo in here... it's a current request from a customer.  
To reproduce this with old wood is $ 6480