Thursday, December 18, 2014

PasParTou's Top 5 Gifts for Men

It is that time of year again, when everyone rushes to buy gifts for the holidays yet most people have no clue what to buy.  We have compiled a quick list of five great gifts for the men of the house!

Rosemary Candles from Izola NYC.
These are beautiful and have a wonderfully natural smell.















Brooklyn Mugs.
These are designed by PasParTou with a very simple grey and white design.


Set of three soaps, Par Avion.
Unscented French milled soaps in a beautiful box 





























Set of 13 Whiskey Rocks from SPARQ Home













Cedar Wood Soap from Kala Style.
Made locally in USA.














We hope that this list will aid you in your last minute shopping!

Thursday, October 30, 2014

Halloween in Brooklyn, NY


Most people who aren't from Brooklyn or who have just moved to Brooklyn will ask you where the best places for Trick or Treating are.  Having lived in Brooklyn for my whole life, I feel pretty confident that I at least can recommend some of the best ones.  So on that note; here are my top five blocks for Trick or Treating in Brooklyn starting with #5.

5) The Park Slope Parade.  Since this year Halloween falls on a Friday expect this parade to be bigger than most years.  The parade begins at 6:30pm at 14th street and 7th avenue.  If you are going to walk in the parade, it is suggested to arrive at 5:30pm.

4) The Cobble Hill Halloween Parade.  Same situation as The Park Slope Parade since Halloween falls on a Friday this year!  The parade will begin at 4pm at the Cobble Hill Park and is one of the city's largest kids parades!

3) Court and Smith Streets.  These streets (along with the sides streets connecting them) are filled with stores, like ours, that hand out candy beginning around 3pm.  There is always lots of fun and laughter throughout the streets starting at Atlantic Avenue.  Residents on the sides streets connecting Smith and Court like to sit out on their stoops with decorations and candy waiting for Trick or Treaters.

2) Grace Court Alley off of Hicks Street between Remsen and Joralemon.  One of the epicenters for kids on Halloween in Brooklyn Heights.  When venturing down this street you will see almost every house decorated and almost every resident out on their stoop handing out candy to eager dressed up children enjoying this holiday.

1) Finally as the number 1 place to go trick or treating (in my book) is Garden Place off of Joralemon Street between Hicks and Henry.  This block is closed for the entirety of Halloween and is by far the most decorated block in Brooklyn Heights and Cobble Hill that I have ever seen!  Every body decorates their house and tries to outdo their neighbor!  Candy keeps flowing the whole night as residents sit out on their stoops and hand out candy to eager children!


That is it for my suggestions of the best trick or treating places in Brooklyn.  Hope that everyone has a great time on Halloween and enjoys the weekend!


Thursday, October 2, 2014

PasParTou at the Dumbo Arts Festival 2014


Last weekend, PasParTou was invited to participate in the Little Poland Gallery at the Dumbo Arts Festival.  The gallery was run by the Polish Consulate in New York in order to showcase items either made in Poland or by Polish designers and artists.  We graciously accepted the consulate's invitation and set up a table for the two day show located at 160 Water Street in the heart of DUMBO.

Owner Gosia Rojek showing our collection of items to Ewa Junczyk-Ziomecka, Polish Consul General

We decided to bring with us the works of many different Polish artists and designers.  We exhibited the beautiful jewelry of designers Marcin Zaremski and Marcin Gronkowski.  We also displayed a collection of Polish pottery otherwise known as Boleslawiec.  Visitors who came by our booth loved the small bowls and spoons as well as our collection of tea bag holders.

Exhibition of Polish Pottery

In our store, we feature a beautiful line of Polish whimsical kitchen textiles with various patterns on them.  We brought those down to DUMBO as well with us and they were a hit just as they are in our store in Cobble Hill.

Selection of whimsical kitchen linens

Finally we brought a beautiful collection of handmade and artist signed glass pieces from Velt Gallery.  These along with our personally designed Brooklyn t-shirts finished out our display nicely.

PasParTou designed Brooklyn t-shirts

Overall, we had a sucessful first experience at the Dumbo Arts Festival.  Not only did we get to exhibit and display our beautiful Polish made and inspired items, but we also got to catch up with a good friend of ours, the Polish Consul General.

Owner Gosia Rojek with Polish Consul General Ewa Junczyk-Ziomecka

All participants of Little Poland Gallery with Polish Consul General Ewa Junczyk-Ziomecka






Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Polish Jewelry Designer Marcin Zaremski

Collection of Marcin Zaremski Bracelets

Jewelry has been accompanying renowned Polish jewelry designer Marcin Zaremski for as long as he can remember.  While looking for his own independent way in life and art, he found .... silver.

Silver Bracelet

Marcin studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw from 1969 to 1974 in the faculty of design. At the same time he was working at his parents art studio gaining valuable knowledge of skills needed to be a jeweler.  In 1974, after graduating from his studies he decided against becoming an interior designer and instead decided to become a jewelry designer, where his only obstacle was to cope with family tradition.  His parents, Jadwiga and Jerzy Zaremski, were the forerunners and the creators of Polish modern jewelry art.  Marcin wanted to create his own style and detach himself from his parents' successes and in turn created the Polish haute couture in the jewelry sector.

Gold Plated Silver Bracelet

Marcin Zaremski is genuinely interested in the wearers of contemporary jewelry, especially women. He strives to understand their willingness to be conspicuous, to manifest their personalities externally, to reveal their peculiar preferences and passions.  The role he has allotted his jewelry is quite clear: he wants his jewelry pieces to harmonize with, or stand in contrast to clothing; he wants them to transform in accordance with fashions and the current artistic research.  These two factors combined give his jewelry its voguish quality.  From the multitude of trends prevailing in art and fashion, Marcin chooses those that are the most in keeping with his personal predilections. 


  
  Gold Plated Silver and Silver Necklace
Gold Plated Silver Earrings

Marcin Zaremski has taken part in over 100 art exhibitions (collective and individual) in Poland and abroad.  From the beginning of the times of democracy (1989), he has been managing his workshop in which he creates his jewelry projects and designs.  Marcin has been running his author jewelry gallery-shop in Warsaw since 1992.

We've curated a great collection of Marcin Zaremski's work and will be getting more in time for the holidays, so come by our store on Court Street and let us tell you a little bit more about Marcin and show you his beautiful pieces.
 

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Ooh La La Petite Boutique Candles

Vintage teacup candle


A few months ago, we were approached by Ooh La La Petite Boutique about carrying their items in our store.  We were drawn to them as they were something unique that we had never seen before.  Ooh La La is the brain child of Eni and Greg, a couple where Eni makes candles and Greg spends his time photographing them.  Greg also takes wonderful Polaroid pictures of various places and transfers them to archival watercolor paper for beautiful prints.  

Vintage Creamer Candle

Eni and Greg collect vintage teacups, creamers, and other containers from all over the world and hand pour their candles in these.  They use soy wax that is made from 100% soybeans and is 100% natural.  These items make great decorations after the candles are done or Eni is willing to refill them for a small fee.

Vintage Gravy Boat with Vintage Spoon

The cups that Eni and Greg collect are all unique and it is very rare that you will find two of them same cup. They have a range of sixteen scents that go from very fruity to minty/fresh. 



Display of vintage teacup candles and prints in antique suitcase

When Eni and Greg brought their candles to our store, they presented them in a beautiful antique suitcase. The candles were situated on top of vintage camera cases and Greg had thrown some of his Polaroid prints of Paris in to accent the candles.  They look absolutely great and complement the rest of our store nicely.

Eiffel Tower Print

Finally, Greg and Eni also make candles in old mason and jelly jars.  They hand paint these mason jars and then hand pour one of their sixteen scents of candles into them for a wonderful gift or decorative piece.  

Mason Jar Candle

Stop by our store in Brooklyn to hear a little more about Eni and Greg and their adventures making candles, taking pictures, and travelling around the world.  


Tuesday, July 22, 2014

PasParTou's Summer Essentials


1. Turkish Towels - beach towels, pool towels, runners, tablecloths
What's there not to love about them??






2. Brahms Mount 100% Cotton Herringbone Throw
Handmade in Maine with the most beautiful colors and texture








3. Europe 2 You Tapas Plank with reclaimed wood/terracotta tiles
Perfect for entertaining guests tapas style






4. Michel Design Cocktail Hour Coasters
Who doesn't love a nice cocktail hour with family and/or friends??














5. Sobremesa Large Roly Poly Decanter w/Teakwood Stopper
Beautiful way of serving any drink and a necessary
addition to anyone's bar


Thursday, July 10, 2014

Velt Gallery

Orchids in Wide Glass Vase

At our stores, both in Brooklyn and Shelter Island, we pride ourselves in carrying many beautiful items that are made in Europe.  In this blog post, we are featuring a beautiful gallery named Velt located in Warsaw, Poland.  Velt Gallery is the brain child of Maria Veltuzen-Nagrabecka and her husband Leszek Nagrabecki.  

Maria Veltuzen-Nagrabecka received her masters in interior design from the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, Poland.  She also studied sculpture.  In 1975, along with her husband Leszek, Maria started collaborating with glass makers from numerous glass factories from all over Poland.  Each of Maria and Leszek's pieces is hand formed and mouth blown, therefore one-of-a-kind.  

Mouth Blown One-of-a-kind Candlesticks
Maria and Leszek's work, consisting of many unique pieces, has been exhibited at individual and group exhibits in many European cities;

  • in Warsaw, Gdansk, and frequently in Bydgoszcz, Poland
  • in Berlin and Munich, Germany
  • in Vicenza and Rome, Italy
Their work is also a part of numerous private collections all over the world.

Beautiful flower arrangement in Green Glass Vase
Between 1994 and 2006, Maria and Leszek exhibited their work in the Art Gallery in Zakopane.  Since 2007, their work has been presented in and sold through Velt Gallery located on at 12 Prozna Street in Warsaw.  Velt Gallery specializes in mouth blown glass as well as glass lighting designed by their son Jeremy Nagrabecki.

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Boleslawiec (more commonly known as Polish Ceramics)


Selection of Boleslawiec displayed outside our store in Shelter Island


In September of 2013, we took a trip to Poland to meet with some of our current vendors and also to scope out some new ones.  We were getting a great response about our selection of Polish ceramics known as Boleslawiec so we decided to take the four hour drive to the town where these beautiful ceramics are made.

This pottery is not only stunningly beautiful but also has a rich history behind it.  The region where Boleslawiec is made is located on the Polish/German Border and was not under Polish control until after World War II.  Before the war, the factories were run by Germans in a region named Brunslau.  After the war, the factories changed their managements and continued to manufacture the ceramics in the same styles as the Germans.  The region was renamed Boleslawiec. 

Example of a pattern of German origin

What makes the pottery so unique is that it is made from a certain type of clay that is only found in the Boleslawiec region.  This clay gives the pottery the unique characteristics that make it both durable, to withstand baking, and useful for serving.  The popularity of the pottery has greatly increased in recent years leading to an increase in the number of factories making pottery using the clay found in Boleslawiec.  

While we were visiting Boleslawiec, we got to go and see two of the beautiful factories in the town.  They were busy producing very beautiful patterns as well as the traditional and signature ones.  As we went looking through the factory stores, we noticed that these factories had included more unique lines of floral patterns.  These patterns are called UNIKAT patterns and generally belong to a certain artist.  These patterns also tend to be a bit more on the expensive side.  

The great thing about Boleslawiec is that it is oven safe, freezer safe, microwave safe, and dishwasher safe. This makes them easy to use and easy to clean.  We swear by them, our kitchen is full of them, and we have been collecting the Boleslawiec pottery for the last thirty years.   

We continue to have a great response to our Boleslawiec collection at all three of our stores!  Come by and chat with us about the ceramics and get excited as we are about to place another large order! 

Sunday, June 15, 2014

Welcome to our blog!


Welcome to our first blog post!  We figured that since this is our first blog post, we would take this time to tell you a little bit more about how we started PasParTou.  

Our first store started in the spring of 2010 under the name ShelterEgo.  It was a joint venture between three partners who were looking to put their experiences and knowledge together to curate a collection to be included in a new seasonal store on Shelter Island.  The store was a hit from the get-go and soon became a known store on the island.  It included a wonderful mix of nautically themed items, designed and made by us, as well as some vintage accent pieces, unique one-of-a-kind pieces, jewlery, and accessories.  


Throughout our two very successful summer seasons on Shelter Island we were featured in numerous publications such as the Wall Street Journal, Financial Times "How to Spend It", Le Figaro, Shelter Island Reporter, Hamptons Cottages and Gardens, Northfrkd blog, and Dan's Paper.  During the winter of 2012 we decided to say good-bye to ShelterEgo and the partnership and continue on a different journey.  

By the end of the summer of 2012, my mom and I decided to start looking for spaces near our home in Brooklyn Heights in the hopes of starting a pop-up store for the fall/winter season.  We found a place and started a full-time store.  We spent sometime brainstorming names and decided on PasParTou that opened in April of 2013.  With a collection of home decor itmes as well as accessories, books, jewlery, and some vintage items - we are a continuation of ideas started by ShelterEgo.



A few months after we found out about an opporunity to return to Shelter Island for the summer and naturally we didn't think twice.  We would now be located by the Chequit Inn in their Cedar House under our new name PasParTou.  The summer turned out great and we were able to not only welcome back familiar faces from ShelterEgo but also meet many new customers.  We also hosted a fundraiser for the Island Gift of Life Foundation.  As the summer drew to a close, we closed up the store but knew that we would find a way to keep coming back.

This summer we are located two doors down from our old ShelterEgo location at 183 North Ferry Road (more commonly known as Bridge street).  We have brought back our eclectic mix of nautical items, hostess gifts, accessories, jewelry, furniture pieces, and some vintage accent items.


We are open seven days a week from approximatley 10am to 6pm. 

Please stop by and say hello whether you are new to the island (& our store) or have shopped with us before (either on Shelter Island or in Brooklyn).  We are looking forward to showing you what we have in stock for the summer season!