Neo-Geo

New for fall, my Mixed Messages collection made it's debut last night at Hester Street Fair Takes Over Bendel's for Fashion's Night Out.

Cynthia Rybakoff collection in sterling silver with polished brass. Available at Artists & Fleas, Williamsburg, weekends 10-7pm.

Movin' On Up!

An unlikely combination, or the best idea ever? Hester Street Fair is movin' on up, to midtown's tony Fifth Avenue shopping district, for one night only, on September 8th. Stepping out of their Lower East Side outdoor market mold, and transforming the 3rd floor of Henri Bendel on Fashion's Night Out, the Hester team will re-imagine the space as a new world market.

Over 50 vendors, including artists, designers, and chefs will be there, plus live jazz and "interactive booths" to create their new world shopping experience. Henri Bendel has long been a supporter of emerging designers, with their Open See! initiatives. Bringing Hester Street Fair to Bendel's for Fashion's Night Out 2011, underscores this commitment to new and innovative talent.

On another note, Henri Bendel was the first major specialty store to carry my hand-crafted jewelry, back in the late 80's and early 90's. Now, some 18 years later, I'll be there again, on Fashion's Night Out to launch my new Fall 2011 collection!

The Hester Street Fair Partners with Henri Bendel for Fashion's Night Out
September 8th, 3pm - 11pm
Henri Bendel, 712 Fifth Avenue

Cool Things Made By Nice People

From the creators of the Hester Street Fair comes The Big Social Holiday Market, opening just in time for the last minute Christmas dash! I be there with my jewelry, in a big way, pulling out all the stops, and showcasing an amazing collection of colorful holiday jewels you won't find anywhere else! Enjoy the artisanal crafted foods and refreshments, Hester Street Fair has become known for, while shopping in a curated gallery space filled with over 40 vendors.

The Big Social Holiday Market

December 17 - 23

11am - 8pm

Openhouse Gallery, 201 Mulberry Street, NYC

Daisy, Daisy

Goodbye summer, hello fall! Well, not officially until Wednesday, September 22nd at 11:09am, so let's call it early fall. It's also my favorite time of year on Peconic Bay, which is located on the south fork of Long Island. The weather is bright and crisp, and farm stands explode with Technicolor produce. It always feels like a new beginning and a fresh start to the year, rather than the end of summer freedom. In the Jewish culture, one actually does celebrate the New Year in early fall, with Rosh Hashanah.

Once the summer flowers have faded, autumn is the time Montauk daisies kick into gear, having spent the past two seasons quietly spreading dark green bushy leaves. Unlike the common Shasta daisy, which blooms in spring and summer, the Montauk daisy, also known as the Nippon daisy, with origins in Japan, only blooms in fall. Aesthetically, I prefer the Montauk daisy's shorter, bushier profile in the garden, with multiple blooms per stem. As an added bonus, butterflies love them, while the ravenous deer and bunnies ignore them!

Handmade On Peconic Bay Van Dyke Brown Montauk Daisy 5" square print with gift envelope, $20.00, at Hester Street Fair, A Little Of What You Fancy, 19 Newtown Lane East Hampton, 631.324.3113.

Montauk Daisy garden image courtesy of Garden Blog.

Fresh Totes

The harvest of fresh totes for fall! Printed with sunshine on Peconic Bay, and still drying on the line, before being brought to market in New York City.

Handmade On Peconic Bay "Numbskull" Van Dyke Brown printed totes, $25.00, from a selection at Hester Street Fair.

Silk Impressions

My husband, Matt Shapoff, is a scientist who filed for a patent when he was 16 years old, and an artist-photographer, with a predilection for vintage hand mixed photochemistry recipes.

So three years ago, when a friend suggested that Matt’s experiments in alternative photography would make great product designs, it took me about 30 seconds to say “Let me make a logo and some packaging!”. Handmade On Peconic Bay was born that day, and has grown to become a full line of modern vintage goods, using 19th century photographic processes to create art prints, note cards, and our latest addition, cyanotype silk scarves.

The scarves, which are not dyed, are one of a kind photographic prints on silk. The iron-cyanide based photochemistry is applied to the fabric, turning it Prussian blue as it oxidizes in the sun, and leaving behind a stark white impression on the silk, of the objects that were arranged on it. Read more about the scarves on ecco*eco and Hand/Eye.

Here's a cool video of Matt making a feather scarf.

Click To Play

Handmade On Peconic Bay cyanotype silk scaves are available at Hester Street Fair, weekends through December. Check the HMPB Facebook page for upcoming dates.

What's Old Is New

Art print note cards

Van Dyke Brown prints

Cyanotype prints

Cynthia Rybakoff-Shapoff

Matt Shapoff

Hester Street Fair, located in a beautiful park setting on the corner of Hester and Essex, was once home to New York City’s largest and oldest pushcart markets. Established in 1894, it was was the busiest outdoor market in New York City, by the turn of the century. The new Hester Street Fair has sought to create a space that reflects the dynamic energy of the Lower East Side then and now. Mission accomplished! If you haven't been yet, make a point of visiting soon.

Today, the Hester Street Fair focuses on curated local crafts, artisan food and vintage goods. It's the perfect place for our Handmade On Peconic Bay modern vintage wares, including cyanotype and Van Dyke Brown photographic prints using techniques that date back to the mid 19th century.

Handmade On Peconic Bay will be at the Hester Street Fair weekends through December. For fair dates and announcements, follow Handmade On Peconic Bay on Facebook.