Buffalo Rising Online

Oct 12th, 9:13am By buffalorising

It certainly was a beautiful day in the neighborhood yesterday, and many of the merchants along Elmwood brought tables full of wares out to the sidewalk to celebrate it. We found the perfect silks and fine Italian cottons at Sandy Hertel's Elmwood Village Fabrics in order to make scarves that no one else will have. If you're a fan of handing out homemade gifts at holiday time, now is the time to start!

The fabrics we purchased, part of Sandy's trunk show (ending Tuesday!), are as beautiful and unique as everything you would expect from Elmwood Village Fabrics--and very affordable. If you're one of those people who sees pillows, wall hangings, drapes and...yes, silk scarves and thinks, "I could make that for so much less!" stop thinking about it and get some fabric and gentle coaching from Sandy. Be sure to check out Amy Butler's fabrics too.

Myself, I'll be heading back for one of the fabrics above. Back to the days of boomerang shaped everything, aqua and pink melamine plates and nothing but jazz on the radio, these fabrics--that remind me of Paul Klee paintings to some extent--have the same immediate impact and subtle sense of humor one expects from Sandy herself.

Next door, at room, things were busy too. I'm a little angry with myself for not buying the flutes (wouldn't you know everyone who came over last night was drinking white wine? Unprecedented!), but maybe they'll still be there today. That, and the cute plates that were marked down enough to justify giving one away with each gift of cookies or scones. ("No, no! Keep the plate!")

Inside, the couch that had just arrived was a mini sectional, if you can imagine. Very Bauhaus with a creamy fabric that had a slub and some sheen at the same time. Couch envy! But there's never a reason to leave room empty-handed; somewhere between a candle and a couch, there's something for everyone at room.

Cosefini is simply the place to go when you need to be good to yourself (or anyone), but the immediate by-product of walking in the door is a big dose of aromatherapy. The soaps and French powders are unbelievable, the accessories (home and self) are divine and the pajamas we hint for every special occasion may actually be ours some day. It is a happy place, and many times, the soap gotten there made the car smell so good on the way home, we've taken to keeping little hostess-sized bars in the door panel pockets.

Not sure who'll be out on Elmwood today, but it's a beautiful day for a stroll.