For Sale

It's been almost twelve months to the day since I opened the doors to  Neck of the Woods. When I look back on the year that was, I realise how amazing it's been and how much I've achieved. We've had excellent media coverage in magazines such as Frankie, Spaces and Inside Out. And the online presence hasn't been too bad either for a youngster, snippets here and there on sites such as Finders Keepers, Little Pinwheel, Fiona Kate, Honey & Fizz and many more. Almost every day I have lovely customers coming in to the store or visiting this blog and telling me how much they adore the shop, which is a wonderful feeling of achievement.

I have discovered however that it's a difficult road to travel when you have two small children and no family around to help. I have found that personally I'm not doing a great job at being a mum or a small business owner.  I'm not giving either of them the attention or time they deserve. At the end of the day I'm achieving mediocracy with both and doing neither of my roles nor myself justice.

Obviously being a mum outweighs everything else and I've made the difficult decision to sell Neck of the Woods and follow other passions that have a friendlier fit in my mothering schedule. So the short of it is, if you or anyone you may know thinks they have what it takes to run a great small business that's indivual,  loaded with character and has many loyal customers, I'd love to hear from you. You can contact me here for more details.

The good news is this little blog will live on, so keep your eye on this page. Thanks for your support. x

Harpo Marx Stayed (and Spoke) Here

Many of us know that Groucho Marx lived in a home on Lincoln Road in Thomaston for several years, but did you know that Harpo Marx also lived in Great Neck for a short time?

According to a September 26, 1930 Great Neck News article, Arthur Adolph Marx, better known as Harpo Marx, thought he had rented the Great Neck home of Major Henry Holthusen in the summer of 1930, only to discover that Mrs. Holthusen had not been made aware of this arrangement.  Being a good sport, and understanding that her husband had promised the house to the illustrious Mr. Marx, Mrs. Holthusen apparently allowed Harpo to stay on for at least a month.  It should come as no surprise that the elder Marx Brother, Harpo, would want to summer in the same town as his younger brother, Groucho.  The Brothers Marx and their families were known to socialize together.

 

As with many old Great Neck News articles, "Presenting Arthur Marx," by Kay Mott, was written in a lighthearted tone, playing up the idea that Great Neck had become the home and meeting place of many rich and famous people - actors, producers, writers, Vaudevillians, politicians, merchants, financiers, and investors.

New in store

These very cute cushions are the brainchild of local Northern Beaches designer Laurie from Ourlieu. She uses 100% organic cotton and all items are created through a sustainability-conscious printer, using recycled stock, soy based inks, and other initiatives. They measure 50x50cm RRP $88 including insert.

I did a little blog on these beautifully designed lamps a few months ago but they only just arrived in store about 2 weeks ago. House Doctor Mac lamp is a Danish twist on the Conran Mac lamp. Comprising of oiled wood and brushed aluminium together with tightening bolts to allow the lamp to be tilted as desired. Measures 48cm(h) but completely adjustable. Perfect for a bedside or desk. RRP $420

We Owe You: One Horse - the Great Neck Library Board of Trustees, circa 1941-46

The Local History Room recently added to its collection the library's oldest existing records - Board of Trustees minutes, correspondence, and ledgers from 1894 to 1949. 
Previously, these documents had been kept in the library's safe, but it was thought they'd be better preserved, and more accessible to the public, if they were kept in the Local History Room, where they are now stored in a fireproof cabinet.  As we reviewed these materials for description, we came across some interesting documents that shed light on just how much Great Neck, and the library, have changed over the years.  For instance, a page at the beginning of the January 1941 - November 1946 board journal is entitled "List of Loans to the Great Neck Library."  In addition to some furniture and artwork, including a painting by the famous artist Childe Hassam, lent by one Robert Tarleton, this document notes that Mrs. Roswell Eldridge* once lent the library a horse.  You may wonder what the library needed a horse for in the 1940's - hauling, plowing, teaching kids about life on the farm?  Your guess is as good as ours.  Of course, it is possible, even probable, that Mrs. Eldridge lent the library the kind of horse that the American Heritage Dictionary describes as "a frame or device, usually with four legs, used for supporting or holding," but we prefer to imagine a large equine mammal grazing and frolicking on the grounds of the old Great Neck Library at 14 Arrandale Avenue.

This first page of the January 1941 - November 1946 Library Board journal lists "Loans to the Great Neck Library."  Note that there is no record indicating that the library ever returned the horse lent to it by Mrs. Eldridge.

One of the few pictures we have of Louise Skidmore Udall Eldridge.
* Louise Skidmore Udall Eldridge probably played the single greatest role in shaping modern Great Neck.  She came from two old, established families of Great Neck and Long Island, the Udalls and the Skidmores.  After her husband Roswell died, Mrs. Eldridge became mayor of the Village of Saddle Rock.  At the time, she was the first female mayor of a village in the State of New York.  She served as mayor from 1926 until her death in 1947.  Mrs. Eldridge was tremendously active in, and important to, the civic and community development and improvement of the Great Neck peninsula.  She was a dynamic, driving force in the founding, early administration, and trusteeship of the Great Neck Library, the Great Neck Park District, the Great Neck Schools, the Village of Saddle Rock, local health services organizations, and the Great Neck Society for Social and Educational Advancement.  Her desire and commitment to helping provide Great Neck with all the services and amenities that a modern community could need seemed to know no bounds.  Before and during her mayoralty of Saddle Rock, she served as an officer on the boards of numerous governmental, charity, and municipal organizations.  She donated funds, land, and endowments to numerous municipal and charitable groups, both public and private, and was thus instrumental in the development of both government and non-government services and infrastructure on the Great Neck peninsula.

Swig

I was at a girlfriends house the other day, she is French and has that beautiful French sensibility when it comes to design, clothing, food... everything. It was the second time I had been to her home so my eyes were doing the work of a 3 year old (checking everything out). I was looking everywhere, taking it all in, then I caught sight of something I had to pick up and feel and smell and really take it in. I couldn't fully appreciate it by just looking. The little white rat above.

Swig is a beautiful felt designer based in Paris France. I can't read her blog and google translation makes it even worse,  so I'm just going by what my girlfriend told me. She is very well known wet felt artist based in Paris, she has works in a many galleries. The small mouse retails for 85 euro and he is about 15cm high. Some of the works are huge, 40cm or more and sell for thousands!

The mouse I picked up is pleasantly heavy and you just wanted to stroke it. Even they eyes are felted with the little white speck, making them look like shiny plastic ones. Wish I could find out more, alas I can not so just let your eyes enjoy.

keeping warm

Check out these fabulous cushions from Aussie gal My Bearded Pigeon. Her blog chunky chooky is a great read as well. 

These lovely lanterns, heat bags and door stops are from the very talented girls at Mozi. We have them all in store now.

Huge string ball doorstops are sure to those autumn winds from blowing through your cosy abode.

Welcome to the Great Neck Library's Local History Blog

As we add new and interesting materials to the Local History Collection at the library, we will post entries on this blog about them.  For instance . . .

Pursuant to a patron request for information on an old Kings Point estate, we discovered that Hamilton Easter Field (1873–1922), a prominent artist, patron of the arts, gallery owner, arts publisher, and supporter of early American modernism, once lived in Great Neck.  Hamilton Easter Field lived with his parents and his brother Edward in a large, waterfront estate called Ardsley (possibly spelled Ardesley), which sat at the end of Red Brook Road.  The family lived at Ardsley between the 1890’s and 1910’s (we have yet to determine exact dates for their residence in Great Neck).  Hamilton's parents, Aaron Field and Lydia Seaman Haviland Field were prominent Quakers.  Aaron Field could trace his family tree in the New World back to Robert Field, who came from York England to Massachusetts in 1630.  Works by Hamilton Easter Field are in the collection of The Brooklyn Museum (see 2nd link below). The Hamilton Easter Field Art Foundation Collection, which contains works created and collected by Mr. Field, is kept at The Portland Museum of Art in Portland, Maine (see 1st link below).  Hamilton Easter Field is perhaps best remembered today as an early supporter of the American modernist movement.  He wrote extensively about the movement, collected the work of other early American modernists, showed their work, arranged shows for them, and generally helped them out, finding them work and patrons, and even housing and feeding them.


The Hamilton Easter Field Art Foundation Collection at The Portland Museum of Art


Hamilton Easter Field works in the Brooklyn Museum 

Hamilton Easter Field, Self-Portrait, circa 1898, oil on panel, 24" x 18", in the The Hamilton Easter Field Art Foundation Collection, Portland Museum of Art, Portland, Maine.

Autumn

My homage to Autumn. Here's to the deliciously warm colours, crisp afternoons and cuddly mornings. Images all from Etsy, just click images to view the artists.

Accessories

Ahhh I love a floppy felt hat. Actually I love all kinds of head ware, especially the winter variety. These lovely camel, olive, plum and black ones arrived in store yesterday. If you need anymore inspiration than I've provided here, then click on this link. I can guarantee you'll see me sporting one, not that that's really a reason to buy one. They're just a classic, now there's a better reason. x

New in store

I love all of the designs from French design company la cerise sur le gateau the embodied details, the Libertyesque fabrics, the amazing colour combinations.

These cute very vintage looking silhouette children tin signs are irresistible, they are roughly 25 x 25cm and retail for around $20 each. 

These happy little felt home accessories are from from the heart of the Himalayas, Muskhane brings you a universe of poetry, softness and colour. They are due in store over the next few weeks.