I’ve been in love with John Derian for a while.

I probably first saw his work in shelter mags or at this great store in Seattle.  Or maybe it was at Houston’s own Kuhl-Linscomb where I first set my eyes on a piece of his decoupage. And then the Target craze, which I blogged about here!

So when I started planning a visit to NYC, I knew John Derian’s shop in Greenwich Village would be top of my list.  And it did not dissapoint yall, not at all!

Beautiful displays of his work!  I have seen it before of course but never THIS MUCH OF IT!

Source (all other photos taken with my iphone)

Huge table of decoupage Derian yummyness the moment you step in the door!

Love that bust and the Hugo Guinness prints.  And oh man i just spotted those silhouette mugs or votives in the background!

Gorgeous pottery. . .

And just look at the lights!

 Derian actually has two shops…the original store and a second store with more linens and dry goods.  I believe a third is under construction and will feature his new furniture line. Below is a shot of the basement of the dry good store.  So cozy, the rock walls reminded me of Carol Bolton’s stores in Frederickburg, Texas.

And this is where I got in trouble, fabric of course.  These aren’t even Derian’s designs.  This is Les Indiennes which I can get wholesale, AT A DISCOUNT, and already have an account with.  I have samples in my office.  But being in his shop and seeing it all layed out I just started wanting some Les Indiennes pillow covers to take home from his shop!

Then I started touching them, should never have done that.  Laying them out, contemplating what I could do with them..for me or for a client.  And then I made a purchase finally and blissfully left the store.  (I know by Bible study friends are praying for me at this point and they should, total impulse purchase)

So I am feeling fine, all alone in the big city, got my cute John Derian tote they gave me because I spent so much probably, and I walk down the block this cute coffee shop and contemplate my next stop.

  I decide to head to Brooklyn to the art museum there for the John Singer Sargent exhibit.  I should have taken the subway but I didn’t see one so I just jumped in a cab. Cost more but I thought I would see more above ground and let’s face it I love being driven around looking at neighborhoods.  So off we go, I know it won’t be cheap but I am ready for the adventure.   Well apparently my cabbie has been in the city less time than me and he of course does not know Brooklyn. At first its fine, and actually very interesting, we went through Williamsburg and lots of interesting areas which I really loved but after a bit I was like “uh do you know where the museum is even located??”  Finally I started tracking on google maps and giving HIM directions.  When I finally saw the museum I told him to STOP and I jumped out, quickly handing him a wad of cash before the meter ran any more.  Gorgeous day, I am crossing the street to the museum, cherry blossoms blowing in my face and the BOOM, I realized

I LEFT THE JOHN DERIAN BAG IN THE CAB! 

I had my purse, my phone,  but not the tote.  I actually turned around like an idiot to look for the cab.  My next thought was “thank you Lord it wasn’t a child” which is odd since my kids weren’t even with me but that is just a mom instinct I guess.  So I am standing there looking at the gorgeous beauty across the street of the blowing blossoms from the Brooklyn Botanic Garden feeling pretty glum.  I made the best of the museum, moped through the exhibits and ventured over to the Dumbo area of Brooklyn.

It really is a great museum and Brooklyn is awesome! So diverse and I am glad I made the trek.

So there you go, my stupid tourist confession. (I know my husband is shaking his head)  Bottom line, John Derian’s store is amazing, definitely go if you are in Manhattan.  But I also was reminded that day that cool stuff is still just stuff. Things aren’t people.  As sad as I was to lose the pretty pillow covers and waste money I was so grateful it was just stuff.  A person wasn’t hurt.  There are much bigger tragedies in the world.  You have to laugh at yourself right?

I also will say that New York yellow cabs just aren’t like the cabbies in London. I hate to be negative but they kept asking ME directions.  I totally recommend UBER if you go to NYC (they have UBER cabs in other cities too) with UBER you just download an app on your iphone and when you press it, a radar comes up to show you how many minutes before one of their cabs (which are nice cars or SUVs) can pick you up.  It’s fast and you don’t have to have cash because when register on your phone you give your credit card number.  It’s maybe a tad higher than a cab but not much.  And worth it because their drivers KNOW WHERE THEY ARE GOING! Melisse and I became a bit of the UBER addicts while in the city!

“But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven”…Matthew 6