OCTOBER 2025 FAVORITES
For my maiden voyage post, I couldn’t have picked a time more enriching to the senses. It is now acceptable to reintroduce wool to skin, hands to a warm mug, and flame to wick. I can't deny my New Jersey fall bias. From Cape May, through the flat, sandy terrain of the Pine Barrens, and over the iron spine of the Lambertville/New Hope Bridge, beauty abounds!
After a hectic summer, the gentle weekend afternoons spent out with my partner are enough to make me weep. In an ongoing effort to turn an apartment into our home, we recently scavenged the Golden Nugget. Our finds included a jewelry box painted with Pennsylvania Dutch folk art and a collection of smoked glassware. Inside, we found a gem: Maculays Books, the best used bookstore for 20th-century literature, art, and design.
We then ventured down to Stokland Winery, on the outskirts of Medford. Despite the off-season chill, it was gorgeous enough outside for a lone guitarist to play, and we were their exclusive, request-making audience. On route home, the roadside pumpkin stands lure me in with what I. Do. Not. Need.
I know who I sound like, but let those girls from high school be autumnal, dammit—I can’t resist it either. In the wake of Caitlin Covington's absence, I am tearfully declaring my full commitment to gourds.
My work gives me the pleasure of engaging with makers—both local and international—who prioritize an intentional, slow approach to craftsmanship and natural materials. This exposure deeply informs my perspective on matters of the home, if you will. In October, we reflect on the season's shift toward stillness and introspection. The recurring themes of textures and muted palettes are a quiet acknowledgment of the changing landscape, while remaining a tad bewitching.
LAUREN MANOOGIAN COTO CARDIGAN
Hand-loomed in Peru, the Coto Cardigan is craftsmanship to the touch. The plush, softly felted alpaca-blend is complete with a self-tie waist and integral pockets, creating what I belive is the most elegant, functional, outerwear piece for shoulder seasons and beyond. Lauren Manoogian is a Brooklyn-based designer celebrated for her minimalist, textural knitwear and commitment to sustainable, handcrafted production. Check their beautiful new showroom in NYC.
Led by designer Maria Simich-Moiseenko, HVÓYA is a distinguished Ukrainian brand specializing in handcrafted footwear and accessories, designed and produced in Kyiv. No pair of Chaotic Ballerinas is the same. Each is hand-knitted with a fine crochet hook for 14 hours. With the specificity of the pattern and the absence of “rules”, each pair is a work of art.
STAIR TOTE BY UNDERWATER WEAVING STUDIO
It is a basket, and that basket fits right on your stairs. I like it. Perfect for collecting the florets of dried hydrangeas left from the summer months, to take home and place on your standard residential 7.5” step. Underwater Weaving Studio is an American basket atelier, founded by artist Erin Pollard and rooted in the generational expertise of her mother, Peggy Pollard, a professional weaver. Based in Brooklyn and Maine. The whole collection is perfect.
Ogma is a Label by Tessa McGregor. Vibrant stones and vintage-inspired jewelry and accessories are created in Melbourne, Australia. Each Talisman’s unique hues are paired in subtle colorways. (As close to Stevie Nicks Crystal Girl as I can go)
Side Note: I did not expect my first entry in 2025 to feel so much like my Tumblr in 2012.
No replicas. I need that real patina.
SOMETHING OLD: PUNCH TIN LANTERNS
Right now, the idea of a punch tin lantern (aka stable lantern) appeals to me. It’s my answer to “decorating” for halloween. A classic piece of folk art that dates back to 14th-century Europe. Made typically from tinplate—sheet iron or steel coated with tin—these lanterns feature geometric or decorative patterns created by punching small holes into the metal.
like this, this, and especially this.
SEMI-LOCAL RECOMMENDATIONS:
JAMES ROSE CENTER: Structural behemoth located in Ridgewood, NJ. Designed by its namesake in 1953, the James Rose Center is a non-profit landscape research and study foundation that hosts lectures and exhibitions. My first time at the center was for a seminar on intentional landscaping. Elaine Silverstein, certified in Sustainable Landscape Management, presented us with how homeowners can help restore natural habitats by planting groups of species that grow together in nature. I will admit, I’m by no means a green thumb, but oh did that presentation reinforce my goal to landscape an ecosystem with native plants that meld with the structure of my theoretical home (as opposed to the standard American front lawn). After a morning exploring the grounds and the adorable town of Ridgewood, I was headed to New York City, an hour's drive away.
CALDER GARDENS: I have not been yet!!! But It would be a crime not to include, since it’s debut was only last month. The highly anticipated New Philadelphia landmark dedicated to the art of 20th-century sculptor Alexander Calder, known for inventing the iconic mobile of organic shapes. This sculpture garden set within a landscape conceived by Piet Oudolf. I will and must be there before the end of the month!
