Monday, May 04, 2009

sugar coating

Thank you all for your supportive comments regarding our summer preschool situation. I'm pleased to report that we have already found several other possible solutions, all of which feel more comfortable and positive to us than the original plan. Details still need to be finalized, but I think we're on the right track. I'll keep you posted about the pre-K part of the question, too. We should be hearing back about the school lottery soon. Probably right after Quilt Market.

I also wanted to thank you for your positive feedback regarding my work process and the writing of Oliver + S patterns. What a thrill to hear so much kind encouragement from you! I've almost completed the first draft of the fall instructions, which is a huge relief. That means I've worked out almost all the design and construction challenges and can take a deep breath before moving on to the next steps of development. I'll be able to pass the patterns along to the grader by the end of this week, just in time for Quilt Market.


Speaking of Quilt Market, every season just before we leave for the show, we take a little trip to Economy Candy on the Lower East Side to stock up on our trademark Berry Blue Jelly Belly jellybeans for the show. Brooke and I spent far too much time weighing our candy options before the Oliver + S debut 1 1/2 years ago. (Actually, we spend far too much time analyzing most of our choices, come to think of it. I guess that's why we work so well together: we're both obsessed with the details.) We considered getting custom M&M's with our logo on the back, but the Jelly Belly's have a better depth of color to them and match almost perfectly. But if M&M's came in dark chocolate I might have reconsidered.


I thought you might enjoy a peek at the candyliciousness that is Economy Candy. It's so New York, not in the flashy manner of Dylan's Candy Bar (speaking of which, did you see that fabulous wedding?), but in the style of old New York, where substance counts more than style. (And did you know that Jelly Belly's are kosher? I didn't until just now.) We took my parents for a visit once and they found all the candy of their childhood: Blackjack gum, Teaberry gum, I don't remember what all. They were really, honestly, like kids in the candy store. I loved watching them.





13 comments:

  1. I'm really happy that I don't live close to that candystore (lucky, lucky you!!!). I love candy and have never seen so much!!

    But of course you must get your Jelly Beans there, no wonder that it took you a long time. But it's worth "the effort" because the colour of the Jelly Beans truely looks perfect for your patterns.

    What a wonderful thing that you and your partner think about things like that....that says a lot about your way of working. And also how much you care about the work with the patterns. :0)

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  2. Wow that shop looks amazing! I would be in heaven!!

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  3. glad to hear you've other options! going to ny in july-i'm going to have to add the candy store to your list of places to go!! thanks!

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  4. There's a reason right there to stick it out with your school woes. Candy Heaven!!! Right around the corner. Wow, wow, and wow.

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  5. glad to hear it all worked out
    i think the jelly beans are a perfect choice
    i'd be tempted by all that candy if i had not just made dark chocolate covered strawberries which
    i now won't eat until tomorrow because i
    um
    licked the spoon a few times...

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  6. Dark chocolate M&M's do exist--at least here in Canada! Sen me your address and I'll send you some :)
    My hubby loves 'em!

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  7. I want to go there!

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  8. Yum - thanks for the all the candy shots! Although too bad about no dark chocolate M&Ms - we have them in Canada, but I guess that doesn't help you so much.

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  9. "Wha? Huh? Have I died? Am I in heaven?" All things my sweet tooth is saying to my right now.

    The jelly beans are fab.

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  10. Anonymous9:59 AM

    I am so relieved that that wasn't on your list of places to visit when I came to New York! I would have had to chose between space in my luggage for fabric or candy. And that would have been a tough one - especially as Jim loves candy almost as much as I love fabric, so he could have tipped the balance there!
    That said....
    Manda

    treefall

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  11. Liesl - you really need to stop this... nearly everytime you blog something about a specific detail obsession, it's almost like reading a duplicate of myself. I obsessed online (because we don't have the luxury of such an awesome candy store except for the gift section of the Cracker Barrel restaurant) about candy a couple years ago... trying to find the PERFECT individually wrapped candy that represented our business (that we could include with packages). I finally settled on Mary Janes and Walnettos. Jelly Bellies are one of my favorite candies, though, with Tutti Fruity being my favorite flavor. If you ever get a chance to visit their factory - it's amazing!

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  12. Cathy7:38 PM

    We love to visit that place! Found out about it on the Food Network. We even walked about thirty blocks to visit! I'm from Texas. Can't wait to go back (well, not just for the candy)

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  13. Going to New York in July and this place is now firmly on the agenda. We'll have to run all the way back uptown so that the kids don't go completely into orbit with the sugar rush. Thanks!

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