Friday Favorites 12/28/2012

Kaitlin Madden, Managing and Online Editor
Sometimes, it takes a tourist–a fresh pair of eyes–to make you stop and look around your own city. Such was the case recently, when a friend of mine was visiting Boston from New York and, over lunch, began telling me about this great store she’d popped into on the corner of Newbury and Arlington Streets. Apparently, it was a chair-lover’s haven, stocked with four-legged finds in styles from Shaker to modern. When she told me the name of the store I couldn’t believe I hadn’t put two-and-two together. Thos. Moser, a place I’d heard about more than once at the office, a company whose work I’d seen and website I’d visited, but a store, I realized, I hadn’t been to since I moved back to Boston this summer. So, this weekend, I plan to pop in and take a long overdue look around for myself.

The store’s exterior. Photo courtesy of the Boston Neighborhoods Network

The Eastward Chair. Photo courtesy of Thos. Moser

The Chaise. Photo courtesy of Thos. Moser

Stacy Kunstel, Homes Editor
New England winters gift a plethora of bird life. While I would purposely rearrange my office for better viewing of a tufted titmouse or snow bunting, I can’t say that my current bird feeder is up to design snuff. Given the choice I’d go modern like this stainless steel birdfeeder I found on the online store of the Boston-based Lekker Home. Simple lines and a clean design won’t distract from the winter display. 

Photo courtesy of Lekker Home.

Maria LaPiana, Contributing Writer
I’ve loved the Brookfield Craft Center‘s pastoral setting from the moment I first laid eyes on it–quite by chance, on my way up to Route 7 over a decade ago. An old mill on the banks of the Still River, six antique outbuildings…it doesn’t get more New England than this. What I came to learn about the BCC, however, quickly eclipsed the pretty scenery: It is a renowned school dedicated to teaching fine crafts–both traditional and contemporary–to everyone, from beginners to master craftsmen. Its buildings house seven fully equipped studios, an exhibition gallery and retail shop filled with extraordinary works made of clay, glass, metal, wood, fiber and more.

This year’s 37th Annual Holiday Sale fundraiser for craft education featured handmade pieces priced from $4 to $4,000 … and although sales were brisk throughout December, there’s still time to shop. Plus everything is on sale! Take a ride over this weekend and take advantage of markdowns throughout the gallery. Discounts are deeper, of course, for BCC members. The shop is open today (Friday, 12/28) and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Monday (New Year’s Eve) from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Closed on New Year’s Day, the shop’s regular hours resume on Jan. 2. The Brookfield Craft Center is located at 286 Whisconier Rd. (Route 25 at 202) in Brookfield, CT 06804. For more information, call 203-775-4526 or visit www.brookfieldcraft.org.

Photos by Maria LaPiana

A pretty display of colorful glassware.

The shop stocks plenty of wooden kitchen utensils.