I’ve always been a fan of a great at-home bar. I strongly believe it’s a must-learn life skill to mix up classic cocktails, and as an avid host, it’s important to provide an array...
Looking back on Easter as a child, I remember how excited I was to dig through my Easter basket. Full of chocolate bunnies, malt ball Easter eggs, Peeps, golden coins, and my favorite Cadbury...
Lets be honest, salads can be boring. So I’m always trying to think outside of the box to come up with salad recipes that I’ll thoroughly enjoy, but are beyond easy to make. Enter...
Lets be honest, salads can be boring. So I’m always trying to think outside of the box to come up with salad recipes that I’ll thoroughly enjoy, but are beyond easy to make. Enter...
From left to right, top to bottom…Coach Heritage coloblocked baseball glove || Titleist Pro V1 golf balls (the Mr.’s favorite) || Monogrammed overside tote bag || Knotz racing stripes cufflinks || ballpark peanuts and hopefully a Braves game || “Put some hair on your chest” flask || Sea Salt soap || Handmade leather football || Green Moss candle (the perfect scent for any guy) || Peace and Prosperity handkerchief set(love THIS set as well) || Cartier Jumping Hours watch (the Mr. wishes) || Warby Parker Percey glasses, also available in sunnies || A day on the links golf pencils || Maison Martin MarigelaSneakers || Knotz patriotic cuff links || Jawbone JamBox (we use this ALL the time!! Perfect for your patio, travel and the Mr. takes his golfing) || Wurtz power collar stays || Ghurka leather catchall || Handmade ceramic growler
P.S. Just for dad’s day, take 20% off all Father’s Day gifts in the shop with FATHER20now through June 10th. Happy shopping!
A few months ago I was scouting out new products for the Boutique (my favorite pastime), and I came across these decoupage “necessity trays”from Ben’s Garden. I was immediately smitten with the gorgeous decoupage quotes, and then I heard Ben’s story. I was floored, and I knew (A.) I had to have his line in Waiting On Martha and (B.) Ben’s story was something I had to share with whomever would listen.
I hope you love the trays as much as I love carrying them, and his story goes a little something like this…
{1983} Born in Setauket, N.Y. on Long Island.
{1987} Ben started his first garden.
{1988} Known to always have a gardener’s trowel or paintbrush in hand.
{1989} Ben decoupaged his mother’s cocktail table. She was pretty impressed.
{1992} Ben started “Ben’s Garden” selling decoupage & notecards. (For all you non-mathmetical types Ben was 9).
{1994} Mails Smith & Hawken and New York Botanical Garden a catalog, gets orders from both. Orders pour in. Ben puts his friends to work in his parent’s carriage house.
{1995} Ben had to change the “Please call 24/7, we’re waiting,” in his catalog, because his mom was not happy answering the phone.
{2000}
A.P. English High School teacher conferenced his parents. Pages were missing from his textbooks. (He was making paperweights with the quotes.)
{2000}
Publishes first issue of Ben’s Garden Quarterly.
{2001}
Met with C.Z. Guest, a famous socialite, to ask her to write for his magazine. While eating tiny sandwiches and watching her son practice polo, Ben talks about talking up polo as a sport. She laughs and agrees to write for his magazine.
{2002}
Graduates High School.
{2002}
Running Ben’s Garden at home in Setauket was driving his parent’s and neighbor’s nuts.
{2003}
Has a personal meeting with head buyer at Anthropologie, get’s an order.
They end up buying all of Ben’s designs within 6 months.
{2003}
Becomes a Master Gardener through Cornell University. Wholesale clients grow to include: ABC Carpet & Home, Dean & DeLuca, Kate’s Paperie.
Ben begins regularly exhibiting at national trade shows in Atlanta, San Francisco and New York City.
{2004}
Ben turns 20, and moves to Oyster Bay and opens his first store & studio.
{2006}
Ben’s découpage featured in InStyle Magazine. Business booms.
{2006}
Starts writing quarterly magazine column From Ben’s Garden for @Home Magazine. Ben’s A.P. English High School teacher is impressed.
{2007}
Opens second Ben’s Garden store in Huntington, N.Y. on Long Island at 3850 Sq. Ft.
{2008}
Ben’s Garden Studio in Oyster Bay expands into the space next door, to meet increased wholesale demand. Turns out customers like great handcrafted things made in the U.S.A.