Everything And Nothing

The Writer in the Window Lives On

 

In 1984, hopelessly blocked on a novel, Georgelle Hirliman hit on the idea of setting up shop with her typewriter in a Santa Fe storefront. Beside her, she placed a sign:

Help Me Cure My Writer’s Block — Give Me a Topic.

In Manhattan she wrote in the windows of The Village Voice, Shakespeare & Co. on the Upper West Side and B. Dalton on Fifth Avenue, among other places, sitting daily for eight hours at a stretch.

Though Ms. Hirliman passed away in 2010, her inspiration lives on now through a New Yorker now living in Savannah, Lauren DeRosa. She occupies the window at Paris Market on Broughton St.

I talked to her briefly in the store. I didn't understand the history of her "project" at that time. It just intrigued me.

A writer in a window. Are you on display, like a zoo or a mannequin? Seeking to answer questions in an artsy store, are you part of the block or part of the writer? But there were beautiful words everywhere (whatever the answer).

She asked me if I had a question for her to answer, but, honestly, I saw so many pictures in my head...words escaped me.

How much is that writer in the window?  “I stopped answering that,” Ms. Hirliman told The Albuquerque Journal in 2000. “Nobody paid.”

John Derian at Target

Photo via New York Times

For just eight weeks starting September 7, John Derian is offering a line of about 50 pieces based on the decoupage pieces that made him famous at Target.

The coasters, photo albums, plates and wrapping paper, which are digitally printed to resemble decoupage, lack the depth of his original work - but the most expensive item in the collection is about the same price as a small paperweight in his original line. (The melamine bird tray above is about $17.)

The Grocery Guide

This is pretty cool.

The Grocery Guide lets you enter a zip code, pick two local stores - and it shows you all of the items on sale that week. It aggregates sales circulars and coupons and allows you to create a "hit list" for your visit. You can even print a customizable shopping list.

In addition, you can also create alerts on items so you know when something you buy often is on sale at one of your preferred locations.

Jackson is in the database. I looked at sales from Kroger and Wal-mart.

[ via Read/Write Web ]

Go Dotty

I have a thing for polka dots and tights, so these are right up my alley. (I flat out refuse to buy another pair of pantyhose - I get away with tights for the winter and luckily don't have to wear hose to work in the warmer months. Tights last forever too - not just for a day...or a morning or afternoon as was often the case with me.) These are available in black dots too (which I would probably prefer, but I can't tell as there is not a picture.)

$28

Alpha Shopper

ThisNext has officially made me an Alpha. And it seems my obsessive cataloguing makes me an "opinion leader" in their eyes - not just someone who spends way too much time online looking at stuff she will never buy.

So thank you, This Next. The feeling is mutual.

If you're looking for items that I've featured on this blog (or found on others), it's most likely on my Shopcast somewhere. Here are a few of my Shopcast lists:

• Meet Me in Paris
• All At Sea
• Map Quest
• Summer Fun!

Haute Kitty

The Hello Kitty "Minaudiere" from Judith Leiber retails for $1,895. It's available at Judith Leiber boutiques and select fine department stores - like Neiman Marcus. Matching compact also available.

Thrift store shopping online

Goodwill has launched an online auction to dispense of donated goods. It's set up in an ebay-esque format.

Participating Goodwills from across the country offer for auction on the site a wide array of art, antiques and collectibles as well as new and nearly new items pulled from their vast inventories of donated goods. From unique one-of-a-kind items to estate pieces, the depth of resources is enormous. Revenues from these auction sales fund Goodwill's education, training and job placement programs for people with disabilities and other barriers.

Try a Little Likeness

Like.com puts a visual twist on online shopping. You can do a "likeness" search and find something similar to what your favorite celebrity wore to their latest afterparty. Once you get results, you can narrow choices by color, shape or price.

You can also upload scans from magazines or personal photos and let the site to a visual likeness search for you. (Or just look at the pretty pictures and click when you see one you like.) ;)

Your Three Cents

Charles Herold, in USA Weekend magazine, compiled a variety of sites that lets consumers vent about problems with companies or stores:

• Complaints.com
• Planetfeedback.com
• Complaintbook.com
• My3cents.com

Some sites send complaints directly to companies. Others just allow you to share your experiences with others. Read the fine print.

Shawn's Seasonal Shopcasts

To get you ready for the upcoming celebrations - Valentine's Day, Mardi Gras and St. Patrick's Day (you know...all the important holidays) - I've created special shopping lists on my Shopcast to help you out. If you have any suggestions, send them my way.

• The Look of Love (Valentine's Day gifts)
• Throw Me Something, Mister (to get you ready for Mardi Gras)
• Today, I'm Irish (to get ready for St. Patrick's Day)