merry christmas !

photograph by laura resen

artisanal glass

we have a collection of vintage and artisanal glass in our pop-up shop...this carafe
and glasses set, left, is in our online shop for $48....great for wines, waters, ciders for holiday entertaining or gift giving.

its a wrap !

we're wrapping up for the holidays.. simple newsprint with string and privet berries...
today is the last day for shopping on line for holiday delivery!

one week to go...

Happy holidays from The New General Store!

cream knit blanket

these 100% natural cotton knit blankets are perfect twin bed covers or generous throws to curl up in over the holidays...a moss stitch reversible knit, they are 50"x 60"
and can be ordered at our online shop for $95...still time to receive before Christmas!

the new general store style

we still have lots of great gifts for the holidays: oatmeal bears for $12.50, lunch bags for $18, wood crates of olive oil and vinegar from $25-60, linen aprons for the chef $50-75 and wedgwood stoneware juicers for $20.

for the "green" friend on your holiday shopping list

we have the best bags for all your everyday needs: the market bag holds everything from groceries, recycling, market finds, yoga gear, kids toys...the lunch bag is a chic way to carry a healthy lunch to work or on your travels...the perfect gift for yourself or a friend who wants to shop/travel/live in style and help the environment!
photographs by marili forastieri

great stocking stuffers

Finds for everyone on your list: mint salt, orient lavender honey and peach preserves for $10 each, paperwhite candle $15, white flower soap $12, oatmeal bear $12.50, "washed cotton" hand cream $20, 4 slate bottle tags $18.

new wood gift crates

my favorite gift for friends who love to cook (or eat) is our new signature wood crate filled with extra virgin olive oil or sweet fennel vinegar or both.
they are $25-$60 and are bottled for us on the north fork of long island...the olive oil is from Italy, the vinegar is bottled here during their summer harvest.
can be ordered and shipped out before christmas at our online shop.

jane cumberbatch blog

My friend Jane was here from London for our pop-up weekend and has just posted a blog on her pure style site about her time with us on Long Island...Here she is signing a book for Matthew Mead... she baked a tray of chestnut chocolate fudge from her new cookbook Easy Recipes...it is delicious! check out her post with her insights and photos! http://www.purestyleonline.com/category/blog

wood pizza peels

simple and functional, these wood handled boards are perfect for prep or serving and in great demand this holiday season...we use them for cheeses and breads, pizzas + quesadillas, and chargers on the dining table...a caterer friend bought a dozen to use to serve appetizers at parties. only $18 each at our online shop.

washed cotton bath + body collection

whether getting this for yourself to relax this holiday season, or gifting it to a friend or family favorite, this natural "washed cotton" collection is a perfect solution! bath salts, body lotion, soap, hand cream...made in the usa by k.hall, available at our online shop at www.thenewgeneralstore.com. photograph by jeff mcnamara

oatmeal bears for christmas

for the child on your list...comes with a hug and a squeak...$12.50 at our online shop

gifts for the modernist on your list

simple designs from a cream italian bicycle, a linen apron, a stoneware juicer and canvas lunch bag, great classic modern gifts, naturally...

our holiday event

we had a beautiful sunny day on long island for our 3rd annual holiday event and lots of old friends and new friends came by to visit and shop ...we had stocking stuffers from $1-10, hostess gifts under $25, great gift ideas for the gardener and chef...

the white shop was the first stop filled with a vintage college of ironstone, paperwhites and The Laundress household collection + paperwhite candles

vintage linens, birdhouses, teasets were also in the winter white shop inspired by Holiday with Matthew Mead who used this old chicken coop and turned it into a winter wonderland with beautiful decorations and tea sets

Matthew Mead and Jane Cumberbatch were our celebrity guests this time, signing their new books and meeting their fans... Jane sold all her books by lunchtime! You can still buy her Pure Style book series on Amazon as well as her new one called Easy Recipes which she has kindly adapted with American measurements

spicy pumpkin soup menu...proceeds from our soup kitchen went to buy bulbs to plant in the historic district ...can't wait to see all the white daffodils blooming this spring along main street!

outdoor table with firepit and blankets... a good spot to enjoy soup and cookies made by michael jones...spiced pumpkin (a theme here) and walnut shortbread...hope all who came had a great time, and if you couldn't make it, check out our online shop and we'll be posting more photos of the event and the new general store gift suggestions for the season!

today's the day!

all is ready for the holiday event today! the greens and trees are up, the paperwhites are blooming and the sun is shining! Matthew Mead is on the ferry to Long Island, and Jane Cumberbatch is here from London already to sign books...please join us here or online to visit with friends and see our new holiday gifts

!

one more day !

setting up the studio and getting ready for our event tomorrow...jane cumberbatch is here already and matthew mead is coming tomorrow with his new issues... wreaths and christmas trees are being placed and christmas music is getting us in the mood...here are a few photos...hope you'll join us tomorrow, here or online!

natural selections

all the right touches for a holiday season of cooking: a stoneware colander, wood serving boards, rosemary olive oil, kindling bundles for the fire...come visit the new general store this saturday for our annual holiday event on long island...details on our site, www.thenewgeneralstore.com. shop online if you can't join us!

bulb forcing jars

warm up this weekend

on these cool fall days, we love warming up with a sheepskin, scented candle, reminder to put the kettle on + soft cream felt ipad cover to cozy up in bed with!
all available now at our online shop. photographs by jeff mcnamara

basket of privet berries

using berries and branches is a natural transition between halloween and thanksgiving...here, privet berries from long island hedges, in a handwoven mail basket on the front door, is a perfect way to decorate and celebrate the season. photograph by laura resen

natural decorating for the holidays

photograph by jeff mcnamara

check in with me today from 10-4pm EST at greenhouse design studio where I'll be having a conversation with laurie on natural decorating for the holidays!
http://greenhousedesignstudio.com/greencommunity.aspx

pine cone season

we love these pine cones... use as a single candleholder, in pairs or clustered on a dining table or fireplace mantel...with an antiqued brown patina on cast iron, they are great for thanksgiving settings + through the holidays for a more rustic, natural style of decorating...$25 each at our online store photograph by jeff mcnamara

white flower fragrances for the bath

a long soak in a warm bath these fall days is even better with this new collection from K Hall Studio...in botanically illustrated packaging with white morning glories, the products are all natural and scented with white flowers and fresh herbs...made in the usa, from $12-$25... stock up for yourself or for christmas gifts at our online shop...photograph by jeff mcnamara

holiday wrapping

newsprint, linen string and privet berries

thanksgiving at the new general store

we have wonderful serving pieces handmade by barbara eigen for us in cream and fog: 2 oval platter sizes for turkey or roast vegetables, big low serving bowls for mashed potatoes, as well as stoneware jugs for cider or wine...we also have condiment sets for salts and peppers or sauces and our round wood boards are perfect for breads and cheeses or desserts. For setting the table, we love our artisanal glass tumblers and natural linen napkins and placemats from fog linen...a teak wood server is ready to go with the pumpkin pie (and makes a great hostess gift). Slate bottle tags identify wines, and juices and the slate place cards look great on the table and or can be used on platters to mark appetizers and cheeses. For the chef, our natural linen aprons make cooking a pleasure...
happy thanksgiving! photographs by jeff mcnamara,marili forastieri, tara sgroi

natural selections

natural linen placemats and napkins warm up the table and create the perfect setting
...from fog linen...mats $15 each, set of 4 napkins with stamp, $55.
photograph by jeff mcnamara

happy halloween !

brown + brown!

We are loving stripes and shades of brown this fall, so these two tone linen bath sheets and woven sea grass bath accessories are perfect items to add texture and character in the bath...the glass + holder, tissue box and stoneware jug are just as at home in a modern city apartment or a country house...available at our online shop: www.thenewgeneralstore.com photographs by jeff mcnamara

warming up for fall!

cozy up with this soft striped all cotton blanket... to use as a throw on your sofa or a blanket on your bed...reversible in classic navy and white stripes, it has a white ground on one side, and navy on the other...two looks in one and is inspired by those great boatneck cotton knit shirts ... $95 at our online shop

laundress home cleaning collection

these fresh new fall cleaning products in beautiful packaging, make housekeeping a breeze...the laundress line includes a multi-purpose dishwashing soap that works for handwashing or dishwashers, a mirror/glass cleaner, a multi-surface cleaner and a general cleaning concentrate...all made naturally in clean modern signature laundress scents...$14-18 each at our online shop photograph by jeff mcnamara

slate placecards

slate cards with small teak posts to display are perfect for dinner parties to use at place settings or on a buffet...we use them on cheese platters to identify cheeses, and to let friends know what's on the menu! comes with a chalk to write your message so can be used over and over and looks as much at home on a sleek modern city table or in a natural country setting...set of 10/$24 at our online shop

cream felt reader covers

thick cream felt covers take good care of your new ipad or kindle and come in small and large, $25 + $35 at our on-line shop.

Wellie Boot Knocker

our wellie boot knocker with a dark patinaed finish is a welcoming touch on your front door for garden lovers or anglophiles or those who just love wellies! $15 at our online shop. photograph by jeff mcnamara

fall entertaining

simple family style suppers are our style here...big bowls of salad and in fall, warm orzo with black olives and goat cheese, sun dried tomatoes and fresh herbs. our large low serving bowls are perfect to use from kitchen to table and come in fog gray and cream. Made in the usa by our favorite potter barbara eigen. $90.each

orient farm lavender honey

we just received a new batch of lavender honey from orient on the north fork...perfect for these cool days and sipping hot tea...also use to drizzle on yogurt or oatmeal for breakfast, or with goat cheese + crackers with wine later...

Vegetables from an Italian Garden

We love Phaidon's new cookbook which is a seasonal celebration of the vegetable garden. Whether you grow your own or buy them at the market, the tips on preparing seasonal dishes and delicious recipes makes this a "must-have" for your cookbook collection. Fall favorites with an Italian flavor are pumpkin flan with pine nuts, roasted chestnuts + brussel sprouts, risotto with white truffles + parmesan.
At our on-line shop, $39.95.