Crafts with Kanibal: PREVIEW - Homemade Valentines

We're getting crafty tomorrow night. Who's joining us for a glitter-filled night of heart-shaped cupcakes, wine and card-making?!

Here's a little preview:

Crafts with Kanibal: Homemade Valentines

It's time to craft a little something-something for your sweetheart, ladies. 3-D cards? We're going to make them! Old school valentines? We'll bring them back! So if you're into handmade cards and you love glitter, hearts and sweet sentiments, then you should sign up for Kanibal Home's next craft class. We'll even be serving heart-shaped dessert (seriously, we're going there).

WHAT: Handmade Valentines
WHEN: Thursday, 2/9 at 7:30pm
WHERE: Kanibal Home, 213 Montgomery Street
COST: $25, includes lesson + all materials + refreshments

Per the usual, 100% of the proceeds of each craft class goes back to the local artist teaching the lesson. So come out and craft to your heart's content (participants will learn how to make 3 different valentines, from the curious to the creative ... but there's no cap on quantity. You can even make a card for your pet!).

Please RSVP to kanibal (at) kanibalhome (dot) com to reserve a spot in the class (space is limited).

Crafts with Kanibal: Fabric Electronic Cases

If you're like me, then you got a new electronic device for the holidays. Maybe it was a new iPhone or a Kindle or some other very cool gadget. Now, if you're also like me, you are one-part obsessed with this new toy and equal parts terrified of breaking it. If this is the case, then join us next Wednesday for a Kanibal Home craft class dedicated to DIY electronic covers.

WHAT: Crafts with Kanibal - Fabric Cases
WHERE: Kanibal Home, 213 Montgomery Street in downtown Jersey City
WHEN: Wednesday, 1/18 at 7:30pm
COST: $25 includes all supplies to make the case (and then some) plus refreshments

Please note that you might want to bring the item you would like to create a case for or trace it's size before coming to the class to ensure a snug fit.

Size is limited, so please RSVP to kanibal (at) kanibalhome (dot) com if you would like to attend the class.

Shop Late, Shop Local: Every Thursday Until 10pm!

One day in the shop I was talking to a budding entrepreneur who was trying to get her event planning business established. I said, "As a small business owner you can interact with a lot of people every day but still remain extremely isolated. It's important to get out, network and brainstorm with peers. Don't be afraid to give up control and collaborate."

So when Meika and Warren from Another Man's Treasure popped into Kanibal Home at the end of November I decided to take my own advice. Meika and I have a history of trading shop talk, so it was no big surprise when our conversation strayed to the upcoming holiday season. How were we individually going to encourage local shopping? We already direct customers back and forth between our two shops, but what more could we do? How would we help drive shopping traffic to some of the other local shops as well?

And that's when Shop Late, Shop Local was born. Over the last few years, downtown Jersey City has seen the arrival of many great retail establishments. The mission of Shop Late, Shop Local is to spread the word about these businesses and encourage the flow of foot traffic among our growing shopping community.

Every Thursday during the month of December, participating businesses will extend operating hours until 10pm and offer customers an additional incentive. Following is a list of participating businesses:

PARTICIPATING BUSINESSES
Another Man's Treasure
Beekman Lane
DEEN
Grove Street Bicycles
Hound About Town
Hudson County Art Supply
Iris Records
Kanibal Home
Metropolis Music
Mxyplyzyk
Smith + Chang General Goods

Tia’s Place
Vivi Girl

We even took our local commitment one step further and collaborated with the very talented Josh Bryant from Jersey City-based Metal Mermaid Press to design all of our marketing materials. Check out this snazzy poster:

 And below is a shopping guide with corresponding incentives:

SHOP LATE, SHOP LOCAL

Downtown Jersey City 2011 Holiday Shopping Guide

Another Man’s Treasure Vintage Store

353 Grove Street

A kaleidoscopic array of hand-picked vintage fashions, accessories, shoes and jewelry for men and women from the 1900's to the 1980's, with a focus on classic vintage, on-trend finds and designer bargains. An intriguing mix of vintage collectibles, records, books and magazines ensure there is something for everyone!

THURSDAY INCENTIVE: Serving seasonal drinks and nibbles.

Beekman Lane

512-B Jersey Avenue

Beekman Lane is an Interior Decoration Studio and Antique & Home Goods shop.  The shop carries an eclectic mix of antique pieces ranging from rustic & industrial to Mid-Century Modern.  Beekman Lane also houses a great selection of gift items.

THURSDAY INCENTIVE: Discounts on selected items and refreshments.

Deen Boutique
88 Morgan Street (Trump Plaza)
DEEN is a lifestyle boutique located in the heart of the Powerhouse Art District. Find a unique mix of established brands and trendy up-and-coming local designers. DEEN tailors its clothing and accessories with their customers in mind and continue to gain recognition in the Jersey City area. The boutique is like no other, with fashion basic looks for women as well as trendy accessories and home decor at affordable prices. DEEN is your one stop shop for fashion with unique styles.

THURSDAY INCENTIVE: $15 off all regular purchase over $50 or more plus enjoy a glass of wine while you shop. 

Grove Street Bicycles

365 Grove Street

Grove Street Bicycles is a full service bicycle shop located two blocks north of the Grove Street PATH Station. They carry the most sought after brands and styles in cycling for the entire family.  The shop stocks brands like Specialized, Masi, Dahon, FBM, FIT, Wethepeople, and many others. They are a full-service shop and can handle all your repair and maintenance needs. Their service department has more than 30 years of experience fixing bicycles, and their passionate team has a zeal for biking!

THURSDAY INCENTIVE: Offering 10% off all in stock accessories, 5% to 20% off all in stock bicycles and up to 50% off clothing(cycling or casual).

Hound About Town

218 Montgomery Fourth Street

17 McWilliams Place

Hound About Town’s motto is: You live a stylish urban lifestyle – your pet should too! At Hound About Town convenience meets community. They’re a cozy boutique with a focus on eco-friendly, locally made apparel and accessories, as well as optimal, sustainable nutrition choices for your pet. The shop’s second location recently opened at Hamilton Square.

THURSDAY INCENTIVE: 20% off selected items, refreshments and special events.

Hudson County Art Supply

303 First Street

Hudson County Art Supply opened in Downtown Jersey City in September 2003 with a mission to supply the local and surrounding communities with high quality art supplies in a friendly, helpful neighborhood atmosphere. They are geared toward artists and students and carry a wide array of art supplies including paints, brushes, paper, drawing materials and canvas.

THURSDAY INCENTIVE: 20% your purchases during Shop Late, Shop Local.

 Iris Records

114 Brunswick Street

Iris Records has served the vinyl needs of Jersey City since 1996. Well-known in Tokyo and Europe, the store covers all genres of music, from punk to funk to jazz records, along with soul, country, hiphop and even easy listening, vocals and oddities. Housed in a vintage 1920s pharmacy (yes, they have original phone booths!), Iris also now carries new release vinyl (Bon Iver! St.Vincent!) and a great assortment of 45s, rock magazines, and even an interesting assortment of books. And don't forget to check out the always surprising dollar section that seems to grow bigger and better each week!

THURSDAY INCENTIVE: All used records are 20% off each Thursday until Christmas.

Kanibal Home

213 Montgomery Street

Kanibal Home is a home décor and lifestyle store rooted in the belief that history is the heart of the home. The shop’s offerings include refurbished vintage furniture, found objects & new home décor, apparel and gift items. Kanibal Home regularly hosts craft workshops and events with a focus on supporting the local community.

THURSDAY INCENTIVE: Special events, giveaways and refreshments.

Metropolis

240 Newark Ave

Metropolis Music is Jersey City’s best (and only) music store. They carry a full line of new and used musical instruments, and offer private lessons, repairs and consignments.

THURSDAY INCENTIVE: Live music, special discounts and sale items.

Mxyplyzyk

308 Grove St

Mxyplyzyk is the place for good taste and contemporary design at affordable prices.

THURSDAY INCENTIVE: Offering 10% discount on entire purchase from 7pm - 10pm on Thursdays.

Smith & Chang General Goods

230 Pavonia Avenue

Inspired by general stores once found in small towns across America, Smith & Chang General Goods is a department store with an eco twist and a vintage vibe. They feature quality goods that are essential to everyday life, sustainable, stylish and authentic. Decidedly American in aesthetic, the shop sources as much as possible locally yet bring the best products available from all over the world. Smith & Chang’s own line of goods are produced locally using materials of highest quality. They promote responsible ways of living through the use of vintage & antiques, products made with reclaimed materials and locally produced & natural goods.

THURSDAY INCENTIVE: Offering prosecco to shoppers.

Tia’s Place

277 Grove Street

The shop is a women's boutique that offers shoes, accessories, jewelry, handbags, fashionable clothing and dresses at great prices. 

THURSDAY INCENTIVE: Offering 10% off.

Vivi Girl

512-A Jersey Avenue

Fun, girly, cute, sparkly, flirty, whimsical, and colorful (with an extra teaspoonful of pink!) all describe what Vivi Girl is all about.  The shop carries Orla Kiely bags, Tarina Tarantino jewelry, Tokyo Milk & Lollia bath & body products, and more!

In addition, here’s a link to the “Shop Late, Shop Local” Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shop-Late-Shop-Local/313351342027352?sk=wall&filter=1

So what do you say? Will you be shopping local this holiday season?

Yoga Class at Kanibal Home - Wednesday at 7:30pm

It's officially the holiday season and -- in between the sweets and stress -- it's nice to take a moment to focus and relax. That's why we invited Michelle from Michelle Timek Yoga into the shop for a very special vinyasa flow yoga class.

This Wednesday (12/7) at 7:30pm please join us at Kanibal Home for an intimate yoga class. The lesson is $15 and -- like all of the classes taught in the shop -- 100% of the cost goes to the local artist/instructor. Note: bring a yoga mat and wear comfortable clothing.

Space is limited, so please RSVP to kristen (at) kanibalhome.com to reserve a spot if you are interested in participating.

Push Pull Cambodia Trunk Sale: Thursday at 7:30pm

Working at Kanibal Home has lots of apparent and not-so-apparent bonuses. One of the best surprises I receive are the people I meet in the shop. The quality and character of each individual is astounding and I'm always inspired by their creativity, motivation and passion.

And I can think of no better example than Leigh Morlock. The above description fits her perfectly. One of the most fearless and creative people I've met, Leigh left the comforts of the western world several years ago to "temporarily" consult on a weaving project in Cambodia ... years later, she's not only living there -- and calling Cambodia her home -- but she's started a business. Being an entrepreneur in America is hard enough, but overseas? Well, let's just say she has some interesting stories. From speaking with her it seems to be an enriching experience that's been dotted with many triumphs and a handful of tribulations. The best part? She gets to admire the fruits of her labor in the exquisite textiles (bags, accessories, fabric and home decor) made by her company, Push Pull Cambodia.

So when Leigh flew back to New Jersey for a few weeks and suggested a trunk show at Kanibal Home ... well, I obviously jumped on the idea. Just look at these beautiful goods for yourself:

So please join us for a Push Pull Cambodia trunk show tomorrow (Thursday) evening at 7:30pm!

Enjoy:
* 20% off Push Pull Cambodia bags and pillows
* A discussion with founders Joellen Nicholson + Leigh Morlock, who will be on hand to talk about the business and product
* Refreshments, including wine and snacks

This is also the first night of SHOP LATE, SHOP LOCAL -- an initiative created to encourage local shopping for the 2011 holiday season. Every Thursday during the month of December, participating businesses will extend their operating hours until 10pm and offer customers an additional incentive. And the Push Pull Cambodia trunk show is the kick-off for Kanibal Home!

As background, Push Pull Cambodia synthesizes traditional technique with modern pattern designs and contemporary color palettes. They hire underemployed weavers who are skilled in the craft of Ikat weaving and make all of their fabrics by hand.

For additional please visit: http://pushpullcambodia.com/

Small Business Saturday

Everyone knows about the craziness of Black Friday where consumers gobble down Thanksgiving to go and wait in line at big box retailers. But -- hey! -- what about the little guys? What about the mom-and-pop stores where the salespeople play with your kids while you shop and ask you (genuinely) how your day is going? Those stores have your best interests in mind all year long, so why not show them some love at the start of the holiday shopping season too.

And that brings us to SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY. A shopping day dedicated to boutiques and family-run establishments. You know, stores like Kanibal Home. We love being part of the community, but also need local support to keep doing what we're doing. So this Saturday come visit us for Small Business Saturday -- we'll be serving up sweets and cider AND offering a 10% discount to American Express card holders who use their credit at the store. And what if you don't have an American Express? No worries! Just mention this blog post and we'll give you 10% off your entire order as well.

See, that's why you should love your small businesses: we really are all about supporting the community!

SHOP LOCAL!

Craft Class: Textile Stamping

Kanibal Home is thrilled to welcome back Jersey City artist Daniella Lekach -- she'll be teaching a class on textile stamping this upcoming Thursday (10/20) at 7:30pm.

With the holidays around the corner, Daniella will be demonstrating how to create custom stamps that can then be used to make a multitude of gifts, including Furoshiki gift wrap and one-of-a-kind handkerchiefs.

Cost is $25 cash and includes the lesson, all materials and refreshments. 100% of the price of the class goes to the local instructor.

Space is limited, so if you're interested in participating please RSVP to kristen (at) kanibalhome (dot) com.

Around Town: 4th Street Festival

This Saturday, Kanibal Home is partnering with Rubella Jewelry at the Eighth Annual 4th Street Art & Music Festival. We'll be bringing tons of crafty goodness and some terrific never-before-seen surprises. In addition to checking out our tent, definitely peruse the rest of the festival and enjoy live music, beer and some yummy food vendors.

This Saturday: Sidewalk Sale!

We're cleaning up and clearing out in preparation for the cool weather (and all the new items that are arriving in the shop). So pop by on Saturday to check out a dazzling array of curiosities -- from vintage dishware and clothing to side chairs, home decor and jewelry. Sale starts at 11am. See you then!

Craft Class: Cold Water Dye + Lace Jewelry

 

This Thursday at 7:30pm Kanibal Home will host a new local artist in the shop! Alison Charli Smith will be teaching a two part craft process to participants: 1) how to dye lace using cold water dyes and 2) how to turn that lace into custom jewelry using mixed metal, findings and beads. 

The cost of the class is $25 cash, which includes the lesson, refreshments and all materials with 100% of the cost going to the local artist teaching the class. Space is limited, so please RSVP to reserve a spot if interested in attending.

Live Music at Kanibal Home: Thursday at 8pm

This Thursday at 8pm Kanibal Home is hosting a special listening event for our friend and Jersey City neighbor, Amelia Hollander Ames. Many of you may have already had the pleasure of hearing this talented lady play the viola with Con Vivo, but tomorrow's performance will be structured fairly different. 

For one, we're extending business hours in the shop so listeners can mill around, sip wine and enjoy the music during this intimate, salon-type event. Secondly, Amelia will be playing a cello suite by Bach and a solo viola piece by Chinese-American composer Bright Sheng. Lastly -- and this is big -- Amelia is the only violist in the world who plays this particular Bright Sheng piece, called The Flowing Brook. It was never published, but rather adapted after Sheng wrote it in 1988 into a longer work for piano and violin.


Please arrive on time and note that this will be a fairly short presentation, spanning no more than 30 minutes of music altogether. Standing room only.


See you tomorrow!

Amelia Hollander Ames