Finally have a few moments to catch up a bit and share some local highlights from the New York International Gift Fair I recently attended.

It’s a major trade show, where local shops go to find what they’d like to sell.

It’s also where local companies show off what they make, or import… basically, there’s a lot of shopping going on.

We use the event as a great way to see what’s doing in the marketplace, talk to vendors from around the world, literally, to see how they are doing, to find out what they’re seeing as trends — and of course, catch up with locals.

Here’s a bit of a recap.

The lobby of the Javits center featured an exhibition on sustainability.

Here are a couple of items on display.

Forget throwaway pedicure slippers; use these from Creations by Alan Stuart.

Rebagz offered this tote made out of recycled plastic juice packages:

The show itself is massive; many buyers go for more than one day.

You want to see as much as you can, but I make a list filled with locals to try and visit. Many of the companies are wholesale, and you’ll find their products in local shops. Others do sell through their own Web sites.

These clocks were from Bai Design based in Croton-on-Hudson. Sleek, don’t you think?

In a quick aside…

Union Street Glass might be from Richmond, Calif., but boy did I love their booth’s look:

I caught up with a few of the ladies behind the Soap & Paper Factory, which offers bath products and stationery. The Garnerville-based company, a collaboration between Brickhouse Soap and Dewey Howard papers, finally opened a retail outlet (yeah!) in Nyack. Here’s what they were showcasing:

Also stopped by the booth for MINT, the design collective that features Yorktown High School grad Scott Henderson.

He wasn’t on hand, but I got to again see the group’s “Abra Candelabra,” a piece that is just so funky:

Don’t you love these new bags? They are from Liora Manné, the Manhattan designer who also has a home in Katonah:

Some companies with local ties I just found out about included Jars Ceramistes. It features ceramic dinnerware and home-decor items from France and has a Bronxville connection:

Also, Anne De Solene, which features luxury linens and textile goods from France, has ties to Bedford:

I also made contact with a handful of companies that I knew were local but haven’t worked with — yet.

These included Casafina, the Brewster company known for its ceramics, glass and tabletop items, including these new selections:

And — you know how I love jewelry so this was a treat — Anne Koplik Designs, also out of Brewster:

By the way, heard about a few more warehouse sales, so stay tuned… how’s that for a teaser?

And it wouldn’t be a traditional trip to the gift fair if I didn’t catch up with our “usual suspects,” those companies I run into quite a bit in my travels.

Start with the Red and White Kitchen Company, which is based in Mount Kisco. Their retro line’s new additions included these great towels and totes with a decidedly nautical feel:

Also caught up with Jennifer Rutheny, an artist who makes such lovely jewelry.

She has a Croton-on-Hudson gallery that also serves as her workshop and an art exhibition space. Check out her Web site for plenty of special events.

These little guys, she told me, are among the favorites she’s ever made (and she’s done a lot).

She told me she has an exclusive agreement with a cruise line to carry them — think congratulations are in order.

And get this, Rutheny’s own booth decorations (featuring Hudson River driftwood) were also a hit. A shop asked her if they could buy these, too!

Pam Older, a jewelry designer from Larchmont, recently visited Thailand. Some of her new offerings, she said, reflect her journey:

And of course, I had to stop by Island Imports, the Hawthorne-based home of Island Designs by Harry Haslett and the Christian Livingston Collection.

Wasn’t disappointed — the bags, jewelry, accessories… well, you’ll see:

Now I think the next Island warehouse sale is some time in April…

As I said, stay tuned!

Have you ever been to Awakenings?

It’s a shop that offers “books, music and many celestial treasures” in Katonah:

I’m not a regular, but every time I’ve gone I find something to buy, from an angel figurine to a book offering some kind of guidance or inspiration.

A story on the shop will appear in the Life & Style section, and on LoHud.com, Thursday — but here’s a sneak peek at what I saw this morning, when I stopped by again and “formally” met and chatted with owner Linda Love.

The shop is maybe best known for the books it carries, touching on topics from self-help to holistic healing, astrology to exercise.

The shop also offers figurines and statues, candles, essential oils and incense, jewelry, clothing … a lot.

Here’s just a quick look around:

And take a look at this aquamarine. It was just stunning, a highlight of the many crystals of all kinds and sizes:

It’s said to, Love told me, promote “communication of truth from your heart.”

Not to sound hokey, but there really is a welcoming feel to the store… a sense of serenity.

As Love said, she hears that from a lot of people.

“It’s a feeling. You can’t express that always — but you can feel it.”

And I did, again.

Let me know if you’ve been— and what you’ve found there.

Awakenings is at 215 Katonah Ave. Call 914-232-0382.

My next real-estate story, as I have mentioned, is about decorating in a particular style.

Earlier this week, I visited It’s a Mod, Mod World Design in Nyack.

Today, I was up at Somers Country Furniture at the Somers Colonial Shop:

It’s jam-packed with all kinds of furniture and decorative accessories in traditional. country and Colonial styles.

The shop’s been around for some 45 years — how have I not been there before? — with current owner Don DiLorenzi having been there for about 25 of those.

I knew I was in the right place when I saw this sign over the door:

Here’s just a quick snap of one scene that caught my eye:

The story, which will also feature contemporary French home accessories imported by Briarcliff Manor-company Quel Ojbet, is set to run later this month.

Before then, if you want to find some country-themed accents, stop by Somers Country Furniture at 346 Route 202. Call 914-277-8444.

I just wrapped up a story on organic wine, which will be part of our special section to advance The Greater New York Wine & Food Festival.

In doing my reporting for the story, I have to admit, I did find I became interested in the idea of organic wine.

And it also got me thinking about living more “green.” Like many people, I’m guessing, I know I don’t do enough.

But I recently picked up this great little bag, from Target:

It was on a display right by the cosmetics department; its shape and fun graphics caught my eye.

I can’t remember if it was $1 or 99 cents — but I was hooked when I realized it unfolded to this:

Isn’t it fun?

Easy enough to tuck into a purse or my regular tote.

After asking, the cashier opened it up to put my other shopping inside.

No time wasted using this little bag.

Now I just have to remember to bring it next time I’m out shopping…

I have started to work on a story for our Real Estate/Home section.

It’s a decorating story, profiling a few places in our area to shop when you have a particular style in mind.

This morning, I spent some time with David Utschig of It’s a Mod Mod World Design in Nyack.

I’ve peeked in the windows before but had never been by when the shop was open.

If you like Modern furniture, you’ll want to check this space out. Utschig and his wife, Annie, also own Circa 2000, a more formal antiques shop just a few doors down Broadway.

This new space, which opened back in November, is devoted to styles of the 1950s through ‘70s. It’s primarily vintage goods, though there are some contemporary items — clearly marked — within the mix.

I’ll have all the details in the story but for now, here’s a quick tour of the space:

There’s a definite point of view going on here, don’t you agree?

The shop is at 9 S. Broadway. Call 845-353-5400.

Ever shop so much at a place you feel like you perfectly sum up its approach?

Well, if that place is Lord & Taylor, here’s your chance to spin your loyalty into something bigger.

“Next Year’s Model — The 2008 Lord & Taylor Model Search� kicks off today. The department store is looking to give someone their “big break� into the world of modeling through a contest that will include participation in the store’s Spring ’09 advertising campaign.

There will be two grand-prize winners, who will join top professional models on the campaign and also win a $1,000 shopping-spree at L&T.

The casting call gets under way today in Manhattan, at the flagship Fifth Avenue store. It continues throughout the week, with the local stop from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday at the Eastchester store.

Registration will be conducted only during those hours, with 20 contestants, girls and guys ages 18 and older, selected from each store.

These 20 aspiring models will have their images posted online, with the public invited to vote for their favorites.

The top-10 contestants from each store advance to more voting, where 12 finalists are selected (two per store). Each of these finalists receive the “first-prize� designation, which includes a $500 Lord & Taylor shopping spree and and all-expense-paid trip to Manhattan. During the trip, the finalists will compete in a fashion show at Lord & Taylor’s Fifth Avenue store, where industry experts will select the two grand-prize winners.

Think you’ve got the Lord & Taylor look?

Check out the contest Web site for even more details.

What a nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Strawtown Jewelry in West Nyack is holding a Valentine’s Day Jewelry Party, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Shoppers will save 20 percent off their first selection and then 10 percent off additional purchases.

This is a one-day-only event, limited to in-stock merchandise.

Light fare will be served.

And if you can’t make it Sunday, don’t worry — savings do continue. Buyers can save 15 percent off any one item every day until Feb. 20.

Sounds good, right?

The shop, which has been around since 1988, is at 9 Strawtown Road.

Call 845-358-4911.

I am working on a story about organic wine. It will run as part of the special section we are putting out to advance the Greater New York Wine & Food Festival set for early April in Tarrytown.

Now, me — I am far from a wine expert.

I’m more among those intimidated by shopping for wine. I just don’t feel I know enough to make an “informed” choice.

And since I don’t want to ask dumb questions, you’ll usually see me leaving a wine shop with yet another bottle of white zinfandel. (Beringer, of course).

But spending the better part of an hour with Joe Printz in his Tappan shop, The Grape D’Vine, this morning yielded both plenty of information for my story — and plenty of laughs.

My friend and colleague Liz Johnson suggested I talk to Printz; he’s even been a guest on Liz’s Small Bites blog.

Even though I was to meet him before his official opening hour, Printz already had a customer who he was helping out so that gave me time to poke around.

And within seconds, I was laughing at the cards on which he described some of the wines.

For a Pouilly-Fuissé: “As refreshing as a slap in the face on a cold morning. It’s great if you’re into that sort of thing.”

Some were plays on words; some were a bit risqué (you’ll have to go and read those yourself).

Totally unexpected.

And forget the basic “good with fish” pairing information.

Printz, a longtime chef, takes it a step further, suggesting a particular bottle of chardonnay is ideal with, for example, crabmeat and fresh mayo.

I like nothing more than a store in which you feel comfortable — and this shop is certainly one of those places.

I even loved the art on the walls. Printz has made it a point to offer exhibit space to local artists. That fits right into another story I’m working on: buying art in nontraditional settings.

This month, Printz continues to show photographs by Jefferson Hayman, which are just stunning:

Anyway, Printz and I started to talk about organic wine, and I found myself smirking.

I had to interrupt to tell him why I was laughing— didn’t want him to think I wasn’t paying attention to what he was saying, after all.

This sign, over his shoulder, had caught my eye:

So, he then pointed out another sign that takes pride of place in this “one-man-show” operation:

Closer look:

So… you get the idea. Printz well knows his wine — but he’s as far from stuffy as you can be.

Made for a good interview — and as his longtime customers would likely say, a good place to shop.

The Grape D’Vine is at 99 Main St. in Tappan. Call 845-359-2141.

Oh, one last thing.

As I left, I glanced down at the shop’s posted hours, which were followed by this:

“or in a wine emergency, by appointment.”

Funny stuff there… think I’ll be back there one day – buying something that’s not white zinfandel!

Today I wrapped up my reporting for the chocolate story, one that I’ve been working on over the last week or two.

I’ve been to a handful of shops in the area, getting a sneak peek at what will be the featured items for Valentine’s Day.

My story is set to run in the food section on Wednesday, so be sure to check it out.

But til then, enjoy a little glimpse into Chocolations in Mamaroneck, Maria Valente’s shop that is preparing for its second Valentine’s Day.

Valente, a Mamaroneck resident, has been making chocolates for some 20 years, a hobby/second business out of her home over the years.

She finally decided to take the plunge and open up her own shop, after going through formal training for both chocolate-making and for business.

Now, less than two years later, her signature truffles have brought her quite a bit of fame — they were named the best in Westchester, as featured in the current issue of Westchester magazine.

Not surprisingly, Valente told me the truffles are her best-selling item, along with a variety of barks. All the chocolate products are made on the premises.

Here’s a peek at some of what’s on hand, starting off with the rose-tea truffles, which Valente says “taste like a rose smells.”

She also offers baked goods, some made here and some created by others.

She even gives display space to a group of women who are working on a smaller scale. Their products are all made in industrial kitchens, and Valente gives them a steady retail outlet via an area of her shop. It’s something, she says, she wishes had been available to her over the years.

Special/advance orders for Valentine’s Day are encouraged, especially for items such as strawberries dipped in chocolate or themed figurines.

Chocolations, for all it has, is not the place to go for those in search of exotic ingredients or daring combinations, such as chocolates dotted with hot pepper or the like.

Valente says those are just a fad.

“I will eat chocolate for lunch, but I’m not going to put tuna fish in it,” she says with a laugh.

“My philosophy is chocolate pure and simple.”

Gotta love that!

Stop by Chocolations at 447 Mamaroneck Ave. Call 914-777-3600.

My reporting for the chocolate story brought me to Larchmont this morning, where photographer Carucha Meuse and I spent some time with owner Angela Ingrao at Cocoa.

This shop, which opened in October of 2002, is known for a few things — its numerous barks hand-made from Belgian chocolates, its own brownies and its hot chocolate.

It’s one of the shops to be featured in my food-section story on shopping for Valentine’s Day treats.

Here’s a glimpse of Cocoa, pink walls and all:

Here’s Ingrao, patiently “waiting for her close-up:”

And here are some of the lucite boxes packaged with the varieties of bark, which is the shop’s signature item:

The story is expected to run next Wednesday, so be sure to check it out.

In the mean time, keep in mind that Cocoa is at 2107A Boston Post Road. Call 914-834-6464.