Outdoor Couture: Beach, Picnic & Sporting Events Umbrella

Outdoor Couture: Beach, Picnic & Sporting Events Umbrella

Beach, Picnic & Sporting Events Umbrella

Beach Pockets Umbrella...Product Review

Are you looking for an environmentally friendly outdoor accessory that was voted the #1 Favorite Summer Gadget by the television show The View and was part of the Golden Globes celebrity gift basket? The Beach Pockets umbrella is wonderful for the beach, park, picnic, or sporting event. It is easy to use, can withstand winds up to 20 miles per hour and best of all provides SPF sun protection of 50.

This past weekend I had the opportunity to test out this umbrella with my husband on a California beach. The sun was shining and the winds were strong but this umbrella stood up to the test. On any other visit to the beach I usually stand by and defer to my husband to set up the umbrella, but this past Saturday I decided to try my luck with the Beach Pockets umbrella. This umbrella has 3 pockets that are attached to a barrel at the bottom of the pole for the sole purpose of filling with sand, books, magazines or water bottles to hold the umbrella in place.

This Beach Pockets umbrella, invented by Barbara Bigford has been highlighted in the Wall Street Journal,featured on The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch, honored by Invent Now America, is lightweight and available in several colorful designs.


If you have any questions or would like more information… write a comment. Marcia Blake

New Product for Outdoor Living

New Outdoor Furniture Product to Market… Terra Furniture's Tiburon Collection


A town in Marin County that sits upon the San Francisco Bay inspires an exciting new contemporary outdoor furniture design based on mid-century California Modern style. The city's name comes from the Spanish word tiburón, which means "shark." California designer Ilan Dei partnered with Terra Furniture to create a collection that marries the modern elements of a city with its natural surroundings to produce a rich, timeless look.

Ilan Dei born in Israel, of North African descent, is inspired by the lushness of the Mediterranean cultures, as well as, by the natural beauty of Southern California’s terrain, climate and diverse cultures. Ilan coined the term "lush minimalism" to describe his design approach, one that is minimal in terms of line and form, yet lush in materials as represented in this new Tiburon collection. Dei's design melds nature into the sleek modern furniture with the application of a cutout “pebble” pattern trim and unique floating oval pattern which appears on the backs of the chairs, chaise lounge and the edge of the dining table.

The Tiburon Collection is structured in lightweight cast aluminum and is available in a multitude of custom and standard finishes. So whether you are sunning by the pool or relaxing in the luxury of your own home this a a design that celebrates nature and modern sensibility.

Green is the New Black

Remember when Brown was the new Black? Well it appears that Green is the new Black. Not so much in color but in statement. The direction of fashion dictates the direction of home textiles and decor. Right now the fashion trends seem to be moving towards ethical, organic, and sustainable fabrics for clothing. As a society we are becoming socially conscious and environmentally savvy. There are a number of books out in the marketplace that discuss the topic and are worth the read. First is Tamsin Blanchard’s Green is the New Black and Mathilda Lee’s Eco-Chic. Another new book on the market is Kate Fletcher’s Sustainable Fashion and Textiles. If you want to learn more about the direction that the fashion industry is moving I recommend you read one or more of these books so that you can determine which direction you plan to move in and whether or not you plan to follow the latest trends.