Category Archives: Styles Promotions & New Products
Charles P. Rogers + The Women’s Collective
Post by Tracy Kaler.
Last week on Life in the Bedroom, I introduced the stylish RecyBags, ideal for a summer beach tote or carryall. These colorful bags are handwoven by a group of women in Cebu, Philippines in partnership with the Rise Above Foundation.
At Charles P. Rogers, we’re thrilled to be able to partner with this Women’s Collective –– a group of Cebu mothers who came together to learn the craft of bag-making –– and support such a worthwhile cause.
As craftsmen ourselves, we understand the importance of recycling materials, whether it’s wood, metal, or in the case of RecyBags, rice and animal feed sacks.
Through hard work and great care, the collective creates these bags using scrap materials that would otherwise be wasted. These rice and animal feed sacks become a practical and beautiful accessory for others to enjoy while giving the women who make them an opportunity to learn a trade, support their families, and improve their quality of life.
By telling people about RecyBags or purchasing one for yourself or a gift, you enable these women in Cebu to continue to do their jobs, retain their independence, and take care of their children.
At CPR, we’re spreading the word about the Women’s Collective and the RecyBags, as well as Rise Above, which provides daycare services, education to children, and healthcare initiatives, allowing locals to live a more sustainable life.
Purchase a sheet set in either our New York or New Jersey showroom now through May 30th, and you’ll automatically go home with a RecyBag while supplies last. When a friend asks you where you purchased such a lovely bag, you can share the story of the Women’s Collective in Cebu, Philippines.
Charles P. Rogers
26 W 17th St, New York, NY 10011
(212) 675-4400
300 NJ-17
East Rutherford, NJ 07073
(201) 933-8300
For more info on RecyBags, visit the Facebook page.
RecyBags: The Perfect Summer Accessory
Post by Tracy Kaler.
Beach time is just around the corner, and every chic beachgoer needs a stylish bag to stash the sunblock, water bottle, cover-up, and a great summer read. At Charles P. Rogers, we happened to discover these colorful totes made from rice sacks and animal feed sacks in Cebu, Philippines. Can you believe that any item this lovely would be constructed of sacks? We think the bags make for an ideal beach tote, but beyond their aesthetic, RecyBags have a terrific, heartwarming story too.
The bags are made by a group of Filipino women in partnership with the Rise Above Foundation, a team of volunteers working to improve the lives of the poor and underprivileged in Cebu. Launched in 2009, the RecyBag program gives these struggling women a sense of autonomy and self-sufficiency that they wouldn’t have otherwise, enabling them to provide for their families.
“The RecyBags program has helped me a lot. Now my son’s education will be sponsored….And we also have wonderful people who always encourage us.” – Imelda S. Comon, 45 years old, RecyBag Artisan
Unsurprisingly, the making of these beautiful bags is a bit of a process. Each woman has been trained to cut and fold each strip carefully, weaving one by one until they’ve created the perfect bag. A handwoven tote takes about 10 to 12 hours to cut and weave.
Even if you’re not a beach lover, RecyBags make an excellent travel bag, carryall, or even a warm-weather handbag. As a stylish gal myself, I can imagine strutting around New York City with a fashionable RecyBag on my shoulder!
Sold locally in the Philippines and spotted in other countries like the United Kingdom, Switzerland, France, and Japan, RecyBags are becoming popular the world over. And now, the bags are available in New York and New Jersey too. Charles P. Rogers will be giving away bags (while supplies last) in our showrooms from May 20th through 30th. Anyone who purchases a sheet set at our Flatiron or New Jersey showroom during the promotion will automatically go home with one of these fabulous RecyBags, just in time for the summer season.
“Ever since I started in the RecyBags program, I don’t worry about our daily needs anymore, unlike before, I didn’t have a source of income yet.” – Juanita Baclay, 52 years old, RecyBags Artisan
Charles P. Rogers
26 W 17th St, New York, NY 10011
(212) 675-4400
300 NJ-17
East Rutherford, NJ 07073
(201) 933-8300
For more info on RecyBags, visit the Facebook page.
Breakfast in Bed – Holiday Cookbook Giveaway
by Alison Hein.
Today I have some important instructions for you – click on this link to the Charles P. Rogers FB page and “like” today’s post for a chance to win a Breakfast in Bed Holiday Cookbook! Go do it right now, then come back and read the story: 🙂
Several weeks ago, I received a call from Linda Klein, the President of Charles P. Rogers. Linda wanted to create a special holiday gift and had the idea to compose a cookbook from my Breakfast in Bed posts. She wanted to know what I thought.
“Are you kidding?”, I responded. “I’m honored and delighted!”
So we gathered a small team and began work on the production process. Jeannine had the great idea to create a menu format, Olga worked with the photos and constructed the layout, and Jess went through it all with a fine-toothed comb. I just did whatever they told me to.
The finished product is a lustrous 8-inch square hardcover book, with vibrant, colorful photographs and menu options for holiday breakfast, brunch, or sweets and treats – the perfect holiday gift!
During our work on this project, we had lots of lively discussions regarding which recipes belonged in the book. Many made an appearance, then were dropped to make way for something the team liked better. But there was one that always remained everyone’s favorite – Million Dollar Pound Cake. And so we reprint that recipe here, and wish you much luck in the Charles P. Rogers Breakfast in Bed for the Holidays cookbook!
NOTE: Two cookbooks will be given away. You will have until midnight on Sunday, December 20, 2015 to respond. Winners will be announced on the Charles P. Rogers FB page shortly thereafter.
Million Dollar Pound Cake
Mix together an obscene amount of butter, sugar, and flour; add a hefty slug of hazelnut extract. Bake for a little more than an hour and you’ll have a breakfast in bed that looks and tastes like a million dollars!
Ingredients
½ pound (2 sticks) butter, softened
3 cups sugar
5 eggs
1 cup milk
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
3 cups flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 teaspoons hazelnut extract
Powdered sugar, to sprinkle on top of cake
Preparation
Preheat oven to 325°. Generously grease a large tube pan and set aside.
Add butter and sugar to a large bowl, and cream together until fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition, until batter is light and smooth. Pour milk into small bowl and stir in vinegar. Mix flour and baking soda together. Alternately add milk mixture and flour mixture into batter, stirring thoroughly after each addition. Stir in vanilla and hazelnut extract.
Spoon batter into tube pan, smoothing surface with spatula. Bake for 60 to 70 minutes, until cake is golden brown and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool on rack for 30 minutes. Remove cake from pan and invert onto serving plate. Sprinkle top with powdered sugar.
Makes 1 large cake, about 20 slices.
Keep Your Money Under Your Mattress: Charles P. Rogers Introduces New ‘Storage Bed’
Post by Tracy Kaler.
You can never have too much storage. With the latest creation from Charles P. Rogers, you can store your valuables (or everyday items) and keep your bedroom virtually clutter-free. Launched in June 2015, this clever yet lovely bed includes an optional digital safe drawer –– a practical and almost hidden place to store your most prized possessions.
Handmade in the Charles P. Rogers workroom in New York City, the bed features dovetail joinery with full extension, soft-closing drawer slides. What’s more, the company’s signature upholstered and padded decks provide outstanding support as well as a non-skid surface.
Built-in and multi-purpose furniture remain a solid choice for bedrooms of all styles and sizes, and even more so in compact spaces, which often benefit from space-saving designs. Plus, adding drawers to a bed increases storage space beyond the traditional dresser.
Offered in a sleek platform style or with a variety of headboard options, the Storage Bed comes in a microsuede upholstery if you prefer a softer look, or a mahogany finish if you fancy a more masculine aesthetic.
Constructed from sustainably-produced materials such as plantation-grown mahogany, recycled steel, and marine plywood, the Platform Bed is available in twin, full, queen, and king sizes. I might add that you’ll never have to worry about vacuuming those dust bunnies under your bed again. Less cleaning? That’s a bonus.
For more info about the latest from Charles P. Rogers, visit the website.