December 9, 2008

Gift List: The Cook.


1. well-portioned dish towel
Can’t find that measuring cup you were looking for? No worries, this helpful dishtowel is printed with its very own off-beat measuring tape.

2. pasta bowl and server
This pasta serving dish is a classical Italian plate styled in bone china with a wide plateau ideal for pasta dishes prepared in the oven. The spoon itself is an amazing object of multi-functional design. Use one way and the three leaves will grab the spaghetti or other long-hair noodles. Unfold the leaves and it becomes a spoon for smaller pasta or sauce.

3. bamboo box knife holders
Hundreds of slender bamboo skewers fill the interior of these stable bamboo rectangles, providing a safe, secure cushion for knives without dulling their blades.

4. pick-up big wood serving tongs
These chopsticks, designed by Stig Ahlstrom, can be used anywhere in the kitchen; for cooking, eating and serving salads and noodle dishes.

5. spin cake plate
You can’t go wrong. It expresses functionality, quality and wit all in one nice presentation.

6. messy tablecloth

7. the no-cookbook recipe stand
This handy page-flip recipe stand means you can easily keep all your loose recipe pages protected and organized and super easy to read. When not in use this stand folds down like a binder, and can slip into a shelf.

8. napkin catch placemats
With this clever placemat designed by Josh Jakus, you will never lose those napkin rings again because each mat features a built-in holder. Pop the attached ring out of the mat and interlock around the napkin, then tuck safely back in for easy storage.

9. pasta and parmesan tool
irst, the handle end of the tool can be used for measuring out portions pasts, secondly the “fork” end of the tool is used to pick up your pasta and sauce, and finally you can grate your parmesan using the built-in grater.

Posted In gifts
0
December 8, 2008

Gift List: The Paper Lover.


1. yellow owl to do list
This sunny, useful owl is perched atop a pencil, ready to help you do (or neglect doing) your most important tasks.

2. craft scissors
A great all-purpose scissor to have around the house for precision cutting of paper, fabric and other materials, these Craft Scissors are forged from high-grade carbon steel with tungsten. Called a “grip scissor,” the centuries-old design has been discovered in several ancient cultures, including Greece, Egypt and China.

3. fancy scrap paper

4. x-shaped rubber bands
These X-shaped rubber bands are great for organizing papers and cards or sealing small boxes.

5. Miquelrius notebooks

6. monogrammed sticky notes
Let there be no doubt as to who left the notes, “Pick up milk,” and “Dinner at 7:30.” With your initial emblazoned on ruled pages, page markers and unlined squares, there is a perfectly sized note for every reminder.

7. daily color planner
Open the serene covers to reveal colours for daily planning!

8. notepaper roll dispenser
This sleek stainless-steel notepad uses standard calculator paper and can be wall-mounted or used on a desk top. Includes a built-in pencil rest and comes with one roll of paper.

9. monthly journal box set
Journal writing is a pleasure with this set of 12 beautifully crafted volumes, designed to preserve a full year’s worth of memories and reflections. Bound with embossed faux leather in two exotic textures and six vibrant colors, the books have silver-embossed spines, lined pages, and come in a red snake-embossed case.

Posted In gifts
2
December 5, 2008

Happy Weekend.

Hopefully you all had a great post-Thanksgiving week, full of holiday shopping and decorating! Keep up the good work.

This Weekend:
• cookie bake my face off
• copy a few recipes for a friend
• start packing boxes of gifts to ship
• finish wrapping gifts
• take photos of my handy decorating
• buy cards for December birthdays

Happy Weekend!

:: photo via ffffound

Posted In happy weekend
2
December 5, 2008

Gift List : The Manly Man.


1. bacon of the month club
A different artisan bacon delivered to your door each month for 12 months.

2. watch cufflinks
A gorgeous pair of vintage ruby jeweled Swiss watch movement cufflinks on a handsome silver bezel with a “braided rope” detail.

3. godfather spaghetti-measuring device
This beauty is primarily used to measure the amount of Spaghetti you’ll need, not to intimidate anybody.

4. small gear clock
Observe the gears turning inside this exposed clock while it steadily keeps time. Rests upon a desk or can be mounted on a wall.

5. MAKR one wallet
The One Wallet is a single pocket card holder for cards and folded cash. The curves of the opening mimic the natural position of thumb and forefinger when removing cards.

6. crowbar bottle opener
reak into that beer bottle with this fun crowbar bottle opener.

7. black deck of cards
A deck of cards entirely in black. The design, particularly for Jokers, Kings, Queens and Jacks, also add another unique touch.

8. vintage smiths wall clocks
Some are domestic, others industrial. At the time of writing we even have some fantastic and huge 75cm factory clocks amongst our stock. All clocks are professionally restored and work perfectly.

9. bullet ice cube tray
Freshen up that killer drink with a round from the Bullet Ice Tray!

Posted In gifts
4
December 4, 2008

Monogrammed Candy Gift Boxes.

I started baking last night – Honey Ginger Snaps for those of you interested – and packing the cookies up for shipping to Pennsylvania ahead of my departure (until then they’re in the freezer). I’m sticking to large Gladware containers that I can pack up nice and full and that will keep things as fresh as possible.

I’m not giving cookies to friends and family here this year, but when I saw these monogrammed candy gift boxes I really, really wished I were! Modeled after packages from a Parisian confectionery shop, they’re made of sturdy, stain-resistant paper stock accented with scalloped edging and decorative borders. Your gold-embossed monogram even appears on the lid flap. So classy!

Posted In christmas, food, gifts, holidays
5
December 4, 2008

Gift List: The Artiste.


1. doodlebook frame
A frame that you can truly make your own. Comes with an 80 page sketch pad and photo opening. Notes, doodles, comments…just have fun with it then rip it off and repeat.

2. Marimekko arni wall hanging
“Aarni” (2007) by Maija Louekari imagines a forest like no other with abstract black trees and one swirling line-drawn red species, all on crisp white.

3. Gregory calendar game

4. Estudio-5 clock

5. P-Sharan SQ-35 pinhole camera kit
Before digital photography, there was film photography. Celebrate this venerable art form with a 35mm camera that you build yourself… from cardboard! It’s a lensless pinhole camera, functionally similar to the first film cameras of the 1820s. Experiment with film much like the pioneers of photography did at the dawn of the art. Using the four included pinhole filters, you’ll be able to create intriguing pinhole camera images.

6. ZoomArt monocular
A small and practical zoom with high quality optics, that make it possible to admire the details of fine art, sculptures, architecture and miniatures from 3 feet to infinity.

7. bottle cap tripod
This provides a solution to the issue that’s probably as old as the camera itself: What to use as a tripod when you don’t lug a tripod around?

8. 24 wax crayons in a box
More than just a compelling color palette, these Wax Crayons surpass European specifications for toxicity and even adhere to the food provision ordinance, which is much stricter than the regulations for the toy industry. To achieve this level of quality, pure beeswax is combined with all-natural pigments to create pure color that can be used in all kinds of ways.

9. Annie Leibovitz at Work book
Annie Leibovitz describes how her pictures were made, starting with Richard Nixon’s resignation, a story she covered with Hunter S. Thompson, and ending with Barack Obama’s campaign.

Posted In gifts
1
December 3, 2008

Round Up: Christmas Cards.

I was trying to hold off on this Christmas Card Round Up for as long as possible because I keep seeing more fantastic designs each and every day. But I thought I’d better get it posted before everyone’s cards have already been stamped and sent! Well what are you waiting for? Take a look!

Posted In cards, christmas, holidays, paper goods, round up
10
December 3, 2008

Gift List: The Homebody.


1. organic cotton blanket
Knit of soft organic cotton, grown without harmful herbicides, pesticides or other chemicals.

2. sachets
Lavender-filled sachets covered in 100% cotton canvas. Use for linen storage, luggages, or anywhere else that needs a boost of scent.

3. personalized playing cards
Personalized playing cards that are perfect for your next game night. Choose (shown clockwise from top) butterfly, paisley, or dot-pattern motif.

4. Skeem votives

5. monogram pillowcase
weet alphabetized dreams! Personalize your bed (or just spell something fun!) with our Monogram Pillowcases. Graphic letters printed on clean woven pillowcases, with a split back for easy access.

6. cable-knit ballet flat slippers
Our cute ballet flat slippers give your feet reason to dance with soft, comfy sweater knit upper and a faux-suede outsole. They’re perfect for padding around the house!

7. hot chocolate on a stick
Swirl these cubes of the finest Belgian chocolate into a cup of hot milk, or heavy cream “la Belge!” for the ultimate cup of cocoa!

8. better hot water bottle
Though shaped like a water bottle, it’s filled with buckwheat seeds that mold to the body’s contours. So Post-Modern — and no weird sloshing! To heat, just pop in the microwave. Comes with an aromatherapy sachet that can be tucked inside.

9. meadow coasters
The perfect accessory for your coffee table or you can have fun with all four as a trivet.

Posted In gifts
2
December 2, 2008

Round Up: Advent Calendars.

I’m running a few days (plus shipping time!) late with my Advent Calendar Round Up. But surely there are some slackers like me out there who don’t mind a late start. Or, who knows, maybe some of you pre-planners are already thinking about next year!

Tower Advent Calendar.
This Christmas calendar holds a 24 boxed large tower with the ability to have a gift every day until the Christmas Eve.

DIY Candy Advent Calendar from Alpha Mom. (via Design*Sponge)
I attached the cups with brads in a grid-like pattern to a piece of decorative paper, then glued the paper to cardboard. I set the board on a table and filled all the cups with candy. Then I carefully sealed each one by painting glue around the rim and gently placing a piece of number-stamped tissue paper on top of each cup.

Chocolate Truffles Advent Calendar.
Twenty-four truffles lead up to a very decadent Christmas. Their accompanying wishes, such as “Peace,” “Hope” and “Compassion” keep the holiday spirit alive. Handcrafted in 12 distinctive flavors, including Italia Espresso, Pear Brandy, French Silk and Conquistador Hazelnut.

Advent Calendar Cabinet.
Hide a surprise like chocolate or an ornament behind each hinged door, so that every day of Advent guests have something new to find. Crafted of wood composites and painted with colorful symbols of the season.

DIY Envelope Advent Calendar from Design*Sponge + d.Sharp.
Starting on the first of December, each numbered envelope will hold a small treat or a note describing a holiday activity for the day, like going to get a tree or making candy encrusted graham cracker houses.

Literary Advent Calendar. (via Black*Eiffel)

Amsterdam Advent Calendar. (via Black*Eiffel)
Windows and doors are numbered 1-25, and reveal a tiny symbol of Christmas behind each one.

PS: If you’d like to check out a few more here’s 2007’s Advent Calendar Round Up!

Posted In christmas, holidays, round up
3