Gift Guide » Top Ten Do-Goodism
Gifting
In the Bag » The Complete Carry-On
This holiday season, whether you’re driving over the hill and through the woods or taking a transatlantic aeroplane to get to grandma’s house, the better you pack the smoother your journey will be. The comfort of long travels comes down to one essential piece of luggage: the Carry-On (or, if you’re roadtripping, the one bag you don’t chuck in the trunk). When the wonderful Jee Kim, founder of Peasants and Travelers, sent us the P&T Doctor’s Bag to test drive, I immediately knew that this hard-shelled beauty was born to make my flights to Marseille and Tel Aviv more bearable…
Gift Guide » Top Ten Bookworm
Clockwise from top left: My Wonderful World of Fashion by Nina Chakrabarti, Folk & Flora Notecard Set by Reprodepot, Pictorial Webster's, Harry Allen Rollerstop Bookend, Penguin Classics with Cover Illustrations by Coralie Bickford-Smith, Nel's Pack of Dogs Bookshelf & Bench… More after the jump!
Gift Guide » Top Ten Fashion Scout
Clockwise from top left: Terra Plana's Maplow Shoe, Carga Bag, Jemma Redux Libby Bracelet, George Gina & Lucy’s Xciting Kanji Bag, Diamond Silhouette Ring by Alissia Melka-Teichroew, Happy Socks, Ugmonk Tee… More after the jump!
Bookworm » Rob Ryan: This is for You
Available at Chronicle Books
“If you believe in love, but find it difficult to explain – this is for you.” – Rob Ryan
Gift Guide » Top Ten Duck Duck Goose
Clockwise from top left: Schnurpfel Pony by Naef, Manuella Big Elephant Floor Pillow, Kid O’s City & Country Blocks by Lisa Mahar, Baby Barolo Cocoon Sleeping Bag, Playsam Rocking Rabbit, Goodbyn Lunchbox, Donkey Products Helmet N. Crocheted Camera, and Sara Carr’s Lambswool Pencil Scarf… More after the jump!
Kawaii! » Poketo Shwag Favorites
As promised, here’s a quick intro to all the cuteness that can be found at Poketo’s online shop. From fuzzy bear post-its and mustachioed pen pal cards to day planners, checklists, and travel journals, if you’re one of those crazies that spends her Saturdays roaming the aisles of Office Depot (yeah? so?) then Poketo will be sure to fill some stationary void on your desk!
Gift Guide » Top 10 Eco-Friendlies
Clockwise from top left: Freitag F74 Bob Bag, Eding:Post’s Picnica bunny bag, Magno Design radio, Resource Revival bottle opener, Fernando and Humberto Campana’s TransNeomatic Bowl, and Esque Studio’s Recycled Glass Slump Vases… More after the jump!
Found @ Etsy » Death and Texas Does Bikewear!
Ok, ok. So the ball & chain is right: I have a bag fetish. It’s actually a container obsession: our house is full of oddly shaped jars, vintage cans, quirky bowls & trays – all holding tchotkies I’ve gleaned over many years of foraging flea markets, boutiques and the like. But, yes, bags, pouches, fabric zippie things – sign me up. Now, although not one of the gazillion New Yorkers that swears by her bike (I’ve purchased a few over my NYC years, subsequently biked to some rendez-vous and parked the thing, only to leave it there, abandoned forever), I have officially fallen for the cowgirl meets fashionista meets bike-messenger accessories over at Death and Texas’ Etsy store…
Papercuts » Etsy’s Elsita
Originating in China circa 1500 the art of papercutting (jianzhi) quickly spread across the globe and is now a celebrated craft in dozens of countries including Japan (kirie), India (sanjhi), Germany & Switzerland (scherenschnitte), France (canivet or decoupage), Poland (wycinanki), Ukraine (vytynanky), Turkey (ka ‘ti), Mexico (papel picado), the States, Israel, and beyond…
“The process of creating a papercut piece is a wonderful way to practice and master the art of patience.” – Elsa Mora
Kawaii! » Totally OTOTO!
OTOTO, founded by Israeli design duo Ori Saidi and Daniel Gassner in 2002, focuses on simple & bright objects that expertly blend the utilitarian with the totally cute. Curvy snails creep out of their shells to reveal measuring tapes and what looks to be a teetering tower of porcelain teacups is in fact a quirky single flower vase. Treat yourself to one of these doo-dads at their site or visit the store in Tel Aviv…
Found @ Etsy » Amiguruming Away!
Amigurumi (編み包み), literally meaning knitted stuffed toy, originated in the country of all things cute: Japan. Made using either crochet (one needle) or knitting (two needles) patterns, amigurumi are typically animal forms but in recent years, with a rise in popularity and crossover to the States, countless other patterns are being explored.
Kawaii! » Gutsy Little Buggers
Anatomically clueless? Get a first-class education at I Heart Guts. Browse the guts & glands archives to better understand your very own, hard-working bits and pieces…
Eco-Friendlies » Feeling Furoshiki
These Japanese fabric squares were once used to bundle dirty linens for transport to the sentō (public baths). Furoshiki (風呂敷) have been around for over a thousand years and have been given a 21st century makeover as an out of the box, eco-friendly method of gift wrapping. Some crafty folders even use the cloths as little purses!