I have a weakness for cute juice glasses. I have some standard workhorse glasses that we use daily, but also a set we received as a bridal shower present from one of my best friends that have a little gas tank at the bottom and say F (for full) at the top. I also have a set from Anthropologie that is about six years old now, with illustrated letters (R is for ring, Q for queen, etc) but unfortunately, we don't have the cupboard space in this house, so they're safely packed away in the basement. Whenever I'm online or shopping, I always catch myself admiring sets of glasses, though, like these super cute Family glasses by Mary and Shelly Klein, of K Studio, exclusively at UncommonGoods. Apparently these came out last year when I was in my pregnant-and-passed-out-on-the-couch phase, so they're new to me. I've always been a big fan of K Studio's products and their sweet illustrations, and the mother-daughter team is so nice in person. If you have a large family, this can get a bit pricey, but I find them to be a much cuter alternative to those stickers on minivans (I'm sorry, I said it.) and I think they have a fairly wide appeal, though I do realize they're not very diverse. This is what I'd order for my family: And they look so cute filled! Of course, then I think, should I buy glasses in the older girl version as well for when my kids grow up? But at the same time, I love the idea of just having these four to show what our family looks like at this point in time. Would you buy these for yourself or for someone as a gift?
Family Glassware, $12 each, uncommongoods.com images via uncommongoods Xx a
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Who didn't grow up with those ubiquitous electric candlesticks in the windows of your house during the holidays? I used to think taper candles were extremely old-fashioned and never thought I would be interested in them, but just as with everything else that follows the what's-old-is-new-again pattern, these lovely candleholders have changed my mind.
I love the colors and form of the Pleated candleholders, above, from BoConcept, which I wanted to include even though they're handle-less. And any of the selection below of modern takes on the chamber candlestick would look great as a single piece on a bedside table or console, or as a group on a dining table mixed with other decorative elements. The porcelain model by Klein Reid (bottom) comes with a removable candle insert, so when not in use with a real taper, you can still enjoy a tromp l'oeil effect of having a candle in place. Most of these are well under $30, with the Weight Here coming in under $50 and the Klein Reid priced at $98. In case you're in need: Creative Candles is a great source for taper candles in beautiful colors. I've always had a bit of a fascination with handwriting. Of course, there are the analyses of the slant and what certain loops and strokes say about your personality. And somehow there are always girls that have that same (it seems) super feminine, rounded, bubbly lettering. My writing, which admittedly has become much less lovely due to all the typing I do, is a full mix of print and cursive. Also, how can they stop teaching cursive in schools?! But, I digress. Really, handwriting is pretty unique and often seeing an old card or letter written in someone's hand can bring back memories or powerful feelings. That connection is the impetus behind the custom handwriting necklaces by BrittanyLeighJewelry on Etsy. Jewelry designer Brittany Isenberg started fabricating these pieces after creating one as a meaningful gift for her mother following the death of her grandmother. The 14k gold version is available in polished yellow or white gold, or you can select polished or matte sterling silver (shown above); bracelets and keychains are also options. At the end of the year and during the holidays people naturally spend a lot of time thinking about loved ones. This is a simple, pretty way of keeping someone you love close, whether that person is truly gone or just lives far away. There seems to be an inherited Bleier family trait for finding something we love and then obsessing over it ad nauseam, whether it’s a TV show, a song, or some other thing we have to continually consume—at least until the next shiny object catches our attention. I think the Short Stack cookbooks might be the foodie version of this feeling. Each edition is passionately dedicated to a specific food; they celebrate the simplicity and complexity of one specific ingredient and every recipe within incorporates that item. The diminutive size and retro graphic covers give the hand-bound (with baker's twine!) volumes a special feel, and I love the idea of having an arsenal of recipes, from drinks to desserts, featuring a favorite ingredient. The recipes come from established chefs and food experts and the collection is published by Nick Fauchald who raised money for this project through Kickstarter. Some of the delicious-sounding recipes included are: Egg Drop Soup with Edamame, Red Chile, and Scallions, Portuguese Egg Tarts with Burnt Marshmallow Frosting, Curried Tomato-Lamb Stew, Tomato Tart Tatin with Caramel, Roasted Strawberry Frozen Yogurt, and Strawberry Sangria. The cookbooks are sold individually or in sets. Eggs, Tomatoes, and Strawberries are already available, and Buttermilk, Grits, and Sweet Potatoes will be out any day but can be ordered in advance. Short Stack cookbooks, $12 each, $35 for three, or $70 for six, shortstackeditions.com
Over the last three weeks I've had conversations with a handful of artists and curators and it's been fascinating to talk to them about art and see the similarities and differences in the way they approach it. Art is an important layer in a home and it's also very highly personal.
Whether you're buying for yourself or for someone else, or merely browsing, it's a good time to visit UGallery's pre-holiday sale, which is on now and ends Tuesday, November 19th. A variety of media and price points are available. Not everything on the site is discounted, but over 400 select pieces of original art are 30-60% off. It's also foolproof because UGallery has a designated team of experts who can help you select a piece. They also offer a week-long test run, so if you get something home (or gift it) and it's not right, you can exchange or return it easily. Another cool feature of the site: You can interact with the artists directly on the works' pages. Above, Glam Legs, 2013 by Casey Rodgers is sadly not part of the sale, but I love it too much to not share it. I also really like these four works below, which are actually included in the sale. I'm drawn to these pieces for various reasons, but it also occurred to me that each one is looking at the subject from a different perspective—from behind, above, below—but never head on. I wonder what that says about me right now? What would you bring home? As soon as I saw this set of watercolor paints (above), I knew I had to feature it. The powdered paints, in gorgeous saturated colors, are derived entirely from natural flowers. The powders have a slightly sandy texture and seem to shimmer in the sunlight. Each set of 20 paints is unique and comes packaged in a handmade thin recycled-metal case, which is small enough to travel with. Put a bit of powdered paint and water in the lid of the desired canister, mix, and create!
A similarly intriguing set is made of crushed natural stone and sand (below). Gypsya, the retail site of artist Rose James, specializes in handmade products crafted from organic and recycled materials. I love the idea of giving someone a gift they can create something beautiful with--especially if they share their work, it sort of perpetuates the gift giving. Please note, these items are not recommended for children; the listings at gypsya's Etsy page has a bit more information on usage. The supply of flower paints is currently limited, but Rose is working on making more. Flower or Stone watercolor paints, $42 each for set of 20, gypsya.com Putting together gift guides at magazines are generally laborious undertakings. Hundreds (literally) of products are called in, scrutinized, rejected, asked for in an exclusive color, tested, and carefully considered so that when you look through the pages, you feel like everyone that you might have to shop for is represented in the product mix. I always liked working on gift guides, so as I mentioned before, I will be sharing gift ideas* over the next few weeks—though I will admit my process will not be quite as rigorous.
When reviewing a product, aside from other factors we considered, one of the most important questions we always asked was, "Is this special enough?" We want the wow! factor of finding the gift, and frankly, that's the point, right? Finding just the right thing for each person, so they feel like you really know and understand them and the things that make them happy. That's my favorite part about gift-buying, when they open the gift and you can tell immediately it's just right. So, I will share as many ideas as I can to help you find just the right thing for the people you love to (or have to) give gifts to. *Most days I'll be suggesting individual gifts, but I hope to also provide at least a couple round-ups organized by a theme. Either way, by selecting the gift category from the menu on the right side of this page, you'll be able to see each item I've suggested all in one place. Now that Halloween has passed (barely, and when I was at A.C. Moore yesterday, all the Christmas decor was already out), everyone seems to be going into full holiday mode. The December issues of magazines will be out soon, which means gift guides. Even though I generally don't start shopping this early, I can't wait to see the guides. That being said, I will be sharing a few of my favorite gift ideas over the next several weeks. First up is a recently-released luxe gift for the outdoorsy wine-loving type. Picture this*: A sunny day, a light breeze, two people biking casually down a path. They choose a place to stop and set up a light picnic—complete with bottle of wine—and have a peaceful, intimate moment to themselves. If indulging, even briefly, in the wine country life of leisure is your idea of a good time, owning the Clos Cruiser might be the first step. This limited edition bicycle is available through a partnership between home and fashion boutique C. Wonder and Sonoma-based winery Clos du Bois. The bicycles are a fancy version of C. Wonder's existing City Bike with a few special extras: Exclusive to the Clos Cruiser is a navy and white chevron-lined wicker basket outfitted to hold two GoVino reusable wine glasses, and a corkscrew, which are included, and a bottle of Clos du Bois wine. If you purchase the Clos Cruiser—available in fuchsia or navy—from Clos du Bois's site, the wine is included automatically. The options are a Chardonnay or a Cabernet Sauvignon. If you choose to purchase through C. Wonder's site or select C. Wonder stores, in addition to the glasses and corkscrew, they'll throw in a monogrammed wine stopper instead and a discount for use at closdubois.com to choose any varietal of your liking. The limited-edition Clos Cruiser by C. Wonder will be available through the Spring, $350. Cheers! images via clos du bois and c. wonder
*Sicily , 1922. Don't you automatically think of that whenever someone says, "Picture this"? Xx a |
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