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Ah, spring! New, bright green leaves and sunlight after the oh-so-dreary days of winter… it’s enough to get you off your tush and onto a bicycle. But, wait, what if you’ve not a bike to call your very own? Never fear, for the Brooklyn Cruiser Bicycle is here. Available directly from Brooklyn Cruiser or the MoMA Store, this bicycle is built to last. Check out the many different options or go with the tried and true Willow 3 speed, either way you’ll be set to buy the wheels that get you out and about during the spring-has-sprung weather.
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Okay, bear with me here, I know this just looks like a regular curtain rod/bracket, but it has something the sets it apart, and if you’ve ever been annoyed by light creeping in around your curtains- at night or in the morning- you’ll understand why this particular one is special. The Twilight bracket wraps around so that your curtains can lay flat against the wall. Such a small detail, but it certainly makes a big difference to those of us persnickety about dark rooms. So, no more little slivers of moonlight/sunlight that tend to find your face while you’re trying to catch some much needed sleep.
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How about a handmade carafe or two (or three)? Carafes are the sort of thing you think you don’t need, and then when you have one you realize just how useful they can be. The larger sizes would be appropriate for water, juice, or wine at the table, while the smaller size could work for milk or cream during coffee/tea time. Made of French porcelain, these carafes are more durable than glass and have a matte finish that gives a nice texture and grip. Handmade by a small team in Sydney, Australia.
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Would you like to back another Kickstarter campaign? How about a ready-to-assemble rocking stool? Three options allow for three different rocking motions, and, best of all, the stools can be made in a city close to you and shipped with minimal charge- instead of overseas. And, if you want to make the stool yourself (and have access to a CNC machine), you can download the CAD file for free.

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If you spend any time in the wilderness, you’d do well to add one of these to your emergency kit. It’s a water purifying straw that removes “99.9999% of waterborne bacteria and 99.9% of parasites without any use of chemicals.” That’ll be a lifesaver if you’re ever lost or- doomsday scenario- if some disaster strikes and makes the regular water supply unsafe to drink. Better to be prepared, right?
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Who doesn’t want small 3D type to spell out their company’s name? These ready-for-assembly letters are available in three different sizes: 2″, 4″, and 8″. The 2″ are borderline irresistible, but hey, go big if you can afford it. This first series is based on Gotham Typeface by H&FJ, and you can submit customizations on the I Heart SolidType blog.

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A tiny bit of texture goes a long way in a room, and this pillow will provide that plus a little lumbar support. Made of perforated soft felt with interwoven threads in several colors.

Shown above: Canevas Medium Abstract Cushion, 26″ x 15″, $245.00
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If guitars, drums, violins, and many other instruments are made of wood, why aren’t most headphones? Wood offers more resonance than plastic or metal, so it makes sense to incorporate them into a listening device so near and dear to our ears. And, with every pair you purchase, LSTN sends the proceeds to charity partners for the deaf, so that one child gets medical attention and a custom fit hearing aid on your behalf. A win/win situation, I believe.
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Flat-panel LED technology makes quite the difference, as seen in the specs of this Cielo Pendant Light. It lasts for 50 thousand hours or 25 years of daily use. Pretty different from those regular bulbs we all had (and may still have) in our homes. LED technology has allowed this efficiency, and in the case of this lamp, it used only 8 watts of power. Contrast that with a regular 60 watt bulb and you’ll understand the savings. As an extra bonus, the Cielo is glare free, warm (color temperature: 3000K), and dimmable.
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Remember the Kukka Blocks? Well, they’re now on a slight sale- and yes, it’s a very slight sale- but you’ll at least be able to buy a few coffees with the savings, so that’s something. Because the Kukka set is modular, you can move the 4 pieces around to make it fit your own personal preferences. Also available directly from Kukka for £ 60.

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Have a nice weekend!

Sure, a simple shelf sounds okay, but then you see the frame sort of floats away from the wall, and that means extra dimension. Not an extra dimension (don’t get too excited), just extra dimension, as in, a pinch of optical illusion when you walk by. The robots and bus make it look perfect for a kid’s room, but the collectors among us know an extra shelf or two means room to show off those few valuables/momentos that are worth keeping.
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Hmm, what’s this? A big ball of yarn? Not quite, though on first glance the assumption is understandable. It’s a chair hand-knitted with cotton cord by a group of women of Mexican-descent in Los Angeles, California. Amaya Gutierrez, the designer, works with this team to produce textiles inspired from her home town in Oaxaca, Mexico. Gutierrez aims for style and durability in all of her products with hopes it will limit further consumption in future years. A worthwhile goal, for sure.
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How about a little DIY lighting? Dino Sanchez has added a new (and affordable) table lamp to brighten up any small, dreary spot. All the pieces are included, so just add your own elbow grease and in no time at all you’ll have your lamp assembled. (Available for pre-order; it will begin shipping 03/25/2013.)
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What’s better than a black and white patterned rug? A reversible, indoor-outdoor black and white patterned rug, of course. Recycled polypropylene won’t be the softest on the soles of your feet, but the trade off is that you simply hose it down to clean. That means toting it out to the patio, park or beach is perfectly acceptable, if not encouraged.

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