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As you might have noticed, gift guides are popping up all over the place. We’ll have some wishlists/gift guides just like last year in the upcoming weeks, but until then, keep these pins by Macon and Lesquoy on your radar. They’re intended purely for fun, and, as they’re quite small (~1″- 2″), could be easily worn on shirts, jackets, and bags. Perfect for co-workers, friends, etc.
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How about some asymmetrical shelving for your storage needs? Made of solid cherry, the Sum Shelving System attaches to the wall with brass fixings. Three of the four sides of each shelf have a special groove that allows endless configurations, so you’ll have a multitude of arrangements to choose from depending on your needs. Build it up vertically, horizontally, diagonally- whichever way you prefer. Sold as a set of 3.
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Like your espressos but hate your machine? Or, like your espressos but can’t be bothered to buy a machine? Take a look at this stovetop espresso maker and see if it doesn’t tempt you with the idea of a DIY espresso-driven bliss each and every morning. There are four sizes available (2-cup, 4-cup, 6-cup and 10-cup, all measured in tiny espresso cups, mind you, not standard baking measures) and a special filter in the funnel can be flipped to make half the amount if you should so choose.

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Oh, what a tempting, tiny speaker. There’s the choice of hand-crafted Walnut or Bamboo case, and sure, that looks pretty good, but the point of that wood/bamboo is the natural acoustic properties. Also, check out the size: 3″ X 3″ X 3″. Compact. Of course, it has integrated Bluetooth (what speaker nowadays doesn’t?) and it delivers enough sound to fill a decently sized space. Other standout bullet points are its 30′ range and estimated 10+ hours of battery life.

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I picture these simple United States Flashcards being used before touch-screens and other hi-tech devices. Why not bring back some old-school schooling? Might make a nice gift to your favorite niece/nephew/child (if they appreciate flash-card variety games) or, hey, be selfish and use them decoratively. The Alphabet Flashcards are equally appealing (shown below).
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Make Magazine’s recent mention of Bonsai Shears brought to mind one of my own recent experiences. For a while now I’ve attempted to keep alive a variety of plants, and I’ve been somewhat successful. However, out of all those experiences, perhaps the most disappointing was losing a small bonsai tree to the Texas weather (and my ineptitude).

A recent find of the Jabily succulent (Operculicarya decaryi), which can be grown as a bonsai and is easy to care for (lots of sun, lots of water), has offered redemption. Before the Jabily, I had two okay-ish pruners: one of which I never used because it was cheap and didn’t work well, and the other I reluctantly used, but it wasn’t exactly ergonomic. After the Jabily, I obtained two pairs of Japanese stainless steel butterfly scissors* of different size and function; I’m serious this time.

Having the right tool for the right job makes a difference, as you may know, and the proper pruning scissors I purchased work better and will last longer than my previous pairs. Also, as it often happens, because I invested a little more money I find myself taking extra care to wipe the blades and keep them in tip-top shape.
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Yeah, you remember these, don’t you? They’ve been featured here before (years ago) and therefore need a fresh post with a link that works. They’re glass bottles in the same shape as the familiar plastic bottle, thus drawing attention to consumerism and reinforcing the reuse/recycle ethos. But it’s made of glass, you say, and will break! Not necessarily, as the bottles are made from borosilicate glass (the same stuff your Pyrex measuring cup is made of).

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Ferm Living’s Diamond Hooks look good with or without clothes (just like you, right?). Two or three sets scattered all over an entryway wall would serve as wall art when not being utilized as coat/clothes/bag hook. Three hooks in one set.
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Update: Do you happen to remember the Scaffolding Lamps by Rodger Stevens? Well, check out the current sale prices: Scaffolding Floor Lamp $499.99, Scaffolding Table Lamp $299.99. Quite a discount from the previously listed prices in ’09 (below).

How absolutely wonderful are these lamps by Rodger Stevens? I’ll tell you how wonderful they are: they’re the sort of lamps you’d buy without thinking about how you can’t afford them because they are freaking amazing, that’s how.
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Give this to your favorite Republican and be prepared for an awkward thanks. Or just buy it as a friendly welcome mat for all your guests; either way, it’ll clean shoes regardless of political affiliation.
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Yet another Themis mobile? Yes, indeed, and this one has five distinct palette colors: salmon, beige, green, balck and gold. If you’re not familiar with the others, the Themis Mono Mobile is one dodecahedron with warm and cool colors, the Themis Mobile has five faceted ornaments, and the Themis Trio Mobile has, you guessed it, three polyhedra in a palette of neon and neutral colors.
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Have a nice weekend!

Quinze & Milan’s Pilot Stool is notable not only for its curved (and seemingly comfortable) seat, but also for its new method of fabrication. Polypropylene foam is utilized in a special manufacturing technique (see below video) to create a glossy-yet-matte surface. The oak legs thread onto the seat, making the stool easy to ship and assemble. Available in three different height variations: standard, kitchen, and bar.
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These notebooks from WRITERSBLOK use old fashioned string tie closures to keep your notes secure. Note: if you are particularly picky about paper, do a little research and read a few reviews on WRITERSBLOK journals- a few people have commented that the paper is a little thinner than Moleskine notebooks, so you might have some ink bleed-through if you prefer heavier/thicker ink. Available in small or medium, brown or black, and plain or ruled.

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Oh, yes, you do see an entire periodic table indented into the surface of this concrete top coffee table. Just think of all the fun you’ll have testing your knowledge and showing off for your guests. Ds? Darmstadtium! Sg? Seaborgium! Appropriate for indoor or outdoor use; designed and made in LA by James DeWulf.
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