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Articles Written by Katie

Katie

About Katie: Katie has been a product and textile designer, an art restoration specialist, and an interior designer/merchandiser. Her interests are focused on finding well designed items that improve daily life as well as reading fiction and making stuff. (View Profile)

 
 

Shayk Pendant Light

Say what you will about synthetic paper, but don’t knock its affordability in the lighting department. Designer Amanda Betz was inspired by the Sheikh Lutf Allah Mosque in Isfahan, Iran, and, as you can see, she created a honeycomb-like pattern to mimic the design on the mosque’s dome. Be sure to take a look at the shadows cast by this light, for you’ll not be short on ambience if you get one. The description states that you can adjust the shape of the Shayk light with your hands, so there could be a little wiggle room if you want it to be less/more of an oblong sphere.
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Purchase Information:

Price: $105.00
Available from: YLiving

Kobenstyle Casserole

It’s safe to say I’ve not cooked anything complicated, much less anything involving the word ‘casserole’, yet I’m certainly drawn to this bold red dish designed by Jens Quistgard. The handle design seems almost too (dare I say) pretty, but the weld points actually limit heat transfer. The lid can also be inverted for use as a trivet. And can you guess when it was designed? Was it a: 1923, b: 1956, c: 1972, or d: 2006?
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Purchase Information:

Price: $100.00
Available from: MoMA Store

Famm Pen Case

Don’t let your nice writing instruments get lost or damaged; keep them safe and sound in a nice leather case like this one. A zippered compartment holds smaller items while two pouches leave room enough to store several pens/pencils/rulers/etc. Maybe bookmark it for a nice gift idea?
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Purchase Information:

Price: $125.00
Available from: Leibal

Lumberlander Camp Blanket

Sleeping under the stars? Make sure you stay warm with a camp blanket like this wool/cotton blend designed by Best Made Co. (of the Axes) and made by Pendleton Woolen Mills. It gets extra points for its included leather blanket sling, and you’ll get extra points for having a warm blanket that’s easy to carry to and fro the campsite (or the linen closet, as the case may be).

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Purchase Information:

Price: $180.00
Available from: Best Made Co.

Clip Tree

I hope you aren’t sick of seeing Kickstarter projects, because here’s another worthwhile one. The Clip Tree is a configurable valet that allows you to keep your miscellany in one spot. Attach it to the wall in the bathroom, hallway, or office and then sit back and congratulate yourself in advance for never losing anything ever again. Customize the Clip Tree with its various options; there’s a hook, bowl, tray, peg, hoop, and mirror clip. Lots of things to play around with, isn’t there?
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Purchase Information:

Price: $75.00
Available from: Kickstarter

Turtle Shell

Say, do you ever desire a portable, water resistant, wireless boombox that you can attach to your bike or kid’s stroller? If that answer is yes, head on over to Kickstarter where you have the chance to back Outdoor Tech’s Turtle Shell. For $99 you’ll own a Turtle Shell speaker or spend a bit more ($125) and you’ll get the Turtle Claw Mount as well. Thanks to its camera threading, the Turtle Shell attaches to any standard camera accessory so the Claw Mount isn’t necessary, fyi.
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Purchase Information:

Price: $99.00
Available from: Kickstarter

Themis Mono Mobile

Fun! Check out this new mobile designed by Clara Von Zweikbergk. It’s a twelve-sided geometric shape (otherwise known as a dodecahedron, correct?) that has both warm and cool colors, all carefully chosen, of course, for the best contrast and visual appeal. At 12″x12″, it can hang by itself or in clusters.
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Purchase Information:

Price: $44.00
Available from: YLiving

Walnut Wire Side Table

This price is right for this side table, especially considering the style and materials. The warm walnut top balances out the cool copper wire base, and the size is just about perfect for a table lamp and a few odds and ends. The top is removable should you want to store something in the base, though who knows what that might look like. Might be better to leave it as is.
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Purchase Information:

Price: $175.00
Available from: Workerman

Fill-in-the-Blanks Bookplates

Bookplates! Maybe not that exciting if you’ve fully abandoned paper pages, but if you still harbor a love for the old fashioned tome, you might just like to have a few blank bookplates on hand. Keep track of the place/date you bought the book, inscribe a special sentiment before giving as a gift, or, as I might do, write in your name so the book will eventually find its way back to you if it’s ever borrowed.
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Purchase Information:

Price: $15.00
Available from: BOOK / SHOP

Portable Magnetic Speaker

Hrm, I wonder if this Portable Magnetic Speaker actually produces decent sound? It’s tiny at 1.75″ x 1.75″, and has a powerful magnet that can be clipped to clothing or bags to keep it close. The battery (lithium-ion) is rechargeable via the included USB cable. Audiophiles, what do you think?

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Purchase Information:

Price: $24.00
Available from: Uncommon Goods

Chop X Cutting Board

X marks the spot. Solid walnut provides a sturdy surface to cut your fruits and vegetables on, with a simple maple inlay to help make the experience just a little more special. Finished with FDA approved mineral oil.
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Purchase Information:

Price: $45.00
Available from: Workerman

ANYTHING Letter Opener

If you receive no letters in the mail, good for you. For the rest of us, there are times when we are in need of a letter opener, and it would be nice to have one that did not offend the eyes. The Letter Opener by ANYTHING is just about as utilitarian as things get, and has that modern sensibility that our optical systems like so well. Do be sure to take a look at the collection of ANYTHING Desk Accessories if you’re not familiar with it already.
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Purchase Information:

Price: $39.00
Available from: Neo Utility

Friday Links

  • Moth Trails at Night (via Design Crush)
  • Quick and easy online marketplace, like a yard sale but on your computer: list of things for sale (via Netted)
  • Make an animated gif image online freely and easily, no registration required: GIFMaker.me
  • What do you first see when you look at this Best Wishes Key? I saw an anatomical heart.
  • A Mom Finds Her Son’s Lost Monkey Stuffed Animal on eBay Three Years Later
  • Unusual Specimen Portraits by Michael Mapes (via Laughing Squid)
  • From artists Julius von Bismarck and Julian Charriere, some pigeons are more equal than others. (via, again, Design Crush)
  • Have a nice weekend.

    Aluminum Eiffel Stool

    First off, the $150 price is for the kid-sized version, but, that said, $225 isn’t too bad of a price for an aluminium (or, as us Americans would say, aluminum) stacking stool. The Eiffel stool can easily live indoors or out, and do check out the image below of the stools stacked 5 high (space saving!), and see if that doesn’t impress you the tiniest bit more.
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    Purchase Information:

    Price: $150.00 - 225.00
    Available from: Design Public

    Geneva XS Sound System

    Don’t wet your pants just yet, the Geneva XS Sound System is not the cheapest thing around. However, it is small enough to travel with, and especially suited for such with a clamshell case that flips open. Never mind that, you’re thinking, get to the goods. There’s the digital FM clock radio and Bluetooth® for wireless audio streaming (of course) and then there’s the alarm clock and illuminating touch-sensitive controls. A rechargeable battery will keep you in business for five hours of play time. Okay, now you have permission to wet your pants.
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    Purchase Information:

    Price: $250.00
    Available from: Geneva Lab