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Shall we switch to loose leaf tea? This Tea Egg certainly tempts us to, as its two-part design allows for easy cleaning. Some swear that loose tea makes for a better flavor and some say it’s better for the environment as it cuts down on packaging; both points merit consideration, for sure. The color options of the Tea Egg also sweeten the deal (though it looks like A+R only has rose and blue, and Normann Copenhagen’s site seems to be having some issues).

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Oh, how to combine your love of stitching and constellations? Well, besides making a version of this Stitched Star Chart, you could add the Stitch the Stars 2013 Calendar by Heather Lins to your wishlist. Each month is shown on a glow-in-the-dark card with glow-in-the-dark embroidery floss so you can stitch to connect the dots of the constellation. The constellation corresponds to the month, fyi.
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Are you still in need of a central charging station? Perhaps one with a larger tray area for your wallet, glasses, or keys? This option from Vancouver-based Hekseskudd does the job right with walnut wood and a non-skid gel pad. Need a tray with more than one phone dock? There’s the Common Ground Tray and Landing Tray with Drop Spot to fit your needs.
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An inkless pen? Just how is that possible? Well, it involves a mixture of lead and metal alloy (lead = be careful, don’t let kids use it, etc.) that creates a grey line like a pencil, except it doesn’t smudge and can’t be erased. Oh, and it never needs refills. Sounds intriguing, doesn’t it?
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What better gift than the gift of science? If you’ve any young children on your holiday list, think about these Elemental Blocks from Uncle Goose. And, if the elements aren’t the right sort of subject, there’s quite a few other block sets that could benefit a young mind: Braille Math or ABC Blocks and several Foreign Language options.

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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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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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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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Geographical! Created from actual elevation data, this wooden topographical map of the United States is laser-cut and hand-assembled in Portland, Oregon. The 48 contiguous states are $750, but get in touch with 54/40 for individual state pricing.
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