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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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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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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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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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It’s like building blocks, except dangerous (does it not look like an ice pick without the beads?) if one’s temper is out of sorts. The wooden beads are removable, which gives you a chance to reconfigure the design as you wish. Right now the Les Perles Candlesticks are a little less with DWR’s Dining Sale, fyi.

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If you’ve ever played around with a spirograph, you know where this mirror gets its name. Rubber cord creates the repeated line gestures on this mirrored stainless steel and gives texture and interest to its reflective surface. Available in 18″ and 24″ diameters with many different cord colors to choose from.
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Puzzles! Why does it seem that kids and older people are crazy about puzzles and most of us young-to-middle-aged folks dismiss them as a pleasant pastime? Perhaps because we see ourselves as too busy? Hmm. Time to fix that.
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Bottle openers should be sturdy things, and with this stainless steel option you’ll have no worries about it opening up thousands of bottles in its lifetime. The ‘thousands’ value is intended to encompass the drinks of the many guests of parties and informal get-togethers you’ll have, not the amount you’ll imbibe on your sofa.

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Why would you pay $28 for three pencils? Good question. Maybe because each pencil “explores our primal desire for soothing haptic response and fulfills our need for tactile gratification.” Does that sound about right? Snap each pencil out of its frame to use. Note: could be a good gift for someone that likes to sketch.
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Do you have a decent knowledge of the various flags of the world? Maybe you’ve been caught unawares a time or two (or ten), but that can all be fixed with this set of playing cards. 52 different flags are shown on the cards, so you can play your card game and learn at the same time. That’s not all the flags, mind you, but it’s a start; the CIA has a Flags of the World Factbook if you care to see more.

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Not to get too far ahead of ourselves, but it is September, which is fast approaching the need-to-get-a-new-calendar time. This calendar by MUCU is simple and elegant with enough space to write in notes for important dates. MUCU focuses on quality materials; each item is hand-finished by a skilled craftsman.
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Update: The Citrange Juicer is now on sale for $9, half off its regular price of $18.

Smart! This double sided hand juicer has a built in funnel that filters out seeds and gets the juice straight into the glass. The larger rounded side is perfect for big oranges or grapefruits while the smaller (pointy) side works for lemons or limes. Looks like a great tool for the kitchen or bar.

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Ah, what the heck, if you’re going to allow trinkets in your home, you might as well allow some crochet placemats. Of course, these reference the Atari and arcade games of yore, with Pacman, Pingpong, Space Invaders, and Breakout patterns, which makes them even better (or nerdier, depending on your point of view) than traditional crochet placemats. That said, just typing ‘crochet’ two times in one paragraph is making me itchy.
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Do these make you want to say ‘no comment’? Similar to a journalist’s microphone, these flocked foam coat hooks will softly hold your clothes without any weird dimples or disfiguration (small pegs and hooks are the worst offenders of this). Sold as a set of five, there are 3 small and 2 big pieces.

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Update: Remember when this was $80? Now it’s half off at MoMA Store.

Let’s say you don’t need a magnifying glass to aid poor vision. Instead you’ll use it to inspect small insects, fine fabrics, and secret messages written in tiny print. Also, not that you need fashion advice, but this is a much better choice than wearing a monocle.
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