bltd

What is this thingamajig, you say? Well, I know someone very picky about their ice cubes, and that someone would be quite happy to hear that this thingamajig is an ice tray that makes crystal clear ice. An insulated base allows air and impurities to compress at the bottom of the tray, leaving a block of clear ice at the top. Break apart for drinks or freeze flowers for decoration (does anyone do that?).
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I can’t vouch for the accuracy of this kit, but kids (and adults) would do well to try it out. With a weathervane, a wind gauge (anemometer), a rain gauge (pluviometer) and a thermometer, you (or your kids) will be able to observe and learn about your local climate while trying your hand at forecasting the weather. There’s also space for a small terrarium in a bottle to see how the greenhouse effect works.
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If you have to put pen to paper to sketch out your ideas, then take a look at this expandable sketchbook. While the book measures a smaller A6 size (14.8cm high and 12.5cm wide with spine), each of its 5 pages expands into a larger A3 size. Not a bad size for something that fits easily into your bag. Also, for Design Sojourn’s 1st Birthday, they are offering free shipping for any amount of sketchbooks you purchase. (Birthday sale is over.)
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It’s only fitting that the handmade card you just made gets delivered in its own handmade envelope. This handy and rather cool looking wooden template creates a 4.5 x 6.4” envelope from any material of your choice.

Template measures 7.8 x 11” and is printed with graphical instructions.

Smart! Stack them in a tower or stick ’em in a bookcase, these birch plywood lamps are minimal and very functional. Total edition size is 20, so if you don’t snap a few up soon, you might have to get your toolbox out for a DIY version.

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Ah, let’s talk about the loo (toilet) brush. I recently moved, and the past week I’ve been running around getting all the home necessities for our house, and when I say all, I mean all (our stuff is in transit via sea freight, not to arrive for another two or three weeks, so it’s a start-from-scratch situation). Which brings me to the subject of bathroom accessories. There’s a sad selection on the local suppliers’ shelves. I want more natural materials, not shiny-80s-bachelor-pad crap and definitely not plasticky crud. If it’s on view and not in the cupboard, I want something pleasant to look at. Hell, even if it’s in the cupboard, I want something pleasant to look at.

So, check out this toilet brush. Made from birchwood and soft concrete, it’s a nice little thing to do a rather dirty job, which makes that job just a tiny bit better. While semi-expensive at £35, it’s certainly not crazy expensive like the Vipp Toilet Brush ($200). I certainly regret not buying a couple of these before leaving the UK. Also, I found two other completely decent ones (via Remodelista), but they’re also from the UK. Blargh. See below for links.
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If you’ve ever needed to express your mood without saying a word, this door sign is for you. Whether you’re down in the dumps or high on life, a little warning to your friends and family might be appreciated. Amanda Keely made these signs as a play on the ‘do not disturb’ signs found in hotels.
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If you have Aurélien Barbry’s cork wine stoppers from Normann Copenhagen, you might want to add these other accoutrements to your bar area. Similarly matched to the stoppers, the pieces are made from cork, which give a natural warmth to an otherwise bland sea of stainless steel options.

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If you have a need for coasters, at least make them decent to look at, for goodness sake. After all, we’re not barbarians, are we? You can leave them clustered together or break them apart for separate drinks. They, of course, can be rearranged like a puzzle for a trivet type of arrangement.

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These Build Your Block Pillows by Patrick Chirico were inspired by the various buildings found in Brooklyn. Pick the buildings and colors that you like most and you have your own little bit of New York City on your bed or sofa. The Mini Stuff is pretty cute too. (Should be noted that this would be great for kids and adults alike.)

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This notepad has the IBM values message imprinted inside, which is nice in an old-school familiar sort of way. Black with white THINK imprint on cover. Only drawback it seems is you might have to order them in bulk. (Does any retailer have them for sale individually?)

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I recently saw these handmade cards at a local store and absolutely had to buy one. Made by Etsy artist Marnie Karger, selling under the store name Crafterall, natural landmarks such as Manhattan and the Great Lakes are recreated in intricate paper cut topographies. Many sizes, styles, and colors are available, so be sure to check out the store.
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If you and yours obsess over getting your ingredients exactly right, this cutting board is right up your alley. Though it’s worth noting that even if you’re nowhere near being OCD, this cutting board could possibly push you to be more obsessive than normal. It looks like it’s not available right away, but you can sign up to receive an email notice once it’s available for purchase.

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The Blow Bowl is an interesting mix of textures and materials, combining mouth-blown glass with synthetic red or blue rope handles (comes with both). Designed by Alexis Georgacopoulos for ENO, Paris.

Materials: Blown glass, rope
High Dimensions: 8.6″ diameter x 9.8″ high
Low Dimensions: 13.7″ diameter x 3.1″ high

Here’s a neat little device which allows you to shut off power to whatever is plugged in after a set amount of time (1/2 hour, 3 hours and 6 hours).