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You’ve told everyone in your team/family a hundred times the date of the important meeting/deadline/recital/game, yet somehow they all forget. Maybe they need an old-school message board in their faces every day to remind them? It’s worth a shot, especially as you can add funny quotes and nice messages when the mood strikes (you know, for morale).
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You may recognize this flatware, as its minimalist vibe harks back to 1970. 1970? Wait, what? Wasn’t that before some of us were born? Yeah, maybe, but let’s appreciate how certain timeless designs remain relevant no matter the decade. Fun fact: Gae Aulenti was one of Italy’s most prolific architects, known for several large-scale museum projects, including the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, the Contemporary Art Gallery at the Centre Pompidou in Paris, and the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco.
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Have you neglected another houseplant? If you don’t have a green thumb, do yourself a favor and get a few SR Flat Plants. The “paint by numbers” style kit includes a plywood plant cutout, paints, paintbrush, reference sheet, and instructions. You’ll finally have greenery that won’t die, no matter what. The flat, cartoonish rigidity may even lend a sense of playfulness to some rooms.
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Everyone loooves popcorn, but not everyone loves the pre-packaged kind with all the preservatives and other unwanted ingredients. So, make your own using the Lékué Popcorn Maker. Fill popcorn kernels to the line inside, and then pop in the microwave for a minute and a half. The suction lid will keep all your popcorn from overflowing, and simply ‘pop’ it in the dishwasher for cleaning. The silicone bowl collapses down for easy storage.
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You’ll have fun twisting and turning these colorful Snake Blocks to make all sorts of interesting shapes and patterns. 24 wooden triangles are held together with an elastic band, and you have your pick of a small, medium, or large version, plus plenty of different color combinations. It’ll keep your hands busy when you’re brainstorming (or waiting for an idea to hit, as is often the case). Be sure to check out the video tutorials on how to make the elephant, swan, ball/a>, and cobra.
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Who else wants a warm, knit blanket with abstract art patterns? It’ll keep our toes warm and our eyes happy, as the colors and composition agree with our aesthetic sensibilities. And, as you’d expect, it being Cold Picnic, there’s the Tonal Boob Knit Blanket to coordinate with their Boob Bath Mat. Cold Picnic’s quilts are impressive as well, but deserve to be featured separately (perhaps next week).
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How about adding a fun brass bookmark to your stack of tomes? It will keep your place and catch the light, all while providing a little bit of playfulness to your reading time. Choose between Hand, Box, and Wave, or go crazy and get all three if you tend to read more than one book at a time.
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Who doesn’t like a small treat with their tea or coffee? The MARUHI Cup and Saucer has trick up its sleeve, or, rather, a secret spot underneath. There’s just enough room in the saucer and under the cup to hide a cookie, flower, or a few bits of chocolate. A little something special won’t hurt your waistline too much… right?
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While there may not be a manned aircraft sent to the moon in the near future, you’ll be able to admire the earth’s largest satellite up close and personal every time you need a tray. The celestial serving tray by Fine Little Day is made of melamine coated birchwood in Sweden. At 15″ wide, it’ll hold quite a few dishes (or miscellaneous stuff) for any aspiring selenographer.
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Floral art isn’t boring when it’s big, bold, and gold. Monica Peterson’s prints feature large shapes with small, patterned lines to create an interesting and affordable piece of art. All Lino Prints are produced on a large printing press; visit her website to see more of the collection. The Indigo Anemone Print and King Protea Print are pictured above.
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Does drinking coffee or tea out of a special cup make it taste better? Absolutely, or so says the wisdom of an aesthete. Make your morning or afternoon ritual a little more perfect with a beautiful earthenware cup, handmade by Sue Pryke in the UK.
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Perforated metal may not be your first choice for a table lamp, but it sure “filters” the light in a lovely way. Two metal discs sandwich a light bulb, giving you an edgy option for a dimmable lamp. Available in Blush, Ochre, Oxblood, and White.
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Blech, some days are tough, huh? Maybe you just need to curl up under a Slowdown Studio throw and succumb to the latest series on netflix/hulu/whatever. You’re sure to cheer up with the 100% cotton throws, especially since their crazy, vivid shapes and patterns are visual statements of general well-being and positivity. It’s pretty difficult to pick a favorite; maybe the Benjamin? or the Davis? Which one do you like best?
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Okay, what do you think this strange, round-yet-flat thing is? Use your noggin, and you may just recognize something familiar within the squiggly shape. Answer below.
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Uh, whaaaat? Tell me you’re not tempted to buy a bunch of these semi-insane Nood Lamps, because then I won’t want to snap every single one up for myself. They’re made of cast porcelain, with a good jolt of crazy color/pattern to wake up any dull corner. You won’t be accused of being boring with one of these guys in your house, that’s for sure.
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