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Why do you need a big, felt bowl? Well, for starters, it could sit by the front door and catch all that miscellany that you bring in everyday. Keys, mail, cats… or maybe not the latter if you’re not fond of feline creatures. The interlocking pieces of felt create a patterned texture that will add interest to the room and the generous size allows you to tidy up areas prone to chaos. The Aurelie bowl is designed by artist Aurelie Tu and assembled by women and youth in transition in Portland, Oregon.
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Midori just keeps making brass desktop tools that are hard to resist. And this one packs a double function: use as a bookmark and as a stencil. Even if your handwriting isn’t all that bad, a little block lettering now and then won’t hurt, right? It’ll most likely fit perfectly within your notebook.
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Excuse me while I geek out a little bit over this cardboard Kinetic Creature. You build it from a simple tab-and-slot kit, and, when you turn the wire handle, the Giraffe (or rhino) walks along thanks to a simple mechanical motion. While it’s recommended for ages 11+, I think most everyone will find it a little fascinating. And, if you like the idea, be sure to look into Theo Jansen’s more advanced Strandbeest. There’s even Miniature Beast kits available for purchase on the Strandbeest web shop ($75); they’re slightly more complicated than these cardboard toys, but the reward looks to be worth the effort.
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That’s right, LET IT GO. Maybe you need reminding, or maybe someone you know does, but either way, a cloth banner with the phrase will do everyone some good. Artist Ashley Brown Durand hand cuts each letter from 100% wool and hand stitches them to repurposed, soft cotton flour sacks. See Ashley’s Etsy Shop, SecretHolidayCo, for ‘IT’S OK’, ‘YES’, and ‘stay true’ banners.
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What to get someone that enjoys preparing and serving food? This set of 6 ‘Scoop, Stab & Spread’ appetizer tools might fit the bill with their specific functions. The Scoop has an integrated draining slot, the Stab includes a double-pronged fork and a single pronged spear (to skewer delicate meats, of course), and the Spread has an angled and straight spreader (a good fit for soft or hard cheeses).
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A fresh cup of coffee in just three minutes? Yep, that little wish just came true with the Impress Coffee Brewer Travel Mug by Gamila Company. Add your grounds and hot water and stir. Leave it for a few minutes and then gently plunge the reverse-flow filter into your brew; the grounds are filtered out and kept safe (at the bottom) for your perfect cup, ready to go. No filters, no mess, and the triple-walled design keeps your coffee hot just the way you like it.
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Perhaps with your keen design eye you’ve guessed that the Bouroullec brothers have something to do with this cute little lamp; you’d be right, of course. With rather petite dimensions and a lower base tray- perfect for those little things like keys and coins- this lamp would do well in an entrance hall or small desk area. And, for what it’s worth, I ended up purchasing a green Piani Lamp for our entrance console, and I am very fond of it. It sheds just the right amount of light for the area. And, if you need further encouragement, the Flos 15% off sale is going on right now, so if you purchase before October 24th, the price is $271.
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I’m sure there’s not a lot of these in stock, and considering the sale price of $50 (reg.$145.00) it’ll be sold out sooner than you can say ‘how many days until my next vacation’ two hundred times fast. So, how many days until your next vacation? If you had this clock you would know, as it has a specific countdown and a place to note the event. So, no more forgetting that special anniversary, wondering how much time is left to for holiday shopping, etc. The clock can countdown from 999 days and there are 33 different occasions to select.
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Spork, knoon, fife, knork. Only two of these things exist as far as I know, and I give you two guesses to pick the other one (other than the Spork, of course). It’s the Knork, as you could probably tell from the title and the picture, and it’s a combination knife/fork. I don’t know how well it works, but you can find out with $5. Could be worth every penny for the novelty, and who knows, you might just simplify your utensil selection after trying it out.
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“She blinded me with science!“… that song will immediately spring to mind each time you walk by this wall sconce, for how could it not when it’s made from real chemistry lab supplies? And, shall we take a moment to admire how the look may change depending on the finish, cord color, and bulb you choose? Note: you might be a little sick of Edison bulbs, because they seem to be everywhere now, but I think there’s still something very appealing about their soft, candle-like glow and I refuse to be put off by their popularity.
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It’s always smart to have a clip or two on hand. Why? Maybe to keep your shirt closed after pretending to be the Incredible Hulk, or maybe to keep your nose from smelling your coworker (those strong, semi-jagged teeth on the clip’s edge will keep your nostrils shut tight, even when you move around the office! or break into a dance!). Or, maybe, and I know this is crazy, you can use the clip with the spoon attached to keep your coffee bag closed.
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For those days when you really screw up, pick up this eraser and read the notable latin phrase aloud: “Errare humanum est.” That translates into ‘To err is human’ if you hadn’t guessed, and will make you feel just a tiny bit better about whatever mess you made. On a side note, you might as well get several, and give them away one by one to friends/coworkers when they need the same reminder.
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This looks way too nice to use as a chopping board, doesn’t it? White Morwad marble provides a durable surface for dinner prep and serving while the delicate brass saucer is the perfect spot for dips or other special fare. And, if you like the look of the marble and brass, you’ll want to consider the Stone Spice Grinder (shown below) and Stone Pestle And Mortar by Tom Dixon as well.
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Smoke alarms are a far from exciting, and really, most of us forget about them completely until they start chirping because a battery needs to be changed. Well, just as Nest improved the thermostat, they now aim to improve the smoke alarm, with a carbon monoxide alarm thrown in as well.

The Nest Protect will give you an early warning telling you where the danger might be, and, if it’s a case of burning toast or some other cooking fiasco, you can simply wave your hand to silence the alarm. It can also send a message to your phone if the alarm goes off or if the batteries need replacing. It’s not for sale just yet, but you can reserve one now if you’d like to try it out once it ships at the end of the year.
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This little solar-powered LED lamp helps get clean, affordable light to the 1.6 billion people without access to electricity. How so? With every purchase you make, a Little Sun can be sold off-grid at much lower, locally affordable prices. Five hours of charging gives three hours of bright light. Do take a look at the video below or Little Sun’s website for more info.
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