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A handy little tab on this mug keeps your teabag from falling into your cup. Pretty simple solution to an annoying little problem, isn’t it? Just tie your teabag around the tab and it’ll stay put while you pour, stir, etc. Might be a thoughtful gift for the tea aficionado in your life? Holiday season is just around the corner, if you can believe it.
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Stamps! Whether you think you need them or not, take a look at the various designs of the Arcadian Stamp series from Imm-Living. There’s one or two that’s sure to tempt you, perhaps the old fashioned telephone, or typewriter? Maybe you don’t want to have too many trinkets on your desk, but just think of finishing off a nice handwritten note with an Anchor or Heart; it’ll be just the thing to add a personal touch.
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Another Country has some lovely furniture, for sure, but have you seen these desk accessories? The smaller items have just as much thoughtful function and considered style as the furniture pieces, and, dare I say, it’s hard to go wrong with that particular brand of consistency. There’s a tall Pencil Pot, a Sharpener Pot (for pencil shavings), a Tape Dispenser, and an Eraser Pot with an actual eraser as its lid.
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October the 1st already! And do you have your 2013 calendar yet? If not, you risk being annoyed by those self-satisfied got-it-all-together types smirking at you as they note 2013 dates down in the appropriate spots, and wondering just when you’ll get your act together. What they don’t know is that you couldn’t care less. So there. 365 days of the year, on tissue-thin paper, for hanging or laying flat on the desk.
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Do you want a large chandelier? Are you looking to spend around $2,000? If you are nodding your head to both of those questions, please do take a look at this Cord Chandelier from Brendan Ravenhill. It’s a tensegrity structure (full definition here), which, in this case, roughly means the constant tension of the arms and electrical wires allow for the radiating design. Custom sizing is also available, with a lead time of 3-4 weeks. Also, if you like the design, but are in the market for a smaller swing arm lamp, check out the Cord Lamp, with the much more affordable price tag of $220.
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Cooler weather means jackets and coats, so if you’re not prepared with adequate storage near the front door, now’s the time to get it all sorted. This coat rack from Kay + Stemmer combines four essentials: large hooks for jackets/coats, small hooks for keys and such, an enclosed shelf for mail, and a mirror to make sure you’re presentable. Everything you need all in one spot.
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If you have kids, or are friends with people who have kids, you know those kids grow like weeds. What better gift to give them than a Ruler for Measuring the Growth of Human Beings? (Call it what it is, right?) Made from birch plywood, each ruler is individually screen printed by hand in two colours. As it is from Rob Ryan, a nice little poem threads throughout the imagery.
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Agree or disagree? Either way, it’s not a bad price for something that will keep your feet from freezing on those cold winter floors this winter. Typographic design by Matthew Lew.
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We all know plastic cutlery is super cheap, but we also know it’s not very durable and certainly not very nice to look at. Maybe there’s an alternative? An alternative that perhaps is both beautiful and compostable? Meet the WASARA Bamboo Utensils. These utensils accompany the WASARA tableware collection, and, similarly, are intended for single-use occasions (think picnics, parties, etc.). Each one securely attaches to the edge of a WASARA plate or bowl thanks to a slit incorporated into each handle, so say sayonara to awkward balancing acts when adding food to your plate or making new acquaintances. More info on composting below.

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Sure, we featured this carafe way back in ’09, but now it has a neoprene wrap that insulates your beverage and makes it easier to hold. Other benefits: the carafe fits in a fridge door and its Smartlid opens automatically when you pour.
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Thanks to this electronic Click & Grow smartpot, if you’ve no green thumb, you don’t have to give up on indoor plants completely. There’s no daily watering and no fertilizing, you just start the kit by adding batteries and 1 liter of water and then sit back and wait for the smart technology to do its job. You’ll need to refill the water reservoir after a month or two, but that’s the minimal maintenance needed. Watch the video below for reassurance. Starter kits are $60 and refills are $20.
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Say what you will about synthetic paper, but don’t knock its affordability in the lighting department. Designer Amanda Betz was inspired by the Sheikh Lutf Allah Mosque in Isfahan, Iran, and, as you can see, she created a honeycomb-like pattern to mimic the design on the mosque’s dome. Be sure to take a look at the shadows cast by this light, for you’ll not be short on ambience if you get one. The description states that you can adjust the shape of the Shayk light with your hands, so there could be a little wiggle room if you want it to be less/more of an oblong sphere.
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It’s safe to say I’ve not cooked anything complicated, much less anything involving the word ‘casserole’, yet I’m certainly drawn to this bold red dish designed by Jens Quistgard. The handle design seems almost too (dare I say) pretty, but the weld points actually limit heat transfer. The lid can also be inverted for use as a trivet. And can you guess when it was designed? Was it a: 1923, b: 1956, c: 1972, or d: 2006?
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Don’t let your nice writing instruments get lost or damaged; keep them safe and sound in a nice leather case like this one. A zippered compartment holds smaller items while two pouches leave room enough to store several pens/pencils/rulers/etc. Maybe bookmark it for a nice gift idea?
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Sleeping under the stars? Make sure you stay warm with a camp blanket like this wool/cotton blend designed by Best Made Co. (of the Axes) and made by Pendleton Woolen Mills. It gets extra points for its included leather blanket sling, and you’ll get extra points for having a warm blanket that’s easy to carry to and fro the campsite (or the linen closet, as the case may be).

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