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Did you know that Lindsey Adelman has a new You Make It Pendant? Yes, indeed, and the whole kit is available at Grand Brass, just like the others. At $57.60, it’s a very affordable option for an interesting, industrial-modern pendant, and all you need is some elbow grease and a fair amount of patience to put it together.
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If you’re going to send a package off, you might as well tease the recipient with tape that says something. If ‘pretty things’ isn’t really your style, there’s also the ‘I love it. What is it?’ paper tape, which also does the job of prepping the recipient with positive anticipation. The tape is strong enough for cardboard boxes yet can be teared by hand.
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Just what little odds and ends need to be hidden away? Because chances are that they’ll fit inside the ObjectBoxes from designer Maya Bille. An acrylic sliding lid has the perfect balance of transparency and opacity; you can see the general idea of the box’s contents but not enough to distract you from the beauty of the box. Maybe it could make a nice home for your watches or jewelry? Or desk accessories?
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Kids. Birthday parties. Blah. What the hell are you going to get for your favorite (or non-favorite) little one this year? How about a slightly strange stuffed animal with magnetic, interchangeable horns, ears, noses, and paws?
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Okay, quick, which states have these abbreviations? MD? IA? MT? NE? VT? It may seem easy, but some people don’t have the same memory as you, and might need these United States Blocks to learn them all. Obviously, kids could learn from these, but I’m talking about some of your co-workers. Fifty wood blocks by House Industries show state images, names, capitals, mottos, birds, flowers, and trees. Everyone could probably stand a refresher, as it doesn’t hurt to keep the mind sharp with civics data, right?
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Solid oak and marble make a perfect pair when it comes to these functional kitchen tools by Danish designer Simon Legald. Both materials are durable and fit for everyday use while the rounded edges and curves ensure that each piece is comfortable to handle and hold.
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Why should you care about these aluminum, powder coated trays from LIXHT? Well, they’d be good for organizing stacks of odds and ends, or for transporting things from one place to another. They’re also lightweight and have a very thin profile. On a personal note, I ordered both the small and large size after LIXHT emailed us, and now a previously messy stack of material samples suddenly looks purposeful and organized*.
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Not a bad slogan to live by, is it? Handmade by Winter Cabin Collection, this banner is belongs to a collection of goods brought about by the partnership of the American Museum of Natural History and Etsy. There’s several things to catch the eye and tempt the wallet, but this banner is probably the most altruistic purchase, as it will most likely inspire others (we can hope).
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The perfect cup of espresso is hard to replicate at home unless you want to plonk down several hundred (or thousand) dollars. And that’s exactly why some of our tastebuds will perk up when seeing the Rok Espresso Maker. It’s completely hand-powered. It’s also portable, which opens up the options for just where you’ll enjoy a cup of caffeinated loveliness. You’ll need a good espresso grind, some hot water, and your muscles. And maybe some practice. That’s it. Sounds encouraging for the non-expert, doesn’t it? See the video below for more.
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Seeing as the Flos sale began yesterday (ends March 19), it’s particularly fitting to feature the IC S Pendant Light by Michael Anastassiades. The original inspiration for the IC collection was the skillful way in which a juggler spun a set of spheres around his/her body, and, indeed, it’s easy to feel the off-centered balance and slight tension of each lamp. There’s the suspension lamp, featured here, as well as the IC C/W Wall Ceiling Light, the IC F Floor Lamp, and the IC T1 High and IC T2 Table Lamp.
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Now you can be really, truly lazy, because Switchmate automates your standard light switch, no screwdrivers required. Snap Switchman over your existing switch, pair it with your smartphone, and then turn your lights on and off without ever leaving the sofa. When you do eventually leave the house, you can turn on your lights before you arrive home, thus avoiding any dark entryways (and potential tripping hazards). It’s held on by magnets, so it’s just about the easiest installation you’ll ever have, and, if you’re a renter, you can simply snap off your Switchmates to take them with you when you move.
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What’s with Ingo Maurer and flying things? Who cares? Because pretty much all of it is amazing, and that includes this table lamp with a delicate handmade silver-coated aluminum dragonfly resting on a bulb. Prepare yourself for a price tag punch, though, as it’s not cheap (you should know this as ‘handmade’ was in front of ‘silver-coated’ and ‘aluminum dragonfly’) and you might just have to put it in your wish list folder until you get a spectacular raise. Oh, and if you really like the whole insects-on-a-light-bulb lighting option, do be sure to take a look at Ingo Maurer’s Johnny B. Butterfly Pendant Light as well as his JB Schmetterling Pendant Light.
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It’s still cold outside, so here’s a very fashionable 100% carded wool blanket to keep you warm. Fair warning, though, it’s not cheap, partly because it looks like it should be hanging on the wall as an abstract art piece instead of on your bed as a blanket. You could probably even get away with wearing it out in public as a sort of sweater coat/wrap (if you’re brave), especially as it’s from fashion knitwear designer Roberta Licini.
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Delicate colors and various diamond-shaped sizes mean endless rearranging- in a fun sort of way. This sort of combination sets the Ruuto Vases firmly in the ‘excellent gift’ category. It takes seven craftsmen twenty four hours to create just one vase, as the colors require expert care and it takes time to create precise, square edges from lava-like liquid glass. Makes sense, doesn’t it? Have a look at Iittalia’s video below (from Dezeen) with Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec describing their thoughts on the Ruuto collection.
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Do you need a perfectly proportioned pair of scissors? No, you don’t, unless you care a lot about the golden ratio when it comes to your office tools and accessories. Or maybe you’re a mad genius or a very particular design aficionado, then I suppose you are also allowed to *need* this cutting tool. These semi-crazy-looking scissors are the design baby of iAN Yen & Design YxR, and have the useful function that you’d expect along with a comfortable holding position.
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