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PERSONAL

Brass Peanut Lighter

Next time you venture into the great outdoors for a camping trip, make sure you have a lighter in addition to your matches and flint. We all know it’s better to be safe than sorry, right? And, because you don’t want to carry more weight than absolutely necessary, you might as well get this very compact and indestructible lighter. Made of solid brass stock, it has a secure screw down cap (that can be attached to a keyring), is waterproof, and measures 0.5″ x 1.9″ for the large size or 0.5″ x 1.3″ for the small.
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Purchase Information:

Price: $34.00
Available from: Best Made Co.

ONDU Pinhole Cameras MK II

Do you remember the ONDU Pinhole Camera we posted back in 2013? If you were even a tiny bit interested, you might be happy to know that ONDU has expanded their offerings, and this time there are new features and many different sizes. Pretty exciting for anyone who’s remotely interested in photography, right? Each camera is made from locally harvested and FSC certified walnut and maple wood with several fine details that improve the pinhole photography process. Take a look at their video below or on Kickstarter.
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Purchase Information:

Price: $60.00+
Available from: Kickstarter

Welded Backpack

Not happy with your backpack/bag? Here’s yet another minimal option for your consideration, and this one is delightfully simple in its design. The Welded backpack from Aether* is lightweight, has an interior laptop pocket, padded straps, and weatherproof zippers. Maybe you’ll use it for hauling your computer back and forth from the office, or maybe you’ll take it with you on your next day hike or weekend trip. Either way, you’ll look quietly cool and you’ll be comfortable.
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Purchase Information:

Price: $135.00
Available from: Aether

Clug Clip Hanging Bike Rack

Please don’t attach your bike to a rock. You could, though, judging by Clug’s main hero shot, shown above, which gives you an idea of its function and strength. I actually purchased two Clugs when it was a Kickstarter campaign, and now our two bikes are stored orderly in our entry way, and not looking like two drunken hobos crashed crazily against the wall.

The Clug Clip all but disappears once installed, as it’s small and you can choose colors to fit your interior (or bike’s) color scheme. It hugs your bike’s tire, keeping it snug against the wall in either a vertical or horizontal position. There’s three different sizes to fit road, hybrid, and mountain bikes, and installation is easy- it’ll take just a few minutes.
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Purchase Information:

Price: $20.00
Available from: Dwell Store

Six Customized Brass Collar Stays

Father’s Day is June 21, but you knew that already, right? If your mind is blank on what to get your dad, here’s something perfect… if he wears dress shirts, that is. Here’s Six Customized Brass Collar Stays, with an engraving you specify. You can pick up to two engravings, so maybe pick your dad’s name for three collar stays and something sappy but nice like ‘BEST DAD’ or ‘I’M AWESOME’ on the other three. Or maybe you’ll be more imaginative than that, and then your dad will be oh-so-proud and quite happy that you took the time to make it clever.
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Purchase Information:

Price: $45.00
Available from: Owen & Fred

Thousand Bike Helmet

Hey, did you know that bicycle helmets protect your brain and could save your life? Just checking, because it seems like an awful lot of people think they exist only to decrease their cool factor. Case in point, last Friday I witnessed hundreds of cyclists in Houston on a night ride and maybe 30% were wearing helmets, which might be a generous estimate. A night ride in a busy city, what could go wrong? (Stepping off soapbox now.)
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Purchase Information:

Price: $75.00
Available from: Kickstarter

Pixi Tie by Bluelounge

What’s that red tie around that stack of notebooks? It’s the Pixi Tie, and it’ll do all sorts of securing for big and small jobs around the house. Simply pull the cord tight and through the button’s locking channel to keep it in place; pull up and outwards to release. Use the small size for cables or bread bags, the medium for organizing laptop cords and wire management, and the large for bigger items like camping gear or yoga mats.
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Purchase Information:

Price: $9.95
Available from: Bluelounge

Baxter iPhone 6 Dock & Storage

I know, I know, you probably already have a place to put your iPhone for charging, but this little dock has a small storage pocket for all those other little things that need a home. Pocket change or smaller jewelry pieces won’t get lost when they have a snug cork/rubber lid to keep them safe. Use the the lid as a soft resting spot for larger items that you’d like to keep in view.
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Purchase Information:

Price: $65.00
Available from: Most Modest

Portiko Extension Cord

You know the problem. All those charging cords and not enough outlets. It leads to a genuine mess, if not full-on fighting over who gets to power their device first. That’s where the Portiko comes in, and it’ll at least help a little if it doesn’t solve the whole issue outright. It’s a 6-foot extension cord with two outlets and two USB ports, so you can pretty much think of it as a magic wand (with power). Sit back, browse through your favorite sites, and know you’ll not need to choose between which device gets topped up first.
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Purchase Information:

Price: $24.95
Available from: Blue Lounge

Porter Key Knife & Bottle Opener

Those pesky boxes and bottles. You always need something to help open them, unless you possess extremely strong teeth. Here’s a combination knife and bottle opener that’s ideal for your keychain, and it’s made from 3Cr13 stainless steel. The bottle opener portion is dual-layered at the axis point, making it easy to pry off bottle caps. The locking blade folds out for a sharp cut, so you’ll be ready to open those things you ordered online faster than you can say ‘where’s-my-utility-knife’. Back the Porter Key Knife & Bottle Opener on Kickstarter.
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Purchase Information:

Price: $15.00
Available from: Everyman

Wary Meyers Soap

It’s okay to be filthy when soap looks this good. Wary Meyers has all sorts of colorful stripes happening in their collection of glycerine soaps, and it’s enough to tempt one away from a push pump and go completely with the old tried and true bar o’ soap. Shall we purchase a few to show off in a soap dish for guests? Or will we be entirely selfish and enjoy them for ourselves? Maybe the trick is buy enough to do both.
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Purchase Information:

Price: $14.00
Available from: Wary Meyers

The Ockham Razor

Razors aren’t pretty. No matter how many designers and ad teams try to convince us that their super-duper-bajillion-bladed plastic handle looks cool, it just doesn’t. So, why hasn’t someone created the Ockham Razor before now? Who knows, maybe the world just wasn’t ready for it yet. The Ockham is precision cast from solid metal that’s easy to keep clean- no ridges or bits of plastic that pick up soap and limescale. Simple ergonomics and a balanced weight make it comfortable to hold and use. Back the project on Kickstarter to get your very own (only two days left, fyi).
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Purchase Information:

Price: ยฃ30.00
Available from: Kickstarter

Tube Audio

What can I say? It’s a speaker that connects to your device via Bluetooth, USB or auxiliary input cable. That and the fact that it’s 2 inches in diameter might make it perfect for providing high-quality audio while blending in easily amongst your other nice things. A rechargeable battery will keep music going for up to 8 hours. Oh, and if you could use a clock, pair it with its older sibling, the Tube Clock. Both are collaborations between Amsterdam-based Leff and designer Piet Hein Eek.
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Purchase Information:

Price: $189.00
Available from: A+R Store

Sammy Screamer Motion Alarm

Here’s another sort of motion alarm, but this time it will bleep loudly if it’s moved. Stick the Sammy Screamer Motion Alarm on something you don’t want moved or touched, and as soon as someone puts their filthy paws on it, it will bleep and send a notification to your phone (via the free app). The Sammy measures around 2″x2″x1″, so it’s small enough to fit in or on the many things that should stay put just as you left them (handbag, bike, liquor cabinet, etc.).
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Purchase Information:

Price: $75.00
Available from: MoMA Store

Le Paname Adjustable Garden Tote

Adjustable side zippers make the Le Paname Adjustable Garden Tote the perfect companion for all sorts of chores. Zip one side down to accommodate larger fare, like branches from the garden, or keep both sides up for use as a city or beach tote. It’s made from Bacsac’s signature geotextile fabric, so it’s ultra-light, durable and very versatile.
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Purchase Information:

Price: $36.00
Available from: Dwell Store