This 'Schuhschein' Brush is a clever idea...

This handy shoe shine bag and brush is all you need to keep your shoes looking their best. Convenient and beautifully handmade, the attached linen bag will hold polishes and buffers, while the attached natural beech and horsehair brush can be used to wipe dust and grime off of shoes prior to polishing. Made in Germany. Located in the former Home for the Blind in Berlin, the workshop which produces these brushes employs 15 blind individuals using traditional craft techniques that the Institute for the Blind developed over the last 120+ years.

MATERIALS: linen, wood, horsehair
11" L x 7.75" W x 2" D
$75.00, Buy it here.

[posted by katie]

I'm smitten with these cards by OrangeBeautiful.

Especially For You- 6 gift tags, $7.00
For You- 6 folded gift tags, $7.00
WORD Type Line 6pk, $16.00
SERIOUSLY Type Line 6pk, $16.00
SWEET Type Line 6pk, $16.00
TYPE Line Box Set of 10, $25.00
(includes the following: hello, goodbye, sweet, nice, thank you, you're welcome, word, later, seriously, please.)
Buy it here.

[posted by katie]

These super slim candle pins (i.e. holders) are now on sale.

This strikingly simple candle pin is designed to accommodate both tapers and pillar candles of all sizes. Mix and match tapers and pillar candles to create the desired display. Designed by Sebastian Bergne, the Multi Candle Pin is also available in a single version in both stainless steel and mild steel with black texture finish.

Multi Candle Pin, W9.5 x D9.5 x H9.5 in., $55.00 $33.00, Buy it here.
Single Candle Pin, W4.75 x D4.75 x H9.5 in. , $20.00 $12.00, Buy it here.

[posted by katie]

For anyone who's dropped a screw or nail while at the top of a ladder, this magnetic wristband is a dream come true. Sure, it's a little bulky, but you'll be wearing it for various ladder-climbing chores, not a fashion show.

If you’re tired of holding nails in your mouth and waste entirely too much energy climbing up and down ladders to retrieve fallen screws...then Handyman’s Helper is for you. The ridiculously strong magnet in this “magwear” holds onto hardware, small tools and other metallic objects…it’s so strong you can actually pile the hardware on in layers. Perfect for working on ladders, in crawlspaces, hanging pictures, under cars, or in any situation where you don’t want to loose your stuff. Velcro strap can accommodate even the thickest of wrists. Available in Coral Red, Sage Green, Construction Site Yellow, Perwinkle Blue and Grey. Comes packaged in a decorative box for easy gift giving. Magnetic area is 3" x 4" square; 3/4" deep.

$19.95, Buy it here.

[posted by katie]

These make me happy just by looking at them.

More than just a compelling color palette, these Wax Crayons surpass European specifications for toxicity and even adhere to the food provision ordinance, which is much stricter than the regulations for the toy industry. To achieve this level of quality, pure beeswax is combined with all-natural pigments to create pure color that can be used in all kinds of ways. Children will find the chunky shape ideal for coloring and drawing forms and shapes. More accomplished artists can explore layering color or etching using the enclosed scraper. Artisans can even experiment with melting the wax with an iron. The 25 hues are based on an extension of Goethe’s 12-part color circle, which represents the natural progression of the color spectrum. Made in Germany.

Pure beeswax; pigment. Box: wood; Scraper: plastic.
Box: H 4.5" W 9" D 1"
$60.00, Buy it here.

[posted by katie]

These woodblocks have some excellent graphics.

This multi-faceted piece turns the concept of traditional alphabet blocks on its head by featuring an array of multi-functional patterns and colors. Not just a set of wood blocks, but two puzzles, numbers and letters, too. A great gift for all ages. The Letters combine notNeutral's favorite vintage and contemporary fonts. They picked the most distinct letter forms for each letter on two of the block sides. Basic equations can be solved using the two tone graphic numbers. The Apples are a signature notNeutral pattern that create a fun puzzle. The last two sides are a combination of two Season pattern elements, the flora and fauna elements with the tree structure.

12 wood blocks, Includes wood tray
Each six-sided block is 1.75" x 1.75"
$36.00, Buy it here.

[posted by katie]

This is a lovely sake pitcher with slight indentions for ease of use.

The simple idea behind the Pressure Sake Pitcher was to create a handle less pitcher. This is achieved by replacing the handle with two indentations that fit one's hand when grasping this object. The resulting design solution takes a functional form. Pressure Sake Pitcher can be paired with the Nub Sake Cups.

Designed by: Masahiro Mori
Material: Porcelain
5.25 "H
$25.00, Buy it here.

[posted by katie]

These baskets run no risk of being ordinary; their architectural forms would look just as good empty as with something in them.

"This design is created from strips of soft leather, woven and stitched to form a flexible basket with an architectural quality."

Orange Basket, €159, $244 (approx)
Red Basket, €164, $252 (approx)
Black Basket, €147, $226 (approx)
Buy it here.

[posted by katie]

Clever interpretation...

Really simple and really well done the XO is a Tic Tac Toe game and yes, you might argue that there are a ton of them out there, but this one is special as it is played on a mirrored surface and the X and O are only half of what they should be. Why? Well, you are playing it on a mirror surface, hence no need for the other half.

$40.00, Buy it here.

[posted by katie]

I admit I know next to nothing about audio/stereo equipment. Other than the fact that the sound system I have sounds a whole lot better than just the built-in speakers that come with the TV or computer, if you asked me any other questions I'd be blank. But I do know a few proper audiophiles, and they think highly of tube amps. I'd be curious to see how it sounds compared to what the rest of us have...it certainly looks pretty nice.

About the size of a shoe box, the versatile and simple to use GLOW Amp One is a classic stereo tube amplifier - with a twist - every GLOW amplifier comes equipped with a USB input so you can use your computer, iPod, cd player or even television as a HI FI music source. Just add speakers, the results are amazing.
Not only does it provide the smooth, silky and detailed sound that tube amps are famous for, it looks stunning. The GLOW Amp One is one stereo that is artful enough in design to display as part of your living environment. Forget those ugly "black box" stereo components. The GLOW Amp One simply sparkles... nothing catches attention more than the subtle glow of those little tubes!
The GLOW Amp One is hand crafted and built to last, but costs a fraction of what you would expect to pay for designer audio gear. Comes in your choice of eye popping colors and for a limited time GLOW is offering a free iPod docking station with every purchase.

11.5" (L) x 5.5" (W) x 6" (H).
$488.00, Buy it here.

[posted by katie]