Holy moly, these are excellent prints in several different sizes to fit your space and budget. I love them.

Prints are of original acrylic paintings. Each Mareike Aurer print has a nice white border for easier framing. Mareike Aurer has signed and dated each print. Printed onto matte lustre professional paper (archival). Available in 4 different sizes: 4"x4" ($20.00), 8"x8"m ($44.00), 12"x12" ($80.00) or 20"x20" ($150.00)

shown left to right:
The story about me and the squirrel Print
The Bird Catcher Print
Sweet Carrot Print
Dog Lover Print
The story about me and the fox Print
The Kangaroo and I Print
also, more here: theshinysquirrel.com and mareikeauer.com

$20.00-$150.00, Buy it here.

[posted by katie]

An excellent teapot stand/warmer, this will do the job without offending the eye.

"A futuristic teapot warmer, elegantly arranged into a spiral of slats of wood. Produced in workshops staffed by the physically and mentally handicapped, this piece is sure to warm both your tea and your heart."

10"dia. x 4.5"H
Designer: Christoph Matthias
Materials: Maple or walnut

$79.00, Buy it here.

[posted by katie]

If you've ever entertained the thought of collecting shot glasses for even half a second, you'll have to buy a set of these. If you're not into shots, then the idea of using them as votive candle holders might appeal to your sensibilities a little more.

Shot glasses for the passionate animal lover... or the avid hunter. Either way, the Animal Shot Glasses are made of black glass and balance atop the head of either a bear, bull, deer, moose or rhinoceros. Can also be used as votive candle holders, paper weights, or simply something lovely to look at.

Designer: Goody Grams
2" dia. x 3.25"H, 1.9 fl.oz.
Materials: Black glass, Pewter
Set of 2, $55.00, Buy it here.

[posted by katie]

This sushi set certainly evokes a lily pond; I like how the forms are handled simply and how they manage to be fun in an understated, elegant way.

It is important to remember that the objects presented here, just like the ones in the Chin Family, characters or flowers and fruits, each performing the roles of domestic household objects, are made partly in hand-decorated plastic and partly in fine bone china, also hand-decorated. The magic of Giovannoni’s design lies in the fact that these objects recall the grace of 18th century ceramic trinkets, while at the same time being utterly contemporary...

Sushi set composed of: plate and chopsticks in melamine, small plate for soy sauce and chopsticks holder in fine bone china. Hand-decorated.
$94.00, Buy it here.

[posted by katie]

Two new(?) items from Muuto that I'm particularly liking are this vase and carafe.

Closely Separated Vase: (also available in yellow, 10.6" h), $162.00, Buy it here.
by Michael Geertsen for Muuto

Abstract bowls, plates and cups are merged in an intuitive way. Reminding us of the beauty in disharmony and how old things can lead to new, if we change our perspective. The object works on its own, but is given a function if flowers are added.

I'm Boo Carafe: (3.39" dia. x 10.8" h), $94.00, Buy it here.
by Norway Says for Muuto

Boo is like the skin, or a balloon surrounding the water with openings that tell the simple story of fluid motion in and out of the glass. The carafe exudes a strong personality, as if it's saying "I'm Boo, who are you?"

[posted by katie]

On first glance this bookstand looks to be rather small, but when made from stone and measuring 8.5" across it's got to be quite hefty.

Alone, this hand-carved natural stone sculpture is a handsome addition to a coffee table, side board or desk, but add a treasured book and this cubist rock becomes the coolest bookstand around. Whether it’s a photography book from a favorite artist, a vintage first-edition novel by a beloved author, or a cookbook containing your next culinary challenge, Liveroche holds your tome firmly and elegantly. The resulting angle of the book keeps the pages open yet encourages browsing.

[posted by katie]

Buck the old trend of pigs and save your money in a bird.

(Have you ever wondered why a "Piggy" bank ever became so popular? Wikipedia has a few ideas if you want to know.)

[posted by katie]

These vases are intriguing (and a little disturbing).

Gala Vase, $230.00, Buy it here.
Georgia Porcelain Vase, $440.00, Buy it here.
Salvador Vase, $90.00, Buy it here.

[posted by katie]

The hand hooks by Harry Allen are now available in frosted acrylic(!).

Bestow Vase/Candle Holder, $75.00, Buy it here.
"Flowers and candles are nice, but they look so much nicer when displayed with some panache." 3.5" x 5.75" x 9"

C'mere Hand Hook, $75.00, Buy it here.
"A cast of the designers hand, this piece acts as a coat hanger, key holder, etc. Easily wall mountable." 4" x 3.5" x 7"

Offer Hand Hook, $75.00, Buy it here.
"A cast of the designers hand, this piece is great as a soap dish, change holder etc. Easily wall mountable." 4" x 2.5" x 7"

[posted by katie]

If you haven't checked out MoMA's Destination: Japan, head on over there and take a look- it's kind of fascinating.

Crystal Cloud, Yumiko Yoshimoto, 1979:
"Water in this cloud-shaped glass sculpture creates repeating natural phenomena such as forming water drops, becoming cloudy based on temperature, and shining when the water sways. Created by glass sculptor Yumiko Yoshimoto, each Crystal Cloud is mouth blown and shaped by hand. Made of borosilicate glass filled with distilled water and a polished chromium-plated brass stand. Hand-wash only."
Size: 2.75h x 3l x 1.5"diam.

$100.00, $90.00 Members, Buy it here.

Pig Cooking Lid, Marna Inc., 2001:
"Made of soft silicone with a pig face in the center, this multipurpose lid can be placed directly over ingredients in a pot to help them cook evenly, releasing steam through the pig's snout. It can also be used to cover food in the microwave, and as a grip to open lids. Dishwasher and microwave safe."
Size: 1h x 7"diam.

$18.00, $16.20 Members, Buy it here.

[posted by katie]