forcute

I love this website - Branch. They sell only the best sustainable products and gifts for the home, and everything is just so much fun. New merchandise is always being added and the prices are very reasonable too. Nearly everything is made in the USA, and most of that is handmade quality stuff. Love it!

Vintage Belt Floor Mat by TING

Vintage leather belts on a reconstituted leather backing.

Handmade in the UK $698.

Blanket + Poncho

100% recycled cotton and polyester. Comes in lots of great colors.

Handmade in the USA $56.

Figure Pillow (Cat) by K Studio

Made of 100% organically grown cotton

Handmade in Grand Rapids MI $108.

Childrens Chair by Daniel Michalik

100% pure cork cast with non-toxic binders

Handmade in Brooklyn $238.

My new favorite earrings. Amazing.

Lotus Earrings by Farrah Dragon Jewelry $750

Find this and more great stuff from auto 

Simply Silhouettes is a great concept. They create custom products using images you give them to create great products for your home, including stationery, dishes, mugs, mouse pads, room decor, pillows and t-shirts.  Its all just so adorable and sounds like the perfect gift for grandparents or just to add a little something special around the house.

Here are a few more examples of their work:

Simply Sihlouettes

Amigos Kangaroo

Amigo Dog

I don’t know much about the company Vacavaliente, other than they make really great sculptural toys from leather. Each toy is handmade in Argentina from eco-friendly reconstituted leather. Each one also serves a useful purpose, such as pen holders or piggy banks. Love it!

Only in stores - Barney’s bronze piggy 

I was admiring these Giles & Brother hoops on sale at Barney’s, and then I realized they are even cheaper at Shopbop. Shobop, I might add, is my new favorite store. When they have a sale, they really have a sale. You can get just about anything there, from $20 t-shirts to designer shoes.

These great earrrings are the large chaton rinestone hoops and come in a bunch of great colors. This one is called citrine. They have other products in the line too, including necklaces and cuff bracelets. Made in New York City.

Giles & Brother Chaton Rhinestone Hoops

Continuing my obsession with everyday objects that are not quite as the seem, the crumple cup (below) is such a fun little find. Many of you might remember the Lucky Beggar cup (they also make a Lucky Beggar coin purse). Known by generations as the iconic New York City paper coffee cup, the Lucky Beggar makes us all feel a little bit nostalgic with its “We are happy to serve you” message accross the front.

My newest find is the crumpled cup, available at the MOMA store. What looks like a wrinkled little plastic picnic cup is instead a sturdy white porcelain beauty that would be fun to use for just about anything. Get the set of three and have some crumpled coffee with two of your closest friends. ($35)  

Crumpled Cups from Revol, 2004

Great Scandanavian design is not just limited to furniture. Beautiful and unique jewelry can also be found in any shape, material and color you could want. I especially love the big procelain rings and delicate little necklaces, which offer lovely and whimsical designs like this black magic bracelet and the bustier necklace from the Dada’s Diamonds collection.

There ar numerous designers featured on Huset-Shop, who create beautiful bags, clothing, furniture, lighting and kid stuff. But I am really interested in their lovely jewelry collection. Much of the jewelry here is made from rare stones and fine materials including gold and sterling silver.  

Find your own perfect jewelry at Huset-Shop.

The MOMA store has just come out with a new line of trinkets and toys from Japan which are available for a limited time only. My favorite are the kitchen items.

 I especially love the apple jar with spoon. The wooden accent of the spoon, which doubles as an adorable little stem, are perfect against the pretty white porcelain. I think you would have to use it for raw sugar just like in the picture!

The duck bill soy sauce dispenser is also quite irresistable. It would be a perfect complement to any table, and is oh so much more fun than the standard soy sauce bottle you get from the store. ($25-55) at the MoMA Store.

Destination Japan

It took me a second to figure out these “lamps”. They are a tricky littke design actually - made from a black vinyl sticker. Light source consists of an Ikea-type cord and bulb lighting system (hmmmph…not included???)  Anyway, if you dare to be trendy, get yours at designboom.com for $89.

Lamp Sticker by Alice Rosignoli from Italy

I just love the minimalist design of this gold ring by Adina Reyter. Called the signature ring, it is delicately pounded to give it just a but of texture without additon any extra decoration. The petite design of it seems comfortable too. Made of 14 carat gold. From Active Endeavors ($209)

Signature Ring