Cubicle Christmas Cheer

Well sure, your spreadsheets kick ass and you totally just PWNED Todd down in HR...but couldn't your workspace use a little holiday diversion? Even geeks love Christmas.

The Motherboard Christmas Tree



Decidedly more low-tech, but equally as workspace friendly is this Tree In A Box.

The Claus Porto Soap Gift Box Set

For a limited time, Claus Porto is offering all scents of their luxurious artisan soaps in this stylish silver gift box. We love the everyday luxury of their hefty signature soaps. What a treat this is to be able to gift or sample all of their incredible formulas in a smaller size!

The Claus Porto Soap Gift Box is featured this month on Oprah's O List and in Martha Stewart's Gift Guide in the December 2007 issue.

This from the makers...

The oldest and most prestigious soap making factory in Porto, Portugal, Claus Porto was founded in 1887 by two world renowned chemists: Ferdinand Claus and Georges Schwedder. Together they created the base for what was to become one of the most important soap making factories ever. In the aftermath of WWI the two German founders left Portugal forever and sold the company to one of its executives, Achilles de Brito. Under his expertise and guidance the company flourished and became renowned throughout Europe as the best soap making factory in the world. Soon after, famous fragrance and fashion houses in France, England and Spain came to Porto to have all of their soaps made by Claus Porto. The factory today is still family owned and run by the great grandson of Achilles de Brito. At this 117 year old company, the family continues with the great soap making traditions that were a matter of honor for the original founders.

Jane Jenni Plates

We just received a new shipment of these Jane Jenni Plates. We love the bright graphics on all of these great melamine plates.



Jessica had a clever idea for gifting these for the holidays. She is going to bake cookies and fill them, picking the recipient's personality..."Early Bird", "Sweet Pea", "Top Dog", etc. The recipient will have a fun suprise as they eat the cookies and see their personality revealed on the plate!

The O List For November

Two of our items were just featured on Oprah's "O" List in the November issue of the magazine.

The Lug Travel Pillow & Blanket Set. You almost have to touch them to realize how great and well...cuddly...these fleece accessories are. What a great gift for travelers or anybody that wants to pamper themselves a bit.



The Roger LaBorde Luggage Tags. We love this new signature pattern from them!

The Peace Sign Wreath

Peace on earth.

We just received one of our favorite new items for the holidays...the Peace Sign Wreath.





We think this icon of the peace movement of the 60s and 70s is just as timely today. We like it just as is for the front door, but this peace sign wreath would also be super groovy strung with lights anywhere.

The Come In Go Away Doormat From Suck UK

We love cheeky, especially on Mondays, when it seems most welcome to counteract the Monday blues. That's why we love this new product from the cheeky monkeys at Suck UK.

Even their name is cheeky. We are extending our selection of British imports from this clever design team from the UK. Thoughtful and clever design that also makes you smile? We can't think of a more sublime combination.

We just got in lots more of The Come In Go Away Doormat. It was featured yesterday in The New York Times, so we aren't sure how long these will last.

Art du Jour! Our Favorite 2008 Art Calendars

We now have in all three of the art calendars we have been coveting this year. Every page of these wall calendars begs to be framed and displayed after each month. The Papaya Wall Calendar for 2008 is exquisite. Each page features a different example of Anahata & Gina Katkin's magical "creative abandon" collages.

This year, Snow & Graham is offering a generously sized wall calendar based on a selection of Ebony Snow's most sublime and signature graphic illustations. It's pressed on gorgeous, heavy stock paper. (This one is going up in our office.)



As always, our friends at Cavallini offered a selection of their gorgeous Italian Art Calendars in their signature large format. We think the Natural Wonders Calendar is exceptional. All twelve images are ultimately frame-able!

For The Bibliophile With Style

Every season, the designers at Umbra introduce a handful of ingenious things that fall into the "I wish I had thought of that" category. The Conceal Book Shelf lets you float your book collection gallery-style. We love great books and we love creative and modern ideas for wall decor...so we really dig these Umbra Conceal Book Shelves designed by Miron Lior!

So easy to install, the back cover of the first book slips into grooves at the bottom
of the shelf, creating a floating gallery effect.



We also just received The Flybrary Book Shelves, designed by Satina Turner for Umbra.



Another ingenious design element introduced by Umbra this fall is this Illuzine Floating Magazine Rack. One of these is going up in our office to keep design magazines close at hand for inspiration and stylishly organized.