Heliotrope

Handlebar Corkscrew

2010-07-30T14:55:00.003-04:00

Here's a sneak peek at the new Handlebar Corkscrew / Bottleopener coming from Fred this fall. We love this!

Screw You Corkscrew

2010-07-21T03:25:00.002-04:00

A sneak peek at the new Screw You Corkscrew by Gama-Go! Due to arrive in August.

Water Wars by Suck UK

2010-07-11T17:07:00.003-04:00

Just in! Water Wars from the clever folks at Suck UK.

Water Wars is a special water gun game that features vests with hydrochromatic inks. It sounds like a great way to stay cool this summer. Every time you get hit, the vest turns red, and if you’re completely “bloody” then you lose the game.

Angel Wings Mugs

2010-06-30T10:42:00.005-04:00

A sneak peek at the new Angel Wings Mugs by Pylones arriving this month!

Bottoms Up Shot Glasses

2010-06-27T13:37:00.003-04:00

New summer items from the clever designers at Fred are starting to come in. Here are the Bottoms Up Shot Glasses by Fred Studio. (We really coulda used these in college.)

Bottoms Up Shot Glasses by Fred Studio

Ms Food Face Plate

2010-06-24T13:42:00.003-04:00

Just in! The Ms Food Face Plate by Fred Studio. What little girl with a "taste" for fashion wouldn't love this??

Ms Food Face Plate by Fred

Wine Bottle Chandeliers by Leitmotiv

2010-06-20T22:10:00.004-04:00

This is the new large Wine Bottle Chandelier by Leitmotiv just in. Designed by Bonne Plat for Leitmotiv Present Time.

The medium Wine Bottle Chandelier by Leitmotiv

The small Wine Bottle Chandelier by Leitmotiv

Great Gays Mug

2010-06-20T22:02:00.003-04:00

A sneak peek at the Great Gays Mug by The Unemployed Philosophers Guild. Add a hot beverage to the Great Gays Mug and 14 great gays from history emerge from the closet!

Brief History of Art Mug

2010-06-20T21:58:00.003-04:00

We love this new Brief History of Art Mug by The Unemployed Philosophers Guild. 17,000 years of art history on one mug; from Lascaux to Picasso!

Sugarboo Designs Leather Photo Album

2010-06-18T14:15:00.007-04:00

Sugarboo Designs Leather Photo Album

This new distressed leather photo album just released by Sugarboo Designs is absolutely stunning! Handtooled leather, stocky, hand-wrought vintage-looking papers, with "For The Ones I Love" embossed on the cover.

A gorgeous album that just begs to be touched and cherished for generations. It has 50 pages, each with a 4" x 4" opening to insert your photos and a beautiful quote.

Harman London Candles

2010-06-16T05:33:00.003-04:00

A sneak peek at the gorgeous new line of Harman London Candles that will be launching this fall. Exquisite, unique packaging and beautifully complex fragrances. Stay tuned for more!

Harman London will also be launching a stunningly designed range of reed fragrance diffusers in time for the holidays as well.

Harman London Candles

Fish Condo

2010-06-08T16:41:00.003-04:00

The Fish Condo from Umbra is finally here! Designed by Teddy Luong, winner of the Canadian Build a Better Competition.

They can even be stacked for a condo-like appearance!

The Fish Condo by Umbra

Patch NYC Candles

2010-06-06T12:16:00.003-04:00

Just in! The new candle collection by John Ross & Don Carney of Patch NYC! Beautiful, vintage-inspired...and sophisticated and gorgeous fragrance combinations. Love these.

Patch NYC Candles

Clementine Art

2010-05-12T17:54:00.005-04:00

We're excited to now have the full range of Clementine Art natural art supplies for kids!

A natural alternative to traditional, chemical-laden art products. Clementine Art uses only wholesome, clean ingredients; non-toxic colors from nature (plants, vegetable, and minerals); and no synthetic preservatives.

New Alyson Fox For Ink Dish - December & Tug

2010-05-04T04:40:00.007-04:00

The new December and Tug Patterns designed by Alyson Fox just in!

The December and Tug assortment by Ink Dish includes beautifully gift-boxed mugs and side plates, and open stock dinner plates and bowls.

The December pattern by Ink Dish...

The Tug pattern by Ink Dish...

Alyson's bio from the Ink Dish site...

"Alyson Fox makes things from paper, fabric, books, ceramics, thread, wallpaper, office supplies, photographs, old tattered things, new polished things, furniture, and cement. She has degrees in photography, sculpture, and installation art. She enjoys designing things for commercial ends and designing things for no end at all.

Alyson has been working on an on- going series of drawings depicting strange half stories and invented family histories. Her work has been published in the New York Times, Nylon, Domino, and Lucky. Her most recent shows include 20 to Watch at the Austin Museum of Art, Secret Garden at the Tin Lark gallery in Hollywood, California and Portes ouvertes des Ateliers de Belleville in Paris France.

She lives and works in Austin TX."

Atlanta Coasters

2010-03-29T23:26:00.008-04:00

Just in! Our new line of Atlanta Coasters featuring images of dozens of iconic Atlanta landmarks, bars, restaurants, and universities.

They're handmade here in Atlanta, Georgia out of tumbled marble with a protective cork backing.

See all of our Atlanta Coasters here.

Book Signing With Krista Reese Tonight

2010-03-26T05:49:00.002-04:00

We are hosting a signing with Krista Reese, author of the new book "Atlanta Kitchens: Recipes From Atlanta's Best Restaurants" tonight from 7pm to 9pm. Will have tastings from some of the restaurants she featured and great wines.

AND it's time for FAB FRIDAY! Everything in the store will be 20% off from 6pm to 10pm tonight!

Fun New Goodies From Fred & Friends

2010-03-26T05:04:00.016-04:00

Some of the most fun we have is unpacking all the great new items from Fred & Friends every couple of months! Always clever and thoughfully designed, everything done by Fred & Friends and Fred Studio puts a smile on your face. They are the masters of the "visual pun".

New this month...

The Cakewich..

Polluted Glasses...

Airplane Food Placemats...

Teacupcakes...

The Half Full Glass...

The Cold Blooded Ice Tray

The Brain Freeze Ice Tray...

The 360 Pen...

Put A Lid On It...

While You Were Out Cold Memo Pad...

The DPW Stopper/Drainer...

Box Appetit Lunch Boxes by Black + Blum

2010-03-24T02:36:00.008-04:00

The new Box Appetit Lunch Boxes by Black + Blum are the most thoughtfully designed and crafted lunch boxes we've seen! Clever compartments, sturdy construction, and stylish details.

The range even includes a handy carrier bag that not only can hold the Box Appetit Lunch Box, but also opens up and folds out to provide a placemat for your desk or on the ground at the park.

Also available as part of the Box Appetit system is the new Lunch Box Revolution cookbook - featuring healthy and tasty recipes in perpect portions for lunch boxes and bentos.

Astrid Bags and Accessories by Danica Studio

2010-03-22T02:11:00.004-04:00

Just in! The new Astrid Collection by Danica Studio is absolutely the perfect marriage of style and function. We love the modern swirl pattern and the thoughtfully designed details and features of these bags.

The Astrid Collection includes great netbook and laptop sleeves, a messenger/diaper bag, a canvas tote, a stylish and clever pilot bag, and three sizes of cosmetic bags.

See our entire Astrid Collection by Danica Studios here

New GAMA-GO

2010-03-16T00:39:00.013-04:00

Just in today...a batch of fun new goodies fresh from the GAMA-GO studio! Guitar Picks Cocktail Picks, Cock Blocker Bottle Stopper, Uni-Corn Corn Holders, Cupcake Key Toppers, & Sizzle Sticks.

Guitar Pick Picks

The Cock Blocker Bottle Stopper

Uni-Corn Corn Holders

Sizzle Sticks

Cupcake Key Toppers

Become a Laird or a Lady!

2010-03-15T13:42:00.004-04:00

This is one of our favorite new things in the store...the Become a Laird or Lady Gift Box

In essence, everything is included in the set for you to purchase one square foot of land in Lairds Retreat, a 10-acre beauty spot in Argyll, Scotland. (For a mere $35!)

As a landowner in the Scotish Highlands, you'll have the right to address yourself legally as Laird or Lady instead of Mr. or Mrs. We love this!

More details here.

Pantone Folding Chairs

2010-03-07T13:35:00.003-05:00

One of the new introductions by Seletti at the New York International Gift Fair last month was these Pantone Folding Chairs. The Pantone Folding Chairs were designed by Selab Studio for the Italian firm.

Click to see all colors of the Pantone Folding Chairs that we will have available here.

Towne & Reese Jewelry

2010-03-02T13:56:00.006-05:00

This month, we've introduced a new jewelry design house - Towne & Reese - to our assortment. Beautiful and stylish with intricate filigree cut-work and gorgeous bead details.

Check out our full selection here.

Jonathan Adler Stationery, Office & Party Goods

2010-02-25T14:58:00.008-05:00

Just in! The new Stationery, Office, and Party goodies from Jonathan Adler! We ADORE Jonathan Adler and were super excited to see all these new ranges from the studio for Spring 2010.

Fancy new note cards, sticky notes, file folders, thermal mugs, luggage tags, notebooks, photo frames, and MORE!

Orb Mortar & Pestle by Joseph Joseph

2010-02-22T17:23:00.007-05:00

One of our favorite new design items from the New York Gift Fair this year was the Orb Mortar & Pestle introduced by Joseph Joseph.

A perfect marriage of thoughtful and clever modern design and function. We're currently taking pre-orders for The Orb. Shipping will begin in May.

The Orb Mortar & Pestle by Joseph Joseph.

New Petit Collage!

2010-01-27T16:13:00.003-05:00

We are getting in bunches and bunches of wonderful new Petit Collage items by Lorena Siminovich this month!

The new Petit Collage Notecard Set ...

New Petit Collage Bamboo Mobiles ...

New Petit Collage Flashcards ...

New Petit Collage Canvases ...

Here's a bit about Lorena Siminovich from her bio...

"Lorena Siminovich (born in Buenos Aires) is a San Francisco based artist, designer, and illustrator. With a background in graphic design and an extensive career as an art director, she became interested in design for children in 2001 when she moved from Buenos Aires to New York. During this time, she was responsible for art direction and product development at Mudpuppy, an award winning company that manufactures puzzles and toys for kids, whose products can be found in museum stores across the country. Soon thereafter, she began her illustration career and relocated to San Francisco. Lorena has written and illustrated several children's books."

New Watches From TokyoBay

2010-01-26T01:29:00.007-05:00

We love these two new ranges of watches from TokyoBay As always, these new TokyoBay introductions for 2010 are stylish and thoughtfully designed and gorgeous.

The new Angel Beads styles are embellished with silver beads. They're like functional jewelry...

We love the face detailing and the rich oiled leather bands on the new Platform Watches ...

New Charley Harper Stationery!

2010-01-24T22:41:00.008-05:00

We just received a shipment of all the brand new Charley Harper stationery items and puzzles for 2010. We love Charley's works and this new big introduction for this season has us very excited!

Charley Harper Address Books ...

Charley Harper Thank You Notes ...

Charley Harper Postcards ...

Charley Harper Notecards ...

Charley Harper Bookplates ...

Charley Harper Jigsaw Puzzles ...

And lots more!

New - Snooze City Designs

2009-08-18T14:40:00.007-04:00

Just a note to welcome a new studio to the Heliotrope line-up. Snooze City Designs was launched by Michael Azria and Derek Mosher in 2007.

We love their bold graphic approach to homewares! From Michael & Derek..."Our mission was to take plain existing products, and to add a fun and modern element to them. the first result...the world's hippest pillowcases!"

Charley Harper Calendars for 2010

2009-08-17T16:58:00.010-04:00

It's no secret that we're big fans of works by Charley Harper.
We now have the complete line-up of Charley Harper 2010 calendars! This year, a smaller wall calendar, a postcard calendar, and a beautiful Charley Harper engagement calendar have been added to the line.

The Charley Harper Wall Calendar...

The Charley Harper Mini Wall Calendar...(cover pictured at top of post)...

The Charley Harper Engagement Calendar...

...and the Charley Harper Postcard Calendar...

All full of beautiful Charley Harper illustrations...frame-ready after the calendars are used!

The Goodbyn Lunchbox

2009-08-07T18:02:00.006-04:00

The lunchbox reinvented for kids, parents, and the planet.

We love these new, thoughfully and cleverly designed Goodbyn Lunchboxes.

They come complete with a water bottle and 3 sheets of stickers to personalize...

2010 Bubble Calendar

2009-08-03T23:17:00.006-04:00

Oh the joys of popping a sheet of fresh bubble wrap! Who can resist? Brookyln designer Stephen Turbek has adapted the concept into the Bubble Calendar.

We're taking pre-orders now for the 2010 Bubble Calendars that will be shipping mid-September. (These sell out fast, so reserve yours today and you can look forward to 365 days of bubble popping pleasure.)

The 2010 Bubble Wrap Calendar is big...48" x 18"...

New Shinzi Katoh Stuff!

2009-06-19T14:37:00.012-04:00

Some of our favorite and most anticipated shipments are always the new product introductions from Japanese Zakka graphic artist Shinzi Katoh. The charming illustrations and endearing quirky translations of these delightful things brings out the kid in us.

We've just received lots of new bento lunch boxes, new placemats, water bottles, and bento accessories from Shinzi Katoh.

Twig Wins 2009 Parents' Choice Award!

2009-06-16T14:19:00.005-04:00

Twig, our new building toy from Fat Brain Toys, has won the Parents’ Choice Gold Award for 2009.

Green and thoughful design, an exeptional toy for encouraging visual spatial development, and all pieces interact with each other.

New June Ugly Dolls Release!

2009-06-15T18:18:00.005-04:00

We just received the brand new Ugly Dolls for June.

Turny Burny in Blue/Pink...

...and Turny Burny in Black/White...

They're pretty ugly. And pretty cute!

New Jonathan Adler Salt & Pepper Shakers

2009-06-14T20:03:00.009-04:00

Lots of new wonderful objets from Jonathan Adler this month! These Jonathan Adler Fish Salt & Pepper Shakers are one of six brand new sets from the studio.

28 BiAugust

2009-03-30T00:47:00.010-04:00

Look out for some exciting creations from this new homewares design house. Japanese art students Owen and Cloud have formed the company "28 BiAugust Creation Office", and based on their first introductions into the US market this month,
we think it's safe to assume that we're going to see some innovative, thoughtful, delightful, intelligent and ironic design objects from them over the next few seasons.

"A Peaceful Bomb Vase"

"A Love Grenade Bank"

Captain Corndog vs Baron Von Broccoli

2009-03-26T14:24:00.007-04:00

We love this as a cheeky gift for our vegetarian friends. Take them to lunch with you and let the battle between the carnivores and herbivores begin.

Captain Corndog vs Baron Von Broccoli

....and of course...

Mr. Bacon vs Monsieur Tofu

Ice Invaders

2009-03-14T04:42:00.002-04:00

Remember Space Invaders? Who else but the masters of the pun - Fred Studio, would come up with a Space Invaders Ice Tray?

Ice Invaders

New Animal Shot Glasses by Goody Grams

2009-03-04T13:54:00.005-05:00

We just received two new styles of these Animal Shot Glasses from the Japanese design house Goody Grams. We love the dark, somewhat mysterious look of these!

The Rabbit Shot Glass...

and the Ram Shot Glass

Wall Street Victims

2009-02-27T10:31:00.002-05:00

Just in from the folks at Accoutrements, this Wall Street Victims set says it all.

Of course, all the blame goes to this guy - the Wall Street Finacial Expert...

The Wall Street Finacial Expert

One of Rachael Ray's Favs

2009-02-19T14:57:00.005-05:00

Our magnetic Lovebirds Salt & Pepper Shakers are going to be featured in the next issue of Every Day With Rachael Ray!

Just In From Night Owl Paper Goods

2009-02-18T16:50:00.003-05:00

We just received lots of new wooden cards and journals from Night Owl Paper Goods!

Night Owl Paper Goods are the hand-made creations of Alan Henderson and Jennifer Tatham from Birmingham, Alabama. They site Swedish and American folk artists, and "cute critters and the colossal colors that Mother Nature provides" as the inspiration for their work.

All Night Owl products are printed on eco-friendly sustainably harvested woods.

We love their new "Foxy Fungi" series.

Green Design: Bendant Lamps by Mio

2009-02-08T16:03:00.006-05:00

These Bendant Lamps are a perfect example of great eco-design. Not only are they intriguing and modern and thoughtfully designed, but the thought behind Jaime Salm's rendering is to produce them with the most minimal waste during the manufacturing and shipping processes.

The flat-packed design also allows you to manipulate the lamps by bending the extentions up or down or out to create your own unique arrangement. Genius.

A bit about Mio's design culture from their website...

"Our Philosophy

Green = Desire
Addressing both needs and wants requires the merging of responsibility and desire. MIO delivers design solutions that fit our fast paced, innovation-driven culture and economy, while holistically addressing needs and wants.

People = Culture
Accessible design is the result of everyday life informing the creative process. Individuals shape culture through thought and action. Responsible product experiences must embody culture shaped by those individuals in order to thrive.

Context = Relevance
Origin provides users with story, meaning and value. Context builds physical, emotional and intellectual connections between a design and its audience.

Awareness = Intelligence
Products that address every stage of their lifecycle provide customers with built-in environmental choices and functional benefits. This kind of eco-intelligence is sought after not only for its social significance, but also for its practical and aesthetic merits."

Chilewich Swirl Print Placemats

2009-01-31T14:01:00.005-05:00

(We are just back from the trade fairs in Atlanta and New York, and we'll have a LOT of new to talk about in the next few weeks.)

The new Chilewich for Spring 2009 arrived this week! We love the new Chilewich Swirl Print Placemats. Sandy Chilewich continues to innovate and re-imagine materials, textures, and color.

Happy Inauguration Day!

2009-01-20T22:05:00.004-05:00

We were delighted when we saw this piece on CNN about the luck charms that Barack Obama carries in his pocket. In the segment, he says that the Luck Pocket Pebble is his favorite!

These Luck Pocket Charms were designed by Atlanta artisan Kaycee Binns and are all handmade here at the Metal Morphosis studio. The word "Luck" is also raised in braille on the back of the token; significant, because according to Kaycee, "we did the Braille because we want people to feel the words, not just see them."

TokyoMilk in O Magazine

2008-12-28T20:27:00.012-05:00

Oprah is featuring TokyoMilk's Parfumerie Curiositie collection in the January edition of O Magazine.

We love the light and unique and gorgeous fragrance combinations, the vintage graphics, and the typeset labels of these Toyko Milk parfums. We've added 4 new scents this month...Let Them Eat Cake, I Want Candy, Poe's Tobacco, and Contemplation.

Pantone Mugs

2008-12-10T23:45:00.006-05:00

We finally received our shipment of the Pantone Mugs from the UK today! We love these as gifts for designers, graphic artists, architects, colorists, or anyone that loves color.

Great New Book From Chronicle

2008-12-02T22:06:00.008-05:00

The Backyard Birdsong Guide, the new interactive book from Chronicle Books is amazing! Beautiful pictures of native eastcoast birds and an interctive sound chip that lets you hear their songs page by page as you peruse the book.

There's a nice sampler of some of the birds at the Backyard Birdsongs mini site here...
http://www.chroniclebooks.com/backyardbirdsongs/

New Charley Harper Holiday

2008-11-18T23:07:00.009-05:00

We probably make it pretty obvious what big Charley Harper fans we are. Sooo...it's also pretty obvious that we are excited to offer this holiday line, featuring his iconic cardinal illustrations.

New From Gianna Rose Atelier

2008-11-11T22:43:00.007-05:00

The new Turtle Doves Soap Set from Gianna Rose Atelier is exquisite. The handcarved soaps have a fresh tulip & hyacinth fragrance and the pair is nestled in a porcelain soap dish. The set comes in a gorgeous letter-pressed gift box ready for giving.

Also just in from Gianna Rose Atelier is this new gift package of their signature Bath Bees...

And the new Pear Soap Set, which includes the leaf-shaped porcelain dish. We love the yummy fresh sliced pear fragrance of this artisan soap...

50th Anniversary of the Peace Symbol

2008-11-10T02:04:00.010-05:00

The peace symbol was designed in 1958 by Gerald Holtom while he was a member of a UK campaign for nuclear disarmament. The symbol was quickly adopted in the US when Bayard Rustina, a friend of Martin Luther King Jr., began using it during
civil rights marches. Soon after, it was adopted for support of the peace movement during the war in Vietnam.

The Peace Sign Ice Tray...

Make cake, not war...

The Peace Sign Wreath...

The Peace Sign Tree Topper...

Peace Sign Ornaments...

Peace Sign Light Strings...

Sugarboo Designs For Holiday Delivery

2008-11-01T01:19:00.006-04:00

Just a note to let you know that Rebecca at Sugarboo Designs have given us a date of November 13th as a cut-off to take orders for Holiday delivery for their photo boxes.

Since each one is hand-crafted and custom, and given the demand that they experience at this time of the year, this is the date that she feels comfortable with.

Thank you for the heads up, Rebecca!

Our Favorite 2009 Art Calendars

2008-10-26T12:00:00.018-04:00

Our friend Holly, at her Decor8 blog, inspired this post. These are some of our favorite new calendars this year. After each month, the images from all of these would make great framed wall art!

The 2009 Birds & Blooms Calendar by PaPaYa...

The gorgeous poster sized 2009 Snow & Graham Wall Calendar...

The 2009 Rex Ray Calendar...

The striking 2009 calendar by up and coming artist Nikki McClure...

The 2009 Audrey Hepburn Calendar...

And the 2009 Little Black Dress Calendar...

As always, we love these beautifully crafted 2009 Poster Calendars from Cavallini...

Pawprints on The O List

2008-10-24T09:50:00.004-04:00

The Pawprints Frame from Pearhead is being featured on Oprah's O List. As dog lovers, we think this kit is just fabulous enough to put on our "H List".

One side of the mat holds a photo of your faithful friend and the other showcases a pawprint that you take with the kit included. Love that.

New Swing! Animation Book

2008-10-19T13:14:00.004-04:00

Swing! - the new "Scanimation" book by Rufus Butler Seder was released this week and is finally in! His first book - Gallop!, has been unbelievably popular. Swing! uses the same animation technique as the first book, but this time, we see animated kids swimming, riding bikes, skating, etc.

Here's a video that shows Gallop! in action...

Gallop!

Swing!

Pig Out With Pomaireware

2008-10-18T08:16:00.009-04:00

We're excited to be stocking this line of clay cooking and serveware from Pomaire, Chile. These pieces have been produced by artisans in Chile for generations and are lead free, unglazed, and distribute heat evenly while cooking and serving. They are oven-safe to 450 degrees and can even be used on the stovetop with a diffusor.

But best of all, Pomaireware is fair trade.

The Pomaireware Pig Baker/Casserole Dish is pictured above.

This is the Pig Sauce Dish from Pomaire...

2009 Charley Harper Calendars

2008-08-12T20:40:00.006-04:00

All the 2009 calendars featuring great Charley Harper illustrations are in now! The wall calendar is gorgeous! All 12 illustrations are ultimately frameable.

The small Charley Harper 2009 agenda book/diary...

The large 2009 Charley Harper agenda book/diary....

The 2009 Charley Harper calendar bookmark set...

The Terrorist Teapot

2008-08-07T23:12:00.003-04:00

Yet another irreverant design objet from the cheeky monkeys at Suck UK. When the staff unpacked the boxes today, there was a fairly even mixture of grimmaces and giggles.

We love the ironic reference of the Terrorist Teapot. Jackie Piper from W2 Products is to thank (or blame) for designing this lovely housewares item.

Make tea, not war.

New DB Clay Wallets

2008-07-28T23:50:00.006-04:00

The new Version 3.1 series of DB Clay wallets came in today!

Our favorite new one is "Time To Swim", by Graeme Mitchell.

We love the designers' stories behind each one almost as much as we love the wallets.

Shinzi Katoh Bento Lunch Boxes Just Arrived!

2008-07-10T02:19:00.010-04:00

We could hardly wait to dig into the boxes that arrived from Japan today. These Shinzi Katoh bento lunch boxes are ADORABLE! Shinzi Katoh is like a rock star in the world of Japanese Zakka art and design.

His designs are childlike and whisical and thoughtful and practical. We LOVE these new bento lunch boxes from Shinzi Katoh! Here are some of the ones that arrived today....

Great New Stuff From Baggallini

2008-07-02T01:52:00.009-04:00

We love these new Baggallini Zipper Baggs! A new smaller size, but still packed with pockets and extras and with the same sleek, saavy, and casual urban design that is the landmark of Baggallini Baggs. We're doing them in black, dark olive, and espresso for now.

A fun new Baggallini color, too! The Tomato Red is gorgeous. Here's the Uptown Bagg in the new Tomato color...

...and The Baby Hampton in Tomato...

New - Urban Rituelle

2008-06-25T00:49:00.005-04:00

First of all...in a word..."mmmmmmm!". They are all luscious, but our favorites are the Milkshake soaps and lip balms. And the packaging is vibrant and modern and gorgeous.

Leanne Haining & Scott Kelly travelled in the East to learn aromatherapy to enhance & celebrate everyday rituals. They returned to Sydney and started their company, Urban Rituelle.

This from Leanne..."At Urban Rituelle we believe that modern indulgence is all about celebrating life's simple pleasures & enhancing our daily rituals. I think we all know that modern day living has a certain craziness about it. With Urban Rituelle, as the name suggests, we're saying we should all take time out of our hectic schedules to pamper ourselves with small luxuries. Shower with deliciously scented vegetable soaps, indulge in the centuries old ritual of bathing, experience luscious lip balms."

The Urban Rituelle Soaps are creamy and decadent.

The Urban Rituelle Lip Balms are made with all natural ingredients...beeswax, shea butter, almond and olive oils.

The Art of Erin Smith

2008-06-21T00:28:00.008-04:00

We met Erin Smith at her booth in the American section of the Handmade Fair in NYC this past February and were instantly enamored of her work and of her. After talking to Erin, it turns out that her studio is just a hop-skip-n-a-jump from our store here in Atlanta.

We are now offering giclées of her work in the store and here on the website.

Erin is a multi media and collage artist that understands and loves and revels in each media she works with...found objects, old family photographs, paints, typesets, etc. Her art is intriguing and beautifully rendered and ironic... and at the same time, also laugh out loud funny. She strikes a chord with brush strokes, assemblage, and her wonderful wry sense of humor. We love that combination.

New Chairs From Four Hands

2008-06-14T01:12:00.005-04:00

We just received great new chair styles from Four Hands Furniture! (The gorgeous chair above, the big, stylish and comfy Hayes Corner Chair, unfortunately has already sold out...but there will be more soon. Check stock status on the website, or drop us a line and we will let you know when they come back in.)

Here is the new Ada Armless Chair with a baroque aqua cutout against a khaki backround. This one looks beautiful as a pair.

The new Florence Dining Chair with rosewood frame and natural linen upholstery. We wish the photo was a bit better to show her. The upholstery wraps around the back and sides as well. This is a chair that looks sexy from all angles. Just gorgeous.

The new Adele Club Chair with a dark chocolate baroque cutout fabric against an ivory field. Such a great piece for a pop of classic but fun design for anywhere...living room, sunroom....it makes a great bedroom chair. One of these is definitely coming home with us.

Just In - New Placemats by Modern-Twist

2008-06-08T01:20:00.008-04:00

Yes...they are sublime and modern and organic.
Yes...they look just minimal enough and sophisticated and stunning at the table.
Yes...they are supple and decidedly fun to touch.

We have to say that one of our favorite things about Kat Nouri's Modern-Twist placemats is the way that the translucent silicone subtly reveals the woodgrains of the Copenhagen dining table we have them set on. Just gorgeous.

The "Pebbles" pattern pictured above is exquisite.

Modern-Twist is also working with two of our current favorite illustrators and designers. This is the Matrix design by Rex Ray...

...and these two, based on delightful illustrations by Matte Stephens...

New Xenia Taler Tiles

2008-06-04T00:38:00.003-04:00

We just received new handpainted tiles from Xenia Taler!

Xenia and her partner Steven Koblinsky design, pour, paint, and glaze each one by hand in their Ontario studio. Just gorgeous.

We love the Bird Set...

...and the Summer Tree Box...

Jonathan Adler's Monthly Musing

2008-05-09T12:43:00.005-04:00

Jonathan Adler uploaded this yesterday and we had to share. He and Simon mostly talk about his appreciation for the craft of pottery while Jonathan throws a vessel, but of course there are also tangents...Madonna, Liberace, megalomania, and poo....and you know...stuff.

By the way, these two wonderful objets that have been missing in action for a while are finally back in stock now...

The Muse Candle...

And The Utopia Sun sculpture...

The ABCs of Life

2008-04-28T21:46:00.004-04:00

The ABCs of Life Plaque

Accept Differences.
Be Kind.
Count Your Blessings.
Dream.
Express Thanks.
Forgive.
Give Freely.
Harm No One.
Imagine More.
Jettison Anger.
Keep Confidences.
Love Truly.
Master Something.
Nurture Hope.
Open Your Mind.
Pack Lightly.
Quell Rumors.
Reciprocate.
Seek Wisdom.
Touch Hearts.
Understand.
Value Truth.
Win Graciously.
Xeriscape.
Yearn For Peace.
Zealously Support A Worthy Cause.

Woodgrains

2008-04-24T00:23:00.012-04:00

New wood veneer magnetic bulletin boards from Three By Three Seattle...

Mini Strips

Big Dots

Big Square Dots

Distinquished Panel Note Cards by Pop Ink

Decor-A-Boards by Pop Ink

Make Lunch, Not War

2008-04-22T00:25:00.002-04:00

Peace Sign Veggie Peelers by Decor Craft.

New Paper Goods!

2008-04-21T22:03:00.011-04:00

LOTS of new paper goods and stationery for April...brand new lines like Orla Kiely paper from Great Britain and Atomic Soda paper from France, and expanded ranges from Cath Kidston and Charley Harper.

The new Orla Kiely paper range arrived earlier in the month. Known for her sublime accessories, this is her first launch into stationery. We are stocking the full range of her new paper line.

The new Cath Kidston paper goods are beautiful and affirm her signature style. We are in love with her nostalgic, yet modern and relevant design focus. Gorgeous.

The Charley Harper paper goods line is expanding, with new note cards, a new notebook, and bookmarks introduced this month. More to come in July...we Charley Harper fans will love what we can talk about then. :)

Atomic Soda. It's hard not to use the dreaded "C" word for this line. But...it IS CUTE. The design reference for Emmanuel Touche's range is so playful and artful and whimsical and so 1960s French grade school and so...well...you get the picture.

Even the name he chose for his company is indicative. Atomic Soda sounds like a sublime and quirky Serge Gainsbourg or Jane Birkin song.

Touche also offers these great tote bags as part of his Atomic Soda line.

New Japanese Ceramics By Miya

2008-04-06T00:13:00.009-04:00

Twice a year, we have been bringing in the new collection of handmade porcelain, stoneware, and ironware from the Japanese design house Miya. We love the Spring Blossom series of sushi, sake, and serving pieces.

Some more of of our favorites from the new arrivals by Miya...

These tea cups are reverse-glazed with the characters "hei" for traquility and "wa" for harmony. When combined, in the Japanese colloquial, this is a message of peace.

The modern Y Sake Set

The Sumo Champions Tea Cup. It's intriguing to us because it's not only a sublime and quirky piece of Japanese everyday useable art, but it's also a chronicle of history. The current Sumo Champ is added to this cup every time the distinction changes hands. The last character on the new cup has held the title for 16 years.

These children's rice bowls with animal caricatures, based on watercolors from the Magohira period in Japan are so sublime and artful and whimsical. We love these.

Wedding Planning Accessories by Mindy Weiss

2008-03-22T01:30:00.011-04:00

Mindy Weiss is one of the most sought after wedding planners in the US. Now she's designed a sublime and stylish new line of wedding planning accessories and gifts for Two's Company.

We just received this new launch of Mindy Weiss's wedding accessories.

We love the Tiffany Blues and crisp whites and the soft contemporary silhouette graphics of this collection!

Find out more about Mindy at http://www.mindyweiss.com.

I Am Not A Paper Cup

2008-03-19T15:15:00.007-04:00

You will probably recall Anya Hindmarch's "I'm Not a Plastic Bag" bag that created such a stir in stores. DCI has taken the "I Am Not A" eco concept and applied it to this new porcelain java holder.

We just received these I Am Not A Paper Cup cups...

(Our friends at DCI have assured us that even the packaging is green. It's made from degradable RPVC, not PVC.)

Another clever take on the "I Am Not" concept is this "I Am Not Your Doormat" from the designers at FRED...

These are made from recycled tires.

Nature Silhouettes

2008-03-10T01:58:00.017-04:00

It didn't take long for this design theme to move from the realm of contemporary art to the fashion world. We love the stylized nature silhouettes that are showing up in so many new jewelry designs.

These silver Fern Frond earrings...

...and this silver Fern Frond necklace...

We love that all these new pieces are so flexible and sophisticated and ultimately wearable. And OK, these pieces are really really cute without being...well...you know...too...uh...obvious and precious.

Illustrators and graphic designers are the new art divas, aren't they? It's easy to see the Charley Harper influence in these Silver Sparrow Earrings from the designers at ZAD...

Eco Soy Candle Collection From Paddywax

2008-03-09T18:58:00.010-04:00

We are always on the lookout for "green" and sustainable products. We are delighted to see this great new introduction from our friends at Paddywax...The Eco Candle Collection.

Here's a rundown of Paddywax's criteria for this collection:

* 100% soy wax and natural essential fragrance oils
* 100% natural cotton wicks
* soy-based inks
* biodegradable chlorine-free paper pulp packaging
* all FSC-certified packaging elements

We love this new generation of stylish, thoughtfully designed, and affordable sustainable products. But the best thing about the Eco Collection from Paddywax...the fragrance combinations are so sophisticated and exquisite! The glass containers are clean and simple. The typeset weathered-looking labels are reminiscent of vintage French seed pack labels.

Decor-A-Boards by Pop Ink

2008-03-06T23:56:00.002-05:00

We are digging the wood-grain trend in home accessories that we saw more and more of at the Winter gift fairs this year. These new offerings from Pop Ink are printed on birch veneer. We love their unique take on this trend.

They come ready to hang. This is the Robin Decor-A-Board...

The Squirrel Decor-A-Board...

The Busy Beaver Decor-A-Board....

Nippon Work Gloves

2008-03-03T14:01:00.014-05:00

We have been busy as beavers at fairs and trade shows collecting great new designs and innovative products to offer for Spring and Summer. For the next few days, we are going to talk about some of the new things we are excited about.

We love these new Nippon Work Gloves from Noted Company. These were last year's winner of The Good Design Award, granted by the Japan Industrial Design Organization.

The graphic treatments on these are raised grips. We see these as the coolest gardening gloves ever! This is the Measure pattern.

This is one our favorites...the Peace pattern. Great and thoughtful design that can also make you giggle? We love that.

No, We Are Not Above Shameless Self-Promotion and Bragging

2007-12-23T01:20:00.000-05:00

We just won a Best of Atlanta 2007 for Best One Stop Gift Shop!

Not bad for a 1 year old, nes pas? Indeed, we are just getting warmed up. Just wait 'til you get a load of us in 2008. We will be focusing on offering more and more great things from independent American designers and right now we are working with design houses in the Netherlands, the UK, France, and Japan to bring you sublime and clever things not readily available in the US.

We want to wish you all the happiest of holidays...and a sincere thank you for your support in our freshman year.

Peace out. :)

The Hillary Nutcracker

2007-12-18T15:13:00.000-05:00

Oh come on...no matter where you skew on the political spectrum, this is just plain funny. The Hillary Nutcracker.

We just got a new shipment of these in today.

(Click the photo to see her in action.)

Pictures of You

2007-12-01T02:42:00.000-05:00

One thing we were keeping an eye out for during the summer trade fairs was a really great and thoughtfully designed digital photo frame. Every one we came across in the trade; however, was...well...you know...sorta boring and uninspired and devoid of any exceptional design. Oh well...maybe next year.

We do love this Digital Scrapbook by Rag & Bone Bindery. It's one of our favorite gift picks right now.

Like all of Rag & Bone's books and albums,the graphics are gorgeous and they are beautifully handbound. It comes with plenty of photography paper and access to their website for 50 templates.

Our favorite new wall display photo frame treatment this year is the Finette Frame.

We love the ironic design reference of the uber-traditional and baroque frames set against the modern clear surface. It comes with the ribbon and the jumbo bronzy push-pin style wall hook. It was designed by Michelle Ivankovic for Umbra.

We also are digging the mobile effect created by this Dangle Frame designed by Michelle.

Cubicle Christmas Cheer

2007-11-25T11:51:00.000-05:00

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

2007-11-21T22:03:00.000-05:00

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

2007-11-18T00:19:00.000-05:00

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

2007-11-14T16:52:00.000-05:00

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

2007-11-09T03:23:00.004-05:00

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

2007-11-05T23:06:00.000-05:00

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

2007-11-03T00:55:00.000-04:00

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

2007-11-01T04:27:00.000-04:00

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.

Tord Boontje Second Shadow Lights

2007-08-27T23:58:00.000-04:00

These new Second Shadow lamps by Tord Boontje for Artecnica were introduced at the New York Gift Fair this month. (insert swoon here) For a moment, we forgot we were there to buy for the store and started mentally placing the green one in our house.

For some reason, Tord Boontje's designs have always made us think of set elements from Jean Cocteau films...at once fantastic and surreal, but at the same time sublimely organic and familiar. These new Second Shadow Lights are no exception.

Clocky Is Here!

2007-08-18T00:46:00.000-04:00

We couldn't wait to dig into the boxes when we saw these arrive today. Clocky is an ingenious little alarm clock on wheels, designed by MIT student Gauri Nanda. Here's the deal...

When Clocky's alarm starts sounding, he jumps off the nightstand and runs around the room randomly...beeping his little heart out all the way. (You can only hit snooze once.)

Take a look at Clocky in action in this You Tube video...

Our Current Obsession: Thomas Paul Paper

2007-08-08T00:15:00.000-04:00

Chiefly known for his organic and contemporary designs in silk twill and linen pillows, Thomas Paul has introduced a line of stationery and desk products, using the same images that are his signature. Thomas is one of the designers that has been setting the pace for sublime home accessories for the past few seasons. We are head over heels with his vision and his knack for combining familiar and iconic objects with unexpected and organic color themes.

We received the full line of the Aqua & Leaf and Chocolate & Orange Thomas Paul Paper goods. We were...for lack of a better word...giddy.

Queen Bee Creations

2007-08-02T23:56:00.000-04:00

We sold out of these Truckette bags from Queen Bee Creations before we could talk about them! They are absolutely gorgeous and we love that they are from an independent designer. Not to worry...we have more on the way and they should be back in stock next week.

Each bag is handsewn in Portland, Oregon by a very small workshop of crafters that are passionate about quality and design. This from Rebecca Pearcy, the designer....

The perfect bag for toting around your daily needs. The Truckette is constructed of high-quality waterproof vinyl, has two front pockets underneath flap, an additional layer of vinyl on bottom of bag for reinforcement, adjustable heavy duty seat belt webbing strap, and a silver velvet lined flap that closes with two snaps. Hand made in our studio in Portland, Oregon.

We have added a new style...The Stylus Truckette. It rocks.

The Atlanta Gift Show

2007-07-17T02:05:00.000-04:00

The Gift Show at America's Mart here in Atlanta is winding down. We have found some great new goodies.

The new scent diffusers from Voluspa and Archipelago are just beautiful. Look for them sometime in mid September. We were wowed by the gorgeous new glass vases and lamps from Fringe Studios.

Some of our favorite new items from the show...

The great new felt totes from Mixx. Always fun and fresh...their Fall introductions made us smile.

These new tumbled stone coasters from Studio Vertu with the vintage bird renderings are amazing. Their combination of the aqua and the vivid colors of the illustrations is right on. (There will be one less set in the store when these arrive. We're snatching a set up for ourselves immediately.)

This is another one of the stone coaster sets from Studio Vertu. Just look at those strikingly beautiful images! (Yep...our love affair with birds and nests continues.)

The embossed travel journal from Eccolo is simply beautiful. (It makes us want to go to the Amalfi Coast and sit around writing something in it with really bad Italian grammer.)

The hand-carved wooden troughs filled with deliciously scented candle wax from Himalayan Trading Post are earthy and sublime....with a gorgeous Red Currant fragrance. I know...I know...it's not a new concept at all, but they have executed theirs so well that it seems new. Can you say "Freakin' awesome housewarming gift"??? (We can see one of these on the old bamboo butler's table right inside our front door...We're taking one of these home the day they come in too.)

We were most happy to see that the growing Green trend in the industry was especially evident at this show. More and more designers and manufacturers are becoming aware of recyclable and sustainable materials and are using them. This new book from Gibbs Smith is a wonderful and interesting little guide filled with things that everyone can do to be a little kinder to the earth.

Das Vinoglobe

2007-06-26T22:51:00.000-04:00

This ingenious little goodie was featured in Sunday's New York Times as the newest "must have" wine accessory. It's the Vinoglobe. We used one during an event here at the store and we were duly impressed. The concept: the glass sphere manipulates the air flow around the wine as you pour and aeriates and decants immediately. It made a significant difference in freshly opened reds.

There's even a groovy little flash demo video at http://www.vinoglobe.com/.

Modern Design Icons And Independent Designers

2007-06-13T22:07:00.000-04:00

We can't think of a more adorable and iconic kitchen product than this. It's the Hug Salt & Pepper Set from Mint. We love the thoughtful design...we love the inherent sentiment...and we love the story of the designers who created it.

Mint's very first product was the 'Hug' Salt and Pepper Shaker. Although the three founders of Mint thought it was a beautiful piece of modern design, it seemed as though they were they only ones. After suffering the rejection of several major manufacturers, the team had to reevaluate their plan. They produced the Hug Salt & Pepper Set with their own funds and it quickly became the number one selling item at the Museum of Modern Art's store. Luckily for us, they were confident in their design and it would not be long before those same manufacturers were lamenting the day they ever doubted those fellows from Mint.

Throughout the year, we will be offering more and more product from independent designers. You will see more and more great contemporary handmade items and products from new designers that have chosen to remain independent from the large corporate wholesale entities.

Decatur Art Walk Tonight

2007-05-25T12:49:00.001-04:00

The Decatur Arts Alliance is kicking off the weekend with The Decatur Art Walk tonight from 5pm to 10pm. We are featuring new works from local artist Marianne B.

This from the artist...

"Most of my work is acrylic on canvas. The end result is achieved in various stages. Sometimes the live parts of a painting disappear under a thick new layer of paint. The use of transparent paint means the underlying layer remains partially visible. This method of working on canvas can only be felt or surmised by the viewer. This gives the work its tension.

My studio is situated in my modern home and overlooks woods where the wild life is abundant. This is a magical blend of nature and contemporary environment that creates both soothing and stimulating experiences. This may influence or determine the atmosphere in my work, helping me with the choice and mixture of the colors.

My birthplace is in the North of Germany. I lived in the Netherlands and Tanzania (East Africa) before moving to Atlanta in 1993." ~Marianne B

The Full Line of Kobo Candles Is Back In Stock

2007-05-24T23:51:00.000-04:00

We have been infatuated with Kobo Candles since the first time we got a whiff of them when they were introduced at the Gift Fair last year. Gorgeous and extraordinary melodies of fragrance notes and beautifully designed packaging. They are made from 100% soy wax and the wicks are organic cotton, so they burn incredibly clean.

The initial shipment of their new Coterie Collection sold out faster than even we would have imagined, but we just got them back in. (We think Kobo's D'Anjou Lychee may actually just be the most incredible candle ever)