Showing posts with label Gifts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gifts. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Smitten | Ilse Crawford for Georg Jensen


Intrigued by the nature of daily rituals, Ilse Crawford created a functional yet poetic line of products for Danish brand Georg Jensen. The collection, built around this concept of daily ritual, includes two bowls, two vases, three boxes and a candleholder, designed to house objects deemed special by virtue of their daily use. To explain this concept filmmaker Justin Anderson follows the water jug, metallic bowl and candleholder through a choreographed series of daily rituals in the whimsical short film above. Ilse's designs add beauty to even the most mundane tasks and with the holiday's right around the corner what could be better than giving the gift of everyday beauty? I've added the candleholder to Christmas list--which object do you like best?

(Images via Yvonne Kone, Georg Jensen)

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Gifts | A Framed Letter

It's that time of year again, folks. Holiday season or as I like to call it "the gift-getting crunch between Thanksgiving and Christmas."  I don't know about you but if there is one thing that stresses me out it's finding the perfect gifts for my loved ones.  Every year I inevitably end up waiting until the last minute for a few purchases then end up making hasty decisions.  But not this year!  Nope.  This girl has got her act together and has already purchased a handful of gifts.  And these aren't you average run of the mill mall gifts, they're thoughtful and legit.  My goal this year is to try to personalize each and every gift I buy.  First on the list, dadder (translation: my dad).  Lucky for you, he only reads this blog when I email him the link so I get to share his Christmas with all of you. 

When my grandmother passed away earlier this year she left me a box full of my father's childhood memorabilia. Sorting through the piles of Birthday cards, report cards, and letters from boarding school and Vietnam has really helped me understand how my dad came to be the man he is today.  Take the framed letter pictured above, for example.  It was written by my father's nursery school teacher in June 1950.  The first line reads, "Towne is a good looking youngster with a sturdy, well-proportioned body."  Seriously?  That sentence alone makes the piece frame worthy.  That and the fact that I'm pretty sure my dad has never seen this letter.  I can't wait to see the look on his face when he opens it!

So back to the point of this post.  I encourage you, dear readers, to think outside the box this holiday season.  Something as simple as a framed letter or card will make a great addition to an art collection and will serve as a constant reminder of family.  After all, that is what the holidays are about, right?

(images 1 a letter from Estée Lauder to her grandaughter, Aerin / 2-4 letters found throughout Kate + Andy Spade's home / 5 my father's Christmas gift) 

Monday, July 11, 2011

Mission Accomplished

My weekend was a success because, despite the fact that I didn't win a single item at the Wright auction, I did buy this gorgeous brass bottle opener. I love it's simple lines and hexagon shape. Tell me -- is it not the chicest thing you've ever seen?!? I thought it would be the perfect housewarming gift for my beer-loving boyfriend. He has a thing for leaving our heinous bottle opener on the counter when he opens a beer...drives me nuts! Problem solved. This opener is so chic I actually want him to leave it out when not in use. Now all I need to do is find something to throw away his beer caps. Any suggestions?

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Indulge

Golden pretzels, teapots, spoons, and mugs. Kühn Keramik's products are a fantastic fusion of the classic, the contemporary and the bizarre. I am particularly smitten with the Pretzel paperweight and the Coco Chanel cup with it’s irregular edges. For under $100 they’d make for one incredibly indulgent Christmas gift that won't break the bank.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Palace Stacking Porcelain

Seletti and Alessandro Zambelli recently collaborated to design this tableware that, well, doesn't really look like tableware when it's not in use.  We’ve all see how stacks of dishes appear when neatly arranged in cabinets - not so interesting. The clever idea behind these dishes was to make each set (dinner plates, small plates, soup bowls, and small bowls) into a Florentine-inspired Renaissance building when stacked. Even the roof, flipped over, is a dish.  These porcelain palaces certainly provide some structure to the kitchen and would be the perfect gift to help someone get deliciously organized.