Cool Toys that Make You Feel Good

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I even love the name: Stump Pond Woodworks.
These are some of the nicest wooden toys I have seen lately. They bring back memories from my childhood - I think I had most of these types of toys at some point in my childhood. I feel even better about the toys this guy makes after reading his profile and the thought that goes into making them.

And yeah - this guy is 86 years old. Buy his stuff.

Nothing to say really.....

I just really wanted to blog this photo. I mean, what words can do this justice?

I am in love......

Couches.... OH how I love couches.

I am a compulsive magazine shopper. Well, in my mind I buy all these trillions of things to lavishly furnish my house. I ran across this couch from Lee Industries that made my jaw drop.....

Don't you just want to run your fingers all over it?

Delish.

There are more than just a few selections of super cool dinnerware, cool flea market finds, and some neat kids toys and accessories at P.O.S.H. Chicago. Just about everything there is pretty darn cool, but don't ask me to explain the "third eye" dishes.

This one's even louda.

On the top of my wish-list this year. What sleek and beautifully classic style.

"With a tuner that brings in even the weakest stations, the Model One radio begins with a handmade wood cabinet that is both beautiful and the ideal acoustically inert speaker housing. A heavy-magnet, long-throw driver is mated to a frequency contouring circuit that automatically adjusts output over half-octave increments, resulting in musically accurate tonal balance and bass response. “When your stereophile loved ones turn the knob on the rock-solid Henry Kloss Model One Table Radio, they’ll toss out all their multiuse, Bluetooth-enabled gadgets and cry with hi-fi joy.” (Elle)

You can find this Henry Kloss radio at Tivoli Audio.

I think it even goes to eleven...

Baby Needs a New Pair of Shoes.

I always hate to admit succumbing to the latest trends but here it is. I love these shoes. I bought a pair for Isabel, and marveled at their simplicity, and their plasticicity. (Okay, I know this isn't a REAL word, but I have always loved made-up words since I heard Pee Wee Herman refer to Pigs in a Blanket as "blanket-y.") She wears them regularly with her Rainbow-Bright-type socks and anything else. I wasn't sure of the color yellow (SHE sure was) but they look absolutely Dutch, and I mean that in the most endearing way. I went and bought myself a pair. A red pair. So, here goes my unabashed promotion of more big-name products. I hate to do it, but I'll tell you, and I'll tell you again.... these are the most comfortable shoes I have EVER worn. I hear they eventually break down. I don't care. Thirty bucks, man. My Danskos have been weeping in the corner ever since. I have a spring in my step like a 16-year-old. Cry babies, cry.

A Thousand Apologies

I want to first of all, apologize for stealing all these images for the purpose of posting on my blog. However, I did it because I could not, for the life of me, decide which ones to post. Which one is my favorite? This is my favorite artist right now, hands down. I love the current look of Amy Rice's spray-paint stencil medium, juxtaposed with the more traditional subjects. The colors are beautiful, the balance is exquisite. If I could do anything I wanted, I may very well make something like this. This is the first time I have really thought, "You know, I think I will buy some of this for my own house." It kicks ass.

Beautiful bird.

Such beautiful colors.

This is one of the many many terrific images from the NY Public Library Digital Gallery. You can purchase prints of various sizes for framing. This one would be perfect for the dining room!

"Fabric as wall paper?" she says.

Oh, yes! I say! Look at this fabulous fabric from Weego Home. Now that I have a new home to decorate, I am scheduled to go crazy, looking for things I cannot buy to fill it. No mind the plethora of deco or arts & crafts items (McCoy vases, Japanese sconces, etc.) that would go "just perfectly!" Agh!! So, what do I do? I just post them here so that you all can see how beautiful they are, so you too can feel my pain! lol
Weego Home not only has gorgeous adornments for the walls, but tons of other household accoutrements in very clean and "vintage modern" (if you will) style.

After all, money *is* no object, right?

Now to Denmark...

Cute, cute, cute. Cute as a bunny. I know they are in Denmark, but aren’t a lot of really cool things? Here are some bunny vases, perfect for a single Gerbera daisy or any other perfectly ripe blossom from your garden. Heck, even Queen Anne’s lace would look good in these suckers from Designer’s Zoo in Copenhagen.

Japanes Kick

As much as I hate to keep listing things that are hard to come by, if you do a little research, you may be able to posses one of the most unique conversation pieces in the neighborhood. Here are some unique pieces of furniture made by a Japanese designer, half based in Paris, half based in Singapore. The collection is called OryZa, and you can inquire about this colorful resin utilitarian art by writing via email to hiroppi@pacific.net.sg. This here is from the last exhibition held in Paris in early September (assuming last September), and I can’t wait to see what new stuff is coming out.

Texture Mouse

Who needs a boring ol' mouse, anyway? Here are some fabulous little mice made from terrific Marimekko prints. So far they are only available from a Japanese site called kokuyo, but they hope to have them soon here at stateside.

What does it mean?

Japanese Ephemera. Who knows… I don’t know…. It’s just cool.

So, these shirts are really cool, right? One of the reasons I wanted to list something from this shop is that I have been there. Kobo at Higo is one of the most beautiful shops I have been in. In fact, they have just totally revamped their site, and it doesn’t do the store justice. This is one of those places you walk in and think to yourself, “Is this a shop? Is it a museum?” In fact, it is both. What Kobo at Higo in Chinatown, Seattle, has is a very artful display of Japanese ephemera, complete with the vintage cases that came with the store, mixed with cool modern Japanese kitsch. While perusing the displays, you will come upon an explanation of why there are old cans of who-knows-what delicacies, all written in Japanese, or with American names as “Delicious Sun.” Lost in translation? Perhaps not….

PANTONE COLLECTION

"Based on colorful sample plates used by traveling china salesmen in the 1940's and 50's to show the variety of color available to restaurants, hotels and country clubs." Wow. I LOOOOOVE these. I am always looking for the proper names of colors - yes, it is true - and having a quick reference in a rainbow of colors, right there on your dinnerware - don't you just want to eat them up? You can find these and other great stuff at Fishs Eddy, a great collection of vintage tableware and other classic wares for the home.