Doesn't really fit in with cooking per say, but Jessica Rust Designs has the BEST personalized dinnerware out there. These love bird mugs would be the ideal gift for newlyweds. The set of 4 mugs comes with 4 different designs, two of which can be personalized with the couple's names and wedding date. She also has a birch tree line of dinnerware with the option of having you and your loved one's initials carved into the tree. Really beautiful things...
I'm not a tea drinker by nature but I think I could be persuaded to make the switch from coffee if someone presented me with this. A Gamila teastick and jumbo glass cup gift set. The teastick is apparently the "ultimate infuser for tea enthusiasts". I think it looks pretty.
I'm throwing this Danish company, Ferm Living, up on my favorites sites list because I instantly fell in love with everything I saw. It reminded me of that feeling when I walked into Abercrombie & Fitch for the first time in the early 90's when I was about 15. Your heart beats really fast and you almost have a panic attack but not out of panic but just sheer joy? You know that feeling? So I am coveting these yellow tea towels. I'm wondering if you could use this towel to reupholster a kitchen chair cushion. Hmmm.... wheels are turning. Oh, the best part... Ferm means "clever" in Danish. Love it!
Bottle openers have a history of being ugly. They are either attached to a corkscrew, play the Notre Dame fight song or belch. If you would like to add a little design to your bar ware, a Sabre bottle opener fits the bill. They come in a variety of colors and styles and for only $16.95, you can afford to attach one to the next six pack of beer you bring to a party. A gift for both the host and hostess. Pick one up at Yvonne Estelles, a boutique out of Park Ridge, IL that's got a great Sabre selection. Leave the belching to your esophageal sphincter.
I fell in love with Boda Nova glassware and I am having the most difficult time trying to find where you can buy it online! This Blossom Collection is beautiful and I have searched high and low (or from page 1 of the Goggle search results through page 20) and have come up empty. If the Joy Collection is the one that trips your trigger, you'll have better luck with that pattern. Greener Grass Design and Proper Topper will take care of you. If anyone finds the Blossom pattern, drop me a line and I will be forever indebted to your surfing abilities.
I saw these and immediately threw them into the blog schedule. This is the "salad plant" from Black+Blum, a UK design studio. This melamine creation is essentially salad servers that stand upright in the melamine terracotta looking pot (which also serves to hold the salad dressing). Prop it up on your window sill or take it to your next outdoor picnic. Also a very handy way to pass along the salad without your serving utensils getting buried in the bowl and covered in dressing. You can get them from a number of places but I like ShopFosters.com ($26).
P.O.S.H is a great little store on State Street in Chicago and thanks to the wonderful world wide web, you don't need to be a local to shop their wares. They specialize in hard to find, one of a kind items like vintage restaurant china, hotel silver and flea market finds. But act quick! Most of their products are limited in quantity.
I have a problem with rolling pins... particularly that nasty sock you are supposed to slip over the end so the dough doesn't stick to the pin. But I digress... Scandezign, a very cool website, has this beech rolling pin with tapered steel ends. According to the site, the rolling pin is very easy to control (do they tend to get away from you?) and the ergonomic design ensures a smooth roll. Something this beautiful should cost a fortune but it will only cost you $36. Fantastic shower gift if you ask me!
The Jetsons have invaded your kitchen. Or at least the Orbit Bowl has! I have never been one to find food boring, but in case you do, this bowl will make your dining experience that much more interesting. Load it up with ice cream, cereal, soup, fried rice, grits (I could go on for awhile). Check out the rest of Ochelly for some equally entertaining things!
Do colanders and strainers find a way of taking up an entire cabinet in your kitchen? I have a big white one that is starting to look nasty and it's about a foot in diameter. The SiliconeZone Flexible Strainers are the answer to your crowded cabinets. They fold flat, can withstand hot and cold temperatures, and flip the reverse way for easy cleaning. I love the bright colors too. Get them at Chefini, kitchenware from Europe.
