nutty day

sorry, im stuck in moving hell and have to arrange cleaning and painting today for the big move tomorrow...will be back posting like a mad woman tomorrow. have a great day! (for great gift ideas, check out the new issue of real simple, they created a fantastic selection, along with information on shipping options available)

gift guide: under $50

lovely, delicate gifts at viva terra: a recycled glass bedside carafe for $24, glass bird vases (2 for $39) and a decorative brass "love nest" for $39. enjoy!

gift guide: under $50

have a goth-minded person on your holiday gift list? these skull towels are sure to please at only $15 a pop. available at pixelgirlshop.

gift guide: under $50

lovely recycled newspaper vase at 3rliving for $40. for the eco-people on your list...

gift guide: under $50

elsewares is a fantastic holiday resource if you're looking to scoop up some affordable independent designer work...my favorites are the agate bowls and agate napkin rings from rablab and bogdanco's star coasters. oh! and don't miss inleaf's beautiful geranium cocktail napkins, under $50, too!

gift guide: under $50

lovely agate coasters for $49.95 at wishing fish.

gift guide: under $50

z gallerie is always growing on me and their collection of under $50 gifts is pretty good! from a fun horn magnifying glass to great apothecary jars, resin shells, kitty cards and giant gem paperweights, they've got something for everyone- even fun mini flasks...enjoy!

gift guide: under $50

design public has a bunch of great gifts for under $50, all well-organized in their gift section. my favorites are the lovely lavender sachets from variegated (great stocking stuffers, or tuck them into a gift of clothing for an extra kick!), the bright red and white espresso set from not neutral and the workplace dish set that's scooped up a gazillion design awards this year (or at least feels like it). if those aren't up your alley, check out mio's v2 3d wallpaper ($12-$28), cute wall panel cork boards ($32), bloom coasters (4 for $24), duo wastebasket for $48 or the branch dinner napkin set for $44. enjoy!

gift guide: under $50

mxyplyzyk is a fantastic design store in new york city with a name that's hard to forget (it's pronounced "mixy-plizik"). mxyplyzyk is full of fantastic gift ideas for under $50. every item pictured here, from toy poodle piggy panks to sophisticated modern coat hooks and colorful tea sets is under $50, so shop away! the site doesn't let you link directly to individual products, but the site is easy to browse and you can easily find each product featured by clicking on the categories featured. enjoy!

gift guide: under $50!

just a reminder, all week d*s will be hunting for the best gifts under $50...next week, the best gifts under $100!

gift guide: under $50

velocity has some great gift ideas that won't set you back more than $50. from colorful thomas paul pillows and plates to playful salvor mini fauna pillows, you're affordable gift ideas are all right here. be sure to check out the magnet strips and dots, thomas paul pillows and plates, salvor pillows, groovetube (so fun!, antler candleholders and glass coral. happy (affordable) holidays!

gift guide: under $50

sprout home is a fantastic resource for great home gifts under $50. every single item pictured above and below is UNDER 50$! click here to browse their entire collection and find the goods pictured, as well as many other on sale for very reasonable prices.

gift guide: under $50

the frog pod is a GREAT idea for the little ones on your list. the frog pod works as a bath toy scoop, drain, and storage for all sorts of bathtime toys and it attaches to virtually any bathtub wall. available for $30 right here.

gift guide: under $50

scary monsters go so well with dinner...snatch up some playful monster plates for the little ones on your list and they're sure to love them. $29 for a set of 4 at sparkability.

gift guide: $50

why not give the pets something special this year? the mod pod is only $33.50 and is sure to go over swimmingly.

gift guide: under $50

save some silver with this cute little piggy- $42.50 right here.

gift guide: under $50

for $36 you can scoop up this ultra chic nut cracker at mod livin...simple and sleek does the job right.

gift guide: under $50

have a wine lover on your gift list? try this wine cooler from alessi made of thermoplastic resin- perfect for toting your favorite bottles. available in red, blue or ivory for $50 right here.

gift guide 2005

happy holidays everyone! in light of the season, i've decided to turn d*s into a great big giant gift guide until the holidays are over. i'm in the process of moving, so i won't have time to do in-depth posts until the new year, so each week will be a gift guide arranged by price. so, as a lot of d*s readers are on a budget, this week's theme is great gifts under $50, so check in every day for great gift ideas for everyone on your list that won't break the bank...at least 50 ideas in one week :)

thankful...

i just wanted to extend a warm 'happy thanksgiving' to everyone. i'm taking off tomorrow to celebrate the holiday with family in virginia, so i'll be back on monday morning.

and, in extra thankful news...we found an apt! ac and i can now begin the redecorating process in new park slope apartment on dec 1- complete with an office nook for d*s headquarters. i hope you all have a wonderful holiday and i'll see you on monday. xo, d*s

felt up

this 100% wool felt placement is just dainty enough to class up any meal. sure to add some color and fun to the dinner table. available right here.

egg-cellent

these adorable ceramic egg saucers come in four cheerful colors: pink, orange, mint and blue. available online right here.

[sorry i forgot the link- in new apt daze]

sip sit

designer rainer spehl's "qoffee" seat is a fun little spin on your morning pick-me-up. designed to look like oversized plastic coffee cups, these stools can be used as seats or as a storage bin. you can stack them as well. available online (in white, beige, orange or dark grey) right here.

hand it over...

this ceramic moneybox is a playful take on the idea of "money in the hand". it opens from the bottom and stores all of your coins until you're ready to hand them over...i know, horrible joke. available online right here.

fold

this clever little lamp is made of folded and powder coated aluminium. available in two sizes (and as a floor lamp) and three colors (white, plum or yellow), it's perfect for adding a little fun to the table. available online right here.

hey, carlos....

in the realm of silly but fun objects, this piece is king. designed by kathleen walsh, the carlos night light is a lovely little glowing piece that looks like a dog who just got back from the vet...too funny. available online at unica home.

west elm holidays

i've never been a big fan of christmas colors and holiday decorations in the traditional sense, but this collection of holiday pieces at west elm looks down right festive (in a modern way). geo pillows right here, deer pillows here, polished red nesting tables here, mirror tiles here, floral pillows (similar to judy ross designs) here, similar stockings here, parsons desk here and red chair here. click here for more info.

wine lines

these nifty little plastic id tags are a holiday party must-have. made of snappy color-coded rubber bands that wind around wine glass stems, wine lines have fun little sayings like, "mellow but charming," "easily approachable," "supple," and "earthy" written on them. drink up!

affordable chandies

it's no secret that i'm a total chandelier nut (and plan on filling our apt to the brim with them when we move), so these little charmers are right up my alley. the "petite chandelier" at urban outfitters comes in white or black and will only set you back a reasonable $68. so for those of you looking for a little modern drama (on a low budget) check out urban outfitters' take on affordable glamour.

odette

artist and designer, jennifer sarkilahti recently launched an elegant collection of jewelry under the name "odette". her work is elegant, modern and simple- and certainly something every girl should have in their jewelry box.

originally from virginia (hooray!), sarkilahti moved to new york to pursue jewelry making as an outlet for her creative talents. released for winter of 2005, her collection includes earrings and necklaces for the modern woman. the standouts of the collection are her "marcel earrings", a wonderfully simple design highlighted by dramatic vintage Czech faceted glass drops that taper to a point and hang from 14k gold filled chain. available in cobalt blue, deep green, golden yellow, or light blue, the marcel earrings are a wonderful stocking stuffer for those in need of an under $100 bauble. you can view jennifer's entire collection right here. enjoy!

coffee talk....

late start today while i tie up loose ends at work before we all leave for the holiday. will start posting at 2pm. talk amongst yourselves if you'd like!

ruff choice...

having a hard time deciding what to get the animal lover in your family? how about these adorable cards by cat's dogs that feature hand illustrated four-panel photo strips depicting "various breeds in different stages of posturing before the camera". the set of 3 blank cards comes with a postage stamp, so it's ready to go. choose from pug, golden retriever, basset hound, great dane, french bulldog or boxer. available for $9 at elsewares.com

hip flasks

need a fun gift for the person who has everything? well, if they like to carry their favorite libations around with them, this stainless steel flask with metallic fabric might be just the thing. a bit too flashy for the guys maybe...available for $25 at wishing fish.

good enough to eat

what better product to modernize than oreo's? the childhood favorite is now covered in hip, modern graphics and available for $18.50 a pack at wishing fish. enjoy! (with milk)

tigrito

leave it to alessi to design the ultimate in cute pet bowls. cutesy? yes. fun? definitely. why not add a little whimsy to your pet's feeding routine? $70 at the magazine (in teal, yellow and black).

marli

this elegant "marli" bottle opener sure takes the art of opening beer bottles to a whole new level...$18 at the magazine.

mod or fraud?

fun little quiz for all your modern design buffs...if nothing else, fun way to kill time. [thanks, annemarie!]

poppytalk: holiday goodies

[the following post is from d*s reader, jan and her lovely blog, poppytalk. thanks, jan!]

With Thanksgiving in mind I just can't pass up these stunning letterpress placecards from Sur la Table to dress up the holiday table. Dauphine Press has created these beautiful cards made using letterpress art. Ten cards in a slide-top tin. A beautiful addition to your holiday bar, this monogramed ice bucket from Williams-Sonoma is perfect for chilling a special wine or holding ice. And also from williams-sonoma these stemless bordeauxglasses by Austrian crystal manufacturer Riedel. More serving goodness, this time from Vancouver, Canada and a store called Liberty. This signature Liberty piece ornate silver-plated three-tier serving platter is the cream of the crop of serving platters. $189.95 CAD. The top can also be used as a vase. I also love their "Hotel Murat" platters - $51.95 CAD. Liberty can be contacted through their website or by calling 1-800-599-9289.

feather help?

i'm working on something and i'm trying to round up design pieces that feature feathers...however, i'm coming up a bit short. i'm trying to find a piece of large furniture, a rug, or some fabric that has a feather print. preferable a large piece of furniture, upholstered or not. does anyone have ANY ideas? i have plenty of bedding, napkins, tableware and napkin rings with feather details or father patterns, but does anyone know of anything off the top of their head? just thought i'd the design-savvy crowd out there....thanks!

variegated holiday boutique

the talented lads of variegated inc have launched a fabulous new web boutique for the holidays. overflowing with holiday pillows, dog collars, aprons and napkins, not to mention sachets, tshirts and stockings, the site is a must-browse for all you gift-givers. you're bound to find something for someone you love...my favorite is the maple leaf print on ANYTHING. such a fantastic print. i wouldn't mind cooking up a storm in that apron. check out the boutique right here. happy shopping!

glowing places

"glowing places" is an interesting design installation created by philips. designed as an investigation into people's interaction with light in public spaces, glowing places resulted in plastic seating, embedded with LED strips and sensors. these sensors measure the presence of people over time and both the number of people sitting and the length of time they stay create a 'social interactive pattern' that is translated by patented software into lighting effects in the furniture. hence, many people sitting for brief periods of time result in lighting activity expressing a "busy period", whereas one or two people sitting for a longer period trigger "mellow lighting". what a fun idea. photos courtesy of philips. [hello to my good friend bryan who just moved to amsterdam to work with philips. miss you, bry!]