Archive   |   November, 2010

etsy finds: a tea cosy for every taste

Posted by in decorating

sweet paul teapot
owl tea shazzasknits copy

Last night Sweet Paul Magazine announced the opening of an Etsy Shop dedicated to selling its set props. Intrigued, I popped by for a look and fell in love with this knitted teapot, $50, from the holiday issue. For me, a great cup of tea is cozy enough even without the pot-sweater, but the look was too endearing to leave be and further investigation turned up quite a market for adorable pot-wear. Knitting fiends and owl-lovers alike might enjoy this knitting pattern for a Morning Owl Tea Cosy, or this made to order version, $35, by shazzasknits. For a more traditional cosy, look no further than this cable number, $12.99 by Etsy seller Melsey, or inject some comic relief into afternoon tea by putting a sock monkey to work. Check Etsy for a wide array of options (and there are many)  for dressing your favorite teapot. –Sarah C.

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kinda genius: water pebble

Posted by in living green

waterpebble

I chuckled at this “trend alert — stop showering” at Jezebel, but the reasoning behind it (use less water) is sound. And right on schedule, Springwise posts about the Water Pebble. This little invention from Priestmangoode senses how long you shower the first time you use it. After that, it blinks just a little sooner as you shower, giving you a hint to wrap up your water usage. You can buy it in the US at Uncommon Goods and in the UK at places like Amazon, and we’re sure more locations to come. — Mary T.

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a minimal christmas tree: the filigrantrae

Posted by in decorating, holidays

tree1

Around here, it’s never too early to begin considering Christmas trees. (And we’ve considered quite a few. Tannenboing, anyone?). This year’s first find? The Filigrantrae Danish Wooden Christmas Tree. Designed by Trine and Peter Find, the Filigrantrae, meaning “filigree tree” in Danish, is a solid birch construction that sets up in a snap and comes down just as easily. Design Public has this minimalist option for $275, which is comparable to the cost of some artificial trees. What do you think readers, is this your type of tree? –Sarah C.

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i may have found an indestructible dog bed

Posted by in living with pets

Dahlia-on-bed
sofa-on-bed

There are certain things you just have to deal with when you get a dog. Fur. Walking when it’s raining or cold. Tracked-in dirt (or wiping their feet at the door). But what made me crazy was the dog bed saga. We bought ‘em; Dilly just kept destroying them. For the past few months, we’ve been making do with a pile of rugs and comforters — washable and inexpensive, but looked messy. Then I found a company called K-9 Ballistics. Now that sounded tough! The company sells dog beds specifically made to resist chewers: they’re made of ballistic nylon and the closure is located on the bottom of the bed, so there’s no tempting zipper within reach. We ordered an extra-large bed for each of our extra-large dogs, and at 38″x54″ they’re HUGE. Yet they cost $129 each, which is no more than I paid for the last bed that was torn apart. The dogs already enjoy lying on them. I’ll let you know how it goes. — Mary T.

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five things we learned last week

Posted by in surfing

fivethingsglowingupclose

1) Real spider webs make for interesting décor all year. We couldn’t get enough of Rocky Fiore’s spider web circles, and neither could you. Deb says: “Thanks for sharing this unique art form! It’s so cool looking that it should not be relegated solely to Halloween status.”

2) The kitchen is the place for tea towels with attitude. These snarky numbers from Double Merrick suit us just fine in that regard. Kristin says: “I love these! I’m really obsessed with fancy printed tea towels. I hang them in my kitchen as art!”

3) Vaseline, WD-40, bleach spray; there are a few remedies for moldy pumpkins. Angela asked for help with her pumpkin problem and you came to the rescue. Christina S. says: “Try putting vaseline on the parts that you have carved out. It helps seal the exposed part of the pumpkin and will keep mold at bay for at least a few days.”

4) The only thing better than a warm apple crisp is a slew of recipes for apple pastries that are impossibly easy. Megan B. had fun with apples this week and her findings transfer easily to your kitchens. Kimberj says: “I can’t believe I have everything but the pastry. I’m going to go get some and make these tomorrow! Thanks for the inspiration. I’m not a great cook but I can bake like a fiend”. See the recipes for apple tart, cream cheese rolls and danish here.

5) Fruit and non-food items make great school-approved treats for Halloween. We asked for candy-free suggestions and you had ideas! Allison says: “What about fruit leather? Or a fruit bowl to be shared with the class? My son is gluten-free, and another child in his class has a peanut allergy. So on top of not sending in candy, we have to be careful of those dietary needs. The teacher has actually asked that we celebrate with something other than food, like giving all the kids in class some cool pencils or fun erasers.” What fun, approved food do you send your kids to school with?

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