Old meets new at the hands of Etsy seller Mudpuppy (aka Denver, Colorado ceramist Michael McDowell), who takes vintage fine china and refires it with modern abstract designs. See all of the offerings (such as the Baby Head Planters, $25 each, which simultaneously fascinate me and freak me out) in Mudpuppy’s Etsy shop. –Leah H.

See more of Leah’s great finds on her blog, More Ways to Waste Time.

Happy Earth Day, everyone! Feeling the green spirit and looking for a way to consume with a conscience? Turns out The Conran Shop has all sorts of cool green finds. Need a baby shower gift? The super cute critters above are safe for newborns and made with organic cotton (available here for $39). And if you’re thinking about Mother’s Day, check back at The Conran Shop in the next couple of weeks — the site is soon to feature a $38 frying pan made with 50% recycled aluminum and a handle made from sustainable bamboo. –Meg D.

Read more of Meg’s tips for stylish, green living — and more on Earth Day – at her blog, Style Saves the World.

Apartment Therapy is thinking ahead with this post about colorful Deco Table Fans from The Company Store. But some commenters worried about the “cheesy” colors and wondered if metal fans rattle. May I suggest, instead, one of the heavy duty vintage-style fans from Vornado? I absolutely love the look of the Vintage Vornado Fan, a reproduction of their original 1950s design and quite versatile — you can aim it straight up at the ceiling. And I’ve had a Silver Swan fan for years — it’s beautiful, quiet, and has a nice substantial feel. Are they cheap? Not exactly — purchasing a fan from their site will cost you about $130, though you may find them for less at large retailers like Dillard’s or in big box stores. But in ten years, I haven’t had a single issue with my Swan, and four of those years included hot “summers” that ran from April through September in an un-airconditioned house. –Mary T.

P.S. If you’re into a more modern look, I think the Premium Series is pretty nifty, too.

Original collages and paintings by famed San Francisco artist Rex Ray command $1,000 or more from modern art galleries and hip retailers like Jonathan Adler.

Much as I adore his work, though, that’s way out of my price range. Little did I know that there are also authorized Rex Ray prints available from online art outposts such as Art.com, ArtSelect.com — and yes, even trusty old eBay.

The four colorful Ray lithographs above, for instance — Samba One, Samba Two, Acapulco Two, and Sao Paulo Two — measure 15 x 18 inches and come professionally framed.

Current bids: $20 each. (Hurry — the auctions end Wednesday afternoon.) –Leah H.

See more of Leah’s great finds on her blog, More Ways to Waste Time.

These resin-and-paper trophy deer heads from Etsy seller Ruby’s Lounge take the current craze for taxidermy and deer iconography to a surreal level. I love their colorfulness and humor — and, of course, the fact that no actual deer was harmed in their creation. Each made-to-order piece is generously sized at about 18 by 18 by 14 inches, and comes with a keyhole hanger on the back for easy mounting. They’re $225 apiece in the Ruby’s Lounge Etsy shop. –Leah H.

See more of Leah’s great finds on her blog, More Ways to Waste Time.

Did you know that you could buy live plants on eBay? Yep, in addition to just about every other item on the planet, you can also procure plants for your garden from the auction super site. (It’s a particularly handy service if you don’t have a great nursery nearby or if the ground hasn’t quite thawed in your area and your local garden center isn’t yet stocked up for gardening season.)

I love succulents — because not only are they almost impossible to kill, they make great modern houseplants (group several in a wide, low planter for a stunning centerpiece or just one in a small container for a pretty, natural accent) as well as interesting and textural additions to your outdoor landscape. Can’t decide? Enjoy succulents both ways — keep them inside until you’re ready to get your hands dirty, then incorporate them into your garden.

This succulent selection up for auction on eBay includes a mix of twenty cuttings, including hens and chicks, volcano plants, echeveria, sedum, agave, euphorbia, and several other hardy varieties. The cuttings are easy to grow — simply stick them in well-drained soil (either potting soil mixed with sand or gravel, or perlite), protect them from hot afternoon sun, and water them every once in a blue moon. I promise, they’re practically black-thumb proof. Current bid: $30

See more of Leah’s great finds on her blog, More Ways to Waste Time.

At once ethereal and surprisingly sturdy, these papier maché vessels by Etsy seller Up in the Air Somewhere (aka Chicago ceramist, sculptor, and “maker-of-things” Susan Dwyer) can be just about anything you want them to be: Catch-alls for keys or spare change, jewelry, or paperclips; small planters; or simply delicately lovely objects to display around the house. As seemingly simple as they are, they’re fascinating to look at and impossible to resist touching. (I ordered a couple of Dwyer’s vessels a few months ago, and my very tactile daughter simply can’t keep her hands off of them. So far, they’re holding up just fine to her daily mauling.) Dwyer’s ceramic pieces — many of them inspired by the industrial forms of the urban landscape — have that same mix of delicacy and earthiness. See all of Dwyer’s Etsy offerings right here — and check out more of her work here. –Leah H.

See more of Leah’s great finds on her blog, More Ways to Waste Time.

Add a dash of cuteness to your cooking routine with Fred Flare’s new Kawaii in the Kitchen collection. The charming, anime-inspired accessories range from a sweet Mouse Peeler ($12) to a sturdy Panda Bear Skillet ($75) — this price being the exception, as every other piece is under $20. My personal fave is the multi-purpose Kappa Measuring Cup & Juicer ($14) that holds three cups of freshly squeezed o.j. and doubles as a baking essential — saving coveted shelf space in pint-sized city kitchens. The Japanese imports are available in limited quantities at www.fredflare.com, so order soon to get in on the kitchen kitsch. –Ingrid S.

Cooking? Collecting? Just like looking at Pyrex? Head over to White Elephant Vintage for the Pyrex Spectacular! “We’ve spent the past couple of months scavenging for every complete vintage Pyrex mixing and cinderella bowl set we could get our hands on,” say White Elephant’s Hollie and Jane, “and we think we’ve finally amassed a collection big enough to be worthy of the title Pyrex Spectacular.” So take a look — they tell us there’s more to come! (And of course, don’t forget to revisit our posts on collecting.)

Spring sales from some of our favorite sellers:

Visit The Shiny Squirrel for the spring cleaning sale, now through April 15.

Rock out with your skulls out: sheets are on sale at Sin in Linen.

Save 50 percent on colorful SOLO Bamboo Bowls as part of Lekker Home Furnishings’ Anniversary Sale, and see their other anniversary steals.

Doing your own spring cleaning? Shop the spring organization sale at the Container Store.

And don’t forget, gliders are still on sale at Mulberry Street.

Sales we should know about? Tell us in comments.