Wantist: Give Amazing Gifts

Posts by Brittany

Gift it

You move me, said the wall

Mio Culture Room Divider

MIO’s Nomad modular architectural system divides your space

If you’ve ever shopped for a room divider, then you know. Something good looking, flexible, affordable and NOT a cheapy three-panel with built-in picture frames, is hard to find.

We’ve lived through many scenarios where the Nomad System would have been just the thing we were looking for. Having moved eight times in the last ten years, three of those cross-country, and landed in a live/work studio, the name “Nomad” isn’t lost on us.

Read More

Comments Off

Mio Orange

Gift it

Bike it or hoof it in a hand-crafted R.E.Load Bag

Reload Messenger Bags

Limited edition and custom messenger bags from Philly

Roland Burns and Ellie Lum, the “R” and “E” of R.E.Load Bags, began making bags eleven years ago. They were both bike messengers at the time and had made a couple for vets of the Philadelphia bike messenger community who wore them with pride, helped get the word out and provided feedback. Messengering full-time, they’d make bags when they weren’t out making deliveries.

From the beginning they offered color choices and quickly started doing custom appliqué designs too. To them, this element of self-expression was part of the job of being a messenger. Members of the community would zip past each other on the streets and it was their bikes and gear that they’d recognize on one another.

R.E.Load’s big break came in 2000 when the Cycle Messenger World Championships were held in Philly. As they’ve grown over the years since then their philosophy has been the same: crazy-durable bags, designed and produced in house by a highly-trained staff of creative individuals. And let me just say that the snippets of personality shared about their staff make the bags that much more lovable—Ger-bear and Breannimal rock that appliqué. (See the steps of the appliqué process.)

Read More

Comments Off

Zombies detail

Gift it

Are you ready for some Fair Trade Football?

Fair Trade Football

These are better balls: Footballs and more from Fair Trade Sports

I guess I’d never really thought about it—who makes that football we toss around on Thanksgiving weekend? So I found it new and interesting to learn about Fair Trade Sports, a company based in Bainbridge Island, Washington.

The mission of Fair Trade Sports is as much about awareness as it is about sales. Their blog is packed full of information about environmental and labor issues surrounding the production of sports balls used worldwide, from the pee-wee practice field on up through pro sports.

The reality is that around 70% of the world’s sports balls are manufactured in Sialkot, Pakistan, where child labor has been a growing problem since the 1960s. Legislation has helped, but according to Scott James, Fair Trade Sports founder, “children are still working in manufacturing industries in Pakistan today because companies sourcing work there have failed to pay the adult workers a living wage,” so families put the kids to work to make ends meet. Little fingers stitching thick, tough materials.

Reality’s a bitch sometimes isn’t it?

Read More

Comments Off

Gift it

A little shop on a mission of kindness

KIND Boutique

Designer and vintage wares from KIND Boutique

When I came across Erin’s new store, everything about it made me smile—the sweetly hand-illustrated graphics by Jackie Bos, the saucy vintage finds, the carefully curated mix of clothing and home accessories, and of course the name.

From KIND’s about page

KIND is an eco-friendly boutique that believes in a lot of things. We believe we can change the world from our homes, that tiny changes can make huge and wonderful differences, and that the things we wear, fill our homes with, write on, use to beautify ourselves or give as gifts are a reflection of ourselves. But, above all we believe in kindness- to ourselves, to our neighbors, to the animals, and to the environment.

Our goal is that you come to our little shop and are inspired to join us in the life changing pleasures of living consciously. And, we have a surprising mix of things to hopefully do that. Whether it be old, new, simple, embellished, humorous, silly, handmade, curiously tailored, or is constructed of odd bits and bobs one thing is for sure, the items we carry are the result of a passion, obsession, great finds, and great ideas.

The shop just opened a month ago and will surely continue to evolve. As all good things must start somewhere, we’d sure love to see the kind ones find success.

What will you find at KIND? Prices vary $8-$300 for gifts, housewares, vintage pieces and eco-designer clothing.

Comments Off

Gift it

See, Swirl, Sniff, Sip, Savor, Save the Princess

8-bit Vinters

Wine and video games play together at 8-Bit Vintners

Press Start

We couldn’t help wanting to share Mike James’ story with you. When “Pick a box. Its contents will help you on your way,” is one of the quotes rotating in the masthead, yeah we pretty much feel right at home.

Whether you haven’t touched a controller since ‘94, or you’re a gamer that never misses an episode of CO-OP, you’ll appreciate the passion and determination Mike gives his quirky wine business.

8-Bit Vintners is an homage to simpler gaming days when managing a d-pad and two red buttons was all it took to play for hours. For Mike it’s about the good memories of his childhood days merged with a love for wine in his grown-up days.

After wrapping up his BA and not really knowing what he wanted to do, Mike got married, packed up and moved from Phoenix to the wine country in Walla Walla, Washington. There he studied wine for two years—an education that led him to starting 8-Bit Vintners.

Read More

Comments Off

Interviews

q&a: with Jenna & Mark of Whimsy & Spice

Whimsy and Spice Interview

Jenna Park and her husband Mark Sopchak hit the ground running in April 2008 and founded Whimsy & Spice, a line of handmade sweets with a distinctive twist—savory herbs and spices in the recipes.

Mark, a former pastry chef at popular New York City restaurants and Jenna, a talented art director and designer decided to do something they’d dreamed about and start a business together. The timing was unexpected and the transition, naturally a little scary.

As the parents of two little girls, the decision was influenced by their desire to have more time together as a family (restaurant hours didn’t provide a very family-friendly schedule). Jenna has been able to continue doing freelance work for clients the likes of Daily Candy and the Smithsonian. And while the family business has provided them a flexible lifestyle, it’s certainly a busy one.

Mark does all the baking and Jenna does the branding, design and web work. Each day’s surprises from their life in Brooklyn and the ups and downs of the business are captured on sweet fine day, a blog full of stories and photos going all the way back to the beginning.

We were thrilled to catch up with Jenna as things heat up for Whimsy & Spice again this fall. And we were even lucky enough to snag a delicious hot cocoa recipe from Mark.

Read More

Comments Off

Whimsy & Spice Gift BoxMark in the kitchenAt the Atlantic Antic Street FestivalCardamom MarshmallowsEarl Grey Sandwich CookiesBlack Pepper & Rose ThumprintsBrown Sugar Gingerspice Shortbread CookiesMark, Jenna and youngest daughter Claudine

Gift it

Old dog bed, new tricks

Molly Mutt

Molly Mutt for a fresh, clean dog bed all the time

Dog beds get stinky. True story. Not all that long ago we got Everett a new bed. He’d out-grown his first one, and that little cushion with no removable cover had seen better days—so into the dumpster it went.

The new bed, while well-made with a zipper cover and able to withstand the toils of our crazy beast, cost a pretty penny and just isn’t as cool or clever as these.

Molly Mutt makes dog bed duvets—great for us and our existing bed, but also a great solution when you need a new bed all together.

Ah, and the true story gets even better. They took their duvet idea a few steps further for a creation that’s smart, inexpensive and a really good way to reuse your old skivvies.

Read More

Comments Off

Molly Mutt Sack

Gift it

How many plastic bottles is your leather bag made of?

Matt & Nat sophisticated and socially-responsible bags for men and women

Inder Bedi, designer and co-owner of the fashion accessory line Matt & Nat, launched his company around a central message of positivity and a balance of design and social responsibility.

For Inder this meant a brand completely void of animal by-products—an idea prompted by a 30-day challenge to forego meat back in 1991. Matt & Nat grew from a very personal choice and has since become a recognized brand of fashion-forward bags, clutches and wallets sold from their online boutique out of Montreal, and retailers the likes of Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdales.

Read More

Comments Off

Gift it

Listen, this watch has something to say

Mr Jones Watches

Mr Jones Watches tell more than time

I see a lot of watches. In the world of men’s accessories wrist-bound timepieces rank right up there next to shoes for their collectibility and instant stamp of self-expression. But let’s be honest, with your phone in your pocket, a clock in your car and one on your laptop, the purpose pendulum for watches has swayed from function on over to accoutrement. It’s jewelry, mostly.

So onward past time and on to more important things like decision making, sentimental expressions, carpe diem missives and artful commentary on the everyday.

For the last couple years Crispin Jones has been releasing his limited-edition watches in runs of 100, adding one or two designs from each series into his permanent collection every year. At the root of the design project that began in 2004 is an investigation into the cultural messages that the watches express—essentially, instead of just telling time, what else is your watch telling you?

Read More

Comments Off

Gift it

Coast to coast creativity, community and craft

Handmade Nation DVD

Handmade Nation Documentary now on DVD

One of the beautiful things about being a picky shopper these days is the growing contemporary craft scene and our ability to buy, almost as easily, from independent makers as we do large retailers.

Now don’t be fooled thinking popsicle sticks and Elmers, maybe a little macaroni art from your kindergarten days. No, many of these artisans make quite the sophisticated array of goods. (Not to belittle artists of the aforementioned mediums. You’re surely out there and likely quite awesome.) Not only are the crafters good at what they do, but by the very nature of the items being handmade, they are often one-of-a-kind created with careful attention to detail and a whole lot of heart.

The privilege of a purchase from a DIYer (whether one person or a team of ten) is two-fold. You acquire something that is unique and special—novelty that’s hard to match at say, the mall. And you also support their business so they can continue to do the work they do and lead the life they love.

Read More

Comments Off

Interviews

q&a: with Chad Doane of Doane Paper

Doane Paper Interview

A simple thought—combine ruled lined paper with grid paper. Clever!

That was the idea Chad Doane had back in 2005. We’d come across it then, downloaded the pdf (the only version available at the time) and waited anxiously for a notepad of the same design.

Five years later and the Doane Paper line has grown into an impressive collection of pads, journals and notebooks that make writing and sketching on the same piece of paper a breeze.

We wanted to hear the whole story. Here he tells us how Doane Paper started and about the new products just launched this month.

Read More

Comments Off

Utility Notebooks - Traffic Light Series (Pack of 3)Small Idea JournalUtility Notebook (Pack of 3)Large Idea JournalWriting Pad in 5x7 or 8.25x11.75Downloadable Doane Paper

Gift it

Your floor never looked so good, your room so complete

Amy Butler Rigs

Hardwood floors are beautiful, modern and warm up a space visually, but they’re cold to the touch and these feet are chilly (le brrrr!).

When Amy Butler launched her line of rugs about a month ago, I was struck by how much I loved them—we both were. Her Midwest Modern visual style (also the title of her lifestyle book), while rooted in ideas I respect and admire, hadn’t been a style I was often attracted to until the introduction of these rugs. There’s something wonderful about them.

They combine Amy’s bold floral patterns, the craftsmanship of Chandra Rugs of Atlanta, and the toe-wiggling softness of 100% New Zealand wool. Additionally, the rugs have a relief texture that’s not only unique to the touch, but a visual treat too.

Full of petals and energetic colors, they bring out the best in clean-lined furniture and manage to pull a space together for a modern and surprisingly calm feel.

Read More

Comments Off