Arne Jacobsen espresso cups numbered 1 through 4

We’re not big on bought gifts, preferring to donate money to charity in our friends’ name, or give food gifts we’ve made. That being said, it’s nice to have an arsenal of useful, well-designed, not-too-expensive treats to give on the holidays or otherwise — our favorite gift-giving is just for the hell-of-it when we’ve found just the right thing for someone we love. Mostly those gifts are things we’d love to have ourselves, like these this set of numbered, Bauhausian espresso cups designed by Arne Jacobsen (he also did letter cups; the letter of your choice for $21). They’re available from The Finnish Design Shop which has all sorts of swell stuff. A pack of four is $55.

Although the idea of turning the great Louise Bourgeois‘s fabric drawings into placemats might seem a travesty, the geometric patterns are so beautifull, we’d love to have ’em on our table. $60 for a set of 4 place mats available from Artware Editions:

Placemats inspired by the art of Louise Bourgeois
…If, like us, you’re trying to avoid plastic water bottles, this Imagine Peace stainless steel refillable water bottle by Yoko Ono might appeal. $28 also at Artware Editions:
Stainless steel Imagine Peace water bottle with artwork by Yoko Ono

 

We love this little plug-in nightlight for a kid’s room OR to be a beacon in a dark hallway or bathroom…Your choice: Moon

 

Moon night light by Kikkerland
…or Earth…About $13 at Amazon.
Earth night light by Kikkerland

Dese’Rae L. Stage turned us onto the Leaf Cutter Designs’ clever Seed Money, little letterpress-printed pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters. Filled with seeds, tuck the paper coins in soil to grow colorful flowers and delicious vegetables. It’s “tender for tending”! About $15 per roll at Leafcutter.

Seed money looks real, but grows into wildflowers and herbs
Arne Jacobsen/Louise Bourgeois/night light photos courtesy Better Living Through Design; Yoko Ono photo courtesy Artware Editions; Seed money photo courtesy Leafcutter Designs.

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