5 Things That Sparked Joy Recently
And 2 things that didn't...
First…some very exciting personal news! My apartment was featured in Apartment Therapy. I am still screaming/crying/throwing up etc. If you're curious, you can check it out here. (And hello to the new subscribers from that piece!!) It is truly a mind-blowing honor & if you read it, I hope you enjoy 🥹.
Now back to our regularly scheduled programming! This week I’m talking about a few small delights. No through line beside the fact that these are all things that made me smile recently, though there are multiple features on pet-centric goodies. Keep reading for the candle of the (end of the) summer, a new way to drink your tea, De Stijl pet gear, and more.
Eleonor Bostrom's Ceramics - $$$ depends
Eleonor Boström is a Swedish artist who creates playful, functional ceramics centered around dogs and occasionally cats, too. I found her work on Mociun which has a wonderful array of curated home goods, but you can purchase directly from Bostrom here. I’m trying to decide between everything on her website.
Design For Children by Kimberlie Birks - $31
In an old newsletter, I talked about the magic of buying coffee table books you’ll read. Design For Children is far and away the best I’ve purchased. It makes you wonder why we aren’t applying the same whimsical out-of-the-box thinking to everything we create. I want to put all my shirts into a shirt-shaped drawer!
Loewe Candle DUPE - $60
The $110 Loewe Tomato Candle continues to be advertised to me haunt me daily. And, despite how pretty Loewe’s candles are, I can’t justify the purchase. Even so, I now believe I need a tomato-scented candle. Maybe it’s because I’m trying to elongate this rainy, humid summer, or maybe it’s just well-spent advertising dollars… Whatever the reason I found this one from Malin+Goetz that is a click away from my apartment. Please let me know if you have tried it! Bonus points if it actually sucks and I don’t have to buy it.
Design Forward Pet Accessories - $$$ depends!
Look at the bed. Look at the bowls. VETRESKA, a designer/artist-owned pet store, recently teamed up with the MoMA Design Store to launch the coolest pet products I’ve ever seen. If our dog was not so big, I’d buy the bed on the top left immediately. I’m trying to think of other ways to use it. It is an actual piece of artwork (and so well-priced)!
Kenn Fuchs’ Artwork - $$$ depends!
I only recommend things I love - and this is a shameless plug for my favorite artist, my brother! (Kenn, if you’re seeing this, I would please like the same giant Café Bustelo painting seen above.) But FRL, this is my favorite piece of his yet. Kenn is starting his final semester of college at SUNY Purchase where he’s pursuing his BFA with the goal of one day becoming a professional tattoo artist. You can find more of his work here and follow him on Instagram here.
Plus…two things that disappointed me this week (boo!)
The Price of Tekla’s Le Corbusier Blanket - $745
Unless I miraculously ascend a dozen tax brackets (is that possible?) I doubt I'll ever find myself purchasing this blanket but I want it soOo badly. I recently acquired a pair of Tekla's butter-colored pillowcases and I am obsessed. Tekla has an undeniable knack for working with colors and this blanket is no exception (it comes in 8 different colors!). Nevertheless, should there be someone out there with deeper pockets than mine, currently on the hunt for a mohair blanket...
Tekla DUPE!!! - $193
Behold! A similar but different, better-priced mohair blanket. Let me not mourn the Tekla by pretending other throws do not exist! I was recently in Ireland with my boyfriend and he introduced me to Avoca. I touched a few of their mohair blankets in the airport and fell in love. I didn’t buy one…but I might…
IKEA’s Nytillverkad Collection
I didn’t initially set out to have a disappointments section of this newsletter until I remembered this IKEA collection came out last month and wanted a forum to rant. The Nytillverkad Collection is celebrating IKEA’s 80th anniversary. For it, they brought back a handful of vintage IKEA pieces and reimagined them. Can we talk about how a company with the most iconic, expansive archive of vintage furniture & home goods created the tackiest nostalgia collection ever? How did the makers of the JOUCH do this?
It’s all bad! And I’m extremely disappointed. Allegedly another collection will come out in early Fall and I’m hoping it too is not giving “fast furniture.” We will see…
What delighted you this week!?
Buy mohair yarn and knit yourself a small size knee blanket.
I never knew I wanted a chair that could be moved like a wheelbarrow until now! Amazing!