Mable's Unique Shopping Blog » So Pretty

Light Takes Flight: shadow projecting lamp

Lauren — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 15:30:05 +0000

The simple play of light and shadow can be so mesmerizing. This new shadow projecting lamp from Brooklyn based Lumen uses a flock of birds to create it’s beautiful shadow play. Measuring a wee 5″ x 2.5″, the shadows it projects get larger as you move the lamp away from the wall. It makes a great conversation piece for living room display, yet I envision placing them on a nightstand (or uber sleek Lumen shelf). I’d just love to have my own flock of birds next to my bed And since it’s oil powered, there are no power cords to tie it down and no electricity being used. This lamp is (almost) free as a bird…
$47.99

French Decor Art from ibride

Lauren — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 20:16:07 +0000

It was many months ago that I randomly discovered ibride. They were featured on several design blogs and I instantly fell in love with their line of ornate wall art trays. Since they were seemingly everywhere at the time, I didn’t bookmark any online stores. Of course the name ibride quickly slipped from my memory and I have spent the last few months keeping en eye peeled for those gorgeous baroque flourishes and collages of anthropomorphic animals. Quite a hybrid of style, eh? In fact, the name ibride is actually a play on words that is meant to represent “hybrid”. The company consists of 4 French relatives, Rachel, Benoit, and Carine, who I wish I could find more info about online. Their official website is in French and is Flash based so it doesn’t lend well to translating. Anybody know more about them?

Their stunning art trays come in 3 different themes; vintage ladies, animals in nature, and hybrid human/animals attired in exquisite vintage clothing. The imagery is simply amazing, but it’s the colors that really grab me: brooding, muted shades with splashes of vivid color. Everything they make is truly a hybrid of modern and classic. Better still, the laminated trays are made from a recycled wood core!

And lest I forget to mention their newer offerings: furniture shaped like the lower half of an animal. The Basset Stool and Dog Stool (both shown above) are available in black or red. Joe the Polar Bear book shelf measures nearly 4′ tall and is super limited edition.

All but 4 of the trays offered at Burke Decor include Free Shipping in the USA.

Free Chocolate with Organic Easter Bouquets

Sean — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 01:55:57 +0000

Free Chocolate! Free Chocolate!
Do I have your attention yet? Shop any day at Organic Style and you are supporting a sustainable and environmentally friendly company. Shop between now and March 23rd ‘08 and each Easter Bouquet purchased will come with a beautiful gift box that includes three pieces of our gourmet Swiss truffles made with organic ingredients. This makes a great green gift for that special person or family you send to this Easter season.

Although there are a few Easter bouquets to choose from, Mable’s recommends the Stargazer Lilies because of their sheer beauty and delicious fragrance that fills the room.

$39.95 – $59.95

Nature Inspired Wall Stickers by Blik

Sean — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 21:37:24 +0000

Blik Surface Graphics provides awesome designs that we can easily affix to our walls, tables, mirrors, and other flat surfaces. Plus they are easily removable so it doesn’t ruin the surface it was once adhered to. They have many different designs to fit many decor styles, but I’m a big fan of bringing nature into our homes. My favorite nature inspired graphics is the 7.00 Wall Graphic which comes with seperate branches, branch nodes, leaves, and birds so you can arrange it all however you like. I really appreciate the modular setup Blik has with their wall stickers so the customer has more creative freedom with their decor. Buy some for your own place, or send them as a gift, either way they will surely bring a smile to those who get to enjoy them daily.

Other nature inspired wall stickers by Blik:

Flying Birds

Undersea Theme

Retro Googie Nature

$36.00 – $50.00 per set

Handmade Valentines Day Gift Ideas

Sean — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 23:40:04 +0000

Last year, the handmade revolution caught on like wildfire. Giving handmade gifts says so much more than any factory made item, and it supports independent artists, too. We scouted out some unique Valentine’s Day gift ideas that would make a loving and unexpected gift for your special someone.

It’s official: Etsy is the place to get handmade items year-round. They have a beautiful Valentine’s Day Showcase to make it easy for us shoppers to find those truly unique items.

Let’s begin with a couple anti Valentine’s Day gift ideas, because not everyone thinks hearts and candy on February 14th. The one of a kind creations from Snarky Cards make me genuinely LOL. Over the course of about a week, I’ve read every card to Sean, which prompts us to cackle with delight. (I almost wish I had more questionable relationships so that I would have a reason to use these cards. Almost.) They’ll send the perfect message to your ex, or anybody else you want to stick it to this V-Day.

This Anti Valentines Day bracelet from Ben can Dance Creations is similarly blunt and snarky. With such unmistakable missives as DIE, KTHX BYE, and U SUCK, your target will get the message loud and clear. A perfect piece of jewelry that says “I hate Valentine’s Day”, but is still super cute.

For those of you with more traditional- and functional- relationships in mind this holiday, here are our absolute favorite picks from the myriad of handmade cards on Etsy:

Handmade Valentine’s Day cards (from left to right) from Art by Nakisha, Twisted String, and picklehead.

Although Etsy is increasingly popular, there are still lots of handmade Valentine gifts on eBay, so be sure to check those out, too:

Laser Star Projector: make starlight at home

Lauren — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 00:36:14 +0000

A few years ago I purchased a star projector toy, imagining and hoping that it would transform my bedroom into my very own planetarium. Like many people, stars and starlight have always held a special fascination for me. Who doesn’t enjoy stargazing every now and then? Those teeny twinkling specks of light remind us of the enormity of the galaxy, and are just so beautiful to behold. Well, imagine my disappointment when said child’s toy failed to create anything resembling a sky full of stars. Instead I saw blurry smears over a small section of my ceiling. I packed up the plastic hunk of junk, returned it to the manufacturer, and wondered if I would ever get that starlit bedroom that I so dreamed of.

Fast forward a few years and someone finally got it right! The Laser Star Projector is not a toy and promises to “fill any room from the tiniest bedroom to the largest warehouse with a crystal clear animated star display“. Yes, it’s animated, too! You’ll see thousands of green laser stars and blue clouds (along with the occasional shooting star) that are constantly moving and morphing. Everyone who sees it in person supposedly has an OMG moment, and I can’t wait to try it out for myself.

OK, I may not have a jetpack or servant robot yet, but this kind of technology will pacify me for now.

Also available @ Think Geek

$189 (with Free Shipping @ Perpetual Kid)

Baroque Contemporary Chandeliers

Lauren — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 19:33:12 +0000

These new chandeliers make me want to redecorate my whole house. The nouveau baroque look makes a perfect contrast to the predominately black coloring. It reminds me a bit of something you’d see at Urban Outfitters, but with more sophisticated details: kind of a gothic Marie Antoinette vibe. In the past, chandeliers had a stuffy feel to them, usually looking appropriate only in really swanky rooms. Today a contemporary chandelier or chandelette can create a soft, casual atmosphere similar to candlelight. A black chandelier would make an amazing focal point for any room and can bring out the beauty of your existing decor.

If black lighting isn’t your style, never fear: Gigglebrush offers many other styles and colors, including pink chandeliers and scones. They offer “couture lighting” with quality materials such as leaded crystal, glass and solid brass components, so your gorgeous lighting will stay that way.

$128-$358

25% off Coupon @ Plum Party

Lauren — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 01:39:43 +0000

Plum Party is definitely the cutest online party supply store, and right now they’re the cheapest, too. Until June 10th you can get %25 off your entire order. This discount coupon can also be applied to all the items in the all ready marked down SALE category for combined savings of up to 75%! Since outdoor party season is fast approaching, now is a great time to stock up on discount party supplies for your themed events: Graduation, 4th of July, Pool Party, summer birthdays, Luau, Beach Party, etc. They also carry other goodies like bold, modern tableware from French Bull, and equally daring accessories from Tepper Jackson.

COUPON: Get %25 off! Enter plum25 at checkout to get your discount. Offer expires June 10, 2007.

WIN Tricked Out Treats from Cherry Dot

Lauren — Mon, 14 May 2007 17:05:06 +0000

To celebrate the addition of a new line of wistful jewelry, Cherry Dot is sponsoring a contest where you can win some yummy Tricked Out Treats. Michi handmakes all her adorable food themed creations, and is always looking for new ideas. Just tell us your dream food item that you’d like to see turned into jewelry, and Cherry Dot might make your fantasy a reality! Maybe you daydream about a type of candy from your childhood, or you don’t go a day without your favorite snack; whatever your fabulous foodie ideas are, we want to hear them!

One Grand Prize Winner will have her idea turned into a piece of jewelry, as well as one of Cherry Dot’s new Orange Peel Necklaces, and a set of PB & J Sandwich Friendship Necklaces. Two Runners Up will receive a set of PB & J Sandwich Friendship Necklaces. Winners will be chosen based on creativity. Contest runs from May 14th – 28th.

~~To enter, leave your idea for fantasy food-themed jewelry in the comments section below.~~ Be sure to leave your current e-mail address so we can contact you if you win. Mable’s has a strict privacy policy, and never shares your information with anybody. Good luck!

The contest is now closed. Thank you to everyone who participated!
Grand Prize Winner: Vivien who suggested Dim Sum items
Runner Up: Joan who suggested Goldfish Crackers
Runner Up: Kira who suggested a Lucky Charms charm bracelet

Vandalized Vintage: reclaimed art from trixiedelicious

Lauren — Sat, 12 May 2007 04:33:53 +0000

Art and products that feature recycled/reclaimed objects are a Mable’s favorite. In our disposable world, it’s refreshing to see people who find creative ways to reinvent castoff goods, and Trixie has made an art of it. At trixiedelicious you’ll find her delightfully twisted take on pretty vintage New Zealand tableware. Pairing dainty prints with bold, black text or images, Trixie creates a unique hybrid that could be equally at home displayed on a wall or at a dinner party. Imagine the reactions of your guests when they eat their way to the bottom of their “Dirty” plate! The tongue-in-cheek designs range from cute and coy to racy and smirk-inducing. Trixie’s “hairdo” illustrations (featured to the right) also regularly make appearances, with saucy retro hairstyles and featureless faces.

Since these “vandalized vintage” pieces are recycled and hand painted, each item is totally one of a kind. You can even customize any plate and add the word of your choice. So if finding words like “filthy”, “deadbeat” or “pest” at the bottom of your plate isn’t your cup of tea, then you can add something more personal or sweet. There are also pieces with themes like sexy (“wink”, “tease”, “pout” plate set), and love (“kiss” and “tell” plate set or the “lovesick” cup and saucer set), which would make fun gifts for a loved one with a cheeky sene of humor. Letter plates (at left) are universally cool for all occasions, and would liven up any wall or dinner table.

Related: Subversive Cross Stitch