Cool Stuff: Noun: A Person's Place for Things

Sweet (mostly) vintage goodies from Noun: A Person's Place for Things, which recently opened an online outpost of its wonderful Portland, Oregon brick-and-mortar boutique. Clockwise from top left: Vintage Anatomy Charts, $25; Porcelain Pear Vases, $14 each; Vintage Green Wooden Boat, $17; Precise Tabletop Adding Machine, $28; Cherry Blossom Cups and Saucers, $12 a pair; Vintage Black Desktop Fan, $61

Check out all of Noun's charming wares right here.

Objects of Lust: Carved Wood Mushrooms

I started salivating the second I saw these handcarved wooden mushrooms from France at San Francisco's Battersea (aka, the retail showroom for hot SF interior designer Will Wick).

Measuring a substantial 12 to 39 inches, they're available for $685 to $3,000 apiece (I know -- dream on, right?) here.

Objects of Lust: Jayson Home & Garden Fantasy Shopping Spree

Sorry I am so, so late with this post today -- I have an awful flu complete with ear infection and ruptured eardrum, the pain of which made childbirth pale in comparison. Nick, bless his heart, got the kids off to school this morning so I could sleep until the absolutely unheard of hour of noon. (He is the best nurse, and his kindness and patience with me makes my crankiness and impatience during his own recent bout with this virus all the more unforgivable.)

Anyway, to distract myself from my clogged head, aching body, and hacking cough, I indulged in a little fantasy shopping spree at Chicago's sublime Jayson Home & Garden, putting together a virtual ladies' salon that's equal parts refined and romantic.

The elements, clockwise from top left: Caravan Chandelier, $1,295; Lotus Flower Dishes, $24 to $48 each; Antique Carved Mirror, $11,995; Barnard Lamp, $575; Vintage French Chair, $1,150; Cerise Pillow, $315; Frank Table, $3,695; Faux Zebra Hide Rug, $1,095; Amalfi Sofa, $2,316; Vintage Wooden Shoes, $295; Petrified Wood Table, $1,495; Moroccan Wedding Blanket, $795; and Factory Light Sculptures, $85 to $225 each

The grand total for my fantasy space? A mere $25,703. Le sigh ...

Cool Stuff: John Kostick's Bronze Stars

John Kostick's mesmerizing Six Axis Bronze Star is a beautiful physical expression of a complex geometrical concept: The handcrafted "symmetrical non-Cartesian multiple-axis joining of beams" was inspired by a speech given by synergetic visionary Buckminster Fuller at Brandeis University.

The math, no doubt, is light years beyond my feeble abilities in that area. The beauty, however, is easy to grasp. And over time, the metal wire that forms the gracefully intersecting axes of this collapsible star will develop a rich brown patina with a subtle green undertone.

Kostick's six-point star is $60 at Canoe, or $20 for the smaller Tetraxis Bronze Star, above.

(Via Portland Spaces.)

Cool Stuff: LAMA Pillows and Throws on Sale

Good news: From now until March 19, every pillow and throw at the Oakland, California-based LAMA Designs (Latin America in the Modern Age) is 35 percent off.

My faves have got to be artist Tanya Aguiñiga's handmade felt "Animales" series (top), on sale for $78 apiece, and the graphic Caballito Pillow (above) from Argentina's Fauna Perez, on sale for $32.50.

Though these weatherproof Mexican oilcloth pillows (the medium size in yellow is on sale for just $17) are mighty tempting, too.

While you're there, be sure to check out a few other LAMA goodies:

Pop Flower Serving Tray, $70

Blue Guatemalan Hammock, on sale for $57

Knitted Cardón Cactus, $24

Teapot With a Cold, $120

Tiny Fruit Pot With Spoon, $24

Toile Laptop Case, $32

Owlino Tote, $60

Credit Card/Business Card Case, $11

Calco Cortina Paper, $9 per sheet

Corazon Love Birds Card, $3.50

Mariana Bandin Dolls and Softies, $38 to $40 each

See all of LAMA's Latin-flavored modern wares right here.

Etsy Find of the Day: Mudpuppy Bud Vases

I stopped in yesterday at Berkeley's Lola (which, by the way, is an absolutely beautiful shop and definitely worth a visit if you're local) and was immediately drawn to these delicate bud vases with woven waxed linen "knotless nets" from Mudpuppy (aka Denver ceramist Michael McDowell). I don't know what it is, but the combination of needlework and other, non-textile mediums gets me every single time.

In the end, I couldn't resist. I need more white pottery like I need a hole in the head, and we really shouldn't be spending on non-essentials right now. But the heart wants what it wants, y'know?

Lola has a few more of these, so pop on by to take a look if you're in the area. If not, you can find them for $26 apiece on good old Etsy, where Mudpuppy has a shop filled with lots of little handcrafted ceramic lovelies that you probably don't need, but that your heart will undoubtedly desire.

(P.S. Check out my Etsy widget at left for a few more Mudpuppy creations. I update the widget with five new Etsy finds every day, so if you view the blog via an RSS feed, it's worth clicking through to check out the bonus goodies.)

(P.P.S. Click through to the comments on this post to see a great discount offer on Mudpuppy wares, just for More Ways to Waste Time readers. Thanks, Michael!)

Cool Stuff: Floral Cut Hurricane and Tea Lights

Loving the lasercut design of these pretty tea lights and hurricane from the U.K.'s Graham & Green. The tea lights are £2.64 (about $4) apiece, while the hurricane is £26.18 ($38).

Take a look right here.

Etsy Find of the Day: Laser-Cut Skeleton Keys

It's amazing what you can do with a photo printer and a laser cutter these days, isn't it? That's all it took to create these incredibly realistic skeleton keys from Denver, Colorado steampunk crafter and Etsy seller Porkchop Scottie.

You could mass them in an antique metal bowl for a Halloween-y accent, mount them in a shadow box for a homemade art piece, or even hand them out to trick-or-treaters or as party favors at your next ghoulish get-together. Above: Wooden Skeleton Keys, $6.25 for 12

Wooden Stubby Skeleton Keys, $6.75 for 16

Mini Wooden Skeleton Keys, $7.75 for 24

Black Paper Skeleton Keys, $1.99 for 30

See all of Porkchop Scottie's lasercut creations right here.

Cool Stuff: Ceramic Lace Horses

I really like the combination of masculine form and feminine pattern on these Ceramic Lace Horses ($39 each) from VivaTerra.

Cool Stuff: Ceramic Pedestal Bowls

So pretty ... so versatile ... so totally mine.

The set of three ceramic tripod bowls is $79 from VivaTerra.

Deal of the Day: Save 10 Percent at RianRae

From now until the end of the day on Tuesday, September 23, you can save 10 percent off your total purchase from online retailer RianRae by entering promo code OLFP352N at checkout.

Some of my current faves: Above: Fish Catcher Hanging Lamps, $225 each after discount

Granada Oval Trays $171 for a set of three after discount

Medina Hanging Lamps, $168.30 each after discount

Agadir Poufs, $128.70 each after discount

Burlap Chaise, $1,755 after discount

Woven Aluminum Stands $147.60 each after discount

Cargo Mushroom Boxes, $37.80 each after discount

Giant Clamshell, $169.20 after discount

Lattice Coaster Set, $47.70 for a set of six after discount

Petrified Wood Cheese Trays, $52.20 each after discount

Vintage Woodprint Mirrors, $702 each after discount

Browse all of RianRae's lovely wares right here. (And while you're at it, be sure to check out RianRae owner Jeni Crawford's brand-new blog. Jeni has an incredible eye, and I'm looking forward to seeing the inspiration she shares there.)

Cool Stuff: Feinedinge Porcelain

Feinedinge means "fine thing" in German -- and truer words were never spoken.

Based in Austria, Feinedinge is the brainchild of ceramist Sandra Haischberger, in whose Vienna studio each delicately beautiful piece is crafted by hand. I love the intricate, ethereal patterns and the subtle tone-on-tone colors. In short, I want all of them:

See the entire collection right here. Stateside, several Feinedinge products are available, for $55 to $135 apiece, through Olio United and Peek Keep.