Cool Stuff: Lovisa Wattman at From Sthlm

Attention, Scandinavian design fans: From Sthlm is a bit like a "Swedish Design-of-the-Month" club. The San Francisco-based site features limited-edition items from one independent Swedish designer a month, making available products that normally can't be easily procured Stateside.

June's offering highlights the work of Lovisa Wattman, who's previously created kitchen- and tableware for Höganas, Sagaform, Design House Stockholm, and IKEA. Top: "City" Double-Walled Thermos Mugs, $24 for two

"Skane" Double-Walled Thermos Mugs, $24 for two

Oval Oak Parmesan Cheese Grater, $19.50

Check them out right here -- and take a look at wares from From Sthlm's other highlighted designers here.

Cool Stuff: ISAK Leaf Cups

Be still my heart.

These ISAK Leaf Cups from Swedish graphic designer and illustrator Sandra Isaksson have oak lids to keep your drinks warm, or so they can be used as petite storage jars. And when they're not covering your tea or coffee, the lids become handy coasters.

They're £9.90 (about $14) each from UK retailer Cloudberry Living.

The coordinating Bread Board (which I also have to have) is £24 ($34).

(Via Design is Mine.)

Cool Stuff: Matryoshka Measuring Cups

I'm not normally into super-girly home decor, but am charmed nonetheless by these sweet (and practical!) stoneware Matryoshka Measuring Cups from Anthropologie.

They just might be the perfect thing for those ultra-feminine, newly-minted-college-grads-decorating-their-first-apartments on your holiday list.

The set of three is $28 right here.

Cool Stuff: Brooklyn Tableware from Fishs Eddy

My husband and I are both California natives, and have spent most of our lives here. But although Oakland is home now, Brooklyn will always hold a special place in our hearts. Our daughter born there, for one -- that's her below on the stoop of the apartment building where she entered the world. (Yes, she was born at home -- by accident. It's a long story.) And building snowmen in the schoolyard across the street and climbing onto the bus for the ride to playgroup in Park Slope are some of our son's very first memories. We also made several amazing and, I hope, lifelong friends during our stint in the brownstone-filled borough.

So when a pal reminded me yesterday of Fishs Eddy, the incredible New York dishware outlet that we used to frequent in our NYC days, I popped over to the company's website to see what was on offer, and was delighted to discover this line of whimsical Brooklyn-themed items.

Clockwise from top left: Glass, Square Plate, Tote, Mug, Small Tray, Cereal Bowl. Prices range from just $4 to about $14 per piece. Check out the entire collection right here.

P.S. If you find yourself in New York, don't pass up a chance to visit the flagship Fishs Eddy on Broadway at 19th. In addition to the company's own signature wares, you'll find a mindblowing collection of unique table- and servingware salvaged from hotels and restaurants across the country.

eBay Find of the Day: Multicolored Raffiaware Mugs

Jane, ask and you shall receive: Eight minty vintage, multicolored Melmac raffiaware mugs, just like Jennifer Carpenter's. (And dig the darling little carrying rack, too! I would be all over these if I didn't have a pathological need to nuke my coffee ten thousand times a day.)

Current bid: $20.50. (Hurry -- the auction ends Thursday evening, August 7.)

Etsy Find of the Day: Studiotto Ceramics

Check out these playful and pretty ceramics from Etsy seller Studiotto (aka Istanbul ceramic- and tile design student Baris Gun Sahin, who takes "a modern approach to traditional Turkish Tile Art"). Above: Sss Plate, $70

Black Flowers Green Bowl, $30

Birds and Flowers Teapot, $65

Ziqzaq Mini Bowls, $25 for two

Black Flowers Pink Bowl, $25

Ziqzaq Tea or Coffee Set, $55

Just He/Just She Bowls, $40 for two

Geometric Ocean Cups, $30 for two

Each handpainted piece is food- and dishwasher safe. See all of the wares in Studiotto's Etsy shop.

Objects of Lust: Vincent Van Duysen Containers

First off, let me just say that I can't imagine ever spending more than $200 on a simple ceramic vessel. But if I did somehow find myself with that kind of cash to burn, these would be the ones.

Created by Belgian architect and designer Vincent Van Duysen, the earthenware containers are "expressed in the subtle but intense palette of a northern European sky" and topped with thick, weathered wooden plinths. They're the essence of simplicity and restraint. In a word: beautiful.

The small size, which measures nearly 6 inches in diameter, is $225; the large, nearly 12 inches, is $325 from Beklina.

eBay Find of the Day: Dansk Enamel Pot

I swear I'd cook more if I had kitchenware this great-looking.

I mean, who could help but be inspired to start something yummy bubbling on the stove if you got to look at it in this French-made red enamel pot by Dansk?

The vintage, like-new pot was part of Dansk's classic "Kobenstyle" line and holds two quarts. Of what -- well, that's entirely up to you.

Current bid: $22

(P.S. Don't miss the matching 5.5-quart red Dansk Dutch oven currently up for auction from another eBay seller.)

Cool Stuff: Fallen Tree Cutting Boards

I'd almost be afraid to mar their smooth surfaces by cutting anything on these.

But you could also use them as serving trays or as textural, organic bases for potted plants, trios of pillar candles, or other naturalistic vignettes.

The 12-inch boards, which are made in Minnesota from fallen trees, come in cherry, maple, and ash. They're $36 apiece from Show.

eBay Finds of the Day: Retro Kitchenware à la Lisa Congdon

Photo by Lisa Congdon

A few days ago, San Francisco artist (and SF Rare Device co-owner) Lisa Congdon posted pictures on her blog of her freshly reorganized and accessorized kitchen.

Something about the pictures really grabbed me, and I found myself coming back over and over again to look at them. I was especially taken with a shot of the display shelves over Congdon's kitchen sink (which I'm pretty sure are these ones from IKEA). She had filled them with a simple but vibrant assemblage of vintage kitchenware that was so fresh and fun and perfectly composed that I wished I could do something similar in my own kitchen.

So in my eBay wanderings today, I set myself a little challenge: Could I recreate -- or at least approximate -- Congdon's artful display (which no doubt consists of things she gathered over the years at thrift stores and yard sales) with items found on the auction super-site?

Here's how I did (as always, you can click on the image to see a bigger version):

From top to bottom and left to right (all prices are the current bids or "Buy It Now" cost as of this writing): Orange canister set, $22; blue enamel Cathrineholm lotus casserole, $10; yellow enamel roasting pan, $15; green and blue pitcher, $9; red milk jug, $8; green Cathrineholm bowls, $10; red Cathrineholm teapot, $59; green enamel ladel, $8; red rooster cookie jar, $15; yellow and orange metal napkin holder, $13; blue canister set, $6; teak candle holder trio, $30; red Dansk pitcher, $10; red bunny, $5; Scandinavian teapot, $10; red canister, $10; and wooden apple cutting board, $1

Is there a room or vignette you'd like to recreate with eBay booty? Let me know and I'll see what I can do.

Cool Stuff: Petrified Wood Cheese Trays

Absolutely beautiful -- and only 20 million years old.

The 7-inch tray is $78 and the 10-inch version is $148 from Jayson Home & Garden.

Cool Stuff: Bo Lundberg Illustrations

Grain Edit has a feature today on Stockholm-based illustrator Bo Lundberg, who creates fun and vibrantly colorful retro-modern designs for a variety of clients.

Lundberg's work is new to me, but I really like his aesthetic and was inspired to search out some of his products.

Take a look:

Breakfast Glass Worktop Saver, 12 by 16 inches, 12.49 pounds sterling (about $25)

Melon and Lime Glass Worktop Saver, 12 by 16 inches, 10 pounds ($20)

Melon and Lime Oven Mitt, 5 pounds ($10)

Signed and numbered Flying Over the Forests giclee print, part of a limited edition of 50, 1,900 Swedish Krona (about $288)

Signed and numbered Spring giclee print, part of a limited edition of 50, 1,900 Krona ($288)

Signed and numbered The Kitchen giclee print, part of a limited edition of 50, 1,900 Krona ($288)

Occasion Cards, 5-by-7 inches each, $21 for 12

Read the Grain Edit interview with Lundberg here, and see more of his work here.

eBay Find of the Day: Yellow Enamel Bowl

Is it possible for a simple yellow bowl to make you happy?

It must be, because it does.

Current bid: $22.