five fun things from fred and friends

do you need a laugh today? if any of these newly created products from the clever folks over at fred and friends don’t make you smile just a little, i don’t know what will!

the calf and half creamer

fingerfood hors d’ouevres plates

airfork one children’s utensil

salt and peeper dual shaker

feet first: finish line doormat

i know a few people who would get a kick out of that doormat.

see more fun and find out where to purchase these gems at fred’s website.

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neha chandra picasso salt and peppers

i think these picasso salt and peppers from new delhi designer neha chandra are very pretty. i like how the pepper gently nests within the salt, creating a slightly different look every time you put them together. they were inspired by the works and forms of pablo himself.

i am not sure if these are in production but they would be a very graceful addition to a dining table if you ask me.

see more design concepts and contact neha here.

via designflute

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matanzas creek winery (and sea salt)

my sweet muffin of a husband and i were out in napa with friends (see below) in june for vacation, and while we were there we dragged them 90 minutes away to the bennett valley in sonoma county to see the beautiful matanzas creek winery. we first discovered it on our first trip to the area back in 1992 and have been big fans of their superior handcrafted wines ever since. when we visited, we were lucky enough to catch the lavender in bloom this year: 4,500 magnificent provence and grosso plants arranged in terraces down a one acre hill.

it truly is a feast for the senses. imagine a sea of purple and the quiet, humming sound of bees drifting lazily and drunkenly from one flower to the next. the redolent, relaxing scent of the blooms and leaves wafting into your nose as you close your eyes and deeply inhale, and afterwards stroking your hands and wrists against the herbs to keep the scent with on you and in your memory for a long, long while. i am thinking “ahhhh” as i write this.

but i digress. we were seduced by the wines as well, and decided to join their wine club. when i opened our first shipment, inside of the carefully packaged box was a small cube covered with russet-colored tissue paper. i opened it to see what it was and to my delight it was some wonderful lagniappe - a package of pink himalayan sea salt, made heady by the edition of the winery’s estate grown lavender.

“whee! a reminder of my summer vacation!” was my first thought, which quickly changed to confusion…

“what the heck should i put this in?”

“lavender shortbread?”

“corn pudding?”

“huh? what? gah!”

so now i must humbly beseech all of you in out there in bloggyland. who here among us can offer up any suggestions about dishes that should include this salt?

i would be most grateful!

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sculptural salt and peppers

i really need to do a round up post of the best salt and pepper shakers i’ve seen, because there are so many good ones, but for now take a look at this earthenware sal& set from uk designer caterina fadda.

i appreciate how the pepper shaker nestles into the salt, and the fact that this can stand alone as a mini sculpture on the table, with nothing in it at all!

available for £21.50 (us $44) at the hidden art shop, and they ship around the globe.

via cribcandy

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smart salt and pepper shakers by j. schatz

new york artist jim schatz, a wizard of all organically-shaped home items, now has these intelligent, oversized, childhood game-piece-looking salt and peppers to compliment the rest of his collection. what makes them so smart? well, the salt shaker is larger than the pepper - 26 oz and 8.75 oz, respectively. and they have a 2″ fill hole on the bottom, so you don’t have to use the funnel. doesn’t it all make sense now?

bonus: the shakers come in 8 delicious mix and match colors.

the guy can do no wrong i tell you!

see everything here.

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stainless cocoon collection from philippi

these stainless steel fruit and candy bowls from denmark’s philippi design remind me of a fabulous 1950’s mod spaceship that i would like to fly in, jetsons style.

founded by jan philippi in 1992, the philosophy behind this design house focuses on clear, modern simplicity. the contemporary point of view comes through consistently in all their pieces.

i even like the salt and pepper orbs and the, er, sugar pill bowl.

for more about philippi, click here.

see more from philippi and purchase the cocoon collection at personal interior design.

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sleek shakers from bruce r. macdonald

these mantas salt and peppers by vermont artist bruce r. macdonald look like undulating waves.

they are crafted of stainless steel and brushed by hand.

i love their sculptural quality and soft shape.

find more info and products at brm design.

also available at artful home.

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