Lately it’s been hard not to notice all the media attention on Tea Parties and Tea Bags. Never one to miss out on an emerging market - albeit one that’s been around for thousands of years - we found some interesting recent teabag innovations: Tea Bags That Look Like Stuff! Pictured above, the ”Maum Tea Bags” from Wdaru, and seen below, the ”RoyalTea” teabags available at donkey products. Fulfill a lifelong dream and enjoy a cup of tea with Camilla Parker Bowles!

Catching a few eyes at NYIGF was Bedol’s selection of Water Powered Alarm Clocks (pictured below). Working on “100% natural power,” these ingenious devices require only water to operate - no batteries, chemicals, electricity or pollution. With this in the bag, next I’m expecting a complete line of fully functioning, water-based equipment for my home and office.



For your more dubious endeavors, Bedol also offers a “James Bond” style Super Sleuth Pen complete with Voice, Still Picture and Video Capture modes. It even has a motion sensor so you can stash it in a pen cup and collect evidence “Dwight Schrute” style! See their full collection of stuff here.

Another company who featured some interesting new products last week were Japan’s own Saikai. Established in 1946, they have been distributing their products in the US since 1991, and featured several innovative ideas for the classic porcelain teapot design. Sadly, it’s a little too soon to find those creations online, so pictured above you will see their 1961 Good Design Award Winning G-style Soy Sauce Pot, and pictured below, the Stone Mug designed by Yasuki Sakamoto.

When you’re packing away those pints later today, it’s important to remember to stay hydrated. Avoid the metallic taste of aluminum bottles, and the compounded chemical weirdness of those BPA laden bottles with Tkaro’s new pure and simple ”glass water bottle.” The stainless steel cover provides an airtight seal and travel durability, while the glass construction gives the highest possible water purity. Finally, a water bottle solution that accounts for form, function and the environment (and actually succeeds on all 3).

With so many great finds from last week’s NYIGF left to showcase here, it took a rare convergence of high style and video gaming for a limited edition PSP of all things to find its way here. Back before the “PSP Go” spoiled everyone’s taste for a handheld gaming device from Sony, the PSP 3000 was the go-to machine. So it’s with that in mind that Jill Stuart lent her name to this lovely special edition game bundle created for female gamers tired of bold, dark color schemes. No word yet on a Region 1 release, but designs like this are always a welcome change. via.

Two awesome product ideas that capture sunlight during the day, then serve as fun pieces of lighting once the sun sets. First the Sun Jar, designed by Tobias Wong, features a traditional Mason jar with highly efficient solar cell and LED lights. This would no doubt be great for a camping trip or walk on the beach (Do people still do those?)



The Glow Brick is a solid block of acrylic resin encasing a real light bulb that’s full of glow-in-the-dark pigment. Designed by Alvaro Catalan for Suck UK, this ambient nightlight may not offer as much lighting as the Sun Jar, but gives off a an enticing jewel-like glow that I really love.

Just unveiled by our friends at Three By Three Seattle, it’s a real wood, writable bamboo dry-erase board surface! Finally, a dry-erase board that doesn’t look out of place in a regular home setting. In fact, it’s probably the first that’s actually worth pointing out to your guests. That familiar blank white marker board was all too clinical.

Confuse and inspire your children with the officially licensed LEGO reproductions of classic Frank Lloyd Wright designs for Falling Water and the Guggenheim now available from Bedol. These small scale versions were actually designed by architect Adam Reed Tucker to capture all of the distinctive features that make each landmark. I love the Falling Water set, and although I appreciate the desk-sized quality of Lego Architecture’s other designs - the Seattle Space Needle, Empire State Building, John Hancock Center - at only 8” tall, the skyscrapers seem to lack a bit of the grandeur we associate with each location?

We found a lot of great pet products over the past few days in NY (more on those later) but my favorite one has to be the ModKat Litter Box. While it may not be the first “top-entry” litter box created, it’s definitely the most stylish.





With the perforated top, the leftover litter can fall back inside - easily the biggest annoyance with traditional litter boxes. The lid simply swings open for cleaning.



Although I have to confess, I may attempt to make one myself with a rubbermaid container and exacto knife later tonight..

While the NYIGF isn’t generally known as a place to see many new or exciting furniture designs, we were delighted to run across the creations of Atlanta, Georgia-based Shiner International. Completely enviro-friendly, these items are made with using materials you might not expect.

Starting first with their exceptional collection of home lighting, made from nothing less than cardboard and styrofoam. Don’t worry, they assured us these products are UL Listed and completely safe for extended indoor use.



Even with their cool selection of lighting, the company began focused on their own unique line of pressed plywood chairs. With customers looking for statement chairs and clever barstools to fill their space, Shiner developed a fascinating series of rockers, stools, dining chairs and more.

Our first full day at the New York International Gift Fair offered some very nice and interesting surprises. The first of which is a striking selection of handcrafted ceramic mugs and accessories from Montreal’s own PMO Design.

Below you’ll see the “Pisa Oga” ceramic cup, an eye-catching design that may look tipped while sitting on the table, but is perfectly balanced in your hand. And since the liquid can only be filled to the level of the lower rim, this cup should never too full to hold and drink comfortably.



Seen below, the “Union Oga” family of Salt and Pepper Shakers. Each piece has its own personality and character thanks to the simple (and functional) placement of the dispenser holes.

Here’s a smart idea we likely won’t see featured at this weekend’s NYIGF, but I love it nonetheless. Touted mostly as a place to store your spare key - and honestly, does anyone use those magnetic hide-a-key’s anyway? - the ”Hitch Safe” is a clever storage place for truck owners. They also appear to be compatible with most existing Truck Nuts (I’ll just assume that someone can’t remove the pin and steal your entire hitch)

Because a keyboard stitched into the front of your pants isn’t enough, these “Beauty and the Geek” jeans from designer Erik De Nijs also include a pair of speakers built into the knees, a pocket for your mouse and even a “joystick controller located just behind the front zipper.” No one said you have to leave the house in them.. via.

....distract from the food, take a look at the design elements from ”Tast.es” Catering. They offer some of the sleekest dining platters and accessories you will find anywhere. Although, I think after a few sake bombs you may need to be careful not to injure yourself on the wasabi dish. via.

One of the many brilliant creations from XYZ Design, their Computer Desk is completely cable free, and all of the computer components are easily accessible under the desk lid. Their design is from 2007 and still listed as a prototype for purchase shortly.. One day everything will look like this, so please hurry up with it!