These diminuitive battery-operated LED lights from Restoration Hardware are illumination magic.
They bring sparkle to wreaths, glass vases, centerpieces and to gift wrapped packages.
Let your imagination run wild and you will find these lights to be an indispensible tool for making ordinary things extra special.
Do not squander time. It is the stuff life is made of. That is what it says in "Gone With the Wind".
To avoid what I call "time snatching" periods- those times when you are in between daily activities and doing nothing but waiting, I go to my "Zentangle". This kit is located in my car and when I am waiting for my car to be serviced; waiting at a doctor's office or waiting at the airport, I take out my kit and begin to doodle with a micron pen and create little patterned masterpieces.
Created by artist and calligrapher Maria Thomas, Zentangle is a great gift for everyone. It helps build creativity and it is a great exercise for sharpening the brain.
Great packaging design caught my attention when I saw these Herban Essentials but the utility of these fragrant beauties are what keep me stocked.
They make great gifts and also are perfect in the car, in your purse or in the office when you need a quick, mood-enhancing clean up.
Sewing and pleasure do not go hand in hand for me but having a sewing kit seems like a responsible and grown-up thing to do.
As with all unpleasant chores, when you have fun tools, it makes the work seem less like grudgery.
This indispensable sewing kit came from Kaufman Mercantile and its neat packaging appeals to my "BTBPD" syndrome- I buy things because of packaging design.
And I figure I can use the items for other things unrelated to sewing- using the chalk for my chalkboard art and the pins for decorative place cards.
Who are you? What are you doing here on this planet?
Happiness may not be found in existential pondering but having a symbol that represents you personally, not just your business, is indispensable.
Create your symbol then place it on a calling card. Make a decal with it. Turn it into a rubber stamp. Print it on your notecards. Give yourself a tattoo.
Spread your marvelous identity around to let people know what a glorious being you are, independent of your corporate persona.
Being cheery and mirthful starts with having a cache of decorative tapes.
Japanese Happy Tape is wondrous and I recommend spending a few hours just learning what you can make from it- sculptures, mail art, gift tags, pretty packages, garland, and hand-made ribbon.
MT masking tape, decorative Paper Tape, and printed mailing tape are also fun for embellishing an otherwise bland package.
Buy some rolls of tape today and start playing. You will find that they are indispensable to your happiness.
When I read about this tiny award-winning safety cutter, I bought two. After I received them, I ordered 6 more. And the box cutter, too. "Slicing with style, beauty and grace" is the company motto and these sleek beauties are treasures.
They make life so much better because they fit anywhere- in your wallet; in a drawer and they cut through anything; even the hard plastic that makes your fingers bleed when you are trying to get to the item lodged inside the impenetrable packaging.
Other Slice Products include tweezers, vegetable peelers, scissors and letter openers and the company collaborates with innovative designers like Michael Graves. And for less than $10, you can be a supremely gifted gift giver.
New to the designsgirl blog is "Exalted Indispensables: Indulgent, Utile and Simple Pleasures." These are things I have bought, made, discovered or use that make every day more delightful.
I love tea and I have a sweet tooth so when I found Republic of Tea's new Strawberry Chocolate and Peppermint Chocolate teas in our local market, I swooped them up and scurried home to brew a cup.
Made with cocoa nibs, they taste great either hot or iced and they help me get past a daily desire to devour my husband's entire "Touch of Sea Salt Dark Chocolate" bar.
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