misosouper, a shopping blog

Topping the list of my all-time favorite shops is the inimitable UncommonGoods.  For me, shopping at UG is like pushing my cart through Target:  it’s impossible to make it out without dropping $200 and buying gifts for people whom I don’t even like.  Which is why I’m cartwheeling to bring you this week’s amazing giveaway–ZOMG shhh I’m trying to make it to the end of this post without ruining the surprise but holy hell I’m giving away a set of Illusion Wine Glasses–which is completely deserving of all hyperbole.

I have spent 14.3 hours of my life going through the UncommonGoods site, attempting to narrow my favorite items down to a compact list of 12.  In case you want to see the more ginormous list (or want to buy me something), check out the official misosouper registry here.

1.  Glass Cane–am I the only one who thinks Hugh Laurie should use this to whoop some minion ass?; 2.  Apple Bird Feeder–because birds think goldens are delicious too; 3.  Airplane Window–can you imagine the party photos you could take with this thing?; 4.  Half and A Calf Creamer–the literal meets the visual; 5.  3-D Anatomical Animal Puzzles–maybe it’s because I don’t eat horse (as opposed to cow and pig), but the equine seems to be the least disgusting, most fascinating puzzle of the three; 6.  Phillips Head Screw Earrings–say screw you from both earlobes; 7. Custom Record Bowl–turn Ziggy Stardust into a coffee table bowl that will, well, collect dust; 8. Set of 26 Natural History Glasses–brush up on your Akouchis and Jerboas while drinking your morning juice; 9.  Horizon Sand Art–a mesmerizing reminder of beachy days; 10.  Harmony Candle Snuffer–a wedding present for couple whose flame you hope never snuffs out; 11.  Glass Radiometer Spheres–a whirling, twirling antiquated wonder; 12.  Wine Cork Pets–commemorate a lovely bottle with a lovely friend.

But now for the showstopper:  visit the Uncommon Goods website and post a comment here on your favorite product, and you’ll be entered to win a set of four Illusion Wine Glasses.  But please read the fine print!  Multiple entries will not be accepted, and the winner pays all shipping costs.  Good luck!

the fine print:

Comments will be closed and entries will not be accepted after 11:59 pm EST on Sunday, April 19, 2009. The winner will be selected at random on Monday, April 20, 2009, and notified by e-mail. Results of the giveaway will be announced on Monday, April 20, 2009. Misosouper, a shopping blog reserves the right to disqualify entries that are incomplete, inaccurate, or considered spam.  Multiple entries will be deleted.  Winner agrees to pay all shipping costs via PayPal, which will be determined and agreed upon based on zip code and shipping method.  If winner does not respond within 24 hours, an alternate winner will be chosen and notified.

Here’s the thing with me and soap:  I can’t use it.  Without getting into too many of the boring details (allergies blah blah blah), let’s just say that everyone in my house is forced to use a special concoction that smells like air and feels like water. (We are a clean people, I promise.)

So when Kelly from Mollycoddle Soap contacted me, I was hesitant, but I figured that I could always use my family as soapy pigs.  The soap arrived, and it smelled so, so good.  I sudsed my daughter’s hands;  they foamed, and smelled like pie.  I dipped my pinky in a bubble.  Then: I held my breath, and washed my hands.  Nothing happened, beyond an awesome cleanliness and the faintly lingering scent of citrus and almonds.

Beyond their seemingly magical hypoallergenic properties, Mollycoddle’s soaps are over-the-top funny.  Moustaches on a stick, ouija boards, freaky looking babies, dentures, big slabs of meat that smell like sweet tomatoes:  they’re the best guest bath soaps ever.  If you’re hosting a cheeky dinner party, prepare a dessert platter of doughnut, Oreo, and key lime pie soaps, and let your friends take them home as favors.

This week, we’re giving away a selection of Mollycoddle soaps; check out Mollycoddle’s e-commerce and Etsy sites, then leave a comment on this post, describing which soap shape or scent you’d like to see Mollycoddle make next.  One lucky winner will be chosen at random.

the fine print:

Comments will be closed and entries will not be accepted after 11:59 pm EST on Sunday, April 12, 2009. The winner will be selected at random on Monday, April 13, 2009, and notified by e-mail. Results of the giveaway will be announced on Monday, April 13, 2009. Misosouper, a shopping blog reserves the right to disqualify entries that are incomplete, inaccurate, or considered spam.

The things I like about Laura Su’s company Prismera Design (there are many, so bear with me):

1.  Its name, which is a fanciful combination of “prism” and “chimera.”  Beyond its lovely connotations of phantom rainbows, it just sounds good rolling off the tongue.

2.  The fact that Prismera Design creates some of my favorite airy jewelry.  Big and bold, thin and delicate:  the collections make metal into flora, with names like “Titanopsis” and “Phlox.”

3.  In addition to jewelry, Prismera also produces a pantheon of everyday things, such as this sweet birdhouse-esque box for your jewelry, with a felt insert that keeps pieces in place.  Their hand-drawn cards, featuring natural motifs, are not to be missed; if someone wrote me a note on one of these flats, I’d probably frame it.

In celebration of Prismera’s new “Under the Sea” note card designs, we’re giving away four cards from the collection, printed with soy-based inks onto 60% post-consumer recycled paper and accompanied by a 100% recycled kraft envelope that resembles the prettiest paper bag you’ve ever seen.  To win a set of Algae, Branch, Coral and Pod note cards, leave a comment on this post.  Extra entries are available if you:  tweet this giveaway (please leave a separate comment with a link to your tweet…simply saying “I tweeted!” doesn’t count); post about it on your own blog (please leave a separate comment with a link to your post); and/or sign up to receive Misosouper via e-mail.

the fine print:

Comments will be closed and entries will not be accepted after 11:59 pm EST on Sunday, April 5, 2009. The winner will be selected at random on Monday, April 6, 2009, and notified by e-mail. Results of the giveaway will be announced on Monday, April 6, 2009. Misosouper, a shopping blog reserves the right to disqualify entries that are incomplete, inaccurate, or considered spam.

Or, you will be when you win this amazing print from the Brooklyn artists enormouschampion.  Their bright, graphic letterpressing exudes strength and vigor–one of my favorite cards from their line is entitled, simply, “Battleship.”  Their animals are bold rather than cute  (which, to be honest, is refreshing; Etsy is overflowing with delicately drawn menageries these days):  witness this parade of intrepid brown creatures whose collective brain bubble you can thoughtfully fill in.

enormouschampion has recently partnered with the organization Fabric of Life, which provides women skills training and encourages self-sustainability in Mali, Zimbabwe, Senegal, and Vietnam, in the creation of these stunning L’Afrique de L’Ouest cards.  Printed with soy inks on 100% recycled paper, these just might be my new stationery wardrobe.

But I can’t hoard it all for myself:  leave a comment on this post naming three good things in your life, and we’ll randomly choose a winner to receive a limited-edition “All Good Things” print.  Perfect for hanging over a door or a bed, two places where such benedictions are always welcome.

the fine print:

Comments will be closed and entries will not be accepted after 11:59 pm EST on Sunday, March 29, 2009. The winner will be selected at random on Monday, March 30, 2009, and notified by e-mail. Results of the giveaway will be announced on Monday, March 30, 2009. Misosouper, a shopping blog reserves the right to disqualify entries that are incomplete, inaccurate, or considered spam.

Three years ago as I planned my daughter’s nursery, I longed for a shopping site that would fulfill my modern fantasies of what her room should be. The online shop fawn&forest, whose wares are as committed to good design as they are to kid-friendliness and eco-sensibility, had yet to launch, so we cobbled together pieces from all over the internet, cursing the fact that we couldn’t combine shipping.

These days, similarly minded parents can take advantage of fawn&forest’s amazing taste, choosing from their inventory of sleek cribs, rocking rockers, graphic bedding, and wooden toys. One of the things I love most about fawn&forest is the fact that their pieces can be used throughout your home.  As in: whose sofa wouldn’t look good crowned by this Binth pillow?  And:  plunk this glider (it’s 50% off!)  in your living room, and guess which seat guests will fight over when they come for cocktails.  (I speak from experience; we have a very similar chair in our house, and our friends have been forced to take turns sitting in it.)

Got some ideas?  Good.  To keep track of all your design plans, fawn&forest and misosouper are giving away a copy of Nikki McClure’s gorgeous journal Things To Make and Do.  Filled with graphic, inspirational woodcuts, this little book nudges you toward action with charming reminders–Make Mistakes!–and blank space for Plans, Wishes, Dreams, Build, Explore, Learn, Make, Grow, Give and Find.  (Need more inspiration?  Check out this tour of fawn&forest mastermind (and total dear) Summer’s home.

Simply leave a comment on this post, telling us which fawn&forest product(s) you love.  One lucky winner will be chosen at random.

the fine print

Comments will be closed and entries will not be accepted after 11:59 pm EST on Sunday, March 22, 2009. The winner will be selected on Monday, March 23, 2009, and notified by e-mail. Results of the giveaway will be announced on Monday, March 23, 2009.  Misosouper, a shopping blog reserves the right to disqualify entries that are incomplete, inaccurate, or considered spam.