Velvet Verbosity

Check this out.  Is this not the coolest laptop pillow you’ve ever seen?  From Intelligent Forms Design, who’s philosophy is to “provide unique lifestyle tools that merge environmentally responsible values with innovative performance and aesthetic impact”, this is a design company shooting straight for my heart.  Being environmentally responsible doesn’t have to hurt and it should be just as cool as trashing the earth the way we have been.

I found these when Googling for a solar charger for my Macbook Pro.  The small Canadian company that makes these pillows also makes a solar “lounge table”.  Essentially it’s a solar coffee table that charges all of your electronics from cell phones to laptops.  The laptop pillows (there are three designs) are all made with sustainable materials and are designed to be highly functional.  The above design keeps the heat off your legs while allowing for cooling ventilation.  The “log” design holds your laptop in place and even gives you a wrist rest for comfort.  Smart, sexy, functional, and responsible.  What’s not to love?  But you know what I love most about this company?  They use a Mac to model their goods.  Because Macs are sexy, that’s why.

Last October, before I moved the blog over here to its own domain, I discovered Wendy Drolma (formerly known as Wendy Klein) and her amazing hand crafted leather masks on Etsy.  Since that time, Wendy has moved to a new website too!  She asked me to be so kind as to change my links to her.  I thought I would go one better and re-introduce the blogosphere to her handicraft.There are a few things I like about Wendy’s mask work.  It goes without saying that she is superbly talented and that each mask is a work of art.  Aside from that, she doesn’t seem to be bound by narrow vision.   Her masks span from the elegant to the dark, from the sensuous to the disturbing.  She has also come up with a unique “over the ear” bead design that holds the mask to your face without having to be tied behind your head.

I don’t want to tell you everything here.  Visit her website, which is itself mysterious and alluring, and check out the various designs, along with an interesting interview with Wendy.

I know we’re almost in February, and that oft dreaded holiday is just around the next bend, but I’m still basking in the pile of gifts I and my children got for Christmas. That put me off shopping for a while. Sorry I’ve been negligent in my Etsy duties. I hope you know I still care.

With all fronts on economy surrendering and throwing up their white flags, I won’t be doing any shopping anyway, but hey, a woman can still look can’t she? Besides, how I can I deprive you all of my latest handmade finds on Etsy. That would just be wrong.

By the way, I love the “connections” search feature on Etsy. I find a few things I like, then I get to see who else likes it too (and that makes them automatically cool in my book) and what else they like. That’s how I found these stupidly cute kitten wallets. True, I might not buy one even if I did have the money because I’m not sure my reputation could weather such cuteness, but YOU might want one, or know someone else who might want one. Come on. They ARE stupidly cute! Handmade of canvas and wool by Bubbledog, you can also visit www.bubbledog.com

A mere 17 days until Christmas and you’ve still got gifts to buy. (We’re not even going to go into how much shopping Velvet Verbosity has left to do.) Not to worry. I still have plenty of gift ideas to share, and with the days counting down, I’m just going to get right to it. Here are three funky little gadgets for the techie-geek in your life. If he/she is THE techie-geek in your life, than you get to call him/her “geeky-sexy”. Come to think of it, these little tech gems are pretty geeky-sexy themselves! Shop on!

For your traveling geeky-sexy, sexy geek.
A mini travel alarm clock.
Self contained, built in flashlight, teeny, sleek, and uber cool.
$25 from the MoMa Store

This USB 2.0 hub has it all.
Functionality
Style
Usability
Style
and
Style.
And it’s pretty cool too.
Also $25 from the MoMa store.

Welcome to the Sweet Edition. Hey. Guys? Over here. I’m over here. You know? I can dip my lips in sugar too! Now pay attention. It’s not everyday that Velvet Verbosity shares her fab shopping secrets with the public.

Dear readers, I ask you, is there anything more delightful than the sweets of the holidays? My sweet tooth says, “No Way! Nothing more delightful!”

Let’s get this sugar-fest started with a Christmas classic. (Sorry, this post will be slanted toward Christmas, it’s true. Call me politically incorrect, or get yer own blog!) Candy Canes!

Do you love someone who suffers from winter blues? If you could bottle the sun and give it to them as a holiday gift, you would, wouldn’t you? Wait! You can! For $44 you can bring sunlight to your favorite seasonal depressive. You have GOT to check this out.

If there’s anything cuter than pixie hats, it’s penguins.
Come on, penguin daddies suffer bitter cold and harsh winds to
protect their one precious offspring and they come
dressed to impress every day!
This little fella is safe for newborns and safe for your wallet at $16.

I’ve always been a fan of the Waldorf style dolls.
I can imagine I would have adored one or two of these
sweet little Wee Pocket Babies ($7.50) when I was a girl.
Each doll is custom made to order by germandolls of Etsy.

If you didn’t like the hip Tall Bear, you probably prefer these
more traditional stuffed critters from The Land of Nod.
Even my 15 year old loves these guys.
$12-$24

The great thing about hats and mittens like these
is that young kids will love them because,
“OMG, I can wear a monkey on my head” and older kids
will love them, well, because, older kids are just so
cool they know where it’s at!
These sets are from Garnet Hill with a price range from
$24 - $50

Finally, a bright take on some classic games.
Make 5 is a two-player game for 8 and up.
Travel sack and self-contained makes it great even for the car.
$20

Stay tuned. There is still so much more to come!