Who: Lostine – Philiadelphia, PA

What: Colorblocked Balloon Cutting Board

Where: Anthropologie – $128-$248

Why We Love It: So yes, paying $248 for a cutting board is a bit excessive, nonetheless, we are ‘pining’ for these colorblocked cutting boards (sensing a DIY project is in order). These high quality boards have that heirloom quality–like they were found in an old farmhouse beneath a fresh baked loaf of bread. Meticulously handcrafted in Philadelphia from locally sourced Sycamore trees, they are colored with a food-safe milk paint that gives it that yummy hand dipped feel. The final finish is a food-safe mineral to protect the integrity of the wood.

If you are will to splurge on one of these eye pleasing boards, they are certainly worth displaying whether on the wall or as a serving board. Built-in leather handles and cut-outs make hanging easy–helps with drying too!

Who: Rebel Green – Milwaukee, WI

What: Free Bird Bad Habits Lunch Tote

Where: MightyNest – $21.95

Why We Love It: “Bad Habits are Disposable Good Habits are Reusable” is a good motto to live by, and this reusable lunch tote from Rebel Green makes it easier to embrace good habits like skipping the brown bag at lunch time. Made in the USA from 100% organic cotton and printed with low impact inks, this cheeky tote is great for lunches on the go for kids or grown-ups. Pair it with a reusable cloth napkin for added ‘green.’

Who: Peterboro Basket Company – Peterborough, NH

What: Peterboro Picnic-Time/Tote Bicycle Basket

Where: Peterboro – $55

Why We Love It: There’s nothing like an autumn bike outing. Nothing but you, your bike, and your picnic blanket. And your keys, wallet, cell phone and water bottle. Oh wait, wait…don’t forget your lunch, a book, and your camera. Right. Ready. Now, where to put all this, you ask?

Fortunately we’ve come across the Peterboro Basket Company, which has been making all manner of beautiful White Ash baskets for more than 150 years. All of the baskets are made from wood harvested in New England, and are manufactured at the company’s home base in New Hampshire. The picnic bike basket measures 14.25 X 9 X 6.75 inches and comes in 3 colors: natural, honey or cherry (we love ‘em all, but especially the cherry). The baskets run $65, but the site often has promotions that bring the price down to $55.

Happy picnicking!!!

Who: Biggs and Featherbelle – Baltimore, MD

What: Coffee Scrub & Lavender Bergamot Body Butter

Where: Biggs and Featherbelle – $14.99 & $9.69

Why We Love It: We were recently introduced to the health conscious body care line Biggs and Featherbelle, and now, waking up with their Sweet Coffee Scrub and Lavendar/Bergamot Body Butter has become part of our daily routine.  Seriously what better way to start the day than with two invigorating, soothing, moisturizing beauty aids made with two of our favorite breakfast components, Coffee and Butter?

Biggs & Featherbelle uses all natural ingredients, free of synthetics, parabens and fragrance oils, to craft their delicious (seriously, we want to eat it) collection of soaps, scrubs and body butters. The aroma of their products are so authentic, so sensual, so natural that they are as much aromatherapy as they are beauty products. Such a richness to their products, you’ll feel spoiled.

The invigorating Coffee Scrub contains Raw Turbinado Sugar, Raw Cane Sugar, Cane Sugar, Coffee Beans, Hazelnut Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Sea Salt, Vitamin E & Essential Oil Blend (Balsam of Peru & Vetiver), and although it may give the appearance of scrubbing oneself in dirt, the results are worth it; enlivened, super soft skin and the perfect wake-up for the senses. The sweet smelling, soothing Lavendar and Bergamot Body Butter is so cool, it’s a solid bar, that warms up with the heat from your skin. So, no more messy lotions, this bar just glides over your skin; use more where you need it and less where you don’t. And for all those mom’s to be out there, word is the belly balm is amazing!

“Biggs & Featherbelle was started several years ago by two sisters who began making soaps as Christmas gifts one holiday season. Urged by family and friends to continue with this endeavor, Biggs and Featherbelle was born out of the girls’ desire to use their love of all-natural, safe ingredients, combined with their background in art and design. What came out of it is a line that is not only fresh and fun (with the cutest packaging), but the perfect answer for many types of skin and beauty needs (each bar of soap is designed with a particular skin type/skin situation in mind).”

	One lucky Urban Sherp (US) reader will win a Bigg Gift Box courtesy of the ladies at Bigg & Featherbelle.  Visit Biggs & Featherbelle & then leave a comment here telling US which Bigg Gift Box you would choose if you won (excluding the Mother-to-Be Box).  Bonus Entries: You can receive up to three extra entries by following US on Twitter, liking US on Facebook or subscribing to our newsletter. Leave an additional comment for each! Hurry! This giveaway ended June 15, 2011 at 11:59PM EST. Thanks to all who entered! Open to US & Canadian Residents, 18+. Official Rules.

Who: Kalon Studios – Los Angeles California

What: Stump

Where: AllModern.com – $85 (See also Trunk – $145)

Why We Love It: So yes, we may have spent the better part of the week removing stumps from our front yard, but now we are ready to put them back in. Well, at least Kalon Studios interpretation of the ‘stump.’

Their nature inspired stools provide a welcome respite for weary bones and bring warmth to your space whether indoors or out. We also think they’d make great side tables too providing extra seating when needed.

The ‘stumps’ are cut from the green wood of a FSC-certified, USA-grown maple and ash resulting in the natural splits that run up the base. It is left untreated, in raw wood form. Each piece is handcrafted by New England craftsmen.

Who: Canvas – New York, NY

What: Covered Jars with Chalk Surface

Where: Canvas – $49 -$74 & save 15% on all orders of $300 or more with code CANVAS300

Why We Love It: We just discovered this store, Canvas, and are swooning over their collection of country cool, laid back home goods. One of our favorite pieces from the store is this trio of covered jars. The jars are American-made and mix this really organic feeling matte white ceramic upper with a dark modern chalkboard glaze finish on the bottom. Love the result and the fact that you can write in your own contents, so that oversized flour jar can easily become a cookie jar! Also, would look great paired with Side by Side’s Chalk Napkin Rings…

Canvas collects their wares from around the world, gravitating towards products rich in texture and material and guided by fair trade and sustainable designs.

Available in small, medium and large.

Who: Heath Ceramics – Sausalito, CA

What: House Numbers, Neutra & Eames

Where: Heath Ceramics – $45/each

Why We Love It: Heath Ceramics has been enjoying a renaissance since the reigns were passed on to Robin Petravic and Catherine Bailey in 2003. They revitalized the collection without comprising on classic style, quality or integrity of the original Heath Ceramics founded by Edith Heath in 1948. Her iconic Coupe collection of dinnerware hasn’t changed, it’s all still made in the US, in the same factory, with the same methods and techniques by the same hands who have been firing, glazing and molding Edith’s ceramics for decades and creating a timeless product. They still use clay bodies that require only one firing as opposed to the more typical two firings, which is a much more economical and energy efficient way to go.

To reinvigorate the brand the new owners have made Click to continue »

Who: IMAKE Studios – Brooklyn, NY

What: Dreamweave Ottoman

Where: IMAKE Studios – $1200 -$2400, available in 3 sizes.

Why We Love It: Perhaps it was because we had been on our feet all day at the Architectural Digest Home Show, but more likely we were mesmerized by the intoxicating fabrics and shape of the ottomans, but it felt like we were sitting on a cloud.

Upholstered in 100% silk handwoven by women in the villages of the Northeastern State of Assam in India, the Pure Eri III Fabric is our absolute favorite. It is so soft it feels like it could melt in your hands; the texture is so rich with the relaxed weave of a linen and the varied color of natural fibers. The effect is a luxe but loose fabric with movement and lustre; celebrating the natural beauty of silk.

The silk worms who spin these silks are considered ‘wild,’ meaning that the worms live outside not in a mill, and because of this the silk is much stronger and more durable then domesticated mulberry silk.

The ottoman itself has smooth, languid curves, that draw you in with their gentle slope drooping gradually towards the ground. The shape is based on the forms of an Indian percussion instrument called the Tabla.

Who: Cerno – Laguna Beach, California

What: Silva Table Lamp

Where: YLighting – $382.50

Why We Love It: Lately we’ve been obsessed with LED lighting especially with the scheduled retirement of the incandescent in 2012 and our love/hate of the CFL. LEDs are clearly superior in terms of energy efficiency and flexibility of design, but since its such a young market the options have been limited so we were excited to learn about the Silva Table Lamp from Cerno.

Cerno’s LED lights balance innovative technology, traditional materials, and contemporary design. The Silva is blends art and science with a wood combination of a wood and metal base bringing a warmth to it feeling less overtly futuristic than most of the LEDs on the market. The base is made of CNC cut wood which cuts down on waste during the manufacturing process and has a unique tri-leg base. The heat sink detail on the top combines form and function allowing heat to dissipate more efficiently while adding a visually appealing and unexpected element.

Available in lacquered Baltic birch plywood, oiled walnut, or black lacquer with choice of white polymer, beech wood veneer, ebony wood veneer or white linen shade.

Made in California.

Who: Fuccillo – White Rock, BC

What: Freezer Compost Bin

Where: Generate – $59

Why We Love It: This is pure genius and one of those products where we say, “why didn’t I think of that?” Now there are no more excuses to not compost – odor, mess and fruit fly invasions can be completely avoided with this made-for-the-freezer compost bin. Just chuck all your organic waste into the bin and stash it in the freezer until you are ready to empty it. And you won’t have to worry about the icky mess of emptying your compost bucket, just push the flexible bottom and the ice-cubed scraps pop-out the top. Click to continue »