Who: LBL Lighting

What: Mini-Mason Pendants

Where: Lumens.com – $220-$340

Why We Love ‘Em: For those who appreciate the traditional, and love the modern these seemingly liquid glass pendants are the perfect blend of both. Taking cues from the iconic mason jar, the outer glass shade is rich in color that is only enhanced by the light-diffusing opal glass cylinder that shields the light bulb within. The combination of cool colors, soft light, and organic glass will provide a sense of calm to any room.

Handcrafted in Illinois, these pendants are available in a variety of assembly options–track ligthing, ceiling mount, etc.–to suit your space. Of course, we’d recommend the LED bulb option to maximize energy savings!

Who: Meriweather Field Gear

What: Frost River Lunch Bag

Where: Meriweather Field Gear – $25

Why We Love ‘Em: Guys take their lunches to work too, yet there aren’t many “manly” options out there. As much as we might love a Rebel Green tote, a Tiffin set, or a Planetbox, they might not exactly inspire the boys to pack a lunch for the road. So, we can see how a guy might go the take-out route in lieu of toting pink polka dots to the office, or say, his wife’s Lululemon bag which we literally just witnessed on our way into the office…

But he may think twice with Meriweather’s Frost River Lunch Bag. Handmade in Duluth, Minnesota from an all-weather, waxed canvas, these bags are built to handle the roughest of jobs sites be that a construction site, a classroom, or the boardroom. Add a no-nonsense leather closure and you’ve got a bag that puts the ‘man’ in lunch tote and might make a trip to the office feel a little more adventuresome.

Who: Knife & Saw – San Francisco, CA

What: The Bike Shelf

Where: Knife & Saw – $249-$299

Why We Love ‘Em: If you–like us–park your bike in your house and not in this magical cavernous place know as a garage, then you best do it in style and mix in a little ‘multi-functionality’ for good measure.

Recognizing a void in the cool bike storage department, graphic designer Chris Brigham resolved this gap with a beautifully streamlined and clever design. A slide-in slot holds bikes flush against the wall while doubling as a handy shelf for gear, books, plants, or whatever else needs storing/displaying.

The Bike Shelf is available in ash, walnut, and hickory all with an–ahh–breath-easy zero-VOC Rubio monocoat finish.

Who: CHART Metalworks – Portland, ME

What: Wear Your World Pendants

Where: CHART Metalworks – $75-$100

Why We Love It: Such a sweet way to commemorate those special places in our lives with a custom pendant with the coordinates, image, or chart of that location at its center.

Designer and sailor Charlotte Leavitt collects nautical charts and maps as the launching point for her handcrafted pendants, belts, and cufflinks. Simply send her the address or the coordinates of a place near and dear to your heart and she’ll search her collection for a suitable match and will send along options for you to select from with that location which are then embedded in resin to create a one-of-a-kind piece specifically for you. The original map is not used, but rather a printed copy.

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.