Unique Sustainable Gifts

We are sick of getting mounds of catalogs - with the same stuff each week. How many times can one look at Restoration Hardware lamps, Pottery Barn sheets , and J. Crew khakis?  Are people suddenly running low?  Boring! But we recently got a catalog that stood out and it wasn't just the smaller, ecologically sensitive size.  Uncommon Goods offers handmade items by talented artists using recycled and organic products.  If it ended there, we'd toss the catalog in the recycle bin - how's that for sustainable!  But the catalog offers some really cool, unique items like mittens (20$) & a scarf (25$) featuring a  peace symbol (above) and these

way cute monkey slippers that come in all sizes from infants to adults.  We also loved the reclaimed wine barrel Lazy Susan (100$). The company has a clever approach - combining utility with a sense of humor.  

God only knows I would have loved to have had the steel tampon cases with the cowgirls on them (32$ - see below ) the last time I dropped my purse and everything spilled out in the hot dog line at the Dodgers game. I could have told the excessively nice gentleman who picked up a half dozen tampons for me that I'd simply dropped a cigar case. Damn.

Comments

[Katherine McPhee]

I just looked at that catalog. I agree - really unique, cute things and really reasonably priced. I also read that they'd been around for nine years - wow - where have them been?

[Valerie]

The cutest stuff is really the kiddie items. I just ordered the little money set ("three little monkeys jumpin on the bed") for my two toddlers. Also got the tea towels with the cowgirls on them. The funniest one says "Does this saddle make me look fat?" What a hoot!

[landscape designers phoenix]

Its insane how many cute, cheesy little gifts are out there, lol. I barely ever notice them these days, but they're definitely cute (I may be partial to monkey slippers, though)!