We have to admit that gift wrapping during the Holiday quickly filled the trash can. It makes sense to explore ways to be more ecologically conscious. And when the packages are as great as these, being eco-friendly feels like an indulgence.

The founder of Pi’lo is Heather Shaw, a Torontonian mother of 2 young boys. She hand makes functional items for the home. I like her minimalist, comfy style. Like Heather said on her site, her creations can be passed around like a family heirloom.

My Favorite Items from Pi’lo

Her reusable crackers are made with recycled pop bottles that are transformed to look and fill like felt. I interested by her concept since I decide to make my own crackers this year. Her eco felt cracker comes with a lining, ribbon closure and a tag that can be used as a place card or a gift tag. I would personalize the crackers by putting more festive ribbons and maybe adding a tiny gift ornament on one end.

Another good idea is to replace the standard paper gift bag with one of her felt bags. Intended for loots at at kids parties or baking bags, small gifts would fit nicely inside her felt bags. Add a few holiday decorative touches and voilà!

Some people exchange tree ornaments during the holiday. Her lovely photo pocket ornament would be appreciated. Insert a family photo and give then to grandparents, your best friends and close family members.

SOURCING:
+ Reusable Crackers $10 USD
+ Felt Bag $12 USD
+ Photo Pocket Ornament $18 USD

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More bag options for the fashionable city girl. The laptop bag is available for a 15-inch and a 17-inch laptop version. If you have a 13-inch laptop, I find that a 15-inch flat carrier is often not too big. Plus, it comes handy to bring a magazine with me. Ask then first for exact dimensions, if this is the case.

The silk-screened Canvas shopping bag is big enough to fit a picnic for 2. It is ideal for a stop at Central Park. These bags are made in Brooklyn. You can shop online at nyDesignroom or visit their showroom Thursday to Sunday from 12 to 7 PM.

+ Laptop Carrier $110 USD
+ Shopping Baaag $55 USD
+ via Design Milk

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Fans of Amy Butler who are week-end travelers or who often take a-week vacation under the sun would be thrilled by this news. You can get a fabulous carry-ons designed by Amy Butler. As usual, the patterns are divine.

I would love to get a navy Dream Traveler-Sari Flowers for Christmas. Sadly, the Graceful Traveler-Fuschia Tree that is on wheels is too big to bring to the cabin of an airplane. Other travel essentials are the carried-away everything bags that come handy to bring your beauty products and makeup.

The fashion bags are big enough to carry all your stuff across the city. The Josephine bag or the Abina tote would suit the needs of a creative business woman, a mother or a fashionable university student.

See the entire Amy Butler for Kalencom collection here.

SOURCING:
+ Dream Traveler – Sari Flowers $260 USD
+ Abina tote $180 USD
+ Josephine Bag $160 USD
+ Carried-away bags $22-$42 USD

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As a cook, it is important to have my reserve of fresh herbs. Nothing beats the taste of freshly cut herbs. I am currently looking at a simple way to keep fresh herbs indoors without using space on my floor or the counter. An extra small Sky Planter could be it.

The Sky Planters remind me of hanging fixtures. Patrick Morris came up with this design. You hang the plants upside down. Upside-down gardening is not a new concept. It is often used for tomatoes and cucumbers to save space. Some people are successful with that technique while many seem to fail to produce good vegetables.

Going back to the design, a locking disk holds the plant and soil in place. A reservoir gradually feeds water to the roots. You normally need to fill the reservoir once or twice a month. In theory, it seems quite simple to use. Since I am not tall and that I need to hang the pots high (due to the space planning of the room), I feel that the herbs would be easier to reach for cutting if I plant them upside down.

How it Works?

The pictures show the plants as they were freshly put in the planters. Since I care about the taste and not what the herbs will look like in the long run, I would like to try with my cooking herbs. Plus, we cut the herbs at a regular basis. Keep in mind that cooking herbs need lot of sunshine to flourish before selecting where to put them.

The Sky Planter comes in three formats. Like I said, the extra small is ideal for fresh herbs. Getting 2 or 3 extra small planters would make a wonderful gift for someone who loves to cook. When you buy a Sky Planter, you receive a stoneware ceramic, a stainless steel wire, a ceiling hook and a plastic plug. They are available in black or white.

SOURCING:
+ Sky Planter by Patrick Morris for Boskke extra-small $25 USD, small $35, classic $75

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Bodum products are typically built to last, perform well and look good. Three good reasons to like them and to not be afraid to add them on your holiday shopping list. If you are looking for gift ideas for cooks or the hostess, you may consider:

+ BODUM Round Automatic Gravity Operated Salt and Pepper Grinder $29.95 USD
+ The TWIN salt and pepper grinder with a ceramic grinder $29.95 USD
+ The NERO Coffee coat really works. I bought one last week. I wish that I got my thermal neoprene french press coffee coat sooner. 8-cup $14.95 USD 12-cup $19.95 USD
+ The double wall tea press COLUMBIA in shiny stainless steel $69.95

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A simple way to enhance mailing boxes or solid color bags during the Holiday is by adding a decorative tape. Envelop wrap around labels could be used as gift tags or to send your Holiday cards.

TapeSwell proposes 27 decorative packing tapes, including 7 Holiday patterns. The red and blue Pod Envelop Wrap Around tape harmoniously fit with the Bird of Peace packing tape. Also look at the Partridge of Joy Decorative Packing Tape.

With a few tape patterns and a nice selection of ribbons, you will be able to transform kraft paper or solid gift wrapping paper you already have into fabulously wrapped Christmas gifts.

SOURCING:
+ Holiday tapes $7 USD at TapeSwell
+ Pod Envelop Wrap Around Tape $13 USD, add $3 if you want it in a reusable canister

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Available in silver or in smoke, the Victorian style handblown tree ornaments fit well into the glamorous feel of the 2009 Christmas. Crackling or diamond faceting on every ornament produces light-catching sparkle. Plus, an antiqued-brass cap adds an authentic finishing touch. Their price is already slightly reduced.

Gift Ideas for Him

Home decor is often tailored about her. But I see a trend towards the traditional gentleman club style. If  you look for gifts that would fit into a traditional library or his office, start with those:

+ You can turn the steel screws with the wooden handles to adjust the width of the Vise Bookends $69 USD for the pair
+ For the proud grandparents, add a framed picture of your family with the Metal Easels. Small $69 large $89
+  Fans of the popular word games will appreciate the Scrabble Premier Collector Edition. A raised grid holds tiles in place. The built-in drawer stores the tiles and tile racks, a timer, the rule book, a score pad and a pencil. $159 USD.

20% off on everything from Nov. 12-16, 2009

Wait a couple of days since from Thursday, November 12 through Monday, November 16, shoppers can receive a 20% off discount for Restoration Hardware and Restoration Hardware Baby & Child merchandise.  Discount code for catalog and web orders: FFS2009.

SOURCING:
+ Silver or Smoke Vintage Handblown Ornaments $19 USD for 4 large  or $25 for 8 small ornaments
+ Red or Gold Vintage Handblown Ornaments $19-$25

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Every Holiday season, one cooking tool is under everyone’s Christmas tree. This year, the brie baker seems to be what retailers have bet on. I saw the brie baker being well in display, next to the Goat Cheese Baker, in almost every gift ships I visited last week.

If you ever served a baked brie, you know how messy it can become once people start eating it. This is why many people wrap their bake brie in puff pastry. Since it is so good, you do not wish to lose any bites. The advantage of the brie baker is that you can use it as the serving dish. The maker provides a spreader to avoid burns. Plus the brie stays warmer longer.

The goat cheese baker leaves you more roam to remove the warm cheese, if you need to.

I saw these cheese bakers at Indigo, Arthur Quentin, Linen Chest and Zone. The brie baker is available in cream and in red. The goat cheese baker also comes in blue. They made wonderful gift ideas under $25. I bought the cream brie baker and the goat cheese baker. I cannot wait to try them out.

+ Photos: Petite Maison by Wildly Delicious

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These personalized gift tags would be perfect for your holiday baked goodies. I particularly like the snowflake. Pretty Smitten sells them on etsy. You choose the icon, the color and the font.

+ Pretty Smitten Holiday – Rectangular Gift/Favor Tags with Personalized Winter Motifs $9 for 12 tags

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Every year, my husband and I baked our batches of holiday cookies. They become our signature hostess gifts during the Holidays. I make sure to select a beautiful reusable container. It is part of the gift. Naturally, I am always on the lookout for new ways to wrap my baked goods.

It became a tradition. I look forward for the inspiring cookies recipes presented in cute containers every November on Canadian House and Home. This year, three ideas stand above the rest. First, the white and blue Asian bowls. Similar bowls are easy to find at your local Chinatown.

Another practical idea is the wooden wine bottle box. I have a head start since I collected these boxes. You simply flip the lid over to hide the wine label.

What is noteworthy about the third idea is the recipe. Earl Grey marshmallows sound divine. I never make marshmallows but this recipe is a good reason to start. Apparently, the gentle Earl Grey tea pairs well with hot chocolate. I know that I want to try those.

If you are looking for cookie recipes, they are plenty of choices in their best cookies recipes. If you are looking for more ideas, check out what were the best cookie wrapping ideas in 2007.

MORE:
+ Canadian House and Home, November 2009: photography by Angus Fergusson, food stylish by Eshun Mott

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Fruits and Passion is having a sale in Canada and the United States. A range of customer’s favorite products is reduced to $15, until quantities last. Plus, you will receive Cucina Fragrant Kitchen Spray 100 ml Sanguinelli Orange and Fennel free with purchase of $45 ($60 if shopping in USA) or more before taxes. About the free Cucina Fragrant Spray, their sale alert email mentioned two more scents. Inquiry since I do not know which offer is valid.

+ Images from Fruits and Passion

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Whenever a colleague or a acquaintance gets a new home, we may be tempted to give  a small housewarming gift. If you know where to look, it is possible to give something that look great on a tight budget.

One brand that delivers years after years fun, modern and well-designed products is Umbra. I selected things for the kitchen or for entertaining that would make simple housewarming gifts.

1. Splat trivet $10.50 CAD
2. Perf trivet $10.50 CAD
3. Splat spoon rest $6.50 CAD
4. Paddle spoon rest $7.50 CAD
5. Grapevine wine rack $23.50 CAD

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