My parents had a cute Swiss cuckoo clock. I was fascinated by the magic of the striking. I still find it charming but I prefer the style of a modern clock. Designed by Riccardo Paolino and Matteo Fusi for Progetti, Cucuruku is an Italian design with a German mechanism. You can choice between a wenge colored wood and white tree design or a black colored wood with an orange tree.

The cuckoo clocks are more intelligent. A sensor light keeps it quiet at night. Waterfalls play in the background while striking. Naturally, the striking can be turned off, if you get tired of it.

+ Albero – Cucuruku Cuckoo Clock $350 USD
+ photo: the new Twitter’s new headquarters via TechCrunch and Design Milk

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If you are handy working with wood, here is something that you may consider doing for your kids. I feel it would be a wonderful Christmas gift. If you do, make sure to adapt the project to your child favorite games and activities. You could cut a window to suit the needs of a puppet theater.

I suggest to you a DIY project because Tschutschu by Dominik Lutz seems to be only available in Germany for the moment. This is kind of the ultimate multipurpose kid furniture as it integrated a bench, a train table, and a chalkboard. By standing on a different side, it serves a different purpose. You could fix a wooden train track on the train table. This way, there will be less mess across the home and no arguments with your kid to store the train set.

+ Tschutschu at Magazin 179 €
+ via ohdeedoh

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The wildness of the oak wood kitchen on the cover page of Elle Decoration UK edition caught my eye. I envy anyone who has a kitchen with floor to ceiling cupboards. It looks neat but more importantly for me, it reduces the amount of spring cleaning. Plus, using more vertical space for storage keeps the floor plan airy.

This new kitchen opposes organic and urban through the materials and its design. The metal stools and white tableware help in making the room feels more modern. It fits the beach mood sought by the owner, the interior designer Boyd Ferguson. One superb detail to steal is how Boyd varied the board widths. I like the simplicity and warmth of his kitchen. The wood wall effect shares design elements often seen in the modern Scandinavian cottages. Therefore, the overall effect feels comfortable and natural.

If you are interested to know more about the design philosophy of Boyd Ferguson, read his profile interview on Cape etc.

Elle Decoration UK

I typically prefer the houses presented in the UK edition than the US edition. You know by now that I am partial to European design. Sadly for you, Elle Decoration UK does not have a Web site. Check out for the October 2009 edition at your nearest news stand. I bought my copy yesterday in Montreal. Depending on where you live, you may still be able to grab a copy.

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I think this new toy could be a hit this Christmas. Every parent wants to invite again the aunt who arrives with a playful educational toy. Plus, kids need toys that they can easily carry around inside and outside the house.

The 74 rubber wood blocks are cut in smooth, subtly painted shapes. Kids and adults will be able to draw fun faces, fashion animals or illustrate moving objects. You will find a set of illustrations and the unbleached cotton drawstring bag inside the packaged box. Miller Goodman maintains a Flickr group to bring you more inspirations about what you can do with PlayShapes. The carrying bag is cute and simple.

If you wish to order a set of PlayShapes, you need to wait until mid-November. It will be available on Miller Goodman’s online store (called Shhhop) and from select retailers. You will be pleased to know that Shhhop ships worldwide.

SOURCING:
+ PlayShapes £69.95
+ via Inhabitots

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I love this picture. The superb crafted table, the breakfast scene, and the angle of the shot. I dream of having enough room in my house for an extra-long dining table. You save space by putting benches and stools instead of chairs.

+ Via July 2007 edition of Living etc

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Fall officially arrived. In a few weeks, the cottage on the lake season will close for many of us that live North. Wood slice trays are nothing new but I still like them. Plus, using handcrafted organic elements to contrast modern pieces is one of the 4 trends for Christmas 2009 (more on that later).

Wood slices are beloved because they are versatile. Tree slices fit in from a shack style to the modern rustic. You can use them to serve savory pies, or as a natural cheese board.  They can also support your floral centerpieces as you can see on this charming table by the crafty Anna of Rifle Design. Anna took that picture as part of her DIY menu wheel craft project.

Rustic Tree Cake Stands

What I like the most is how you can transform a tree slice and a short thick branch into your own cake stands. Make a least three stands. Ideally, you wish to vary their heights and surface size. They are not complicated to make. See the instructions of Laurie Cinotto. Remember to put a paper between the food and the tree slice, unless you applied a food-safe wood sealer.

If crafting is not your thing, go to Hens in Daisies’ Etsy shop to find large and extra large cake stands. They are ready to use. Simply wipe clean with damp cloth these food-safe sealed cake plates.

MORE:
+ DIY Tree Pedestal Cake Stand by Laurie Cinotto on Once Wed
+ DIY Wedding Menu Wheel on Design*Sponge
+ Large Rustic Cake Stand by Hens in Daisies $45 USD on Etsy
+ Extra Large Rustic Cake Stand by Hens in Daisies $75 USD on Etsy

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I wish to talk about this restaurant not for his cooking, since I have never ate there but for its decor. Les Enfants Terribles is a pub located in Outremont, Quebec. What strikes me is how the architect Louis-Joseph Papineau play with depths on the reclaimed walls to create storage and decorating shelving. Naturally, he used the same technique to keep the bar bottles.

The food is a mix between typical French bistro and pub food. I am curious to try their fish and chips. If you want to get an idea of the food, watch this 30-second video. I would skip the calamari dish.

PHOTO CREDITS:
+ wall: photographed by Dominic Gauthier for Voir
+ bar: 30 seconds review
+ small : sweetmama.ca

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Whenever you do a picnic or an other event when you wish to add a vintage vibe, you are that wooden utensils will set the right tone. The beautifully crafted wooden utensils of Paper+Cup are available at Anthropologie. Think of reusing the red and white strings on your party accessories.

If you wish a custom message for your event, order directly from Paper+Cup. You need to order a minimum of 50 pieces. It starts at $87.50 USD.

If you are aware of this fact, Anthropologie opened two weeks ago their first Canadian store in Toronto. Lucky Torontorians! For the rest of us in Canada, we can still rely on Anthropologie’s online shopping.

SOURCING:
+ Wooden Ice Cream Scoops $14.95 USD for 24
+ Wooden Utensils for 8 $22.09 USD for 8 knife, fork and spoon settings
+ Canadian store is located at Shops at Don Mills 1090 Don Mills Rd. (at Lawrence Blvd)
+ Find directions to an Anthropologie store near you

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Thanks to my resourceful mother, I will get my own DIY sandwich boards; I opted for an 8 x 12-inch board since I want enough space to put a small bowl of soup and a sandwich. A wooden board absorbs the condensation out of toasted bread, which is part of the appeal.

As I put my eyes on the 9 inches by 7 inches Sandwich boards by master woodworker and designer Edward Wohl, I have my doubts over my extra-long board. Mine are already done so we will see if I was right or not. The bird eye’s maple cutting boards produced by Edward Wohl are truly elegant; that is why you pay more. I bought 2 of his wooden spreaders/butter knives when I visited Heath.

It also works the other way around: you could give them to our mother for Mother’s Day. I will probably get my hands on my set on Mother’s Day since I do not think we will meet before that – we live 100 kms apart. I also asked if she finds someone to make me beech wood slice tray; I like the silver bark that is more stylish than the rustic maple bark. You will get a chance to admire them on my table this summer.

SOURCING:
+ Sandwich boards by Edward Wohl $29 USD at Linda Ferrol Studio – also available at Heath Ceramics
+ Wooden Knife by Edward Wohl $12.50 USD at Linda Ferrol Studio

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Jme proposes a range of kitchenware that looks modernly rustic. I fantasize about the Antipasti Platter designed by Phil Longstaff (£40 or £45). How can resist the vegetables on the Oak serving tray (£65)? I hope the line will come to North America soon.

A collection of grinders, ceramic mixing bowls in cool pastel hues plus a series of wood chopping boards, a meat serving board and pinch pots caught my eyes. After all maybe it is best that Jme products are not available; I would spend too much.

One way to visit the Jme shop is through lifestyle (they called it themes). Visit Gather & Share to quickly find all you need for happy gatherings, including a few simple recipes.

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I would have been excited to get any of the food market items. Land of Nod has a huge collection of fabulous toys. You can start small and build the collection with time. To help you out assemble the entire market, put these toys on the wish list for friends and family.

Toys for 3 years old and up

+ Build the motor skills of your kids with the Cutting Food. Velcro keeps the pieces together. $24.95 with free shipping

+ Playing the Market Grocery Collection contains 12 play grocery items come neatly packaged in a wooden crate, thus helping you avoid the difficult question of paper or plastic. $24.95 with free shipping

+ Pizza! Pizza! can teach your kids how to count with its 54 mix and match toppings, 6 pizza slices, platter, serving spatula and pizza wheel. $24.95 with free shipping.

+ Boys and girls use their imagination to create a vast range of sandwiches and burgers. The two-sided fastener produces a realistic slicing sound when kids slice through the sandwich with the wooden knife. At $24.95, the Kids Cannot Live On Bread Alone Sandwich Kit is a toy that should amuse your kids a lot.

When you are ready to grow your food market, check out what I have to say about the Shop ‘Til You Drop market, shopping cart, cash register and well-balanced scale.

Shipping Information

For delivery by Wednesday, December 24th, order by:

• Friday, Dec. 19th, 11am CST for Standard Delivery
• Monday, Dec. 22nd, 11am CST for 2-Day Delivery
• Tuesday, Dec. 23rd, 11am CST for Overnight Delivery

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I spot these amazing wood vases at T.J. Maxx. The lighter wood vases in the middle are my favorite pieces. Unfortunately, you will need to go to a store near you to know about these vases Then, I head to Viva Terra to check what rustic pieces I can find.

Wood Serving Ware

Viva Terra carries the beautiful food-safe smoky brown bowls. Also from the Root of the Earth collection, a 4-section Server bowl complete the chip and dip server. Both servers are different enough to not look like a kit.

Although I like the convenience of porcelain serving ware; these one of a kind wood servers are hard to beat. They are make by transforming reclaimed wood from discarded Chinese fir burls into one-of-a-kind tableware pieces.

Bread and Cutting Boards

Every buffet table needs a couple bread and antipasto cutting boards. Viva Terra got a practical mango wood set. Boards in three lengths and widths are a must to fit different types of breads. The rounded edges and the thickness of these make a statement.

SOURCING:
1. Find a T.J. Maxx store near you
2. Root of the Earth Chip & Dip Server – $49 USD
3. Slab Wood Cutting Boards – $119 USD for 3
4. Smoky Brown Root of the Earth Bowls – $49 medium, $95 large
5. Root of the Earth Quatro Server – $49

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