The Order of Things

Product Appreciation: Folle 26 Stapler

2011-03-31T13:09:00.006-04:00

I recently had the pleasure of using the Folle 26 stapler and I can't say enough good things about it! It's a nice weight, the brushed metal feels nice, and it's the most reliable stapler I've ever met. One day I'd like to have one on my desk but the $74 price tag makes it an aspirational stapler...sigh... maybe one day.

It's also part of the MoMA's collection.

Artists as Scientists

2011-01-26T14:13:00.005-05:00

While reading Rachel Cohen's book, A Chance Meeting, I learned that the composer, John Cage, was also an expert on mushrooms. In the late 1950s, he won an Italian game show with his knowledge of mushrooms and people would recognize him on the street as "The Mushroom Man."

Speaking of famous artists with scientific passions, a theory Nabokov had on butterflies has been proven! This article is quite heartfelt.

Product Appreciation: Plant Mister

2011-01-08T13:26:00.003-05:00

I don't love the idea of houseplants but I do love the idea of using a plant mister. I'm not sure that I've ever seen one being used in real life but I know I've most certainly seen them in movies. The scenes are usually in lavish homes with greenhouses full of rare plants and a white-gloved butler is misting away. Get one here.

Controlling Christmas

2010-12-23T15:38:00.004-05:00

As someone who recently said; "I think everyone will have more fun if we each make our own gingerbread houses instead of making one giant gingerbread condo because I can get pretty control freaky in group craft situations," I found this article to be helpful.

Resource: "Mapping America Census Bureau 2005-9"

2010-12-15T11:02:00.002-05:00

I love maps. I love maps even more when they illustrate other stuff like weather patterns and flight routes (Southwest Airlines cocktail napkins!). But here's what I really want to see: an interactive and wildly comprehensive geographic survey of American communities made using samples gathered between 2005 and 2009 by the Census Bureau that captures race and ethnicity, income, housing and education! What's that? There is one? Remarkable!

Vermont Country Store Pick #5: Lefty Scissors

2010-12-10T19:00:00.000-05:00

I'm not a lefty and so I don't think I can accurately imagine the daily annoyances lefties must face in a world designed for righties. Let's show the lefties in our lives that we care and get a pair of scissors just for them.

Vermont Country Store Pick #4:Lanvin Arpege

2010-12-09T19:19:00.001-05:00

""Promise her anything, but give her Arpege" was the slogan for this soft, sultry scent that makes women feel and smell beautiful. When Arpege, a powdery floral scent debuted In 1927, it found favor with Hollywood's glamorous femme fatales. One whiff of this eau de parfum will conjure memories of dancing the night away with your first love and inspire you to stroll hand in hand with someone you love today."-VCS
Get it here

Vermont Country Store Pick #3:Traditional Potholder Kit

2010-12-08T19:16:00.000-05:00

Get it here

Vermont Country Store Pick #2: Boston's Mint-in-Tea, "a Favorite of the Kennedy White House"

2010-12-07T19:12:00.000-05:00

Get it here.

Vermont Country Store Pick #1: Snowball Victim (Set of 2)

2010-12-06T18:10:00.002-05:00

Get on here

Resource: Vermont Country Store

2010-12-06T18:03:00.006-05:00

On a recent trip to my cousins' house, I spent a good deal of time with the Vermont Country Store catalog and I was reminded of how much I love it (I like to think of it as SkyMall's slightly more directed and utilitarian grandfather). So, for the next week I will be drawing your attention to my favorite products from the VCS.

"When a Trusted Brand Disappears" by Ricki Morell

2010-12-03T10:04:00.000-05:00

As someone who doesn't even like when products change their packaging (Pictionary, you were once so lovely!), I was quite pleased with this article in yesterday's New York Times.

Product Appreciation: Sharpie Extra Fine Marker

2010-12-02T14:12:00.009-05:00

Sharpie Fine Point Permanent Markers are too big. (These are the standard Sharpie size, don't be fooled by the name they're actually quite large)

Sharpie Ultra Fine Point Permanent Markers are too small.

Sharpie's Extra Fine Permanent Markers are juuuuuuuust right.

...however, they are the hardest ones to find (and they only come in 4 colors but you probably don't need a Valley Girl Violet or Banana Clip Yellow Sharpie anyway). So, should you come across a fleet of Extra Fines I would like to encourage you to give one a test drive. I think you'll find they handle with greater maneuverability than the Fine Point and offer a smoother ride than the flimsy Ultra Fine.

Product Appreciation: Smart Wool Socks

2010-11-04T12:40:00.002-04:00

My love affair with Smart Wool socks began when I was living in cold country. However, now that I'm back in the tropics they're still in heavy rotation. They're just so comfortable. Seriously, if you've never tried these socks you'll be shocked that you've been living your entire life wearing socks that come in a plastic bag with a litter of their siblings. Yes, they're about $20 a pair but they also last longer than any pair of socks I've ever owned.

Product Appreciation: Ab Ex Stamps

2010-10-14T11:46:00.003-04:00

These stamps are my favorite stamps to be released in quite a while. The images are great, of course, but I love how enormous they are! The really help to make letters look livelier.

Thing Celebration: Annecy's copy of "White Noise"

2010-09-27T14:50:00.007-04:00

As I've discussed before, I'm a big fan of books with reader annotations. This recent NPR piece tells the story of a young lady purchasing a copy of White Noise that happened to be annotated by the writer David Markson.

I love this story for two reasons; it tells the history of an object and I'm lucky enough to be friends with the young lady, Annecy Liddell. Listen to it, it's only 5 mins.

Lonny Blog

2010-09-20T12:03:00.004-04:00

I'm now writing for the Lonny Magazine blog. Here's my first post.

Product Appreciation: Rose Water

2010-09-13T11:07:00.003-04:00

Ever since I read this article I've been putting rose water on everything. It's especially good with strawberries.

Happy 1st Birthday Order of Things!

Product Appreciation: String Dispensers

2010-09-07T14:53:00.004-04:00

I'm rather fond of the idea of having a string dispenser but I'm afraid I don't use string enough to justify getting one. However, if I were to get one I'd want this cast iron one from Cast in Style. While researching these dispensers online, I also came across someone using a diner-style sugar dispenser for string, quite clever.

Product Appreciation: Sanford Giant Pencil Mountable Sharpener

2010-08-18T16:28:00.003-04:00

My heart really goes out to the Sanford Giant Manual Pencil Sharpener. It may not be the flashiest or prettiest sharpener out there but its simple and sturdy design makes the electrical sharpeners that light up when the pencil is sharpened look like some real brown-nosers. The Sanford Giant is ready to work with you, not for you even in the worst power outages.

Product Appreciation: Kork-Ease Sandals

2010-08-05T17:26:00.003-04:00

I recently watched The Runaways...and then I watched it four more times. It's a pretty silly movie and I'm still unsure why I enjoyed it so much but I think it has something to do with the film's mid-to-late 1970s So-Cal aesthetic. In fact, I was so taken with the cars, interiors and clothes that I purchased a pair of Kork-Ease wedges. They're surprisingly comfortable and make me feel like Cherie Currie.

Product Appreciation: Cotton Clouds

2010-07-21T16:20:00.007-04:00

I never gave much thought to cotton balls until I tried Cotton Clouds, now I wouldn't dream of using anything else. Sure, I was pretty certain I would like them before I even used them because 1. their graphics remind me of Peanuts cartoons and 2. they come in a "rainbow pack" with a variety of pastel colors (the colors of the Clouds in the picture don't quite do them justice), which feels very fancy, even better, they get their color from natural vegetable dyes (white is also available for more serious individuals). Once I actually tried them I was pleasantly surprised by how much I actually liked the product. They're absorbent, soft and don't leave little cotton whisps all over the place when they're damp. An added bonus is that because of the weave of the cotton, it is possible to separate them in half lengthwise for thinner Clouds.

Things that look like other things: Kate Spade Book of the Month Cluth

2010-07-16T17:59:00.003-04:00

I want this bag! The End.

Resource: Ask Andy About Clothes

2010-07-15T23:28:00.005-04:00

I'm fearful that this resource may be something my male readers have been reading for years however, while researching an upcoming post I came across Andy Gilchrist's Ask Andy About Clothes (AAAC). Have you see this website? It's really quite amazing and so comprehensive!

The content on AAAC has not been updated since 1997 and it is rather difficult to navigate but this only adds to the charm. The forums are still very active and include conversations which examine both men's and women's clothing and discuss hard-hitting matters such as "shoe trees vs. travel shoe trees" or "do jackets always have to be blue to be called a blazer?" Also, don't forget to look at Andy's FAQs where you will learn about the difference between a lamb's wool and a virgin wool sweater.

So, here's why Andy Gilchrist is my new favorite human:

1. He wrote his own Encyclopedia of Men's Clothes which is available for download or CD-rom, how quaint!

2. He has a color wheel for sale which he uses to explain matching and color pairings but he also has a page on AAAC called "The Simple Version of Color Theory & Matching" which is quite involved but very informative.

3. He attends something called the "Sartorial Excellence Show" which is a 2 day conference with discussions entitled "More than you ever wanted to know about: Socks" and "Correctly Sewing a Button." (I'm concerned that this event might actually be a thinly-veiled marketing camping but I'd rather live my life thinking that such a conference would exist with the strict goal getting the word out about socks).

Thing Celebration: "Sweet Bird of Youth"

2010-06-18T09:00:00.002-04:00

Oooooo, I absolutely love this tableau from the film "Sweet Bird of Youth." The fuzzy figure on the left is Paul Newman running to pick up the phone. I just don't know what the brown thing to the left of the U.S. map tray is. I think it's a pack of handkerchiefs, any ideas?

Product Appreciation: Sonicare Toothbrush

2010-06-17T14:03:00.006-04:00

I was once told this story of someone going to the dentist: the dentist looked briefly at her teeth and said to her "Your teeth are pristine, I don't have to do anything, you must have a Sonicare." And she did.

After hearing that story a few years ago I was sold on getting a super-duper Sonicare electric toothbrushe in theory but never got one because I thought they were far too expensive. After some uncomfortable gum recession from brushing too hard (yes, I'm the kind of person that brushes their teeth too hard) I decided it was time and opted for the HX6710 model. It's wonderful! My teeth have never been so clean.

Part of me thinks this feeling of cleanliness could be because the timer on the toothbrush encourages you to brush for a full 2 minutes, something I wasn't doing before, and not because the bristles of the brush are really that advanced. Then the another part of me thinks it's best not to think to much about it because at least I'm brushing for 2 minutes

Product Appreciation: Chemex Coffee Maker

2010-05-18T08:11:00.000-04:00

When I first started The Order of Things, I made a list (big surprise, huh?) of classic products I think are beautifully and thoughtfully designed that wanted to write about. The Chemex coffee maker was the first product that came to my mind. I love that the design is so simple and yet so effective.

Here's what my beloved New York Times T Blog recently said about it.

Giuliana Camerino dies at 89

2010-05-17T05:46:00.003-04:00

I love pretty much any Roberta di Camerino product. My appreciation grew even stronger while reading the obituary of its founder, Giuliana Camerino, and I learned several endearing things about her and the company she founded. For example, she got the name "Roberta" from a film with fred Astaire and Irene Dunne and the brass hardware on her bags was originally made by the same craftsmen that made the metal fittings on the gondolas of Venice. How romantic!

Resource: Valet.

2010-05-15T10:14:00.004-04:00

If I had a dollar for every time I wished that magazines for women were more like magazines for men, I'd be rollin' in it. {Please note: I'm making a distinction here between "magazines for men" (Esquire etc...) and "men's magazines" (Hustler etc...).} Of course, I'm not giving up on magazines for women it's just that magazines for men seem to be generally more well-rounded and informative and they take themselves less seriously... yet, I don't buy magazines for men because I'm, well, a lady.

That's why when Lauren over at The Art Object told me about Valet. I was smitten. Although they do have lifestyle/culture stories, I'm most interested in the clothing-related articles (pun) many of which have interesting historical facts. For example, they reveal the history behind that little "v" on the collar of sweatshirts and teach readers about how Paul Sperry's cocker spaniel, Prince, was the inspiration for his classic boat shoes!

Resource: Homemade Book of Useful Information

2010-05-13T14:33:00.005-04:00

I spend a good deal of time asking myself this: "What would I do without the internet and being able to find the answers to my most trivial questions in seconds?" However, once I saw this homemade reference book (on Dull Tool, Dim Bulb) full of facts clipped from the newspaper I decided that this is most likely exactly what I would do.

Celebration of Things: Hilda Grahnat

2010-05-06T12:55:00.005-04:00

I'm wild about the Swedish photographer, Hilda Grahnat's, Vintage Love series of vintage things organized by color. These photos make me want to rearrange everything in my room.

via Oh Joy!

Product Appreciation: Baggu

2010-05-05T17:27:00.003-04:00

I became aware of Baggu bags when a dear friend of mine started working for the company. Since that day, I have seen them all over the place. I like to think they're so popular because they are so incredibly functional as reusable shopping bags. They can hold an incredible number of things and fold into nothing.

The bags pictured above are the classic but they also have a wide variety of other bags and in just as many colors.

Resource: Hollander's

2010-04-27T08:50:00.004-04:00

I would love to visit Hollander's Decorative Paper and Bookbinding Supply store in Ann Arbor . Their selection of 1,500 different kinds of paper is truly exhaustive and their website is equally encyclopedic. One thing I especially like about the website is that you can see both close-ups and full page shots of the paper (I know this is a given for most products sold online however, the online community of paper sellers hasn't really caught on to this feature.... Hollander's has).

Library Week: "Lists: To-dos, Illustrated Inventories, Collected Thoughts, and Other Artists' Enumerations from the Archives of American Art"

2010-04-24T12:41:00.006-04:00

If I had to pick an art exhibit that I most want to see this year, it would have to be "Lists: To-dos, Illustrated Inventories, Collected Thoughts and Other Artists' Enumerations from the Archives of American Art" at the Smithsonian. I think it would probably make me faint.

Check out the catalog here.

Library Week Continues: American Memory

2010-04-22T15:22:00.006-04:00

There are lots of ways to waste time on the internet however, hours spent on the American Memory section of the Library of Congress' website are never wasted. So far, I've only scratched the surface of this resource but my favorite parts include: Walt Whitman's butterfly (above), the American English Dialect Recordings and browsing the Panoramic Photograph section by subject.

Mark Twain's Annotations

2010-04-21T15:51:00.009-04:00

This week is shaping up to be library week here at The Order of Things...

There are two kinds of people in this world; those that annotate their books and those that don't. I like to write all over my books. I'm also wild about reading the the annotations of others and I will even go out of my way to find used books that other people have annotated. Here's an article about the things Mark Twain wrote in his books. Jackpot!

By George: George Washington's $300,000 late fee

2010-04-18T15:44:00.005-04:00

George Washington owes the New York Society Library $300,000 in late fees for two books that are 220 years overdue. Read more about it here.

Product Appreciation: Label the Cable

2010-03-17T09:00:00.002-04:00

"Cord control" products are a dime a dozen these days however, I am confident that the German company Label the Cable has created the most versatile cord labeling/managing system to date. Label the Cable products use a clever combination velcro, elastic and label all of which allows you to not only keep the slack of a cable under control but also strap chargers to their designated devices when they're not in use.

It's the cord control system to end all cord control systems (rolls off the tongue doesn't it?)

Thing Celebration: "30 Dumb Inventions"

2010-03-15T09:00:00.002-04:00

T.V. Glasses! Yodel Meters! Baby Cages! ... and much, much more!

I think you'll find the whiz-bangery of the Life slide show "30 Dumb Inventions" most entertaining.

via Dwell blog

Product Appreciation: L.L. Bean Rubber Moc Bean Boots

2010-03-13T10:35:00.004-05:00

Chances are, if you've seen me since January 1st I've been wearing a pair of Rubber Moc Bean Boots from L.L. Bean. Now, I know that this is not my first post which sings the praises of Mr. Leon Leonwood Bean's products (and I doubt it will be my last) but these shoes have actually made my winter better! I think I resisted buying them for so many long winters because I was concerned that they would be too "ducky," however, I've been pleasantly surprised by how comfortable and downright wearable they are.

Click here to watch a video on how they're made!

Note: the sizing is a bit strange so be sure to read the info on the Bean website.

"Stage Hands" in Inglorious Basterds

2010-03-09T20:26:00.005-05:00

Product Appreciation: Bob's Red Mill Rolled Oats

2010-02-24T14:15:00.005-05:00

Bob's Red Mill rolled oats make Quaker oats seem like little flakes of fish food.

Lonny: Issue 3

2010-02-10T08:38:00.003-05:00

About a month ago, I started helping out part time at Lonny (LONdon + New York), a brand new online interiors magazine. It has been both an honor and incredible learning experience to work with such brilliant, creative and dauntless individuals...

... here is our third issue!

Thing Celebration: Unhappy Hipsters

2010-02-04T17:48:00.002-05:00

So, this has been on lots of blogs but I think it's hilarious...

(...and I think it add some levity to Devo Loweth's fourth semester of architecture school)

Thing Celebration: Catcher in the Rye Covers

2010-01-28T22:24:00.001-05:00

See more here.

Thing Celebration: The Work of Michael Johansson

2010-01-27T14:11:00.006-05:00

Michael Johansson is my favorite artist of the month. I think his work is great but the thing that really sold me on him was reading this:

"I am intrigued by irregularities in daily life. Not those that appear when something extraordinary occurs, but those that are created by an exaggerated form of regularity. Colours or patterns from two separate objects or environments concur, like when two people pass each other dressed in the exact same outfit. Or when you are switching channels on your TV and realize that the same actor is playing two different roles on two different channels at the same time. Or that one day the parking lot contained only red cars."

via but does it float

Resource: Brook Farm General Store

2010-01-26T12:50:00.000-05:00

I would like to own every single item sold at Brook Farm General Store (75 South 6th b/n Berry & Wythe Brooklyn, NY). However, the item I want most of all, a necklace made from a real vintage tiger claw, is not available online!

The Presentation of Things: Charting the Beatles

2010-01-25T21:21:00.003-05:00

Michael Deal's graceful Charting the Beatles project presents the viewer with a captivating set of charts (and further proves that Ringo Starr is in fact the luckiest man in the history of music).

Industry Standard: The Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond

2010-01-14T07:16:00.002-05:00

Any slide show that contains the phrases: "Order of the Golden Fleece," "Bavarian crown jewels," and "billionaire diamond dealer" is worth reading/watching.

100th post!

Product Appreciation: Folding Stool

2010-01-13T23:33:00.003-05:00

I love this folding stool from ThreePotatoFour because it looks like what Katherine Hepburn would sit on to put on her riding boots.

Methods/Systems: Collection A Day

2010-01-11T16:22:00.002-05:00

I'm quite excited about Lisa Congdon's Collection a Day project. Her plan is to take a photo or draw a picture of a one of her collections every day in 2010.

Pez Executive Dies at 87

2010-01-06T23:13:00.004-05:00

Image from the Museum of Pez in Burlingame, CA

Curtis Allina, "who helped bring the world the modern Pez dispenser" died at 87. Read his obituary here.

How To: Make Betty Rolls

2010-01-05T15:33:00.005-05:00

My family has been ordering our Thanksgiving dinner from a restaurant ever since I can remember. However, we do make one thing from scratch; Betty Rolls. The recipe for these yeasty rolls was developed by my grandmother, Betty, and produces rolls that are transcendent and a true tradition in my family. Here's the recipe:

1. Combine the following at a low speed: 2 1/2 cups flour, 1/2 cup sugar, 2 tsp. salt, 2 packages yeast, 1/2 cup softened butter

2. Add: 2 cups hot water (120-130 degrees) and 1 egg, mix at medium speed for 2 minutes

3. Add: 3/4 c. flour until it forms a thick batter

4. Stir in: Flour until it the mixture is a soft dough (approx. 2 1/2 cups)

5. Knead for 10 mins.

6. Let the dough rise for about 90 mins. and punch it down and shape into rolls

7. Let dough rise again for another 90 mins.

8. Bake at 425 for 15-20 mins. (My dad likes the ones that get really brown on the top and develop a crust, my mom and I like when the rolls are really doughy and chewy, almost raw)

9. Brush rolls with melted butter immediately after taking the rolls out of the oven

Watch this video my cousin made of us making Betty Rolls this year.

The Things of "Wild America" by Wells Tower

2010-01-04T23:12:00.008-05:00

Not only is Wells Tower's short story "Wild America" (included in his collection Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned) a great work of fiction, it also mentions lots of things and proper nouns...

Clockwise from top left:

Vantage Cigarettes, Hacky Sack, Wild America, Puch Moped, Cat Collar with bell, "Strawberry Wine" Track 8 from Deana Carter's Did I Shave My Legs for This?, Guatemalan Bag, Stirrup Pants, Cheer Wine, Little Kings Cream Ale, Mitsubishi Lancer, Rudolf Nureyev

How To: Solve a Rubik's Cube

2010-01-02T23:02:00.004-05:00

Find out how to solve a Rubik's cube here, or if you're more math-ey and prefer algorithms try this version.

Methods/Systems: "Blogggingheads: Against Top 10 Lists"

2010-01-02T05:40:00.010-05:00

"One of the pernicious things about the rise of the internet is that everyone gets to publish their own lists." -Matthew Yglesias, "Bloggingheads: Against Top 10 Lists"

To which the internet responded, "My dear sir, how lucky you are to live in a world where you believe that something as harmless as lists are among my most pernicious content."

Watch it here.

The Precious Man in the Air: American Film Institute's Top 10 of 2009

2009-12-28T23:19:00.005-05:00

1. Coraline

2. The Hangover

3. The Hurt Locker

4. The Messenger

5. Precious

6. A Serious Man

7. A Single Man

8. Sugar

9. Up

10. Up in the Air

Read about them here.

All of the titles are so similar. Weird.

(Would have liked to have seen Mr. Fox and Tetro included, pretending they were omitted because they were filmed overseas?)

Methods/Systems: The Nisse

2009-12-21T15:32:00.003-05:00

"In Scandinavia, Pixies or Nisse is a household spirit that is responsible for the care and prosperity of a farm or family. A Nisse is usually described as a short man or woman (under four feet tall) wearing a red cap. While belief in guardian spirits is a very old tradition in Scandinavia, belief in Nisser was prominent in the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries in Denmark, southern Norway and southern Sweden. Many farms claimed to have their own Nisse. The Nisse took an active interest in the farm by performing chores such as grooming horses, carrying bales of hay, and other farm-related tasks. These chores were usually done much more efficiently and effectively than by their human counterparts.However, Nisser could be temperamental, to say the least. If the household was not careful to keep its Nisse satisfied -- usually in the form of a single bowl of porridge with butter in it left out on Christmas Eve -- the spirit could turn against its masters.In the 1840s the farm's Nisse became the bearer of Christmas presents in Scandinavia, and was then called "Julenisse" and has been associated with Christmas ever since.The Swedish "Jultomte", the Norwegian "Julenisse", the Danish "Julemand" and the Finnish "Joulupukki" still has features and traditions that are rooted in the local culture: he doesn't necessarily retreat to the North Pole, but lives in a forest, field or stream nearby, or in Denmark he lives on Greenland, and in Finland he lives in Lapland; he or she does not come down the chimney on Christmas night, but arrives through the front door, delivering the presents directly to his household friends."- fjorn.com

Get one here.

How To: Roll a Coin on Your Knuckles aka a Steeplechase Flourish

2009-12-20T23:02:00.004-05:00

"You may see this trick performed by various 'cool' movie characters (i.e. David Hemmings in Blow Up) on the big screen. It requires more practice than skill, and this article will show you where to start." -wikiHow

Learn how to perform a Steeplechase Flourish here.

How To: Use the internet to create your ideal granola

2009-12-15T08:21:00.003-05:00

Mix My Granola lets your customize various granola bases with your choice of a wide variety of dried fruit, nuts and seeds; you can even design the label for the bag.

Gift Idea: Classic Canvas Pup Tent ($49.46)

2009-12-10T08:20:00.003-05:00

Get one here.

Gift Idea: Stag's Horn Dog Whistle Key Ring

2009-12-09T08:00:00.000-05:00

Dog Whistle Key Ring (£11.75)

Gift Idea: 2010 Calendars

2009-12-08T07:49:00.002-05:00

Clockwise from top left:

1. "CAts LEt Nothing DArken their Roar." Noa Bembire Calendar ($40)

2. Today is ($32.99 or $15.29 for a refill)

3. Stendig Calendar by Massimo Vignelli ($30)

4. Pentagram Calendar ($26)

Resource: Tommy Rowles

2009-12-07T23:21:00.005-05:00

"Tommy Rowles has set 'em up for 51 years at Bemelman's" -New York Times

Resource: History of the Push Pin

2009-12-07T08:40:00.003-05:00

Edwin Moore started the Edwin Moore Push Pin Company in 1900 with $112.60. Read about it here.

Gift Idea: His/Hers Classic Sleepwear ($49.50, $39.50)

2009-12-07T08:25:00.004-05:00

1. Men's Union Suit ($49.50)

2. Women's Tartan Flannel Nightgown ($39.50)

Resource: Martha Stewart Holiday Craft Sale

2009-12-04T09:25:00.000-05:00

So excited! Learn more here.

Gift Idea: Balloon Powered Boat ($4.95)

2009-12-04T07:53:00.001-05:00

Get one here.

Gift Idea: Wicked Good Slippers ($49.99)

2009-12-03T05:10:00.000-05:00

Heaven just announced their official footwear sponsor: L.L. Bean's Wiked Good Slippers.

Gift Idea: Cormac McCarthy's Olivetti Lettera 32(estimate $15,000-$20,000)

2009-12-02T08:06:00.002-05:00

"It has never been serviced or cleaned other than blowing out the dust with a service station airhose..." --Cormac McCarthy

Christie's Lot 84/Sale 2227

Gift Idea: Grandpa Witmer's Old Fashioned Peanut Butter Mixer ($9.95)

2009-12-01T23:16:00.005-05:00

Aside from being an incredibly simple but helpful tool, the thing that really endeared me to the Grandpa Witmer Natural Peanut Butter Hand Mixer was the R.N. Witmer Company website. Their slogan is "Turning Ideas into Products" and they sell four other products; a retractable clothesline, a sand auger for beach umbrellas, a vinyl flap called the "paperguard" for protecting newspapers from the elements and the peanut butter mixer.

Methods/Systems: Christmas Price Index

2009-12-01T08:40:00.002-05:00

Every year PNC Financial Services publishes the Christmas Price Index, a calculation of the total cost of all the items included in "The Twelve Days of Christmas." This year's total is $21,465.56. Here's how they come up with it.

Product Appreciation: Uniball Micro

2009-11-30T08:00:00.001-05:00

After my Pilot P-500 post I have had four separate conversations that have gone a little something like this:

Friend: "I read your blog."

Me: "Thank you!"

Friend: "Yeah, I saw the thing about pens. Have you ever tried the Uniball Micro? It's my favorite."

So, although I find the Micro to be a decent pen that's occassionally too scratchy, I thought it deserved some recognition because it has such a devoted following.

In Celebration of Things: Today's New York Times Book Review Cover

2009-11-29T21:47:00.007-05:00

Speaking of covers...I'm smitten with the tableau Kelly Blair assembled for the cover photo of today's New York Times Book Review.

Methods/Systems: Considering the Cover

2009-11-29T15:46:00.006-05:00

Tom Junod's Esquire article , "What's Wrong with the Cover Song?" describes covers as being "gifts and thefts at the same time, shouts of flattery and whispers of ambition — the court jester's plot against the king. They are evolutionary episodes in song. They are the sound of the world spinning; they tell you what the world is going to sound like when you're not around to hear it. They reveal the strategy by which youth plans to take over."

After reading Junod's article, John James, a former record-store owner submitted his list of 1,892 covers songs to the magazine. Although some might find the title of his article "1,892 Cover Songs Men Could Listen To" a bit alienating and the list to be a bit too Beatles-heavy, his devotion is impossible to ignore.

Resource: Movie Title Stills Collection

2009-11-28T08:26:00.000-05:00

This website has a magnificent collection of movie title stills organized by year and genre.

Product Appreciation: Incase Double Combo Charger

2009-11-27T19:54:00.002-05:00

One day we will live in a world where all electronics use the same charger but until then there's the new Incase Combo Charger for iPods and iPhones. It lets you charge one or two iPhones/iPods at home or in your car!

Product Appreciation: Albert Maysles Glasses

2009-11-24T18:33:00.000-05:00

Seeing the world through Albert Maysles' eyes may be the only thing better than rose-colored glasses?

Ranjan's/Monsieur Hulot's Resources (Paris Week, best for last)

2009-11-24T14:44:00.008-05:00

My friend Ranjan (pictured above, with pipe) is no stranger to the finer things in life, which is why it's such an honor that he's also the Order of Things' most vocal advocate.

While living in Paris, he discovered two historic shops and was kind enough to share them with us. He suggests Parapluies Simon, which has "some of the most beautiful umbrellas and canes [he has] ever seen." Ranjan describes the pipe store, Au Caid, founded in the 1870s, as "a wonderful shop" where he recalls the "proprietor's exuberant mustachio." That Ranjan, what a gem! Thank you!

How to: Dress like Jean Seberg in A bout de souffle (Paris week, requisite French New Wave post)

2009-11-20T12:26:00.000-05:00

Jean Seberg's character, Patricia, in A bout de souffle is undeniably chic. Here's where to find shirts similar to the ones she wears in the film but, as far as the criminal boyfriend goes, you're on your own:

1. New York Herald Tribune Shirt

2. Striped Shirt (I know the shirt in the picture isn't quite right but don't fret they have ones that are navy with white stripes as opposed to white with navy stripes on the website)

Industry Standard: Laduree (Paris Week)

2009-11-19T12:02:00.006-05:00

Few things are more luxurous than Laduree macarons in that signature gold and celadon box but why not make your own? Here's Martha Stewart's recipe for macarons. I made the chocloate with chocolate ganache filling and found them to be even more delicoius the second day.

Industry Standard: Deyrolle (Paris Week)

2009-11-18T21:31:00.000-05:00

What's the only thing creepier than taxidermy? Antique taxidermy.

What's the only thing creepier than antique taxidermy? Charred antique taxidermy.

Deyrolle, a taxidermy shop, opened in the 19th century and is a Paris institution. From what it sounds like, there's truly no other place like it (I wouldn't know because I don't like to be around dead animals). In 2008, much of the legendary shop's inventory was destroyed in a fire. The haunting aftermath was captured by two photographers: Laurent Bochet (image on left) and Martin D'Orgeval (image on right).

Product Appreciation: Chanel No. 5 (Paris Week)

2009-11-17T08:08:00.001-05:00

I don't wear Chanel No. 5, in fact, I don't really like the way it smells however, I love its history. A few weeks ago, I felt the urge to drop everything I was doing and make an enormous bottle of Chanel No. 5 out of papier mache. As I was looking for images of the iconic bottle, I came across this NotCot post which points out how the bottle's proportions mimic Place Vendome.

Here's my bottle. I hung it on the wall above my bed because someone once told me that when asked what she wore to bed, Marilyn Monroe replied "Chanel No. 5."

Methods/Systems: Umberto Eco's "The Infinity of Lists" at the Louvre (Paris Week)

2009-11-16T14:36:00.007-05:00

"The list is the origin of culture. It's part of the history of art and literature. What does culture want? To make infinity comprehensible. It also wants to create order--not always, but often. And how, as a human being, does one face infinity? How does one attempt to grasp the incomprehensible? Through lists, through collections in museums and through encyclopedias and dictionaries." -Umberto Eco

Umberto Eco guest curated an art exhibit on the theme of lists, it is currently on view at the Louvre. Here's an article about it and here's another one.

Also, all of this week's posts will be Paris-related...

Resource: "The Visual Miscellaneum"

2009-11-13T14:09:00.006-05:00

Mr. David McCandless of Information is Beautiful creates some of the most aesthetically pleasing and yet surprisingly readable charts, graphs, diagrams etc... that I've ever seen. His book, "The Visual Miscellaneum : A Colorful Guide to the World's Most Consequential Trivia" ($17.81) came out this week and is sure to be lovely.

Resource: The Triple Pier Show

2009-11-13T13:38:00.003-05:00

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

The Triple Pier Show is unlike any other flea market, tag sale, antique show etc... It's huge and there are vendors from all over the world. My suggestion is to go not expecting to buy anything (it's lots of serious collectors so, things are priced accordingly) and instead think of it as a design museum (admission is $15) where you can touch everything.

How To: Remove Stains (Martha Stewart's Stain Chart)

2009-11-12T14:03:00.004-05:00

Download Martha Stewart's stain chart and educate yourself on stain removal.

Product Appreciation: Love Letter Light

2009-11-12T13:24:00.002-05:00

Molo's Love Letter Light shows it fondness for Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni by re-appropriating the left over marble cylinder that is cut out from the base of the brothers' classic Arco Lamp.

How To: Make Your Own Shaker Furniture... from a Kit

2009-11-09T07:02:00.004-05:00

The Shaker Workshops website gives you the option of buying their furniture fully assembled or as a kit at a discounted price.

How To: Sharpen a Knife

2009-11-06T11:35:00.004-05:00

In keeping with yesterday's topic, here's how to sharpen a knife.

Product Appreciation: Sweet Axes

2009-11-05T16:40:00.011-05:00

I come from a very do-it-yourself, handy household (i.e. the drill has a nickname: Big Red). Yet, I've never used an ax, if you don't come from a place where you need fires for warmth, you don't need to chop fire wood etc... but seriously, get a load of these hot axes!

1. Collins Ax, MoMA Collection (currently on view )

2. Gerber Kick Axe (a folding ax seems insanely dangerous but it's so sleek!)

3-4. Best Made Company (you can't tell but the ones with the colorful handles have words like "fortitude" written on them)

Also check out the Brief History of the Ax, a companion guide for a two-part VHS entitled; An Axe to Grind (which, I couldn't seem to locate).

Product Appreciation: Buckyball

2009-11-04T16:57:00.000-05:00

"Addictive" is the word that everyone seems to use to describe the Buckyball (the toy, not the state molecule of my native Texas). $29.95 seems steep for a toy that's a bunch of magnets but it looks like such fun.

In Celebration of Things: Pictorial Webster's

2009-11-03T10:32:00.008-05:00

I saw John M. Carrera's book, Pictorial Webster's: A Visual Dictionary of Curiosities, a few weeks ago and was charmed by its collection of engravings from 19th century Webster's dictionaries. Then, I saw this video about the project and developed an even greater appreciation for the book and the decade of work that went into it... and the mean case of tennis elbow that Mr. Carrera most likely developed from all that printing.

Product Appreciation: Peacock Chair

2009-11-02T23:22:00.005-05:00

Images Clockwise from right : GQ UK September 2009, Virgin Suicides, Al Green

Mark my words, the cheeky and slightly kinky peacock chair will come back into favor. In the age of Kelly Wearstler and Jonathan Adler, how could it not? Get one here.

Note: The Order of Things is not necessarily encouraging this trend, merely predicting it.

How To: Pitch

2009-10-30T16:18:00.003-04:00

How 'bout that game last night? Here's how to pitch a 4-seam fastball, a 2-seam fastball, a cut fastball, a split finger fastball, a changeup, a curveball, and a slider.

Resource: Apple Chart

2009-10-29T12:08:00.006-04:00

Apple season is in full swing. Here's a reference chart that details the use, harvest season, texture and taste of dozens of apple varieties.

The chart is very comprehensive however, it does not include the oldest known apple variety: the Lady Apple. My suggestion is to use the extra line at the bottom of the chart to write the following: "Lady Apple, Eating/Baking, Nov-Dec, Crisp, Semi-sweet."

Design Idols: Design Research

2009-10-28T16:59:00.006-04:00

Benjamin Thompson's now-defunct store/studio, Design Research, is legendary for bringing unusual international (mostly Scandinavian) products to the States. In honor of its 40th anniversary, a collection of items sold at this Cambridge store in the 1970s, including Marimekko dresses, have been reassembled at the shop and can be viewed through the store's exterior windows.

via Dwell Blog

Resource: Colorful Images

2009-10-27T10:31:00.006-04:00

"Colorful Images" sounds like it should be a post-modern art criticism journal but in fact, it's a catalog specializing in "unique personlaized products, stationery, home decor, & gifts." I would describe it as the Oriental Trading of the personalized products world. In my opinion, 95% of the products offered by Colorful Images do not need to exist (see Santa's Pants Treat Holders below) however, they do have a variety inexpensive personlized address labels and notepads. Also, their website allows you to shop by theme which I appreciate.

Methods/Systems: Cornell Note-Taking System

2009-10-26T15:01:00.003-04:00

The Cornell Note-Taking System was developed by Walter Pauk, learn all about it in his book: How to Study in College. The method is designed to support the "Five Rs of Note Taking": Record, Reduce, Recite, Reflect, Review. Yes, that's right, it uses a mnemonic device (Five Rs) to help people remember how to remember.

Product Appreciation: Pilot P500 Pen

2009-10-22T17:50:00.000-04:00

I first learned of this pen from a high school classmate that made beautiful drawings. One day, we were talking about pens and when he let me try one of his P500s the way I thought about pens changed forever.

In my opinion, the Pilot P500 pen is the best all-around inexpensive disposable pen ever created. The ink comes out smoothly without being too inky or prone to skipping. The point is unique because it's fine but very sturdy and doesn't bend under the pressure of hard writing but also isn't so sharp that it feels scratchy. Now, I know that the design of my beloved P500 is well...ugly and the caps tend to crack making them impossible to close. But no matter, I would choose a single P500 with a cracked cap over over 1,000 gold-dipped Bic ballpoints any day.

Sadly, since my love affair began it has become increasingly difficult to find the P500. Of course, you can buy them online (here) or if you live in New York, you can find them at University Stationery (28 E. 12th St.).