Stripes can be:

1. horizontal, vertical or diagonal
2. narrow, wide or a combination of the two
3. subtle or bold in color contrast
4. formal or whimsical

Stripes can indicate:

1. a prep
2. a sailor
3. an inmate
4. a barcode

The 7 American manufacturers below give you the opportunity to pay homage to the stripe (without getting shipwrecked). Check them out. You will discover more possibilities (than even you ever imagined) for the much loved stripe.

Fishs Eddy* – Made in USA

You’ll have to think long and hard to come up with any item that is more iconic and more comforting than the heft of a diner coffee cup. (And don’t you have a day job?)

Think about those late night (or technically early morning) visits to your favorite diner. The place envelopes you like a blanket. It is full of familiar smells (bacon, eggs and the like). The lighting is not great. But that doesn’t matter because no one looks good at that time of day anyway. The vinyl booths (a tad greasy) and the formica tables remind you of simpler times (even if you are too young to remember them). And the steaming hot coffee is plentiful.

You wrap you hands around the heavy cup and a sudden warmth fills you – mind, body and spirit. (Something that never happens at Starbucks!) Part of the magic is the lateness of the hour but the rest is that cup.

Thanks to Fishs Eddy, you can recreate these Hopper-esque moments in your home with the Green Band Cup and Saucer (above, $8.95). This 7 3/4 oz. capacity cup is microwave and dishwasher safe. It also stacks easily in your (limited-capacity) cabinetry.

To complete your in-home diner, Fishs Eddy also makes dinner plates, side plates, bowls, platters, and mugs. All of the same commercial quality that has become the Company’s hallmark.

And just in case green is not your color of choice, Fishs Eddy also offers their diner-ware in Cinnabar, Cobalt, Black and Manhattan Blue Plate.

Visit www.fishseddy.com

*Not all of the products Fishs Eddy sells are made in the US. Please read source information carefully.

Ana Candles - Made in Trenton, New Jersey

Can you turn a passion for stripes into a profitable business?

If you are Frank Weeden, you can.

A self-titled stripe aficionado, Frank created the Ana Candle. The 14″ colorful striped tapers (left, $24/pair) first appeared on the scene in 1994. Since that time they have gained a loyal following that delights in the “perfect symmetry, smooth finish and deep richness” of each wide or narrow stripe.

Given the effects of colors like wasabi, mint, bamboo, raspberry, sienna, turquoise, latte, wedgwood, peacock, cyan, chiffon, daffodil, lime, honeydew and blush, you may be tempted to forget about quality. Fortunately for you, Frank isn’t.

Each Ana candle is made with 100% biodegradable premium quality paraffin wax and lead-free cotton wicks. The tapers are engineered to have a 14 hour burn time (approximately) and to be virtually smokeless and drip-free. And talk about attention to detail – the wicks are pre-trimmed at the factory so that each taper is ready to use straight out of the package. (Yeah!)

To further ensure that you get your stripe fix, the Company also makes a lively array of striped pillars for all of those corners of your home (and/or yard) where candlesticks dare not tread. The 3″x3″ cylinders have a burn time of approximately 30 hours and a delicate Evening Primrose scent. (Tapers are all unscented.)

And just in case you should ever stumble upon an occasion where stripes are not appropriate (and I personally cannot imagine what that would be), the Ana Candle is available in a luscious palate of solid tapers ($18/pair) as well.

Visit anadesigncorp.com.

Freaker USA – Made in Troy, North Carolina

Think you know everything there is to know about koozies?

Then you haven’t been Freaked.

A spirited (and that is perhaps the biggest understatement I have ever made) group of NC creative-types has created a one-size fits all container sweater that will change your life — or at the very least your attitude toward it.

The Handy Randy Freaker (left, $8) is one example of the uber-insulators’ funky and festive designs.

But it is not just the Freaker’s vibrant colors and patterns that make it stand out from the 100s of koozies you have been given at trade shows, sporting events and weddings. The strong and tightly-knit Freaker can do something that no common koozie would ever dare.It can conform to the size and shape of whatever bottle, can or vase you choose to insulate.

Prefer the taste of soda from a bottle? The Freaker fits. Like to drink your malt liquor from a 40 oz can? The Freaker fits. Too cheap to buy a real vase so you try to “dress up” the tacky one from the florist? The Freaker fits. (But honestly, you really should spend a few bucks on a new vase! And save your Freaker for your beverages.)

In short, use of the Freaker is limited only by your imagination. If you need to keep something warm/cool or simply want to outfit it, odds are the Freaker fits. And don’t worry if you stretch your Freaker, you can easily return it to its original proportions by machine washing it.

The Freaker is truly the last koozie you will ever need. (Of course, the patterns are so fabulously zany you will not be able to buy just one!)

Warning: With the purchase of a Freaker you become part of the nation-wide Freaker party hosted by a gloriously outrageous group of nickname-giving, moist-handshake-preventing, fun-facilitators. You’ll never be the same.

Visit www.freakerusa.com.

NIDO de suenos – Made in Brooklyn, New York

Subtle. Elegant. Beautiful.

These are all words that can and should be used to describe NIDO’s Sailor Ring (left, $100).

Made of raw white porcelain with a white glaze, this ring has a cool, smooth tactile quality that makes it a pleasure to wear. (The ring is available in sizes 6-10 so the perfect fit is easy to achieve.)

Adapting the much beloved nautical stripes into sophisticated jewelry, NIDO has hand-embellished the top of the Sailor Ring with a series of narrow of blue and grey stripes.

At a distance these stripes blend together, appearing almost to be a solid block of color. As a result, the stripes become a secret shared only by the wearer and those who really pay attention. (Does anyone else really matter?)

NIDO works with a variety of materials from paper to wood but has a special affinity for clay – its materials attributes and its sustainability.

Visit NIDO.

Richer Poorer*- Made in USA

Love pattern (particularly stripes) but not sure how to incorporate them into your very buttoned-down wardrobe and lifestyle?

Meet Richer Poorer.

Let’s face it. Traditionally men have not had as many opportunities to express themselves through dress as women. Most men prefer to play it pretty close-to-the-vest when it comes to major wardrobe staples like suits, sport coats, pants and shirts. So that leaves them only ties, pocket squares and socks to play with.

Richer Poorer understands that. They also understand that most men do not want to make huge, bold fashion statements. However, they do want to look modern and with-it, not boring or stodgy.

That is what makes the Company’s line of socks unique. They are more stylish than solid black or brown socks but not too fashion-y. Most of Richer Poorer’s socks utilize both conservative patterns (stripes and dots) and colors (blue, grey, black, and brown) making them the perfect way to punch up your look without 1) looking like you are trying too hard and/or 2) without drawing too much attention to yourself. (Looking for something more bold? They’ve got that too.)

The Stripe (above, $18) is the perfect example of Richer Poorer’s not-to-radical modernization of the American man’s foot. The classic navy and white stripe would be as appropriate with khakis, a polo and loafers as it would with a navy power-suit and cap-toes. (Of course, they would also look great with more daring ensembles.)

The combed cotton socks feature a blend of nylon, spandex and elastic to help it retain its shape and stay up. They fit men’s sizes 6-12.

Visit www.richer-poorer.com.

*Not all Richer Poorer products are made in the US. Please read source information carefully.

From Our Old Friends

Apolis Global* – Made in California

Striped trunks for spirited dunks. Get ready warmer days are coming.

Above from left to right: (Both available in even sizes 28-38) Katin + Apolis Striped Chambray Swim Trunks ($128), Katin + Apolis Archive Swim Trunk ($108)

Original fifty post: The tote.

*Apolis Global makes/sells products that are made outside the USA. Please read source information carefully.

Caroline’s Cakes – Made in Annapolis, Maryland

The tastiest stripes on the planet! Whether you crave caramel, chocolate, lemon, red velvet, coconut or carrot cake, Caroline is the answer. And if you cannot decide on just one flavor, you can get 1/2 and 1/2. Life really is sweet!

Above left to right: 7-Layer Caramel Cake - the yellow cake with caramel icing that made Caroline famous ($58); 7-Layer Lemon Cake - lemon cake with lemon curd infused buttercream ($58); 7-Layer Delight Cake – yellow cake with alternating layers of chocolate ganache and famous caramel filling and covered in Southern Fudge icing ($58)

Original fifty post: The picnic.

Tartan, gingham, tattersall, and madras. It doesn’t matter what you call it, it is all plaid.

The unevenly spaced lines and crossing right angles have been favorites of Scots for years. But thanks to the great American thinkers and makers below, there are now great ways incorporate these beloved patterns into our US-made arsenal.

Dan and Dave* – Made in USA

All hands on deck.

(Or to be more direct — Get your hands on one of these decks!)

Magic and cardistry visionaries Dan and Dave have created two playing card decks, each featuring a fabulous vintage plaid back. Available in either Arizona Red or California Blue, the Vintage Plaid Playing Cards (left, $5.95) are the perfect way to class up your next poker night or add a little style to a cut-throat Go Fish battle.

Designed by Dan and Dave, these vintage plaid cards are manufactured by the US Playing Card Company on premium stock with a cambric finish, so you can rest assured that they are indeed regulation playing cards.

They are also ideal for the kind of card tricks that have made Dan and Dave famous. If you want to get in on the action, you can purchase Dan and Dave’s how-to downloads and/or DVDs and with a little practice (or in my case, lots and lots of practice) you will be dazzling your friends in no time. (Tricks are available in 3 difficulty levels – easy, moderate & difficult.)

Mad for these plaid cards? (Its only natural.) Thanks to Dan and Dave their Vintage Plaid Playing cards are also available in an uncut sheet (22″ x 26.5″) – straight off the factory press. Feel free to paper your walls with them or (for the slightly less daring) frame them for your game room wall.

Visit shop.dananddave.com.

*Not all the products Dan and Dave sell are made in the US. Please read source information carefully.

Filson* – Made in USA

Bag-O-Plaid.

Whether you are headed out hunting in the Scottish lowlands, to the Highland Games for the day, or simply to the library to work on your report about Charles Rennie Mackintosh, this is the bag for you.

Filson, a company known for its rugged good looks and uncompromising durability, has managed to marry the charm of plaid with the practicality of an all-purpose field/messenger bag.

With its padded bridle leather shoulder strap, the Medium Wool Field Bag (above, $184.99 current sale price) is designed to be worn across the body and sit comfortably on your hip. It features a quick-access, full-width open rear pocket and 2 open side pockets. For extra strength, the sides and bottom of the bag are completely lined with Filson’s industrial weight 100% cotton Rugged Twill. The bag also offers 2 bellows pockets and a pocket-free roomy interior.  The bags details and dimensions (14″w x 11″h x 5″ d) make it ideal for use as a field bag, book bag, briefcase or even an overnighter.

Blue not bring out your eyes? The Medium Wool Field Bag is also available in burgundy and green plaid (also on current sale), as well as gray plaid, red plaid and solid black (available at regular price of $250). Filson also offers the following wool plaid coordinates: Small Wool Field Bag,  Wool Tote Bag, Small Wool Duffle Bag and Wool Duffle Bag with Wool Side Panels (each available in a selection of sale and regularly priced colors).

Visit www.filson.com.

*Not all the products Filson sells are made in the US. Please read source information carefully.

FORAGE - Made in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

What comes to mind when you hear the words “plaid tie?”

(If you answered a thai noodle dish featuring peanuts, email me immediately. We would obviously get along famously!)

If you think it sounds like something your lovable, albeit less-than-stylish grandfather would wear, you are wrong. (Sorry, there was no nicer way to say that.) Especially, if the plaid tie in question is from the uber-hip FORAGE.

You see the FORAGE dynamic duo, Shauna and Stephen, don’t just make plaid ties. They make beautifully hand-crafted neckwear for lads and lassies out of  vintage deadstock fabrics, fabric remnants and other extra-special finds.

Their ties – plaid and otherwise – are each handmade in small (sometimes even tiny) editions as dictated by the amount of fabric available. Consequently, when you shop at FORAGE, you can rest assured that you will not run into lots of people wearing the same tie. A feature that may very well be priceless, but one that actually costs a lot less than many more mainstream/mass-produced ties. I

In fact, the Spring Plaid Necktie (above) is made in an edition of only 4 (told you – tiny) and yet costs an accessible $78. (This tie is 2″ wide at its widest point, 58″ long and is 100% cotton.)

Give plaid (or at least FORAGE) a chance.

Visit forage.

Mrs. Jermyn – Made in Brooklyn, New York

What do you do when you favorite button-down becomes an embarrassment to those who know and love you?

You really only have two options: 1) keep wearing it – dump your friends, fire your family and look for a new group of people who will accept you and your shirt despite its missing buttons, tiny tears, and obvious shrinkage (seriously, good luck with that!) OR 2) immortalize your beloved shirt by having Mrs. Jermyn make a tedi out it. (Pick #2!)

Shirt-repurposer Annika Jermyn’s obsession with sewing and design began in childhood. A native of Finland, her mother and grandmother had her sewing and crocheting from the time she was old enough to hold a needle. Annika went on to study design in Ireland before moving to New York and working as a fashion designer for John Rocha for several years.

Now she is a public servant. She saves well-loved shirts from the rag pile. Annika breathes new life into these softer-than-pjs button-downs. Each shirt becomes a cute, cozy, cuddly “tedi” bear with a name and personality of its own, like Mr. Robert (above, $80).

Annika will either make a tedi out of your own beloved button-down or you can choose from one of the amazing tedis she has created from her own (or Mr. Jermyn’s) stash of repurposed menswear. Annika’s tedis are available in a wide variety of colors and patterns, so the only problem  you will have is trying to decide which one to love.

Visit mrsjermyn.com.

SUPERMODULE - Made in San Francisco, California

This plaid is totally noteworthy.

Launched in 2009, SUPERMODULE is a line of greeting cards and prints designed by graphic-guru David Riofrio.

Exploring his passion for traditional letterpress techniques and classic textile patterns – tartan/plaid, houndstooth and the like – David has created the Stay Warm series which is indeed traditional and classic, but also manages to be modern and fresh at the same time.

Most of David’s cards are printed on 100% cotton paper that is made with waste fiber from the garment industry. The use of this material ties his series ever more closely to its haberdashery inspirations and ensures that the cards are as much a tactile delight, as they are a visual one. (Think lovely soft paper with deep letterpress indentations!)

Ward (above, $4.95) is one of 3 patterns in the series that is rendered in the anything-but-typical colors of electric lime and soft gray. (Ward’s companion pieces are Ed and Al. All three are sold individually or in a boxed set of 6 (2 of each design) for $24.) This 4.5″h x 6″w top-fold card arrives blank on the inside (David cannot do everything for you!) and with a slate gray envelope for color-coordinated mailing.

The series also features Cal, Hal and Val – 3 different houndstooth gals (Ok  - Cal is probably not a gal, but I was on a role) depicted in cherry red and hot pink; Nico, Claude and Horatio - 3  different plaids rendered in warm black, silver and electric red; and Charles, Will and Harry - 3 different houndstooths rendered in electric blue and cherry red.

Visit shop.supermodule.com.

From Our Old Friends

Pendleton Woolen Mills – Made in USA

Pile on the plaid to stay warm and toasty.

Above left to right: Plaid 5th Avenue Throw, $138 (54″ x 72″ with 3″ fringe – 100% merino wool) – Camel Plaid, Bond Street Plaid and Rosa Plaid.

Original fifty post: The picnic.

After all none of us is one-dimensional. Even hopeless romantics have an edgier side. (I hope.)

However, you do not need a dark (or even dusky) side to appreciate the great American-made products below. Each is amazing enough to make the Dalai Lama want to take up arms. (Please follow his example and don’t!)

But do enjoy the terrific and tough goodies below.

Digby & Iona – Made in Brooklyn, New York

“Gonna rifle on, sing my song.”

No? Not the way the song goes? (Sorry, I have always had trouble deciphering lyrics.)

Well, it would have been if Robert Plant had seen Digby & Iona’s Crossed Rifle Necklace (left, $150). (And maybe, just maybe, then the poor guy would have found some success as a song writer and musician.)

While it may be too late for RP to get it right, it is definitely not for you. Take a look at this necklace and you will find yourself – perhaps for the first time, perhaps again – considering the artistry of something as utilitarian (not to mention potentially lethal) as a rifle.

The man responsible for that (not so small feat) is Parson’s trained artist/designer/jeweler Aaron Ruff. It is Aaron’s own incredible craftsmanship and skill that provide the opportunity for such an epiphany.

His work is inspired by everything from nature and tools to history and literature. His jewelry is intricate, but not fussy; detailed, but not over-wrought; complex, but not complicated; beautiful, but not girly; and sentimental, but not cloying. To achieve this balance, Ruff often calls upon his childhood fantasies to inform his designs. (Maybe that is how he gets us to see things again or for the first time!)

Guns never going to be your thing? Don’t worry. Aaron has lots of over amazing designs to choose from.

Lucky for you, most of his work is available in sterling silver and, as a result, is very accessible. (Thanks, Aaron!) Some pieces like the Crossed Rifle Necklace ($130 in sterling silver) are also available in vermeil or gunmetal finishes at a slightly higher price-point. And a few of his bracelets, cufflinks, earrings, necklaces and rings are available in other metals and/or are embellished with precious/semi-precious stones.

Visit www.digbyandiona.com.

Mollycoddle Soap – Made in Grand Junction, Colorado

This soap is da bomb.

(Technically, I guess it is da grenade, but that doesn’t sound as hip and is unlikely to catch on.)

Mollycoddle’s Pink Hand Grenade (left, $5) is definitely the biggest pop of color your bathroom has ever seen.

Made of vegan glycerine, this 4.2 ounce soap is the perfect way to combat the dirt and germs of daily life.

Each soap is made with care by Mollycoddle’s own munitions expert (and mom), Kelly McDowell-DeVries. She hand colors and individually adds scents to each soap she creates making it possible for her easily adapt to customer requests. Scent (or unscent) and color preferences are no problem – just ask.

And it seems Kelly’s whimsy knows no bounds. In addition to grenades, Kelly makes soap in the shape of rice crispy treats, pickles, cameos, mustaches and more.

(Come clean. Did you ever think lathering up could be this fun?)

Visit mollycoddle soap.

Renee Andriole Designs – Made in Los Angeles, California

Talk about a killer ring. This is it.

(Both literally and figuratively.)

From her Los Angles studio, ultra-cool and soon to be Oscar-worthy jeweler, Renee Andriole fashions wearable wonders that are influenced by her interest in and passion for art, music and fashion; the past and future; as well as, the body that her jewelry will ultimately adorn.

The Sickle Ring (left, $175) is one of the latest examples of her daring genius.

Made of 3 layers of sickle shape sterling silver fastened with brass bolts, the elegant curves and sharp points of this ring are sure to draw attention (and perhaps blood, if used in self-defense).

Renee’s work pushes the boundaries of what femininity, adornment and, in some cases even, jewelry are. Leaving you (and me) the better for it.

Visit www.reneeandriole.com.

Sugarpost – Made in Salt Lake City, Utah

Semper Fidelis.* Semper Tardus.

(Always faithful. Always slow.)

Sugarpost’s MP Turtle (left, $100) may be the last one to arrive at the front line, but he is certainly ready to fight when he gets there.

This recycled reptile recruit comes from the creative mind of Fred Conlon.

It was inspired by the combination of a serendipitous trip to the surplus store and one of his Grandpa Willy’s life lessons: “War happens so suddenly. Peace moves slowly.”

At the surplus store, Fred noticed a pile of army helmets and it occurred to him that these helmets looked like turtle shells. It wasn’t long before he had hit upon a creature that would bring his grandfather’s words to life.

Each of these slow-moving peace-keeping sculptures is made by the artist. And today Fred’s friends are available in 5 versions –  plain helmet, red cross, MP, wine caddy and turtle-dove. All are designed to live indoors or out and get better with age.

Visit www.sugarpost.com.

(*I do know that semper fidelis is the motto of the Marines, not the Army or the MPs — don’t I get any points for the Latin?)

Utilitarian Franchise – Made in San Francisco, California

Put ‘em up!

(Your feet that is.)

Relax on your sofa or unwind in your favorite chair with Utilitarian Franchise’s Revolver Gun Diagram Pillow (left, $35).

Just don’t expect to learn anything about the construction of revolver. This amazingly detailed diagram has lots of labels but no key.

This pillow may not be loaded (with bullets or information) or able to thwart a burglar, but it will help you fight crime. Simply toss it (or any of Utilitarian Franchise’s pillows) on your furniture and banish the blahs. Don’t laugh. Boring furniture is a real crime and it impacts 1 in 3 American households. (Yes, I completely made up that statistic. Why should politicians have all the fun?)

Thankfully, there is help. Utilitarian Franchise offers a staggering variety of original and vintage silkscreened images (including moths, birds, and boxing bucks to name just a few), so you are sure to have no trouble finding one (two, three or four) that will make both you and your sofa smile.

All of Utilitarian Franchise’s pillows are made from 100% cotton canvas. Each is available in 1 of 12 colors and is silkscreened with eco-friendly ink and finished with an invisible zipper. A polyfill pillow insert is provided with each order, but you can up-grade to a down insert for an additional charge.

Need more convincing? 15% off sale currently in progress. (Don’t miss it.)

Visit utilitarianfranchise.

From Our Old Friends

Cyberoptix Tie Lab

Black-Ops goes black tie.

Above from left to right: (All ties shown available in microfiber for $30 or silk for $40. Standard and narrow widths available. Other colors, including custom colors, available.) AK-47 tie; Bombs Away tie; and Aw Shoot tie.

Original fifty post: Science

Pop Chart Lab – Made in Brooklyn, New York

With 2 weeks to go before 2.14 and this list of amazing US-made gift options, there is no reason for you to not be properly prepared.

Even you, Cynics. (You know who I am talking to!)

I’ve heard (and probably given) all of your excuses, but as I am working to right my cynical wrongs, I offer you these responses:

1. “It’s a Hallmark Holiday” – Yes, but so what. Think about it this way: If this “Hallmark Holiday” included a day off of work, you’d take it. So buck up and participate.
2. “I don’t need a day to tell me when to be romantic/show love” – Au contraire! If you have found someone to love you (and you know how difficult you can be to love sometimes!), you need to seize every opportunity to show affection and appreciation. And given the more prickly (read: charming) aspects of your personality you are probably not a hopeless romantic who is drowning your loved one in attention or thanks. (And you should be. Really. Do not let this one get away!)
3. “It doesn’t mean as much if you are forced to celebrate your relationship because of some arbitrary day on the calendar” – This remains true. But only if a) you want to celebrate your relationship and b) you do celebrate it spontaneously other times. (Well, do ya? Do ya, Punk?)

Conclusion: Whatever the reason, we should all stop and say “I love you” more often to our spouses/partners/significant others.

And why not start on this February the 14th? And then keep it going throughout the year. (No one ever said Valentine’s could be the only day you were delightful, charming and/or a general pleasure-to-be-around.)

If you do not currently have a spouse/partner/significant other in your life, use 2.14 as an opportunity to tell someone – family member or friend – how much they mean to you. (Remember: you are against “Hallmark Holidays” telling you what to do. So take action.)

The American-made goodies below will delight any lucky recipient, any day of the year. So, please give these companies a look and start spreading the love!

California Organic Flowers - Grown in Chico, California

Rose are red, violets are blue and anemones are both.

Flowers are a time-tested way to show that you care.

Unfortunately, all to often the choices available from your local florist can feel a bit clichéd and leave you in a blooming rut. That is because most florists buy their flowers from regional wholesale flower distributors who buy most of their blooms from more tropical locals (read: not the US).

Frustrated by this same set of circumstances, Marc, Julia and Tava, the founders of California Organic Flowers, turned to the land around them for answers.

What they found were abundant wildflower fields. Inspired, the 3 began to collect seeds from the wildflowers and grow them on their own organic farm. Why organic? The family lives, works and plays there. And while they think organic farming produces the best plants and the happiest customers, they know the chemical-free environment produces the healthiest family.

Perhaps the most exciting thing this farm produces (besides the opportunity to not give your loved one a bouquet of toxins) is a variety of less common, vibrant, seasonal flowers from which to choose.

Take their Anemone Bouquet (above, $47.95/24 stems). It is ablaze with color and is the perfect way to show you affection.

They also offer anemone bouquets in other color combinations – red & pink, red & white, all red, blue & white - and in a larger bouquet size, 35 stems for $54.95.

California Organic Flowers anemones are harvested daily from their family farm. They are shipped Priority Overnight (at a cost of $14.95 anywhere in the continental US). Flowers will arrive “in bud” and will begin to open within 24-48 hours.

Visit californiaorganicflowers.com

Old Tom Foolery – Made in Minnesota

Saps, please skip this section. It will not appeal to you.

If you are still here, you are going to love the “unsappy, uncrappy” cards that husband and wife duo, Joel Gryniewski and Lauren Weinblatt, have dreamed up.

Old Tom Foolery’s letterpress cards are the perfect way to express you feelings on any occasion – birthday, thanks, anniversary, congratulations, graduation, baby, bar/bat mitzvah, mother’s/father’s day, engagement/wedding, Christmas/Hanukkah, thinking of you, get well soon, miss you, sorry, good luck, friendship – provided you have an amazing sense of humor.

Their beautiful hand-crafted cards are sometimes biting, sometimes sarcastic, sometimes naughty and sometimes all of the above. But what they never are is boring or overly senitmental. Of course, that doesn’t mean that you cannot use these cards to express genuine emotion. It just means (unlike most mass produced cards) there is not a sunset, poem or speck of glitter to louse up your moment.

Joel and Lauren have developed a line of cards called Footnotes. These cards take seemingly innocuous (even trite) sentiments and add funny/silly/spicy and original footnotes, making them appropriate for the less saccharine among you.

I’m all yours.* (above, $4.50) is one example of this creative collection. The footnote reads “*No money down. 0% APR. 12 months same as cash.”

There are 10 other Valentine’s-ready Footnotes cards (each $4.50) with sentiments ranging from Will you be my Valentine?*, and Be mine.* to I love every inch of you.* and You’re sexy.* (No, I am not going to tell you what the footnotes say. Click the links and read them yourself, Lazy Bones. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed.)

Visit www.oldtomfoolery.com.

The Goodie Bag* - Made in USA

The perfect gift for the commitment-phobe.

The Goodie Bag’s I Heart (blank) PillYo is the perfect opportunity to weigh your options – Sally or Susie, Mike or Micah, Bacon or Sausage.

(You don’t have to decide right away. Or ever, really. This pillow is adorable with the blank unfilled. It can definitely handle your issues. Can you?)

Each PillYo comes with a cotton canvas pillow case, a pillow insert and 2 fabric paint markers. So when you are ready to commit to just one love, simply use the markers to fill-in the blank. Then let the pillow case dry flat overnight and you’re all set.

PillYo’s are the brain-candy of the PartyLayne team. These all-stars have been producing all types of events – awards shows, birthday parties, bar/bat mitzvahs, weddings, Hollywood and charity events - for almost 10 years. Recently, they have begun their own website featuring party supplies, gifts, favors/giveaways and activities called The Goodie Bag. (They even do custom work.)

As a result the company’s origins, the PillYo’s are sold individually ($36.95) and in quantities. (24 of the PillYo’s are $35.95 each with the price decreasing as the quantity increases.) The I Heart (blank) PillYo would be an ideal take-away for a classroom Valentine’s party, though in that setting the blank is more likely to be filled with the name of the latest teen heart-throb, pet/animals and sports teams than life-long loves. But the pillow (like the honey badger) don’t care.

(These pillows would be also an amazing activity for a bachelorette party and/or would be perfect for showcasing the names of all your suitors on your sofa).

Other PillYo designs are available -  Original Tag Wall, The Notepad, BBall, Skateboard Solo, Da Bubbles, and Hearts. (You can mix and match designs and quantities when ordering.) What fun!

Visit www.thegoodiebag.com

*Not all of The Goodie Bag’s products are made in the US. Please check source information carefully.

Pepper Sprouts – Made in USA

You’re such a deer.

People probably are always fawning all over you.

(Ok, glad I got that out of my system.)

The Kissing Deer Heart Necklace (left, $20) may just be the cutest way to say “you are loved” without words.

Inspired by the paper doily valentines of her childhood, Pepper Sprout’s founder, graphic designer Jen Pepper, has created modern, wearable acrylic Valentines that are sure to delight any lucky recipient. And at such reasonable prices, you can afford to give them to all the special ladies in your life – your wife/wives, girlfriend(s), mother(s), grandmother(s), sister(s), daughter(s) and BFF(s). (Thanks, Jen!)

Jen hand draws each deer. Then her dainty drawings are laser cut from 3 mm acrylic (in either white, as shown above, or black) and strung on a 16″ gunmetal chain. (Pendants overall dimensions are 1.8″ x 1.5″.)

Her doily-inspired pendants also come in black or white Kissing Bunnies.

Visit shop.peppersproutdesigns.com.

Recchiuti Confections – Made in San Francisco, California

Life is like a box of chocolates.

(No one said it was always like a good box of chocolates.)

Here’s hoping that your life (or at least your Valentine’s Day) is like this phenomenal box of Hearts & Arrows burnt caramel truffles (left, $25) – smooth and sweet, artfully crafted, delicious, worth savoring and memorable.

Begun by chocolate-master Michael and his wife Jacky, the Recchiuti name has become synonymous with chocolates of the highest quality.

And the company’s burnt caramel truffles have quickly become the stuff of legends and the source of envy among otherwise good friends. These divine morsels blend dark caramel and dark chocolate into a bite that is definitely more than the some of its parts. The combination produces a smoky, whisky-like characteristic that is at once sinful and heavenly.

Just for Valentine’s Day, Recchiuti has adorned their terrific truffles with whimsical drawings of love. Stunning.

But that is not all, Michael and Jacky have put together a variety of other love-worthy chocolate notions and potions. There is sure to be something to suit every taste bud.

Visit www.recchiuti.com.

From Our Old Friends

Kiel Mead - Made in New York, New York

Forget Me Knot. One look at this ring on her finger and wherever she is will know that you are thinking about her. You canknot beat that!

Above from left to right:  (All rings available by size) Pink – powder coated brass ($50); Gold – solid 14K ($300); Green – powder coated brass ($50); Platinum – solid platinum ($720)

Powder coated brass rings also available in black, blue, red, white, yellow and purple ($50 each). Also available in solid sterling silver ($50).

Original fifty post: English

Lydia Marcos Jewelry – Made in Los Angeles, California

This jewelry is all heart. (Well, actually it is a sophisticated blend of hand-sculpted sterling, brass and copper with inlays of exotic and reclaimed wood. But regardless it is love-ly.)

Above from left to right: Venus bracelet – brass & yellow marble wood heart on faceted shell beads ($240); Venus necklace – brass & blue marble wood heart on lapis lazuli beads ($300); Duchess rings – brass & tan marble wood (front), silver & canary wood (center), silver & green marble wood (back) ($240 each).

You see the companies that fifty has featured really do feel like old friends. We care about what happens to them and want the best for them.

As a result, and to show our continual support of these amazing organizations, we have developed the Friendly Update post which will allow us to share with you good news from the people and companies we have already come to know and love!

You can expect these posts to contain information about new product releases, accolades/awards and/or any other uplifting news we deem worth sharing.

It is our hope that these posts will celebrate the companies that have been great friends to fifty in the past and will help remind all of us of the many and wonderful things they continue to do.

Hopefully, you will enjoy this new feature. Feel free to let us know what you think.

Now down to business!

Fleabags – Made in USA

The new 2012 Fleabag Spring Collection by the super-stylish bag mavens, Shira Entis and Alex Bell, is here!

Inspired by Baltimore ports, the Chesapeake Bay and the seafaring lifestyle of fishermen, this season’s new bags employ electric colors reminiscent of buoys and lobster crates.

The collection includes 2 new silhouettes – the Alice Knapsack (above, left) and the Traveler’s Clutch (above, second from left).

The Alice Knapsack ($340) is a modern pack inspired by the military ALICE (All-Purpose Lightweight Individual Carrying Equipment). At 21″h x 14″ w Fleabags’ Alice is large enough for day-tripping and light enough for serious adventures. Alice is available in 2 colors – Chesapeake (shown) and Seafarer.

The Traveler’s Clutch ($115) is the perfect shape and size (8.5″ h x 11″ w) for those times that you do not need to carry everything that you own. Made of organic cotton/hemp canvas and leather, the Traveler’s Clutch can handle your lip gloss, sunglasses and credit cards for days/evenings on the town, but is also perfectly sized to hold you iPad. Choose from 2 colors – Red Pepper (shown) and Cornflower Blue.

This season Fleabags has also added a new color to their Original Fleabag shape. The Sailor Stripe (above, second from right, $440) features a dark brown vegetable-tanned lamb leather bottom and a marine blue striped organic cotton/hemp canvas body.

Additionally, the company continues to works to preserve, promote and save New York City’s garment district through their support of Save The Garment Center. When you purchase of one of this season’s Ballet Totes (above, right, $165), Fleabags will donate 10% of the bag’s profits to help keep garment manufacturing and jobs in America. The Ballet Tote is available in 2 colors – Chesapeake (shown) and Arcade.

Check out all Fleabags has to offer at fleabg.com.

2012. It is all about establishing new (better) patterns. Or so you promised yourself as you watched the ball drop.

(Don’t worry! I am not about to ask you the status of your resolution(s). If you extend me the same courtesy.)

The good news is you do not have to exercise any will-power or resolve to enjoy the plethora of patterns that are popping up in everything from clothing to kitchen accessories.

To help you find the perfect American-made way to incorporate these graphically charged items into your life, the next couple of posts will deal with patterns.

Our mini-series begins with the chevron. (You know how I love a good series!)

The pattern takes its name from the series of inverted V-shapes that form it. Chevron is an old french word that literally translates “a pair of angled roof rafters.” Because a set of roof rafters looked like an inverted V, soon other inverted V’s became known as chevrons.

It is my sincere hope that you will enjoy the American-made products below. If you do, buy them! Or at least bookmark them and buy them later. (Don’t forget all of these companies are now and will forever be on the Featured Companies list that you can find at the top and bottom of each page in this post.)

One more thing: I have introduced a new component to this post. Because I make every effort to constantly bring you new American companies, I do not get to show you all the great products that the previously featured companies offer. So, I have decided to start showing new products from old friends that relate to each post. This section of the post will be (quite cryptically) called From Our Old Friends.

Brooklyn Junior – Made in Brooklyn, New York

It is a fact that babies respond better to high contrast colors and geometric shapes.

It is also a fact that parents (and the rest of us non-toddlers) respond better to clothing that is attractive, durable and well-made.

Brooklyn Junior has taken everyone into account in the construction of their 100% cotton dresses, shirts, hoodies and pants. (Styles are available for boys and girls.)

The Zig Zag Dress (above, $25) will engage your little one’s sense of sight and stimulate her cognitive development as she wears it. (Oh yeah, she will probably look adorable too. Not that you are the kind of shallow person who cares one iota about that! It is all about helping your baby grow and develop – I get it.)

Available in sizes 3-6 months, 12 months and 2 years, this dress is also available in diamond pattern.

Visit www.brooklynjunior.com.

Chuck Routhier – Made in USA

Don’t just sit there, get Moving!

(The Moving Bag (left, $200) that is.)

Chuck Routhier, the Yale-educated designer whose work can be found in the San Francisco Museum of Modern art, has dreamed up a bag that is as rugged as it is handsome.

The whimsy of the subtle, but oh-so-jazzy white-stitched chevron pattern on a charcoal background belies the bag’s true character. Made of an authentic moving blanket (100% cotton) with strapping rawhide handles, this bag is ready for anything you can dish out. And will be for a long time.

At 28″w x 10″h x 9″ d, the bag has enough room for overnight business moves or weekend leisure moves. (It also has generous 13″ straps which means that you can shoulder the move like a champ!) And thanks to a generously sized top-opening and a sturdy brass zipper, the Moving Bag is as easy to pack and unpack as it is to carry.

Visit www.chuckrouthier.com.

The Olive Crow  - Made in Toledo, Ohio

Here is the dilemma: You love your dog. (Some days more than your spouse or your children.) You want her to be comfortable. (After all, how much comfort has she brought you?) But you hate looking at her depressing dog bed day after day.

Fortunately, you are not alone.

The Olive Crow is a line of dog beds that are designed to work with the decor of your house, not fight against it. Diane, the company’s founder, crafts her dog duvets of stylish upholstery-grade material that will not only look great, but will last.

What exactly is a dog duvet? (I heard you ask!) It is much like a duvet for your bed. The Olive Crow’s duvets are envelope style and have no closures. The large bed shaped envelopes come unstuffed. Simply fill the dog duvets with whatever materials will make your dog the most comfortable – pillows, foam/memory foam, sheet/blankets, etc.

The best part about the duvet design is that to clean it, you simply remove the stuffing and wash it in cold water with a mild detergent. (To help the bed maintain its size and shape air-drying is recommended.)

The Olive Crow duvets come in small, medium and large (above, $55) and a variety of fabric options – like the orange Chevron pattern the gorgeous June (Great Dane/Supermodel) is resting on.

Visit The Olive Crow.

Foxtail Jewelry - Made in Portland, Oregon

Who says more is better?

Certainly not jewelry designer, Betty Yates.

Her Floating Chevron Necklace (left, $45) is a testament to the power of a single chevron.

Stripped of the rhythmic repetition usually associated the chevron, the Floating Chevron Necklace gives the wearer (and her admirers) the opportunity to focus on the beauty and simplicity of this angular shape without distraction of additional chevrons.

Betty’s hand-made floating chevron is formed of hollow brass. To add visual interest, it has has been slightly oxidized (or blackened).

The chevron charm comes on an 18″ long silver-fill chain with a brass spin-clasp closure. (Different chain materials and chain lengths are available on request. Of course, these changes may impact final pricing.)

This necklace is perfectly able to stand on its own but also would pair well with others. (Wonderful attributes in both a necklace and a person.)

Visit Foxtail Jewelry.

Jill Platner – Made in New York, New York

What ever happened to your college thesis?

Odds are most of you would have to think about that answer for a while and then spend another day or two searching through boxes to actually find it. (I know I would.)

But then you are not Jill Platner. This wonder-woman sold her thesis to Barneys in 1992. (Take a moment to be impressed.)

Since then she has not looked back. The uber-talented metalworker/designer operates a studio and store on Crosby Street in Manhattan (stop in if you are in the neighborhood) where she creates jewelry and accessories for men and women in sterling silver, 19-karat gold and/or platinum.

Inspired by both nature and the urban landscape, Jill’s designs are truly wearable works of art. The Whalebone Belt (above, $1,300), for men or women, is just one example of Jill’s artistic interpretation of the world around her.

While this 2″w x 1 1/2″h belt buckle may have been inspired by a whale bone, it has all the energy and graphic resonance of a less organically-inspired chevron. Hand-made and rendered in sterling silver, the Whalebone belt buckle is a showstopper – derivation and appellation notwithstanding.

The Whalebone, like all the buckles in Jill’s collection, comes with a leather belt strap (standard and custom sizes available) in your choice of tan, dark brown or black.

Visit www.jillplatner.com

Jill Rosenwald – Boston, Massachusetts

Don’t hide your love for chevrons under a bushel.

Let it shine!

And what better way to do that than with Jill Rosenwald’s navy Chevron Oval Lamp (left, $395)?

This slender, chic lamp is also available in taupe and coral. Each lamp comes with a Belgian linen shade, a nickel plated 3 way socket, and a matching finial.

With its classic good looks, vivacious presence and petite base (6.5″ w) this lamp will slip easily into any decor – from beachy to urbane, minimal to toy-filled.

The Boston-based designer is a pro at translating both preppy and ethnic patterns into bold accents for the home. Her current ceramics line includes vases, bowls, mugs, trays and, of course, lamps.

Jill got her start selling (illegally) on the streets of New York. But today this rule-breaker is the darling of such taste-makers as Neiman Marcus, House Beautiful and Elle Decor. She has even been able to translate her flawless style into dinnerware, rugs and pillows that compliment her ceramics.

Visit www.jillrosenwald.com.

Pigeon Toe Ceramics – Made in Portland, Oregon

Pigeon Toe Ceramics has created the perfect point-of-entry for those of you who fear the chevron.

(You do not have to say anything. You know who you are. You see these jubilant chevrons and are concerned that overexposure to them may increase your energy level to a point that you begin to feel younger than you really are and/or you fear that they might make you happier than you are comfortable being.)

The Chevron Pixel Pot Holder (above, $30) is appropriate for everyone from the chevronaphile to the chevronaphobe. At 7″ x & 7″ this perky potholder, with its spring green color, pixelated pattern, loop for hanging and back pocket for enhanced usability, delivers the ideal mix of function and fun.

(Isn’t it ironic that Pigeon Toe Ceramics’ daring POE (point-of-entry) has nothing to do with pigeons, toes or ceramics? Sorry. I think the chevrons are getting to me!)

Love the pattern and want more? (I know I do.) Pigeon Toe Ceramics also offers Chevron Pixel tea towels/napkins and pillows.

(I have saved the best news for last: Pigeon Toe Ceramics is in the process of moving to larger, cooler digs within Portland. As a result they are offering 30% discount on all orders through January 25th. Now is the time to buy. Believe me, they have lots more than pot holders, tea towels, pillows to offer. Hurry!)

Visit www.pigeontoeceramics.com.

From Our Old Friends:

Geometric Clothing – Made in Seattle, Washington

These clothes have all the right angles. Clothing for both men and women.

Above from left to right: (Each garment is screen-printed or hand-painted on American Apparel blanks.) Bronze Chevron Dress ($45); Feather Organic Tee ($30); White Chevrons Indigo Raglan ($42).

Original fifty post: Math

Oomph - Made in USA

Remember: the easiest (and usually least expensive) way to update your home is to change or add throw pillows.

Above from left to right: (Each pillow is 22″ square with a 90/10 feather/down pillow insert, a zipper for easy cleaning and retails for $385.) Montectio Eros Pink; Zig Zag Grande Navy; Montectio Parakeet Green.

Original fifty post: Social Studies

It is with great enthusiasm that I introduce a new feature of fifty: the blog: a list of all the companies that have been featured on fifty thus far.

Since fifty‘s inception (just a few short months ago), you have already been introduced to over 250 great American companies that are making fabulous products right in your own backyard. (Or at least in the US!)

While I hope you enjoy each post enough to race out and buy everything on the page, I am a realist. Few, if any of us, has enough time or money for that to be the case.

Knowing that, I thought you might appreciate a reference list. This list will allow you to peruse at your leisure all of the companies that have been featured on fifty: the blog to date. And going forward, the list will be updated corresponding to each new post.

The list, called simply Featured Companies, is now available in the menu bar at the top of each page and in the left-hand box at the bottom of each page on this blog.

With the list I have introduced a set of categories that I have used to define the product offerings for each company. It is my hope that these categories will make it possible for you to use the list not only to find an item you saw previously on the blog, but also to discover the other amazing products these companies offer that have not (yet) been featured on fifty.

Additionally, it is my hope that in the future when you are looking for a specific type of good, you will use the list and categories to search for a US-owned company offering an American-made option.

For a more thorough explanation of how the list works and to check it for yourself, click on Featured Companies here (or above).

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Hope you enjoy this new feature.

I have been on a bit of a break but am back now and have some great things planned. (I hope you will think they are great!)

Hope your 2012 is off to a great start.

And as always, thanks for reading!

If he didn’t, buy it yourself. And resolve to either be nicer or less subtle next year.

But before you start making plans for the new, better you in 2012, make sure that you have a splendid send-off planned for 2011.

New Year’s Eve is the perfect opportunity to indulge all your vices. (After all you are going to clean up your act the next day!)

And no companies are any better equipped to do this than the ones listed below.

Check them out. These great American products and their purveyors are sure to become some of your favorite old acquaintances.

New Year’s Eve

Union Street Glass – Made in Richmond, California

Cheers!

If you are going to raise a glass to all that has come before and all that is to be, that glass should be a stunner.

Union Street Glass’ Manhattan Champagne Flute (left, $95) definitely fills that bill.

As sparkling as the contents it was designed to hold, this 10 1/4″ glass is handmade and mouth-blown of rippled lead-free crystal. The ball decoration at the top of the stem is the result of melting 24-carat gold leaf into the molten crystal. Because the gold is applied while the flute is being blown (rather than as surface decoration), it will not wash off or show signs of wear.

And while the Manhattan Champagne Glass may be the company’s most seasonally appropriate offering, it is by no means Union Street’s only noteworthy product.

For example, the Manhattan is also available in large wine, bordeaux and iced beverage styles so that you all of your beverages may be merry and bright.

But Union Street Glass is much more than a fabulous stemware manufacturer.

Begun in 1980 buy husband and wife team, Guy and Leanne Corrie, Union Street Glass today offers glasses for drinking, pendant lights, table lamps, vases, bowls, and platters in variety of colors and textures.

Though the company has come along way in 30 years, the one thing remains the same – the company’s commitment to the art and design of handmade glassware.

Visit Union Street Glass - unionstreetglass.com

J Vineyards & Winery – Made in Healdsburg, California

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4 . . .

The only sound more closely linked in our collective consciousness to the entrance of a new year than the countdown is the popping of corks!

Of course, the drunken, off-key, caterwauling of Auld Lang Syne is a close second, but it cannot tickle your nose or warm your heart quite the way a good glass of bubbly can. (No disrespect intended, Mr. Burns!)

So do yourself a favor this year, ring in the new year with an American sparkler vivid enough to fill the sky on the 4th of July.

J Vintage Brut never disappoints. It is a dry sparkling wine carefully crafted of a proprietary blend of chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier all grown in California’s Russian River Valley. Although the wine is made using traditional (very french) champagne-making methodologies, the taste is distinctly American.

Described as a complex expression of light, bright fruit, toasty creaminess and brilliant effervescence, J Vintage Brut will convert even skeptics. (You know who I mean. Those people who never drink sparkling wine but take a glass to toast the new year, only take one sip and then return to their much less festive cocktail. Heretics!)

To achieve their much acclaimed full-mouth feel and balanced finish, J Vineyard presses the harvested grapes using a Coquard press. The only one of its kind still used in the US, the Coquard presses the grapes in a stationary position so that the resultant juice has minimal contact with the grape skins and ultimately the wine is purer and has a more delicate fruit flavor.

J’s sparkling wines are fermented twice and then aged for between 3 and 8 years to develop the desired level of richness and depth.

Currently, J Vineyard’s offers its 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005 ($48 for 750 ml bottles/$90 for 1.5 l bottles) Vintage Brut on its website. Additionally, J is marking its twentieth year as a sparkling wine maker with non-vintage J Cuvée 20 “Anniversary Label”. Treat yourself to one!

And to get you through the rest of the year, J Vineyards makes divine non-sparkling wines – pinot noir, chardonay, pinot gris, viognier, vin gris, pinotage and ratafia.

(Oh and if you left someone off your Christmas list, you can more than make it up to them with a subscription to J Vineyards Wine Club!)

Visit J Vineyards & Winery - www.jwine.com

Lucky Bee Press – Made in Santa Cruz, California

Warning: Ringing in the New Year is not as much fun for your furniture as it is for you. And its effects can be much more damaging!

To keep revellers from leaving water rings on your Eames coffee table, pass out Lucky Bee Press’ New Years Resolution Coasters (left, $12/set of 8) to all of your guests as they arrive. Give them a pen to fill in the coaster’s blanks and they won’t even loose it as the night wears on.

These 3 1/2″ round, hand-printed letterpress coasters will preserve your furniture and get your guests talking about their hopes and dreams for 2012. After the ball drops, why not ask everyone to read what they have written?

(FYI – These coasters would also make a dynamite hostess gift, should you be attending rather than hosting the fete this year.)

Graphic designer Laurie Okamura started Lucky Bee Press in 2008 with two tabletop presses. Soon a larger floor model was added and today Laurie churns out bold, whimsical and slightly nostalgic cards and coasters for all occasions, as well as custom invitations and announcements.

Visit Lucky Bee Press - www.luckybeepress.com

Marky’s – Made in USA

Anything you buy by the ounce has to be sinful.

Marky’s American White Sturgeon Osetra Caviar (left) is certainly no exception.

At $55 dollars an ounce these black pearls may seem like the ultimate indulgence. However, one taste of these firm but delicate eggs and all pecuniary thoughts will vanish. You will instead be transported by the smooth and robust nutty flavor.

As the name suggests, this delicacy was is an American product. Farmed in the controlled environment of the aquaculture farms in San Francisco and Sacramento Valley of California, American White Sturgeon caviar has gained with gourmands across the US  in recent years as the roe compares favorably to the famed Caspian Russian Osetra. But at a much lower price-point.

Osetra not your preference. Good news! Marky’s offers American Sturgeon Hackleback Caviar, as well as 4 American non-sturgeon varieties – Alaskan Salmon Roe, American Bowfin Black, American Pride Caviar (Golden Herring), and American Golden Whitefish Caviar.

Founded in 1983, Marky’s is a gourmet foods importer and distributor located in Miami. The company has become synonymous with gourmet foods, importing and exporting more than 600 varieties.*

Visit Marky’s - www.markys.com

*Because they are an exporter as well as an importer, Marky’s carries many non-US made goodies. Please read source information carefully.

Crab Cake Express – Made in Fenwick Island, Delaware

No one wants to see another ham until Easter. And it will likely be Memorial Day before anyone gets another craving for turkey.

So what are you serving New Year’s Eve?

Crab cakes, obviously!

Sure you can make them yourself, assuming you have time, patience and no fear of working with expensive ingredients. (I don’t know about you, but it seems like culinary disasters occur more often with decadent ingredients than they do less expensive ones. I mean I almost never louse up a peanut butter and jelly sandwich!)

But if you don’t, you need to know where to get the best ready-made crabcakes. Enter Crab Cake Express.

Don’t let the Delaware address fool you. The restaurant behind the mail-order crabcake company, Fenwick Crab House, may be technically be in Delaware but it is only one block north of Ocean City, Maryland and sits squarely in the middle of Crab Country, USA.

Crab Cake Express’ crabcakes are never frozen. They are made and shipped within 24 hours to ensure that each batch is as fresh as those you would make it home (if you didn’t have 1,000 other things to do).

Made of lump blue crab meat, each cake (above) is full of delicious sweet meat – not fillers, extenders or breadcrumbs. In fact, no breading is required to keep these cakes together. And if you are gluten-free, let them know. Crab Cake Express will happily make a batch that complies with your dietary needs.

The cakes are available in 4 oz or 6 oz versions and in quantities from 6 to 24 (prices from $86 to $233).

Should these mountains of crab not be decadent enough for your shindig, Crab Cake Express also offers Maryland Jumbo Lump Crabcake Stuffed Lobster Tails. (Enough said.)

Visit Crab Cake Express - www.crabcakeexpress.com

Eleni’s – Made in New York, New York

The ball has dropped, corks have flown and couples have kissed.

But do not despair. (Or start sweeping up that confetti from the floor!)

Give ‘em a sweet send off with Eleni’s.

What better way to bid goodnight to your guests, than to send each home with one of Eleni’s New Year’s Eve themed cookies (left, $24/6 cookies; $65/34 cookies).

These frosted treats may look too good to eat, but don’t let that stop you. Each party hat, clock, bottle, glass, sign and noisemaker is a hand-iced, hand-made sugar cookie crafted using the highest quality all-natural ingredients in Eleni’s certified OU Kosher, nut-free kitchen.

Founder Eleni Gianopulos may have taken a circuitous route to her baking-destiny but since her first bakery’s opening in 1997, she has been the go-to-gal for cookies that are artistic as they are delicious.

Her designs cover the spectrum – holiday, birthday, get well soon, housewarming, luck and congratulations, new baby, thank you and just because - and (lucky for us) are now available through her website.

If you cannot find exactly what you are looking for, Eleni’s will help you design the perfect custom cookies for any occasion. No wonder they continue to be the cookies of choice for celebrities, Fortune 500 companies and luxury brands. And now you!

Visit Eleni’s - elenis.com

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Thanks for reading.

I certainly hope that you enjoy the post.

Please consider trying at least one of the products above as your usher in 2012!

And do not forget to like us on Facebook, follow us on twitter or subscribe to the blog itself. All can be done from the buttons below.

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

The quotes below are from some the greatest writers, thinkers and humanitarians of all time. (Oh, and Joan Rivers.)

I hope you enjoy these words about Christmas as much as I do.

All the best to you and your family!

_____________________________________

And the angel said unto them, “Fear not! For, behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, Which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David A Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, Lying in a manger.”  ~St. Luke II, 10-12

Christmas is not a time or a season but a state of mind.  To cherish peace and good will, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.  ~Calvin Coolidge, 1927

The only real blind person at Christmas-time is he who has not Christmas in his heart. ~Helen Keller

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. ~Norman Vincent Peale

Unless we make Christmas an occasion to share our blessings, all the snow in Alaska won’t make it ‘white’. – Bing Crosby

Christmas is the season for kindling the fire of hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart.  ~Washington Irving

One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas day.  Don’t clean it up too quickly.  ~Andy Rooney

Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childhood days, recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth, and transport the traveler back to his own fireside and quiet home!
-Charles Dickens

Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before.  What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store.  What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.  ~Dr. Seuss

The one thing women don’t want to find in their stockings on Christmas morning is their husband.  ~Joan Rivers

Whether you (gingerly) turn the stocking upside down and let all the mysterious contents reveal themselves or you (bravely) reach in and select each treasure one by one, you know that the thrill of discovering what lies in these foot-shaped containers cannot be rivaled by mere wrapping paper and ribbons.

This year put your best foot forward by filling your loved ones’ stockings with amazing US-made products, like the ones featured below.

These American companies make goodies that are sure to delight everyone on your mantel. Check them out!

Sprout Skincare - Made in Brooklyn, New York

Pucker up!

Does winter’s chill can take a toll on your lips?

Sprout Skincare can help.

Made with organic cocoa butter, extra virgin coconut oil, beeswax and essential oils, Sprout Skincare’s lip balm (left, $5/ea or $18/set of 4) soaks in and heels dry, cracked lips. And unlike other lip treatments, Sprout’s will not leave your lips sticky or waxy.

But the best news is that Sprout offers its lip balm in 4 delicious, kissable all-natural flavors  - cinnamon, citrus, cocoa and peppermint.

The luscious lip balms are also available in a vegan formulation that substitutes candelilla wax for the beeswax used in the original blend.

With this many options, there is no excuse not pick up one for everyone on your list! Get one for your son’s backpack, your husband’s desk, your daughter’s purse, your mom’s car, your brother’s briefcase and your own jacket pocket.

Odds are that you are going to be so thrilled with Sprout Skincare’s lip service that you will want to try the company’s other products. These include facial cleanser, toner, cream and exfoliant, as well as make-up remover and body scrub. Like their lip balm, all are made using the highest quality natural ingredients.

Visit Sprout Skincare - sproutskincare.com

Field Notes - Made in USA

Take note!

No matter how many electronic devices you have or how intuitive those devices are, nothing takes the place of pencil and paper.

(I mean really how many activities are as simple and as satisfying as striking through a completed task on a to-do list?)

Field Notes was created in response the disappearance of agricultural memo books and ornate pocket ledgers.

The 3 1/2″w x 5 1/2″ h notebooks are made to be tough. Bound with a 3-staple saddle stitch, Field Notes memo books will hold up whether you shove them in the back pocket of your jeans, slid them into the breast pocket of your sport coat or toss them into your handbag.

The original memo book comes in 4 paper options – blank, ruled, graph and mixed. But while Field Notes is serious about making a useful, durable product, they have not neglected aesthetics.

They currently offer 2 limited-edition colorways – Winter 2011: Northerly Edition and County Fair (above, $9.95/set of 3). The County Fair is available in all 50 states (subject, of course, to availability) so you can decide which you will receive. For the exceptionally patriotic jotter, Field Notes offers a complete set the 50 states for $99.

And because Field Notes loves you and doesn’t ever want you to get caught without a place to write your next brilliant thought, they have developed a subscription service.

For $97, you or someone you love can receive 4 quarterly shipments of Field Notes’ limited-edition color 3-packs. (Actually you get (2) 3-packs per quarter!) These specially colored editions tend to sell out immediately, so the subscription is an ideal way to ensure you never miss one. To kick off the subscription Field Notes will send the lucky subscriber (2) 3-packs of their original memo books (1 graph and 1 mixed).

Visit Field Notes - fieldnotesbrand.com

Pink Tank Ltd – Made in Tacoma, Washington

Just because you love books doesn’t mean you don’t have an edge.

Now you can protect your books from turned-down pages and broken spines without diminishing your cool factor by using a tasselled bookmark that would be more at home in a dollar romance novel than your oft-referenced copy of Slaughterhouse-Five.

RISD graduate and founder of Pink Tank Ltd, Chelsea uses the manufacture of her fabulous bookmarks to explore the relationship between everyday objects, mass production techniques and industrial materials.

Each 1 1/2″w x 5 1/2″ h marker is etched into and cut from a sheet of stainless steel.

Pink Tank currently offers bookmarks in 29 styles that range from household items like a clothespin, a bbq grill, and a folding chair to weapons of reading destruction like a tank and a fuse (above, $9) with, of course, lots of brilliant stuff in between. With so many designs to chose from, you are bound to find one for each bibliophile on your list.

Visit Pink Tank Ltd - www.pinktankltd.com

Brooklyn Hard Candy – Made in Brooklyn, New York

Do visions of sugar plums dance in your head?

They may after you get a glimpse of Brooklyn Hard Candy.

The vintage-inspired bottle design will catch your eye and the sparkly morsels inside will thrill your tastebuds.

Brooklyn Hard Candy makes hard candies (duh!) in flavors of blueberry, concord grape, golden pineapple, tangerine, wild strawberry and green apple (left, $8). Each flavor is lovingly packaged in an 2.5 oz apothecary-style glass bottle wrapped with a kraft-paper label and closed with a cork stopper.

(The bottle is a treat in itself. Think of all the things you can store in this beauty, after you eat the tasty candy!)

The candies made without muss, fuss or weird chemicals you cannot pronounce (and I cannot spell). Their short list of familiar ingredients – sugar, glucose, citric acid, flavoring, and a bit of food coloring – makes you feel better about indulging that sweet tooth.

Visit Brooklyn Hard Candy - www.brooklynhardcandy.com

(Malin + Goetz) - Made in New York, New York

Does the toe of your stocking usually have an orange in it?

This year break tradition and fill it with one of (Malin + Goetz)’s candles.

Not only do their candles come in amazing scents that will last longer than your traditional orange (60 hours vs 5 minutes), they are also far less messy.

If you are traditionalist who is really hung up on having something round in the toe of your stocking, you can take the candle out of its (very attractive) box. The 9 oz candle comes in a glass cylindrical container that will fill out your sock nicely!

The only difficult decision you will have to make is which of the 8 nummy (technical term) fragrances to choose.

(Malin + Goetz)’s olfactory palette tends to lean to the masculine with scents like tobacco, geranium leaf, mojito, dark rum, and cannabis (above, $52/ea). Of course, that is not to say that women cannot love these scents also. Just as men are free to love their slightly more feminine and botanical offerings – absolute rose, vetiver, otto and neroli (a personal favorite of mine).

(Malin + Goetz) offers a complete line of products for the skin, body and hair in addition to their phenomenal candles.

All of their goodies are designed for production in and around New York City. The company prides itself on its relationships with small manufacturing facilities and formulating businesses.

Visit (Malin + Goetz) - www.malinandgoetz.com.

Melissa Borrell – Made in Austin, Texas

Jewelry is always the right answer.

(Seriously – no matter what the question is!)

Melissa Borrell is by no means just a jeweler (not that there would be anything wrong with that). Melissa is an artist/designer/creative wunderkind who happens to make jewelry in addition to a heap of other cool projects.

Her pop-out collection is perhaps as much fun to receive as it is to wear.

Each piece does just what the name implies. It comes still attached to a square of the stainless steel from which it was cut and needs to be popped out to reveal its final form.

Melissa provides any hardware required to make these exciting creations immediately wearable. For example, the Leaves Pendant (above, $55) is gold-plated stainless steel and comes with a 18″chain, so as soon as you set the pendant free you can loop the chain through and then fasten it around your neck.

(Gold not your thing? The Leaves Pendant is also available in red or black powder-coated stainless or plain stainless for $39.)

Melissa also currently offers another collection of accessibly-priced and manipulable jewels called 2d3d. Her collections bubble, topography and art carry a higher price tag because of the value of the materials used and/or their more labor intensive, handmade construction.

Visit Melissa Borrell - melissaborrell.com

Solmate Socks – Made in USA

Sock it to ‘em.

At first blush, the idea of socks as a stocking stuffer may seem a bit uninspired and on-the-nose.

That is, until you get a look at Solmate’s stockings (left, $20).

Made from recycled cotton, the Vermont-based company’s socks are mismatched masterpieces.

The multi-colored yarns, graphic patterns and delightful product names (Covered Bridge shown) will lift your spirits while keeping your feet warm.

Available in sizes for infants, children and adults and colors ranging from pastel to primary, you are sure to find a pair to please even picky people perfectly!

Solmate knows that once your try its socks, you are going to be hooked. That is why the company has created a sock-of-the-month club. A 3, 6 or 9 month subscription ($65/$125/$180) is a fun and practical gift that will last long after the Christmas stockings have been put away.

The company also makes hats and scarves in its signature colors and patterns.

Visit Solmate Socks - www.socklady.com

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Hopefully, you are almost ready for the big day.

(If not, there is always overnight shipping!)

I sincerely hope that you give one or more of the products above a try and I welcome your feedback, if you do.

As always, thanks for reading and enjoy!