This is LIKE a gift guide, but really i also kind of tasked wonderful intern, Alyssa, to make me her wishlist as an awesome gift guide! Soooooo on the next page you can browse what she’s wanting this year! Going through it, i’m pretty sure you might have a few people who’d want what she’s got on there too!
On italian design icons, the Sacco is legendary, it’s impacted every college kid since 1968… it’s the original beanbag as designed in 1968 by Piero Gatti, Cesare Paolini and Franco Teodoro for Zanotta… it is the first mass-produced bean bag chair, filled with polystyrene pellets… Can you believe it? 40 years? To celebrate, Zanotta invited us to breakfast at DZINE in San Francisco, and unfortunately i wasn’t able to make it up there, but Marcia Simmons was nice enough to step in and help out! Highlights were meeting Martino Zanotta, the current head of the company, having access to the ORIGINAL DESIGN SKETCHES of this legendary piece, and the picture she sent me of her cat, Olive, who has happily claimed her mini Sacco… See more images and her comments on the next page!
TO WIN: Leave a comment here ~ tell us an office anecdote? ENTER BY 11/27. WINNER: Weiyi in Singapore!
Genius Jones “Design For A New Generation” ~ don’t be fooled, sure it may sound like a kids store at first - a fabulously playful and design kid store online… but there are so many goodies in there that i’m wanting even! So for this giveaway, Genius Jones is giving one commenter a Lomography Fisheye 2 White Edition and NY City Limits Electronic Stapler!
All we ask in return? Leave us a comment about an office anecdote? Afterall, how much fun is this fully automatic stapler with all the colorful gears and gizmos, doesn’t it just brighten up and desk and basic office task? And the lomo Fisheye ~ everything looks cooler with a fisheye… any cubicle can look like its own massive WORLD seen through that lens! See more pictures of the goods and a coupon from Genius Jones on the next page!
TO WIN: Leave a comment here ~ tell me some animal/adventure story? ENTER BY 11/26. WINNER: Jeremy in Alexandria, VA!
Not to be biased or anything, but i am so giddy about this giveaway even more than any of the others so far! This was a late addition, cooked up over late night emails with Otter X (aka Patrick Ma, founder of Rocket World and T.A.D. Gear) ~ where upon ordering myself an early bday present in the form of the awesomest fleecy hoodie EVER, he offered to give one away to you guys too! And mine came on friday, and the temp dropped ridiculously at night, and its the coziest thing ever… so i’m even wearing it NOW!
So here’s the Rocket World Shag Master Creature Hoodie (what a name, right?) - its the third in a line of exclusive fleeces from Rocketworld (pics of the first two on the next page!)… the biggest difference for me is that this one is versatile with its removable bear ears (which can also be switched for horns or anything you can make and velcro on!) - so less commitment to being an instant-furry with the full face and claws! These hoodies are the perfect combination for those of us who adore the Rocket World IWG well armed animal toys and the high quality tactical gear of TAD Gear. This is a variation of the original T.A.D. Gear Shag Master fleece. If there’s one thing you can’t miss about Patrick, his attention for detail is impeccable ~ combine that with his love of toys, nature, product design and a background in the army… is it really surprising that even this Creature Hoodie has had orders heading to soldiers in Iraq and A-stan as well as hollywood studios? His clientele on any given day ranges from die hard toy collectors to special forces, so you can only imagine. ANYHOW… you know i can rant on for eons about how incredible the company and products are, but lets move on to showing you all the details and fun photos of them skating at night with the hoodies on the next page, and to win one (he’ll drop ship it in your size!) leave a comment with some adventure/animal tales!
TO PAGE 2 of "NOTCOT Giveaway 7: Rocket World Shag Master Creature Hoodie"! ----->
“Beam Global Spirits and Wine, Inc., redefines rye with company’s first ultra-premium rye whiskey - (rī)1 Whiskey Brings Cocktail Style and Straightforward Sophistication to Traditional Rye Whiskey Category”, and you’ve got to admit, it is a seriously un-whiskey looking designer bottle… and even more stunning is the acrylic box they sent it over encased in along with a glass and the coolest stirrer/stirrer placement i have ever seen. Using the transparency of the styrofoam slit to turn the plastic stirrer into what appeared to be a floating droplet of (rī)1 when you slide open the box… so awesome!
(rī)1 - pronounced Rye-One - is certainly making waves in what has been a rather traditional genre, and the flavor is incredible… the spiciness really hits you upside the head (i decided i’d try it neat first and not read the tasting notes until after, so i didn’t see it coming)… it was refreshing and fascinating with a cube of ice, really opening up the flavors - you have to try it!
As the press release describes: “Bottled at 92 proof, (rī)1 features a light, slightly spicy flavor and a long, luxurious finish. Straight, the nose offers a gentle, peppery nod to its rye heritage. Cut with water, the scents of dried fruit and cinnamon push to the front, providing a rich palate experience.” Also exciting… “Future variants, including (rī)2 and (rī)3, are planned to create a complete product line.” Can’t wait to see what those flavors are like! But for now, you have to check out the incredible acrylic box of goodies - i’ve been trying to figure out what else it can be used for, and first idea is… light box? See all the pics on the next page!
TO WIN: Leave a comment here ~ make it fun! ENTER BY 11/25. WINNER: Tim in Pittsburgh, PA!
Our friends at Perpetual Kid, not only have nearly everything from Fred & Friends as seen in the Fred Giveaway, but more gifts and playfulness than you can imagine for just about ANYONE on your list. So for a fun weekend giveaway, here’s a silly duo that i bet most can relate to… coffee cups and cup o’ noodles ring a bell? Well old classic bad habits of my boarding school/college career have been reinvented into ceramic icons… One winner will get: 1 I Am Not A Paper Cup which is double walled porcelain with a silicon lid, and 1 Ceramic Noodle Cup… more images and coupon on the next page!
Gift Guide: all the goodies for kids! And really, i’d want the majority of stuff on here too ~ and there is also stuff for little teeny tiny kids (aka new parents) ~ as well as stuffed toys, toy toys, cardboard forts and airplanes, to toys to chew on and playful woody cars and blocks! Click on through to check out the massive collage of a gift guide!
TO WIN: Leave a comment ~ this time tell us something fun about kids toys! ENTER BY 11/24. WINNER: Michal in Florida!
On to giveaway #5 ~ our friends at Fawn & Forest always find the most amazing kids gear - from furniture to clothing to really really fun toys and they have found that perfect balance between modern and eco-friendly! So for this giveaway, they’ve generously offered a bundle of woody goodness for kids (ok, or some for you and some to share with the kids)…
Since this one is drop shipping, the winner will get to pick wood/colors for: a Earnest Effort Wood Baby Rattle, a Naef Juba Worm, and a Suddenly, It’s Real! Wood Yoyo!
See more closeups of the products below, as well as stories behind the designers, and a coupon to Fawn & Forest!
There’s something so beautiful about glass, and i’ve been particularly obsessive with double walled glass recently (like, what is out there beyond the usual Bodum cups and such) ~ and more organic and playful glass pieces… and as gifts, they always look so precious and beautiful… fun shadows, light dancing all around! So here’s a gift guide of Glassiness! See the next page for the guide, click the images to find out more, and a few coupons at the bottom to help you out as well!
I think i am obsessed with a large green glossy lacquered rocking chicken. Is that weird? Is it weirder that tonight i am obsessed with it because of Jamie Hayon’s Lladro Fantasy Collection where he playfully mixes his designer goodness and attention to detail with the classic porcelain collectibles… But back to the chicken. It’s giant. It’s green. It’s glossy. And i bet when you rock on it your mind fills with ideas and you get taken on a dreamy world of inspiration… or maybe thats the sleeping pill kicking in and i’m starting to fade and dream up ideas (how is it 3:30am?)? Regardless, between all the giveaways, thought you’d have fun taking a peek at the sketches and more images of the great green rocking chicken on the next page… see more at Jamie’s site too!
TO WIN: Leave a comment ~ this time lets mix it up, and in honor of Fred we’ll pick one of the comments that is most amusing! ENTER BY 11/23. WINNER: Maria in Chicago, IL!
So it turns out Fred & Friends, over at World Wide Fred, really love you guys and the NOTEmpire… i was totally expecting them to send over 2-3 items for today’s giveaway, and this giant box of goodies appeared today! This box will single handedly transform your kitchen/locker/packages/etc… it’s ready to really spruce up your next party! So what have we got?
- Calf & Half (i LOVE this double walled creamer glass)
- Pick Your Nose Cups (drinking games perhaps?)
- Salt & Peeper (turn his head and eyes change colors and s or p comes out)
- Luckey (bottle opener!)
- Gin & Titonic (icey ships for your drinks!)
- Frozen Smiles (these teeth ice cubes freak me out!)
- Tinsel Tape (makes packages that much more festive!)
- Spoon Rest (adorable pillow made of silicon to hold your drippy spoon!)
- Finger Food (perfect for parties!)
- Hot Shot Hand Warmer (b/c its getting chilly out?)
- Stuck Up Magnet Set (Yes, gum shaped magnets… awesome for the fridge?)
- Classic Cassette Tote (nothing like a giant cassette to carry your laptop in!)
As you can see, the folks at Fred love to mix humor, puns, and quality design into every product, and their photography for all of the products is always hilarious as well! So in line with Fred’s design philosophies, to win this bundle of amusement, leave a comment to amuse us (and your fellow commenters)! Additionally, see more pictures on the next page, a coupon, and i was SUPER curious about the Calf & Half, so snuck a peek and got some closer look…
Oacoca ~ remember the recent .org post #16193? It came across my email and totally had me craving chocolate when i posted it that night ~ and a box came today, so to follow up, you have to see how cute this “indulgence worthy of the guilt” really is… and i liked the packaging, and insulated giant silver ziploc with reusable icepack inside… So check out pics of these deliciously decadent upgrades on the usual peanut butter cup…
Gift Guide time! Here’s one rounding up some picks for just about anyone… well honestly, i didn’t know what to call it, so they are kind of in that hostess gift category, that person you want somethign nice for that looks kind of cool and unusual yet totally works for everyone from your lawyer to your significant other’s mom? They also make for fun conversation pieces! So check it out on the next page, click the images to see more info on them, and happy holidays!
TO PAGE 2 of "Gift Guide: Gorgeous Gifts for Anyone"! ----->
TO WIN: Leave a comment! ENTER BY 11/22 - WINNER: Jori in Kansas!
Firstly ~ THANK YOU FOR ALL THE AMAZING COMMENTS ~ you guys really blow my mind, and i love how creative most of you get with them! I really wish there was a way i could give you all something! But for now, i think we’ll have to stick to the ~30 giveaways! Thanks for being such amazing readers!
Secondly ~ i love Mimobots, and i think you do too! And lucky for us both, they love us all too! So third giveaway, here is number 118 of a limited 200 mimobot run of the special RayD8gig and he’s 8GIGS BIG! As you can see, he’s hanging out in this picture waiting for you with my old school RayD8 (who actually stores ALL things gift guide this year as i bounce between laptop and desktop) They have also thrown in a black Protohoodie to keep the little guy warm (and protected from your keys, etc!). So check out more pics on the next page, as well as the special NOTCOT Coupon, and more info on how they are giving 50 mimobots (one a day!) away on twitter, and a peek at the limited edition Yahoo bots!
TO WIN: Leave a comment! ENTER BY 11/21 - WINNER: Cynthia in Texas!
Giveaway #2 (of what looks like around 30 giveaways in the calendar right now! isn’t that insane! and it’s all stuff i love too! I’m so exciting to be able to help share this stuff with all of you!!! ok moving on…), so as i was saying, Giveaway #2 for this holiday season is Joey Roth’s Sorapot. He and i will be keeping an eye on all your comments, and he will dropship a (possibly customized/signed?) Sorapot to one lucky reader! You have until the night of 11/21 to leave a comment and we’ll pick + email a winner!
The Sorapot story is definitely a design saga that is near and dear to many design/trend/gadget blogs - we’ve been watching, waiting, and nurturing Joey’s design from the concept and prototype days ~ through production ~ through packaging design ~ through unboxings ~ and finally to brewing that first cup of tea. As you can see, its as much a work of art as it is a tea pot, and the packaging is one of my favorite parts, especially how the scroll like instructions curl off the glass body… So as a refresher, take a peek at a look back at some of my pics on the next page, and leave a comment for your chance to win one!
