Ichendorf Milano
Glassware
-
Handmade, beautiful, delicate (looking) glassware that is dishwasher safe at low temperatures. Made of borosilicate (laboratory glass) they are very durable and if they do break, they tend to break into large pieces rather than shattering. Prices range but much of their line is incredibly well priced, especially the Tutu line.
-
Favorites from the line are Tutu wine glasses, Bouquet vases (pictured) and the 'Cha No Yu' tealight lantern.
I love to use their Rings oil bottles for hand soap in the bathroom.
Be sure to use a tealight with a metal cup in the lantern as getting pooled wax out of the base is very difficult. I actually stuff the globes with dried rose petals rather than using them for candles at all.
-
USA + Europe:
Weck Jars
Glass Jars
-
My favorite glass jars. Originally intended for canning, when you use the clips + rubber gaskets they are watertight. If you don’t want or need to fuss with all that, they sell cork or wooden lids and I’m a fan of just popping the glass lids on top, no clips, no nothing. They come in a vast array of shapes and sizes and lids, gaskets + clips are easily replaced.
-
Be very careful when buying these - their model numbering system is not entirely intuitive and it’s easy to buy the wrong size. You can often find images on google that show all the sizes of a model together which can help put things in perspective.
When storing food in the fridge for a few days I don’t bother with the rubber gasket + clips and have never had an issue. You can also put the clips on without the gasket, the jar just won’t be completely watertight.
-
USA:
many other sites from Boston General Store to Crate&Barrel
UK:
*be especially careful on this site as each piece is sold separately (lids + gaskets) so you have to actually select that addition
Burlap + Barrel
Spices
-
Single origin spices, non-GMO, non-irradiated, no fillers, Public Benefit Corporation. These are the best spices from a high-integrity company.
-
The exotic varietals are not a marketing ploy - they really do taste different. Favorites include the Wild Mountain Cumin (completely different flavor than regular cumin), Fermented White Peppercorns + Alphonso Mango Amchur.
They sell almost all of them in bulk quantities as well as the standard smaller sizes which is a great boon when you consume the quantities I do.
-
Whole Foods has started to carry a very small selection
Central Market has a vast collection for those lucky enough to be in Texas.
Kunisawa
Notebooks
-
Japanese notebooks with foolscap paper that makes the pen simply glide across the surface. Excellent for fountain pens with good ink absorption. The faint square grid on this spiral notebook keeps things neat and tidy and the covers stand up exceptionally well to wear and tear.
-
I am devoted to these A5 notebooks which come in an array of colors (nine I believe) but they have a few different products in their line-up, all of which are excellent.
It is difficult to find a store in the US with the full product line-up but if you Google Kunisawa notebooks and find one you like, you can search for that sku in particular.
-
Socket Rockets
Goggles
-
The famous Swedish goggle design with just enough padding to make them comfortable. These slim little things seal perfectly, don’t fog up and are very reasonably priced. AND I don’t get any rings around the eyes, they are that comfortable. They have tinted versions as well and claim they all include UVA/UVB protection.
-
If they are leaking but are tight enough around the head, try tightening the nosebridge.
-
Flower Power
Medicinal Herbs + Herbal Medicine
-
In NYC for over 30 years, this dream team sells organic herbs, roots, flowers, leaves and seeds. They have a broad array of loose, bulk dried herbs as well as extracts, essential oils, tinctures, salves, books and more. They are fully transparent with their sourcing if you inquire and carry a lot of USA grown, organic bulk herbs. A brilliant source for all things witchy and wonderful.
-
The shop in the East Village is well worth visiting. Note that their hours are 12 pm - 7 pm.
The shopkeepers are very knowledge and helpful if you drop in or give them a ring.
They carry lots of HerbPharm tinctures, Bach flower remedies, incense and have a lovely little collection of books.
They also have a shop upstate in Piermont.
-
Plasticana
Hemp Plastic Shoes
-
Imported from France, Plasticana shoes are made from 100% recycled plastic and hemp making them 100% recyclable and waterproof.
-
The water shoes and jellies cannot be beat and they both can be squeezed into the teeniest corners of your suitcase or beach bag.
The shoes are all unisex and they make kids jellies as well so everyone can match.
-
Enfleurage
Essential Oils, Resins + More
-
Established in NYC in 1997, they carry an extensive line-up of pure essential oils sourced from small artisanal distilleries. They also sell exquisite frankincense + myrrh resin as well as hydrosols, perfumes, candles and more.
-
The shop on 13th Street is well worth visiting. Give yourself ample time to smell every exquisite bottle.
They run lots of sales so it is worth giving your email and jumping on those when they come up.
Frankincense is their specialty - they have had their own distillery for many years. Personal favorites - in addition to their green frankincense resin - include the Spirit Room Spray + Pink Peppercorn essential oil.
They also have lots of useful tools such as charcoal, diffusers, incense dishes and more.
-
DeBuyer
Cookware, Bakeware + Utensils
-
Founded in 1830, their cookware is still handmade at their factory in the Vosges region of France. They have also made strides to be more gentle on the environment in their production using sustainable + ethically sourced materials from France + Europe. They have beehives on the property and their own wastewater treatment plant.
-
The carbon steel pans are my favorite. in particular the lightweight Blue Carbon Steel pans. These develop a natural non-stick patina, can go from stove to oven + be used on all cooktops including induction. Lighter than cast-iron but almost as indestructible this is my egg pan - including scrambled!
Avoid soap as much as possible - hot water, immediate drying (it will rust!) and a thin coating of oil is enough cleaning 95% of the time. That being said, when there are charred, stuck bits I have soaked it in hot water for 3 minutes + used a copper sponge + a bit of Sal Suds with no issue so long as I dry it immediately. Most of the time I wipe it out, let any residual sheen of oil remain and put it away without so much as a trip to the sink.
They also have beautiful stainless, copper + ceramic nonstick.
-
Also sold at many major retailers such as Sur La Table + Williams Sonoma but for the full line-up, go to their website.
Iris Hantverk
Wooden Brushes
-
Brushes made by master craftsmen using FSC-certified Swedish hardwoods, animal hair + plant fiber. Founded in 1889, this brand is the real deal. They have an extensive line-up from toothbrushes to dish brushes to shoe shine kits. All are worth the upgrade, do not underestimate the power of a beautiful tool to make the mundane task a delight.
-
It is difficult to find one source in the US with the full line-up so I have provided a number of sources in the Sources section.
Read descriptions on these carefully! Some products look the same but actually have different bristles, are different dimensions or are meant for different applications (bath vs dishes for example).
The toothbrushes are perhaps my favorite. They are plastic free (bristles are made from castor oil) and biodegradable when the head is removed. They are so much nicer than the bamboo alternatives, and hold up really well, especially if you dry the handle after each use.
-
Redecker
Tough Brushes
-
Bürstenahus Redecker is a stalwart. Founded in 1935 they make excellent, tough household tools. keeping the home (and boats and cars) in tip-top shape.
-
For softer brushes (dish, make-up + bath brushes) I prefer Iris Hantverk but for jobs that need a tough scrub, Redecker products are my favorite.
All-time MVP are their copper sponges. These little guys make sticker glue, charred bits and candle wax dissappear without damaging surfaces. They do stretch out when I am scrubbing + scrubbing but made of 100% woven copper fiber, they can be recycled almost infinitely. I like to always have a stash under the sink.
Their line-up is extensive from fly-swatters to toilet brushes and everything is beautiful and made from natural materials without being fussy or precious. You can even get a backscratcher if those in your life are not obliging.
-