Now this is a truly beautiful and educational book for young and old.

Maybe a little late but this makes a great Christmas present. Maybe something to buy as an after Christmas present.

An Egg Is Quiet

(images: amazon)

I often receive e-mail from complete strangers. Most of the time I don't know what to say or what to write back and sometimes I really, honestly, don't like the products or the thoughts they're trying to "sell" me. But all those e-mails are much appreciated because sometimes you get to meet people like Dallas Clayton.

I never met him before, I don't know him but I spent almost all day yesterday reading his archives and I pre-ordered his an awesome book because I'm already a big fan of his work.

I really love this Dallas thought:

Help

If you took all the time you spent complaining
about feeling like a better person
and learned how to make furniture with your hands
and fix your own car
you would be a better person
and everyone would know it
and you would be happy.

(images: dallas clayton)

Bought myself something cute today.

(images: muji)

I'm in love with these but they are either sold out or not available for international shipping.

Fredflare
The Breast Cancer Site
UncommonGoods

Does anyone know where I can find them elsewhere?

Two new items added to my wishlist by designer Annette Bugansky for sale in the Loop shop.

(images: loop)

I want to to share garden furniture manufacturer Fermob in France with you because I love their products.

You may think I'm crazy that I'm blogging about garden furniture in December but December or January are actually the perfect months to purchase garden furniture. It's like swim ware, get it while nobody is getting it. You'll get it fast and with a discount and you'll be able to enjoy it when there are those early sunbeams in April.

Fermob garden furniture is excellent. My husband was a bit shocked when I told him how much we were going to spent on garden furniture, but now 3 years later the poppy and rose bud colored chairs are still in tip top condition. I leave them outdoors in all sorts of weather conditions and they just need a wipe with a wet cloth and they look new again.

I have the Luxembourg stacking chairs in poppy and rose bud (now replaced with peony) and I also have the bench in poppy oh and a little footstool in rose bud. They are comfortable and because they are aluminum super light and easy to lift and relocate.

I also have this set from the 1900 series in rose bud.

Have fun exploring Fermob and while you're there here are some good places to buy Fermob furniture:

Dacks.nl
Fermob USA
Fermob in the UK
Mosaique.dk

(images: fermob from their catalog - get one it's brilliant)

Tamar just sent me an e-mail with the exciting news of the launch of her new shop.

I'm a big fan of Tamar's designs and have quite a few of her lovely goodies in my home - the above ornaments included.

Tamar gives readers of The Yvestown Blog a shop discount of 10% - use code NEST to claim this special offer.

(images: nest pretty things)

Whilst browsing through all my bookmarks I stumbled upon BlaBla Kids and that was such a lovely surprise. It was there all this time book marked under shopping for kids and I forgot all about it.

And I just couldn't resist (or the inner child in me couldn't resist and started yelling "I want one, I want one") and bought these two. One is going to be a Sinterklaas present for Bo's niece.

Cute eh?

(images: blablakids.com)

My favorite drink is a bottle of Evian mixed with lemon squash. I drink about 4 bottles a day - "If you drink too much water it lowers the concentration of salt in your blood so that it is lower than the concentration of salt in cells," - so be aware, too much water can kill you. I've been using the Evian 18oz bottles for a very long time. I did recycle them but in the end it was just getting too much.

Just recently I found out about the Klean Kanteen bottles as an alternative to my plastic Evian bottles, so I bought one. First I bought two pink 27oz bottles but I find them too large to hold and the bottle opening was too wide for my mouth. Yesterday I received my 18oz in the mail with the sport drinking cap and now I'm a happy woman.

Because I'd like to do right, I'm giving one (the one I didn't use) of my two pink 27oz kanteens to an Yvestown reader. All you have to do is leave a comment and wednesday October 15 I'll randomly pick a winner. The winner will be notified on the lifestyle blog and by e-mail.

(images: klean kanteen)

Love these coasters from Dutch designers Jansen + Co. You can get them over here.

(images: jansen+Co)

My first Joseph Joseph product was the dual board in blue, since than I'm in love with their products.

Just recently I found out about Nest 8. It's not yet for sale (or I can't find it, please let me know if you can) but when it is I'm going to buy one. It's so cleverly designed and a Joseph-sent for people who like to organize and color. Everything you need is in "Nest".

I did a little research and found out that a company called Morph did a lot of the Joseph Joseph designs and also designed Nest. I think I need that bread bin too for the new kitchen.

Update 10-10-2008:
You can now actually buy Joseph Joseph products on their website. That wasn't possible when I wrote this post. So go over and get a Nest!!

(images: joseph joseph)

While browsing for yarn I stumbled upon the lovely shop of Catherine Tough. I've been adding and removing things to the shopping basket for two days now but I can't decide what to buy first. As we are renovating by room I've made a promise with myself only to buy something for the room I'm working on and now that is the kitchen and conservatory. So what can I buy for that?

The Hug Cushion, for the comfy chair I have in my mind for the conservatory?

(images: catherine tough)