Found via Urban Gardens. These amazing string gardens are hanging works of art. They’re based on the Japanese art of Kokedama, a form of bonsai planted in a moss ball. 

Check out the string gardens facebook page for many more images.

Carafes are an elegant way to serve water with lemon, lime or cucumber slices. They also work great for iced tea, lemonade, orange juice and more. But lately, I’ve been using them to pre-mix up our favorite cocktails when friends come over. Margaritas or cosmos just look so nice served in a pretty carafe. Plus the left-overs fit right in the refrigerator door.

Clockwise: Eva Solo carafe  comes with a drip free lip, Menu water jug has a self-close lid that opens when you pour and closes back up when you set the carafe back down. And the Menu black and white top carafes have a self-opening silicone and stainless lid and a classic milk-jug shape.

Have you ever wanted to serve sushi or other delicious item at a party but worried about how to keep it cold for the entire meal? This clever serving set by Menu solves the problem neatly. 

The three-piece set includes a porcelain platter, melamine lower tray and a stay-cool gel pad that you freeze. Place the cooling gel pad in the melamine tray and then top with the porcelain platter. Your sushi, oysters, fruit or cold-cut platter will stay at the perfect temperature for the entire meal. Of course, the porcelain platter is great on its own for everyday use as well. As is the melamine tray.

Our good friend, Beth Weintraub, is an amazing artist. Her prints and metal etchings are filled with botanical images…but not those girly, sweet flowers you might be imagining. Beth is drawn to wilted, bizarre and deconstructed flowers.

Her work is on plywood panels that are inspired by mid-century design. Their modular nature lets you customize your collection and the format in which they hang. Group them vertically, horizontally or in square. They adapt to your space.

The blog Seeds and Fruit recently wrote a great piece about Beth’s work.

Stop by Grounded to see her work in person or check out Beth’s website for more incredible images of her work.

Now you can protect your floors from messy eaters and drinkers. These Chilewich pet mats are easy to wipe clean and have a cute little puppy cutout in the center.

Now in stock at Grounded in five colors.

Mark your calendar! May 1st is the ASLA San Diego Chapter’s 2010 Spring Garden Tour.

This is a guided bus tour of private residential gardens and public projects designed by professional Landscape Architects. The tour will highlight the professional work of Landscape Architects and will showcase ways to make existing landscapes drought tolerant.

Following the tour, there will be a gathering with music, food and drink and a raffle for a grand prize.

When: Saturday, May 1, 2010. 1:00 to 5:30 p.m.
Price: $45 per person includes bus transportation, access to gardens, & educational tour.

For more information, visit the ASLA San Diego website. Call (619) 225-8155 or email aslasd@sbcglobal.net

These adorable necklaces by Figs & Ginger are inspired by the forest.

They’re made from at least 50% recycled sterling silver (although they try to use 100% recycled whenever possible). Each necklace has a blackened patina, which means no polishing is required.

With Mother’s Day just around the corner, get your order in soon. I’m pretty sure we’ll sell out.

I’ve been admiring Alice Roche’s jewelry for some time and we finally have it in the store! Alice’s jewelry is inspired by both nature and architecture. Handcrafted in her San Francisco studio, from hammered silver with a matte finish. Perfect to wear every day.

Oh, and don’t forget…Mother’s Day is just around the corner!

Caldrea has added a fresh new scent to their collection: sandalwood riceflower. It’s a light floral fragrance with wood and moss. It’s my new fav.

Now in stock in the store. Coming to the website soon.

When Sandy Chilewich showed us her nifty new iphone case at the Maison Objet show in Paris, we were a little jealous. Then she said it wouldn’t be available for us to sell. Huh? Deep envy and a teeny tiny touch of harrumph.

Finally, after a long wait (at least to us it seemed long), we are able to offer the Chilewich iphone cases! They come in two colors: light grey or gravel.

Fits any iphone 3G or iphone 3GS. Big happy smile!