CasaSugar

The Card Shop: Turtle Papers Happy Birthday Deer Card Set

CasaSugar — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 15:00:10 -0800

No gimmicks, sappy quotes, or photos of beefy men, the Turtle Papers Happy Birthday Deer Card Set ($10 for 4) is simply sweet and elegant. Yes, it does have that reimagined hunting trophy trendiness going on, but not in the sense that it's soon heading for the discount bins. Pick a set up and you'll always be prepared for the impromptu friend-of-a-friend birthday party you have to go to. There are at least five birthdays on my March calendar, and I know of a baby girl on the way, so I might just have to pick up two packs.

Happy 103rd Birthday Eva Zeisel!

CasaSugar — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:39:30 -0800

World-renowned Hungarian industrial designer Eva Zeisel turns 103 today! Though she is best known for her work with ceramics, Eva, a featured Designer Spotlight here on Casa, has designed everything from acrylic candelabras to wooden and glass coffee tables, and is considered by many to be the matriarch of industrial design.

In fact, New York magazine named Zeisel in its list of nine living Design Revolutionaries back in '07. Better yet, her work is in the permanent collections of museums like the Met, the V&A, and the MoMA, and she received the National Design Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum in New York in 2005. Honored with the award at 99 years old, she could have brought closure to her successful career, but she impressively continues to design new works of art today. And while the curves and sensuous shapes of her recent designs are certainly sought after, her earlier pieces remain relevant and stylish, a mark of a truly influential designer. Take a look at some of Eva's work below.

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Love It or Hate It? Message Bean

CasaSugar — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 12:00:24 -0700

While I'm a big gardening fan, something about printing messages on defenseless seeds strikes me as a bit odd. But maybe the Bloom in a Can Message Bean ($14) is simply a cute way to wish a happy birthday to the gardeners in your life. Thoughts?

Barbie Celebrates Her 50th in a Jonathan Adler Dream House

CasaSugar — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 08:00:18 -0700

Happy Birthday, Barbie! It's been 50 years since Barbie was first introduced at the New York Toy Fair, and she's still as stylish as ever. Tonight she celebrates the big 5-0 with a star-studded birthday bash (orchestrated by celeb event planner Colin Cowie) at a real 3,500-square-foot Malibu Dream House decorated by Jonathan Adler, complete with a pink carpet entrance. The digs have been outfitted with "skirted, corseted, lace-up dress chairs, a chandelier, a closet filled with thousands of shoes, a sunburst mirror made from 65 Barbie dolls, and a garage that includes a real Barbie Volkswagen New Beetle car (all pink with a motorized, pop up vanity in the trunk)," in addition to a Barbie museum dedicated to displaying the original iconic doll, among other famous dolls. If this rendering of the living room by Jonathan Adler is any sign, Barbie's Dream House is one coveted crib, and her fête will be a memorable one.
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The Card Shop: Screen-Printed Bird Enclosure Cards

CasaSugar — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 07:45:00 -0700

If you're attending a birthday, housewarming, or any other party that calls for gift-giving, but you're not close with the host, your best bet is to keep it simple. Pick up a great gift that anyone would love (bottle of wine, flowers, Scrabble!), and enclose a chic, cute gift card or tag. Augment it by sharing a brief sentiment and signing your name. Take this Set of 8 Screen-Printed Bird Enclosure Cards ($10), for example. The ochre birds and branch design on heavy card stock shows that you care, but doesn't cross any boundaries like a hunky shirtless man card might (you know what I'm talking out). Try, "Happy birthday! Hope it's a blast." No one ever complains about short and sweet.

Crave Worthy: Message Bean

CasaSugar — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 07:30:42 -0700

The adorably innovative Message Bean ($14.95) would be a great and affordable housewarming or hostess gift. The recipient simply has to plant the bean, and a message appears on either side of the sprout. Varieties include "Thank You," "Love," "Good Luck," "Happy Birthday," "Get Well," and more.

All it takes is soil and about a half cup of water, and it grows in about a week. Has anyone tried this? If so, let me know how it turned out.