Take Notice

By Alyssa Ford
Take Notice
Photo by Maki Strunc Photography

Trendy Tannenbaum

An artificial Christmas tree for the style conscious, this minimalist evergreen is made of removable stock dowels, attached to a cedar trunk. Designers Tia and Souliyahn Keobounpheng, founders of Minneapolis design firm Silvercocoon, created the tree for their own modern holiday home. Available for $150 (ornaments, garland, and lights not included) through Silvercocoon, 612-588-0577, www.silvercocoon.com.

The Softer Side

Photo courtesy of Sarah Kusa

When St. Paulite Sarah Kusa left her former life as an ad director at an advertising agency, she knew she wanted to create something that would have a longer shelf life than the brochures she had been churning out. She found her new direction in a screen-printing class just a year ago, an epiphany that led her to launch a line of place mats, napkins, table runners, and dishcloths designed in natural motifs, silhouettes, and negative space. True to her sensibility for enduring style, Kusa uses only natural fibers such as linen, cotton, and dupioni silk, and hand mixes her own ink. Look for accent pillows and curtains in early 2007. Sarah Kusa Design Goods are available at Corazon, 204 Washington Ave. N., Minneapolis, 612-333-1662, www.corazononline.com, or directly through the designer at 651-698-6140, www.sarahkusa.com.

Photo courtesy of Bambu

Nice Rack

A new home-furnishings purveyor in Linden Hills, Rick Rack, shows off an inventive mix of vintage accents, modern décor elements, and funky gifts. The two-story farmhouse displays complete room settings and many lines not seen elsewhere in the metro, such as découpage-inspired lamps by Seattle artist Lisa Lamoreaux. Also found: Bambu bowls (pictured), Denise Schmidt quilts, Le Jacquard Français towels, vintage bar-cloth pillows, and Pop Ink graphic plates. Rick Rack, 3413 44 St. W., 612-746-4160, www.rickrackliving.com.

Photo courtesy of Snap Design

Fearless Crafts

If you dismiss craft fairs as strictly for the crocheted-doily-and-quilt set, this one’s for you. The No Coast Craft-O-Rama, in its second year, promises a much cheekier selection. Shop for funky jewelry, ’zines, clever coasters, knitted hats, and other “fearless handicrafts.” If there’s a teen or 20-something on your holiday list, this may be your gift-buying paradise. The No Coast Craft-O-Rama will be held December 2 at the Midtown Global Market, Lake St. and Chicago Ave., Minneapolis, 612-788-1180, www.nocoastcraft.com.

Photo provided by
En Gry & Sif

Truly Independent

You’ve heard of indie films and indie music, but it’s the emerging indie retail industry that’s truly taking the Midwest by storm. Truly, a boutique owned by Sherrie Chapin and Samantha Hagel that opened in October, features the work of more than 80 independent designers, crafters, and artisans. This 800-square-foot shop offers an array of small, handmade, cottage-industry items, including handbags, T-shirts, jewelry, stationery, bath and body products, and decorative home accessories. 2175 Fourth St., White Bear Lake, 651-426-8414,
www.trulyonline.com.

Photo provided by
Harry Carlson

Hudson Holiday

For the first time, the Phipps Center for the Arts will bring in the wares of some 20 artisans for an art fair December 1 and 2. Many of the creations, including hand-carved Santas by Harry Carlson (pictured) and turned-wood vessels from Jim Ruemmele, are only available in limited venues. These offerings are in addition to the unique, artisan-made gifts Phipps sells through its Gift By the Hand gallery. The art fair coincides with Hudson’s downtown holiday celebration, featuring carriage rides and luminaria on Dec. 1 and the arrival of Santa and his reindeer on Dec. 2. Phipps Center for the Arts, 109 Locust St., Hudson, Wisconsin, 715-386-2305, www.thephipps.org. The Gift By the Hand will be open November 18 to December 31.

Out-State Green

Greater Minnesota is staking its own claim to the eco-building trend. Dovetail Partners, a nonprofit sustainable-forestry organization, is putting the finishing touches on its first green demonstration house in Aitkin. The 1,300-square-foot, three-bedroom house, built with locally made prefab panels and Forest Stewardship Council-certified timber from Minnesota, is designed to show that eco-building supports local jobs and Minnesota timber companies, as well as the planet. The affordable home has in-floor radiant heat, an on-site storm-water system, low-flow faucets, and efficient appliances. Dovetail has two more rural demonstration houses in the works: Greenbush in 2007 and Warren in 2008. Contact Dovetail Partners for details on open house events, 612-333-0430, or www.dovetailinc.org.

Photo provided by Chantal

Centenarian Kettle

Famed Hungarian-born designer Eva Zeisel has lived an iconic life. She was imprisoned during the Stalinist purge of the 1930s, then evaded Nazi forces before finally settling in New York City. She went on to design more than 100,000 everyday products, including the Town and Country line for Red Wing Pottery. In commemoration of her 100th birthday, Chantal has released a numbered, limited edition teakettle Zeisel recently designed—her first kettle. With an ergonomic handle, a brushed stainless steel body, and a reasonable $79.99 price tag, the new Eva Kettle is almost as cool as the story behind it. Available in limited quantity at Bloomingdale’s, Mall of America, 952-883-2500, or online at www.bloomingdales.com.

Photo provided by Ecco

Posh Nosh

Save on time without skimping on style with Donna Hay’s newest, Instant Entertaining (Ecco, 2006). This coffee-table-worthy tome is laden with luscious food photography and a wealth of quick-to-prepare menus, with extra pointers on easy centerpieces, fun take-home gifts, and more. Be prepared to spare no expense, however. • Darina Allen, “Ireland’s best-known food ambassador,” may have been stretching it with the title of her release Easy Entertaining (26 hours to marinate salmon?), but the ideas are scrumptious nonetheless. Especially clever is the section on food parties with instructions for elegant pancake-, taco-, and omelet-themed get-togethers. (Kyle Books, 2006) • Author Alain de Botton delves into the emotions of building design in The Architecture of Happiness (Pantheon, 2006). De Botton makes the case—with clear-as-day illustrations and examples—that beautiful buildings communicate elegance, balance, order, complexity, coherence, and self-knowledge. Far from being indulgent, he writes, the quest for pleasing environments is at the very heart of being healthy and human.

Photo provided by General Electric

Oenophile Alert

The Ferrari of wine cellars, on display at ALL showroom in St. Paul, is guaranteed to wow the most devoted of connoisseurs. The GE Monogram Wine Vault, $35,000, stores up to 1,000 bottles on its more than 5,000 square feet of redwood racks. A pre-programmed electronic system allows you to inventory every bottle in your wine portfolio, including vintner, year, and peak drinking time. It will also recommend wine selections, based on your dinner menu and collection, tell you where to house each bottle, and inform you when a bottle’s taste has started to decline. ALL is located at 185 Plato Blvd. W., St. Paul, 651-227-6331, www.allinc.com.


Photo courtesy of Sauder

Affordably Traditional

Furniture shoppers with IKEA budgets but more traditional tastes now have another option: Go Furniture, a 6,000-square-foot showroom that opened recently in Richfield. The new showroom boasts the largest collection of ready-to-assemble furniture in the upper Midwest from manufacturer Sauder. Browse 23 collections, more than 500 pieces total, including headboards, modular closet systems, and case goods—even specially designed “crafting” armoires. 750 78th St. W., Richfield, 612-866-8480, www.gofurnituremn.com.

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