Printed and hand-painted pillows



Kevin O'Brien Studio is exhibiting new Shibori pillows & bedding at the New York International Gift Fair this month. The company will introduce new patterns in its printed Nautical pillow collection, and new patterns and colors in its collection of hand-painted velvet pillows.
The company also offers bedding, throws, stuffed animals and wall decor.


Retailers: Contact the manufacturer for prices and minimums.

Shoppers: Ask your favorite independent retailer or desginer to order this item for you.

Apparel, shawls, handbags in chiffon, crepe

Harshita Designs offers uniquely designed wearable art for women and men, including scarves, shawls, handbags, jewelry, tunics and jackets. Colors and designs are printed or embroidered. Designer Harshita Lohia says the inspiration for the designs and colors comes from elements of nature, manmade structures, symbols of Indian culture and simple geometrical figures. Materials include chiffon, crepe, georgette and charmeuse silk. See the company at the New York International Gift Fair.





Retailers: Contact the manufacturer for prices and minimums.

Shoppers: Ask your favorite independent retailer to order this item for you.

Furniture, pillows, area rugs



French Market Collection exhibits at the High Point International Furniture market and other venues. It offers chairs, chair pads, benches, area rugs, needlepoint and Aubusson pillows, and lighting. All furnishings are the exclusive designs of the company.



Retailers: Contact the manufacturer for prices and minimums.

Shoppers: Ask your favorite independent retailer or interior designer to order this item for you.

Eco-friendly canvas tote bags

Cotton canvas Girlie Bags are made in Los Angeles by Planet Saver Sacks. Side pockets hold cell phones, keys, cosmetics and bus passes. The bags have cotton webbing handles. Two sizes are available: 11 inches by 12 inches and 14 inches by 15 inches. Search "Planet Saver Sacks" on this blog to find other styles.



Retailers: Contact the manufacturer for prices and minimums.

Shoppers: Ask your favorite independent retailer to order this item for you.

Portfolio of Italian tile

Ceramic Tiles of Italy produced a portfolio of tile and installation photographs. Here is a selection. The trade show runs Sept. 28 to Oct. 2 in Bologna.




New furniture, accessories in transitional styles

The Santro aluminum vases are exclusive to IMAX, which has introduced a range of accessories and furniture for the summer. The vases reflect light as if it were ripples in the water. The design works in contemporary or transitional displays.

Mirabella Velvet Chaise Lounge

Manning Chair
Honeybee Trend pillows with British interior styling are reminiscent
of men's haberdashery with houndstooth, herringbone and pinstripe fabrics.

Chappin Glass Honeycomb Vases

Lightbulb tealight holders are caricatures of a lightbulb. Candle flames flicker in the holder by IMAX exclusive designer Melissa Vasquez.


Retailers: Contact the manufacturer for prices and minimums.

Shoppers: Ask your favorite independent retailer to order this item for you.

Saturday special: marketing with Foursquare

Hubspot interviews restaurateur Joe Sorge of AJ Bombers about a marketing event he ran through Foursquare, the social media application. Read more.

Watch an interview with Joe Sorge.

Mashable wrote last year why Foursquare could be the next Twitter.

Learn more about Foursquare at the company's website. 

Vintage home decor


Robert and Liz Jones, formerly of permanent floral source Aldik, offer a collection of vintage-theme home decor through their new company Jones & Jones Abode. Below is a selection of furniture, florals and accessories. See the company at the New York International Gift Fair.




Retailers: Contact the manufacturer for prices and minimums.

Shoppers: Ask your favorite independent retailer to order this item for you.

A Facebook guide for small business marketing

Wiley Publishing, Inc. is releasing a brand new series of books to help users get more out of it: The Facebook Guides.


"THE FACEBOOK GUIDE TO SMALL BUSINESS MARKETING" offers small and local business ideas on how to attract customers through Facebook. It guides readers through creating a business profile, presenting information in the most appealing and useful way possible, and taking advantage of all of Facebook's marketing features. Packed with insider tips and proven best practices, this book will help any small business harness the worldwide marketing potential of Facebook. It will be available December 2010.

Other titles in the series are "THE FACEBOOK GUIDE FOR PEOPLE OVER 50 (ISBN: 9780470875179; November 2010)" and  THE FACEBOOK GUIDE FOR PARENTS (ISBN: 9780470875193; January 2011).

Stainless steel pendant lighting fixture

The Kyoto lantern is made in the USA by Meyda Custom Lighting. The pendant features a satin stainless steel finish with a faux alabaster diffuser and panels that soften the illumination. The fixture is 8 inches square and has a height of 28 inches. Energy efficient lamping options are available.


Retailers: Contact the manufacturer for prices and minimums.

Shoppers: Ask your favorite independent retailer to order this item for you.

Home decor for Easter, spring and summer


Midwest-CBK has introduced nine new Easter, spring and summer seasonal and gift collections featuring more than 225 new items, designed exclusively for the company. The company’s nine all-new spring and summer collections include:
  • Spring Elegance, for Easter, spring and summer entertaining. A soft, fresh color palette of green, blue, cream and white highlights motifs of bunnies, birds, flowers and eggs. Product segments include bunny figures and table top accessories; silhouette plates, mugs, vases, egg cups and accessories; fabric pillows, table runners, ornaments and tea towels; butterfly clips; Easter eggs, canvas wall décor and a coordinate collection of floral organics.
  • Natural Spring, featuring elegant bird figures and ornaments, ceramic birdhouses, ceramic planter and vases, glass vases and ornaments and terra cotta pins and necklaces. Colors featured include soft greens, blues, yellow and beige.
  • Hippity Hop, a whimsical collection of Easter bunnies, chicks and eggs with an updated vintage twist. With a pastel color palette of pink, lime green, yellow, lavender and cream, Hippity Hop includes bunny and egg figures and ornaments; ceramic serving pieces including platter with server, salt and pepper shakers, dip and spreader sets, candy pails and egg cups; fabric tea towel, hot pad holder, table runner and pillow; bunny print canvas wall art; text block sets; and felt and sequin ornaments and wall décor. Hippity Hop items are designed to make excellent, inexpensive yet high value hostess gifts.
Other collections are named Springtime Cozies (below), Simply Easter, Wonderlights, Lights in the Night, Daisy Do and Summer Celebration.




Retailers: Contact the manufacturer for prices and minimums.

Shoppers: Ask your favorite independent retailer to order this item for you.

Pink-ribbon gifts


Midwest-CBK has a new line of Pink Ribbon Sisterhood gifts designed by artist and author Suzy Toronto. The new collection features pink ribbon graphics symbolic for the fight against breast cancer in Toronto’s signature style, with copy that reads “Supporting Each Other in the Ultimate Fight of Our Lives.”
The Pink Ribbon Sisterhood collection includes four best-selling gift designs including a mug, nightshirt packaged in a tote bag, ceramic tile wall plaque and journal/notebook.
The new Suzy Toronto Collection also features desktop mugs, necklaces, coin purses, and tiles. Each item includes an uplifting, empowering or humorous message that speaks to women. Each item is also accompanied by a story or poem.



Retailers: Contact the manufacturer for prices and minimums.

Shoppers: Ask your favorite independent retailer to order this item for you.

Inspirational angels

Rivendell Gifts has launched Angel Wing Wishes, a figurine collection designed by Julie Kay of La Porte, Indiana. Cast in solid steel, the angels are packaged with “an experience” called a Moment of Meditation, enhanced with Flying Wish Paper. The experience is then set on fire so it soars to the heavens, the company says.







Retailers: Contact the manufacturer for prices and minimums.

Shoppers: Ask your favorite independent retailer to order this item for you.

Garden accent supports breast cancer research

Coleman Cable has expanded its Moonrays Solar Pink Campaign to include a third garden accent. The new accent is a Solar Pink Heart. Previous accents in the series included a pink rose combination and a mosaic globe stake light combination.
The heart is made from cast metal and features a pink crackle glass globe in the center. A color-changing LED automatically illuminates at night. Each light includes a rechargeable battery. The company will donate proceeds from the Moonrays Pink Solar campaign to research, support and education for breast cancer patients and survivors.


Retailers: Contact the company for prices and minimums.

Shoppers: Ask your favorite independent retailer to order this item for you.

Stationery, sticky notes, home office supplies

Galison offers stationery, note cards, journals, guest books, home office accessories, puzzles, gifts and educational games. It has lines for holidays and everyday. Themes include vintage art from Good Housekeeping, Andy Warhol, Paris and gardening. See more from its catalog on the New York International Gift Fair website.





Retailers: Contact the manufacturer for prices and minimums.

Shoppers: Ask your favorite independent retailer to order this item for you.

Soy candles in stylish containers


Soy-based candles from Aglow Eco Candle are available in eight fragrances, including the company's signature scent White Cotton. Burn time is 60 to 90 hours. When the candle is depleted, the containers become stylish vases, drinking glasses or desk accessories..
Diffusers and notecards are also available. See more candles on the New York International Gift Fair website.




Retailers: Contact the manufacturer for prices and minimums.

Shoppers: Ask your favorite independent retailer to order this item for you.