Three Potato Four Wish List

Here are some original gifts that we'd love to find under our Christmas tree. And they are our go-to shopping destination when we're looking for unique, memorable gift ideas. Take this great Library sign. It's exclusive to 3P4 and inspired by vintage wooden signage.
Each one is cut from salvaged slabs of reclaimed plywood, and painted to give it distressed look.


These vintage-looking, hand-lettered shop signs are customized by an accomplished sign painter with three decades of experience. Just give them a name, and specify the sign graphic (cupcakes, sno-cones, go-karts, dry goods, surf shop and more) and they create each one to order.


3P4 also has an array of fun vintage items, such as this bright, adorable French owl who doubles as money box. Or these original music boxes that are made using classic vintage cheese crates. Check out their website for more fantastic gift ideas.
@ Three Potato Four

Sale Alert: Amazon's Black Friday Deals

Our approach to Black Friday sales is to pull up the covers and sleep until all the deal-hunters are done ransacking the stores. And then we make ourselves a nice cup of coffee, and amble over to Amazon.com to pick up a few holiday gifts.

Truth is, there are some great buys today. It's possible to pick up an Artisan Kitchen Aid stand mixer for as low as $200 or a Pro Kitchen Aid mixer for $250. You can find a new (but older model) Cuisinart for around $150. There are a bunch of DVD sets of some favorite TV series, including Mad Men, Weeds, True Blood and Flight of the Conchords for under $15.

According to Amazon, these are limited-supply offers, but they'll add new sales every day this week. Click on this banner for the latest deals. Full disclosure: Amazon gives us a small holiday kickback if you buy anything via our site. If you do, thank you for supporting Nook!

Hi + Lo: Oak Farmhouse Tables

High: Bigfoot Table @ Hive Modern, $5,940-$10,900
Low: Big Sur Dining Table @ Crate & Barrel, $1,500-$1,800

The holidays always makes us yearn for a massive, modern farmhouse table that is sized to feed a crowd. Both of these striking tables are made from oak slabs and have a minimalist and rustic look that will remain in style for the all the Thanksgivings to come. Best of all, they are remarkably similar, despite the huge difference in price.

The Bigfoot table (top) comes in several lengths, starting from almost six feet and extending to nearly 12 feet. The Big Sur (bottom) comes in two sizes, just over five feet and seven-and-a-half feet.


Corner close-ups: Bigfoot (l) and Big Sur (r)

Keeping Calm & Carrying On

Just when we thought the whole 'Keep Calm and Carry On' trend had played itself out, we stumbled across these goodies. The British slogan seems fresh again when it's plastered on stress-relieving stuff, like warm blankets, lounge chairs and welcome mats. Along with these, you can find the slogan on other soothing items, including aprons, bandages, flight bags, bumper stickers, fleece scarves and (of course!) chocolate.

Perfect for anyone who needs a little serenity now. And if you don't want stay calm, you can always remind yourself to Panic and Freak Out.
@ Pedlars and Amazon

Acme Eyeglass Cases

These eyeglass cases, made by Acme Products, are so chic we're planning to buy a few as stocking-stuffers for our favorite four-eyed friends.
@ Amazon, $34.

Bio-Diversity by Christoph Niemann

We look forward seeing a new post on the New York Times blog, Abstract City, written by New Yorker cover illustrator Cristoph Niemann. He posts infrequently (about once a month), but his latest post on Bio-diversity explains why we're always willing to wait for more.

Simplified: Advent Calendars

'Twas the month before Christmas and all through the house, anticipation was building as kids counted down the days with treats stashed in numbered drawers, satchels and other creative containers.

We love the above photo. It's a homemade garland made from number and alphabet flash cards, paper clips, and ribbons with tiny ornaments dangling from each one. We found it at Country Living and it's just one of many advent calendars to buy or try making yourself.

Little kids (and big kids too) will relish opening cupboards, rifling through mini buckets and unpacking take-out inspired cartons for candy canes, ornaments and assorted holiday treats. Here are some cubbies, buckets and even a modern tower tree to hold all kinds of trifles.
1. Advent calendar @ Target, $35. 2. Buckets of Joy @ Garnet Hill, $68. 3. Advent calendar @ Pottery Barn, $149. 4. Countdown to Christmas letterpress tear-away calendar @ Etsy, $24. 5. Advent tower @ Design 3000, € 50. 6. Noix de Couc cubes @ Boudie & Fou, £35.


One of the sweetest ways to hide treats is hiding them 24 pouches that are strung together as a garland. No matter where you hang them, garlands are an adorable way to build excitement before Christmas morning.
1. Hats & mittens garland @ Garnet Hill, $78. 2. Matryoshka pouches by thymbyl designs @ Etsy, $58. 3. Hand-printed, numbered bags from jodii @ Etsy, $58. 4. Reindeer garland with pouches @ Chasing Fireflies, $54. 5. Felt pouch garland by Bugs & Bones @ Etsy, $40.

Advent calendars are easy to improvise using ordinary, inexpensive household items. A little inspiration, a bit of ribbon, a few clothespins and voila. Check out these ideas (and their instructions) from a few of our favorite crafters.
1. Vellum envelopes with numbered stickers @ d.Sharp (with a downable PDF) 2. Wrapping paper cones + birds on a twig @ The Red Thread. 3. DIY boxes kit @ Etsy, $18.50. 4. Spools wrapped with X-mas messages @ Just Something I Made. 5. Assorted baby socks with number decals @ Martha Stewart.

Vehicle Vases by Paige Russell

The idea of a monster truck exploding with pencils or an unruly bouquet of flowers just made our day. These fantastic vases are designed by Canadian ceramicist Paige Russell and are handmade stoneware with a white satin-matte glaze. Fun, beautiful and original... does it get much better?
@ The Curiosity Shoppe, $95
(Check Russell's Etsy shop.)

Sabine Desk Lamp

Seriously? I'm just in love with this sweet, original iron and glass lamp, even if it's not entirely clear how one replaces the bulb. It's the perfect size for an entry way or bedside table, as well as a desk.
@ Haus, $328

Hi 2 Lo: Coat Racks

High: Sidse Werner clothes and hat stand @ HiveModern, $1,492 and Twist coat rack @ DWR, $400

Low: Comings & Goings coat rack @ UO, $68 and 10 Degree coat rack @ cb2, $50

Whether you hang your hat in a luxury loft or a studio apartment, these nifty coat racks will ensure that you hang it with panache.

Although we were surprised by the similarities in style vs. the price tag, we're pretty sure the less expensive options will never be collector's items. On the other hand, buying one of the less expensive option would greatly increase our chances being able to dress it up with a chic, cashmere coat. Hmm....

Alphabet of Design Classics

A is for Aalto. M is for Mies. V is for Vitra.

The Alphabet of Design Classics poster is a fun way to teach kids - and just about anyone else - about the really important things in life. The poster runs 11x17" (we chopped the image in half for a clearer view.)
@ Blue Art Studio, $35

Sushi Collection from Edward Van Vliet

We predict -- or hope, anyway -- that Edward Van Vliet's fantastic Sushi Collection will inspire designers to start playing with mismatched fabrics and patterns. The Dutch designer creates graphic, mix-and-match textiles in yummy color palettes, then pairs them with simple, clean-lined furniture.

This bright collection is made by Italian furniture company, Moroso, and the top photo is an overhead view of Van Vliet's collection for their dreaming box installation. He's said that he named it Sushi because the combination of fabrics, embroideries and patterns are a 'wrapping' that lets people create a dish of their choice. We think it's delicious.

[Sushi block seat combinations, via Designboom]
[Joy balls and Sushi block seats]

[Karmakoma couch and pouffes]

[Close-up of a fabric from Sushi collection, via Designboom]