Yum

"Marrow" from Butter

One of my favorite eco-friendly gifts this season: Butter nail polish. Based out of London, their motto is "3 Free," which is to say, their polishes are free of formaldehyde, toluene and DBP (Phthales). And the colors are exquisite, the best I've seen from any eco brand. My favorite right now: the Vena Cava designed "Marrow."

Gift Idea: Alyssa Ettinger

Alyssa Ettinger Ball Mason Lantern, $39 each

I do love shopping, but the pressure of holiday shopping always makes it an enormous chore. That said, one good thing to come out of this season's shopping is my discovery of Alyssa Ettinger's pottery. Based out of Brooklyn, her pottery is the result of a 9/11 career change. I am especially in love with these ceramic Mason Jar Lanterns. I see them hanging in an old apple tree on a summer's night. Sigh....for summer and for the pottery.

Sure Seal replica lanterns

Annual 50% Off Table Top Sale!

Plover's Cartouche table top collection

Our annual 50% off table top sale launched yesterday!! Just go the to "Table Top" section of the store to find our half-off prices, which will be in effect until Dec. 24, 2010 only. Needless to say, napkins, tea towels, table cloths, etc. are perfect for gifts. Or for dressing your own holiday table!

Thread Counts

Thanks to Sheila, who forwarded me this segment about thread count on the CBS Early Show. (You can also access it here.) By now, we've all heard about the marketing ploy that is "high thread count"; even Consumer Reports says that a 200 thread count is just fine, and anything over 400 only comes with a higher price tag, not greater quality. Far more important than the thread count of course is the quality of the cotton. But according to this segment, new studies indicate that sheets with a lower thread count actually are better for your skin. They let your skin breathe, and, as an added bonus, they are lighter to wash and dry, which saves on energy consumption.

In case anyone is curious, here are links to two other articles on thread count that are enlightening: from TLC's How Stuff Works and from Linenplace. And of course, The New Yorker's ditty on the lady who sued Bed, Bath & Beyond for selling her 800 thread count sheets that were scratchy.

San Francisco Sample Sale!!

Plover's first collection

For all our friends in San Franscisco—Plover is participating in this year's 3rd Street Holiday Sale! We've got napkins, table cloths, tea towels, euro shams, pillowcases, crib bedding and more for sale at prices I shouldn't even list here. Just go! Sheila will be there doing sales, and if there's something you really really want that's not at the sale, maybe you can convince her to do a deal. ;)

Another sale exclusive: Plover Organic charm packs! We'll have this up for sale on our site in the Spring, but you can purchase them at the sale before anyone else for $9.50. 

Here's the sale details: Saturday December 4th, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. One day only.

Happy shopping!