Oh, boy…someone hide my credit card! Just discovered cool & contemporary online shop: Gretel {via Oh Joy!} and immediately fell in love with their entire collection!

The funky-chic red and yellow pedestal servers by Iacoli & McAllister are a little outside my price range, but soooo very cool… They’re made from refinished vintage candlesticks and topped with a hand-finished Corian round. (Due to the vintage/hand-made nature, each pedestal design is unique.)

Many more favorites from Gretel are pictured below… starting with porcelain Marie Antionetta serving bowls by DMK, and the Vitamin Container Bowl by Muuto, which features “three separate spaces meant to hold different fruits and vegetables (and their vitamins)”.

Colorful melamine serving trays by Isak:

Flourish tray and dinnerware by Thomas Paul:

Pretty & contemporary drinkware & dining pieces:

And last but not least, adorable Lovebird and Leaf cups/containers, also by Isak:

Visit gretelhome.com to check everything out!

If you loved the fun Oliver plates from cb2 (see earlier post here), then you’ll probably also love these coordinating Oliver Martini Glasses. This style is so unique: mixed media hand sketch with a color photo of a maraschino cherry that’s actually ON the glass (looks like there’s a real cherry in there!). {$4.95 each}

And in the same style as the Oliver plates & glasses come the holiday-friendly Sammy Appetizer plates featuring doodles of elves skiing on a party pick and riding a “cork” reindeer. {only $2.95 each!}

Is it just me, or has there been a noticeable trend in Octopus-inspired products lately? You can find everything from vinyl wall graphics to laptop sleeves to baby onesies donning tentacle-clad motifs these days! Here are 8 cool “octopus design” finds that fall in the entertaining & home accessories categories:

1. Octopi Cup by Cake ($15 each at Feel More Human)

2. Mod Octopus Vase/Pitcher by Dovetail ($40 at Feel More Human)

3. Octopus Soap & Scrubbers by AnimalHouse ($5.99 each at Kitchen Kapers)

4. Sucker For You Letterpress Card by Hello! Lucky ($4.50 at Luxe Paperie)

5. Happy Octopus Cake Pan by Nordic Ware ($30 at Parker’s Pantry)

6. Sea Life Melamine Dinner Plates by Thomas Paul ($36/set of 4 at Velocity Art and Design)

7. Deep Water Tea/Coffee Set for 2 by LoucheLab ($60 at Etsy)

8. Octopus-inspired Pillows: {clockwise from top left} Octopus Pillow by Thomas Paul ($100 at Velocity Art and Design); Gold Octopus on White Linen by Dermond Peterson ($200 at George Watts); Blue Octopus Hook Pillow ($60 at Gracious Style); and Octopus Cuddle Pillow by BINTH ($60 at BINTH).

I love it when cb2 (Crate & Barrel’s sister store) comes out with a new collection because you can count on them to always be modern and always be affordable! Here are a few fresh NEW finds from their kitchen & dining collection:

Pictured above: colorful, vintage-mod Lable Glasses ($19.95/set of 6).

Pictured above & below: clever Takeout Appetizer Plates ($2.95 ea) available in blue, green & orange.

Pictured below: 1. 42-Piece Fab Four Dinner Set – service for 4 that includes everything from placemats to glasses for less than $100! ($99.85 to be exact) Great gift idea for new nesters or the college-bound. (Placemats also available in white, black, or green.); 2. hi-gloss Palette Bowls in orange & mustard ($21.95 – $34.95); 3. Gem Martinis in electric shades of orange, green & blue ($4.95 ea); 4. new Atomic Dinnerware featuring geometric spirographs ($2.95 – $4.95 per piece).

Announcing Rosanna’s Third Annual Tablesetting Contest and Summer Sale! This fabulous contest is underway and open until August 31st, 2009.

The Giveaway:
In conjunction with the contest, Rosanna wants to give one lucky HWTM reader a jump on the competition with her lovely Pasta Italiana Collection – so she’s giving away a fantastic set valued at $175! This surprise giveaway includes: 4 Pasta Bowls, 1 Large Pasta Serving Bowl, and 1 set of 4 Dinner Plates in the winner’s choice of  lovely Grass Green or chic Black. (Details on how to enter the giveaway are at the bottom of this post.)

The Tablesetting Contest:
For all the details on how to submit your tablescape for the chance to win up to $500 in Rosanna gift certificates and merchandise, visit Rosanna’s blog. (No Rosanna dishes are necessary to enter the contest.)

Here are a couple of my favorite entries from last year’s table setting contest:

To check out Rosanna’s 20% off summer sale go to: www.rosannainc.com.

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HOW TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY:

• Post a comment here telling us which item(s) from the Rosanna website you think are especially fabulous – or would love to see on your own table!

• Giveaway ends Tuesday, July 14th at midnight PST. Winner is chosen randomly and will be announced Wednesday, July 15th. Good luck!!

Calling all fashionistas: Add some serious style to your table (or your walls) with these Ben Collection Fashion Plates by Working Class Studio! Each melamine plate features a sketch by the late Savannah College of Art and Design professor and distinguished illustrator Ben Morris. ($8.95 each at heliotrope)

These plates coordinate well with the rest of the stylish Ben Collection products, such as the Ben Bowls ($8 ea), Ben Dinner Plates ($10 ea), and Ben Tumblers ($4 ea) pictured below… all available at Velocity Art and Design.

I love the fun colors and squiggle pattern featured on the Ben Collection dinner plates, tumblers, and coasters…

Check out the Working Class Studio section at Velocity Art and Design for lots more great designs like these!

If you’re looking for a thoughtful, unique gift idea, the personalized dinnerware collections from Jessica Rust Designs are always a great option (and she’s got designs for all sorts of special occasions!).

I’m especially loving this colorful, new Tattoo collection – which is the sort of thing that’s just perfect for a certain type of person, and if you have that particular friend yourself, you’ll instantly think of them when you see it! (BTW – if they like this they might also love this “Eclectic” shower theme that we featured a while back.)

The Tattoo Collection from Jessica Rust consists of personalized Dessert Plates ($98/set of 4), personalized Mugs ( $72/set of 4 – pictured below), or a complete set of 4 Plates + 4 Mugs for $160.

P.S. There’s a long lead time involved in these personalized items, so make sure to plan for it! Lead time for the pieces pictured here is usually around 6-8 weeks.

These fabulous new dishes from West Elm are the perfect excuse for a backyard party! Made from sturdy, outdoor-friendly materials like melamine and acrylic, there’s no need to worry about slippery hands or broken glass ’round the pool. More bonuses: cool, contemporary designs + affordable prices!

Pictured above: Twist Melamine Dinnerware ($14 – $18 per set of 4). Pictured below: Twist Melamine Salad/Serving Bowl ($12) and Round Platter ($14).

Pictured below: Espresso & white Axis Melamine Dinnerware ($14 / set of 4), Square Serving Bowl ($14), and Rectangle Platter ($12).

And last but not least, serve outdoor beverages & cocktails in style – without the worry of breaks & spills – with this Hammered Acrylic Drinkware – available in small & large tumblers, wine glasses, margarita glasses, & drink pitcher (catalog/internet only – $14  – $18 per set of 4).

Today over at Simply Stated – check out some fabulous tabletop pieces from Jonathan Adler that are sure to brighten up your summer table! (Seriously – how great does the tabletop ensemble pictured above look!) Simply Stated: Swoon.

This new melamine dinnerware from Jonathan Adler makes me happy just looking at it!

The spring & summer-friendly patterns – “Acapulco” and “Stripes” (my personal fav!) – are both available in 2 colorways featuring vibrant shades of green, yellow, and blue.

Prices for bowls, plates, salad plates, and trays range from $10 – $28 at jonathanadler.com. Happy dining!

P.S. For more Jonathan Adler eye candy – check out these pics from Barbie’s Lifesize Malibu Dream House that he designed for her 50th birthday last month!