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!

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!

Today over at Simply Stated: check out some clever & unique “Dining Meets Mod Art“  product finds from A+R. (Yes – those are PANTONE MUGS!!)

There’s something about the new Flamingo and Trees collection that Bailey Doesn’t Bark debuted this week that’s so delicate & lovely! I’m especially loving the chic color palette of soft pale pink, burnt sienna and gold that designer Re Jin Lee used for the hand-painted flamingos and decorative accents…

(Prices are in the “luxury” range for these handmade porcelain dishes. $39 – $57 for individual pieces & cup sets / $165 for a 5-pc place setting)

P.S. Daily Candy Deals is currently running a discount code for 25% off your entire order at baileydoesntbark.com! Must be a DC subscriber to get the code from their website.

Today over at Simply Stated – get the details on the new (fabulous + affordable!) Orla Kiely for Target line, plus a few ideas for an party/shower theme inspired by this collection!

And while we’re on the subject of the Orla Kiely brand… how fabulous are these bags from her Spring/Summer 2009 collection?! These aren’t even in the same time zone as far as my personal budget goes (sigh…), but here’s to dreaming that Target will team up with Kiely on personal accessories next!

New products are popping up all around as spring merchandise moves in, and one trend you’ll definitely notice over at Crate&Barrel is COLOR! Here are a few favorites from their vibrant new pieces for the table… starting with the bright, eclectic Flower Plates {$6.95 each) and Flower Platter {$16.95}, both pictured above.

Next up are these cool lemon and orange-glazed stoneware Zest Plates {$6.95-$7.95}, which feature a fun citrus slice design, and mix-n-match Melamine-Bamboo Plates, made from durable melamine blended with renewable bamboo pulp.

Last but not least are the palm-frond-inspired Carley Textured Plates ($6.95 each), which come in 4 spring/summer-ready colors…

{Also pictured above: Dizzy Cocktail Glass ($2.95 each) and mod floral Roxie Print Cocktail Napkins ($9.95/set or 8 cotton napkins).