Washing your hands before dinner is an unusual experience when the soap is actually shaped like little hands.  Made of all natural glycerin, the Handsoaps, which are made by hand) by Marie Gardeski, started out as an art project during graduate school.

After completing an installation of 2500 doll-like hands made of soap, the artist needed to dispose of her materials so she started to leave the tiny soaps in public restrooms and to give them away to friends.  The soaps quickly developed a cult-following and are now a best-selling item on her online shop, Plastic Foliage.

Slightly creepy yet adorable at the same time, the Handsoaps come in groups of ten hands in various shapes, skin colors and sizes ranging from half an inch to two inches tall. The Handsoaps come packaged in a green organza gift bag and retail for $18.

A truly original hostess gift, these little soaps are bound to make your party guests linger in the loo for just a little longer than normal.  At least you know their hands will be clean!

PHOTO CREDIT:  Courtesy of Plastic Foliage

Savon de Marseille, the iconic bottle of French soap made famous by its fresh, all natural scents and bold, minimalist typeface, has been redesigned in celebration of the brand’s 20th Anniversary.  La Companie de Provence commissioned Marseille artist, Stephan Muntaner, to create original illustrations, that spoke to the creative culture and ancient architecture of the renowned sea port, for their limited edition soap.  Three commemorative designs named after different fish – La Girelle, La Maquerean and La Sardine – are for sale this year in limited supply.

Available in 16.9 fl oz glass bottles ($28), the new scent contains top notes of mandarin and blood orange with middle notes of jasmine and peony mixed with base notes of vanilla, tobacco and sandalwood.  As with all products by the legendary French company, the soaps are hypo-allergenic, anti-bacterial and free from artificial colorants and animal products.  Without a doubt, Savon de Marseille would be a gift that any chic hostess would appreciate…

PHOTO CREDIT:  Courtesy of La Companie de Provence

Indulge in your chocolate fantasy.  Vosges Drinking Chocolates, intended to be savored in tiny sips, can certainly be served hot but we prefer them chilled.  The Couture Cocoas Gift Box ($55) includes three unique and incredible flavors:  Bianca, white chocolate with lemon myrtle, lavender flowers and vanilla; Aztec Elixer, dark chocolate with Mexican ancho, chipotle chillies, ceylon cinnamon and madagascar vanilla bean; and, La Parisienne, dark chocolate with madagascar vanilla bean.

For a simple yet decadent dessert for your dinner guests, blend the drinking chocolates with ice and serve in tall shot glasses.

PHOTO CREDIT:  Courtesy of Vosges

]]> http://www.notesonaparty.com/index.php/2010/06/22/coveted-vosges-drinking-chocolates/feed/ 0 http://www.notesonaparty.com/index.php/2010/06/11/coveted-night-igloo/ http://www.notesonaparty.com/index.php/2010/06/11/coveted-night-igloo/#comments Fri, 11 Jun 2010 13:56:02 +0000 Celia Chen http://www.notesonaparty.com/?p=932 read more]]>

Imagine the dreamy glow of these candles illuminating your al fresco dinner table this summer. Created by Parisian design company Tse & Tse, The Night Igloo is made of delicate porcelain that is crafted into a thin shell to cover your tea light candles.   Not only do they protect the flame from any outdoor breezes, the igloos make a whimsical centerpiece or a beautiful decoration for a window sill or mantle.

Sold at the online retailer Horne, the white igloos ($59 each), which have an organic feel to them, come either riddled or striped in a glazed or matte finish.

PHOTO CREDIT:  Courtesy of Horne

Forget about the fancy fruit garnish, the coolest way to dress up your cocktails this summer is with a little bling inside your glass.  Cool Jewels by Fred Products are ice cubes that come in the shape of faceted gemstones.  Made of food-grade silicon, the ice cube tray features six different jewel cuts and can be filled with water or juice.   To make the cubes resemble rubies, emeralds or sapphires, tint the water with some food coloring. These dazzling ice rocks would be a clever addition to your next Girls Night In, bachelorette or Academy Awards viewing party.

The Cool Jewels Ice Cube Tray ($10) is available online at retailers such as FredFlare.

PHOTO CREDIT:  Courtesy of Fred Products

Make an impression at your next night of networking with Brooklyn Social Cards, the latest venture from Breck Hostetter of Sesame Letterpress and Rebecca Kutys of Moontree Letterpress.  Created out of a demand for their elegant business and social cards, the two designers streamlined the ordering process by putting it online.

The designers have edited the collection to feature the best options for layout, paper stock, ink color and decorative icons.  There are 15 card designs in total that can be printed in one or two colors on either bright white or natural white stock.  Icons range from a playful bird and bicycle to designs that might connote one’s profession including a whisk and a camera. A variety of ink colors from lilac to orange to black are available or custom inks can be created from Pantone colors.

Sized at 3″ 1/2 x 2″, the one color cards come in bundles of 250 for $250 or 500  for $325. The two color cards are $350 for 250 and $500 for 500.

PHOTO CREDIT:  Courtesy of Brooklyn Social Cards

From the Seattle design studios of Jamie Iacoli and Brian McAllister comes an industrial inspired collection of furniture, lighting and design objects. We especially love their mini pedestals which are made from vintage brass candlesticks found in thrift stores.  The unique candlesticks are sand blasted and powder coated (given an industrial paint finish) in bright shiny colors.  Once a hand finished white Corian top is added, the item becomes a whimsical cake stand that can be used for desserts, sandwiches, floral arrangements, potted plants or as decor.

The one-of-a-kind pedestals come in a range of colors including Magenta, Turquoise, Yellow, Red and Black.  Each item is typically priced from $85 to $120 and available for sale on the gorgeous home accessories site, Gretel.

From April 5th to 15th, 2010, the pedestals on 30% off on Iacoli & McAllister’s web shop.

PHOTO CREDIT:  Courtesy of Iacoli & McAllister

It may be surprising to know that some of the most delicious olive oil in the world comes from a 550 acre ranch in Northern California. McEvoy Ranch, located in the rolling hills just west of Petaluma, produces a Tuscan style extra virgin olive oil that is medium bodied with aromas of fresh olive fruit and a rich, slightly peppery finish.

The oil is emerald in color at the time of harvest and then mellows to a bright greenish gold. Certified organic, McEvoy Ranch’s 2010 Traditional Blend olive oil comes in a 375 ml bottle for $22 or 1 gallon jug for $176.

A coveted gift for foodies or aspiring home cooks, McEvoy Ranch features a range of custom baskets. Our favorite pairs a bottle of their Traditional Blend olive oil with a jar of McEvoy Tuscan Blend Table Olives, a stainless steel olive oil spout and a small handmade dipping dish all packaged beautifully in a decorative metal tin.

The gift basket, which retails for $50, is available online or at the McEvoy Ranch store in the Ferry Building in San Francisco.

PHOTO CREDIT: Courtesy of McEvoy Ranch

Leave it to the French to come up with one of the most mouthwatering flavor pairings of all time – sweet caramel and salt. Petite Bouchée, an artisanal candy maker in Los Angeles, pays homage to salted caramels – the traditional treat from Brittany – by following French techniques of mixing small batches by hand and using the finest, all natural ingredients.

A rich blend of Tahitian vanilla and butter caramel topped with flakes of hand harvested salt, their Fleur de Sel caramel is their most popular.  Other original flavors include Red Hot, a cinnamon spiked version as well as Gingersnap which has warm hints of ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg.

Petite Bouchée, which means “little mouthful,” in French, features a 3 oz bag (10 pieces) for $6.00 and a 6 oz bag (20 pieces) for $11.00.  Charming, reusable gift tins containing 20 caramels are priced at $14.00.

Available online and at select California stores.

PHOTO CREDIT:  Courtesy of Petite Bouchée

Make happy hour a stylish and simple affair by filling a Michael Aram nut bowl or olive dish with a selection of savories to accompany your favorite cocktails. We like this little hand hammered olive bowl from the Bronzed Botanical Collection.

“I love the idea of an object’s function being reflected in its form,” explains Aram. “The Olive Branch Dish holds olives … it’s a perfect reflection of this poetic symmetry.”  And, it’s pretty gorgeous as well!

The Olive Branch Dish ($75) is made of stainless steel and oxidized bronze.  For more condiment and snack bowls by Michael Aram, visit their website.

PHOTO CREDIT:  Courtesy of Michael Aram