What is Ideal?

Ideal is a carefully curated shop composed of unique, design-conscious gifts and accessories. The objects we choose are creative, authentic, and refined. They are inspired by the vision of talented artists and designers from around the world.

Our store was formed with our own ideal in mind: that shopping should always be a personal and thoughtful experience.

Enjoy our blog and please come visit our shop in beautiful, downtown Bellingham. If you can't make it in, we take orders over the phone - just call (360-752-5522) or e-mail info@anidealshop.com.


Wednesday, September 22, 2010

New Treasures Arriving Weekly

This is an exciting time of the year for us! Every week from now until mid-November new shipments will arrive from far-flung places (Japan, Finland, Portugal, and Honduras to just name a few) as well as closer to home (Bainbridge Island, Seattle, and Mt. Vernon).


Many of these are pieces from wonderful new designers we found while in New York. Some are new creations from our current designers.


Last week saw the arrival of new objects from Neo Utility and Saikai. We love the iStand from IDEA International. This great little gadget suctions to the back of your iPhone and props it up so you can enjoy a video or browse the internet. 


iStand, $8.00

We also now have IDEA's fantastic Yuento Balloon Speaker in black and lime green.


Yuento Speaker, $45


Miller Goodman PlayShapes ($150) are also back in stock, so come and see this beautiful set of wooden blocks for yourself. 
MillerGoodman PlayShapes, $150

Over the past few weeks we've also received some lovely pieces in from Saikai. If you are a fan of Japanese design, this group represents some of the superstars, such as Mori Masahiro. We have all five colors of his iconic Soy Bottle back in stock, so consider adding this drip-free container for soy sauce to your table. At $22, it makes a really unique gift.

G Type Soy Bottle, $22



























Also, Toyo Sasaki HS "Hard Strong" stacking glasses. First produced in 1967, the reinforced lip on these glasses makes them extra durable and they remain the leading brand in Japanese food service. At $4.50 apiece, it's a great way to introduce a bit of Japanese design to your kitchen.
 
HS "Hard Strong" Glasses, $4.50 apiece





















Newly arrived and wonderful - these Pocket Vases in white, yellow, or green. They work beautifully for flowers, but serve as handy catch-alls as well for things like pencils and paintbrushes.

 
Pocket Vase, $24



Finally, these wooden tops. They are miniature sculptures - lovely!
 
Koma Wooden Tops, $6.50 apiece

























We also just received a beautiful assortment of glass jewelry from Julie and Jess at verre newyork. It is challenging to find glass jewelry that is elegant and understated and these two glassblowers seem to hit the mark every time. If you see a design you like but would prefer a different color, we can always order you exactly what you want. They have over one hundred colors in their palette.


Three Drop Necklace, $102


Piet Burst Necklace, $106




Piet Stud, $33




Ulala Hoop, $50




















































Finally, the latest addition to our selection from Museum of Modern Art - the Chalkboard Vase.


MoMA Chalkboard Vase, $4

















Draw your own vase, contraption, or creature to hold the flowers. Also works for love notes and to-do lists. The vase includes hardware for wall mounting, as well as a chalk-holder.




That's just a taste of what's new in the shop. We will update you again next week on the latest arrivals! You can also check our Facebook Page for more frequent updates. Until then, enjoy this drawing of the Yuento Balloon Speaker in use. Who wouldn't want to be this happy walking down the street?  





Friday, August 13, 2010

New York, New York

Kathleen and Lisa head to New York tonight for the New York International Gift Fair! We love this market, as it has a strong focus on design and gives us the opportunity to meet face-to-face with global designers we normally only speak with on the phone or email. And we always find lots of great new designs to bring your way. Stay tuned for our latest discoveries...

This visual diary of a red eye flight by artist Christoph Niemann seemed a fitting entry to share on our way out of town. Click on the link below for a very funny and painfully true journal:


Christoph Niemann in NYTimes - Visual Diary of Red Eye Flight


We will be in touch upon our return!

Sunday, July 18, 2010

molly m designs jewelry

New designs from Molly McGrath are in the shop! Based in the San Francisco area, Molly professionally trained as an architect. After using a laser cutter to make architectural models, she recognized the machine's potential to make unique jewelry.


Molly's process starts with a sketch, which she then drafts in AutoCAD and prints on the laser cutter. The jewelry is inspired by pattern and form in both the natural and man-made realms; a composition of branches or snowflake is equally appealing as building geometries or optical illusions. Whenever possible she uses sustainable materials such as bamboo, veneer from responsibly farmed forests, and recycled suede and felt. All hardware on the jewelry is oxidized stainless steel.

Please stop by to try on these lovely pieces!


Burst 2 Pendant
Materials: Birch veneer and black suede
Dimensions: 1.625 x 1.75" diameter
Price $48




Drops 1 Earrings
Materials: Gunmetal leather, mahogany and birch
Dimensions: 1.25" diameter
Price: $48
Also available as a pendant



Orbs Earrings
Materials: Charcoal and natural birch, organic canvas
Dimensions: 0.8 x 1.3"
Price: $48
Reversible - featuring either charcoal or natural birch



Facet 2 Earrings
Materials: Birch veneer and black suede
Dimensions: 1.25 x 1.75"
Price: $48




Wrap 1 Pendant
Materials: Birch veneer
Dimensions: 1.375" diameter
Price: $38




Radial Earrings
Materials: Charcoal and natural birch, organic canvas
Dimensions: 1.5" diameter
Price: $48
Reversible - featuring either charcoal or natural birch.



Elliptoid 1 Pendant
Materials: Walnut, mint leather, and light bamboo
Dimensions: 1.25" diameter
Price: $48




Dart Pendant
Materials: Charcoal and natural birch, organic canvas
Dimensions: 1.5" diameter
Price: $48
Reversible - featuring either charcoal or natural birch



Bullseye 1 Pendant
Materials: Mahogany, mint leather, and birch
Dimensions: 1.25" diameter
Price: $48