From top: milk glass bud vase, teapot, tea and dessert setting, cake stand, flour sifter, aluminum cups.

What with schoolwork and my new job, I’ve been a busy girl lately, leading (of course) to my current state of fatigue and illness. What I need right now? Comfort, in the form of tea, toast and some visual inspiration.

I thought this image from Toast‘s Autumn/Winter ’10 House and Home catalogue fit my mood perfectly: vintage, homey, relaxed style. Their Spring/Summer ’11 catalogue is out in just a few days, so provided I’m feeling better by then, I’ll be back with some more Toast lovliness next week.

Until then, have a Happy Friday and a comfortable weekend!

While useful and considered are all fine and well, I think the best gifts aren’t necessarily things you need, but things you want. That’s why “Something Pretty” tops my list for the best holiday presents- after all, what design lover could turn down a Marimekko teapot or a set of gold cutlery? Not this one!

1. Marie Antoinette is having tea with macarons print from Lucile’s Kitchen; 2. Khaki rose print jug by PiP Studio, available from Liberty; 3. Cup of tea in the morning print from honey & jam; 4. Coffee jar frompaulova; 5. Siirtolapuutarha teapot by Marimekko, available from SCP; 6. Coffee lover floursack teatowels from girls can tell; 7. 24 Piece Gold Cutlery Set by Seletti, avaible from Heal’s; 8. Vintage yellow half apron from Vintagehome; 9. On-A-Whim bowl from Anthropologie; 10. Alvar Aalto for Iittala vase, available from Equinox.

The fantastic shop Brookish has added some new items, including these whimsical Mr. Darcy proposal dish towel:

I also love this Dolphin Tea Towel from niceBreeze:

This pair of Flower Trivets is so pretty, I almost wouldn’t want to put anything on them! From Uncommon Eye:

How’s this for a New Year’s resolution? Beat Batter and Bake Stuff spoof print from Queen’s Spoof:

VintageO‘s pair of glazed stoneware bowls is lovely (and I love the photography!):

My Mum has several of these cups, and I never really thought about their charm before now. Vintage tin measuring cup from buppins:

I like this sandwich/snack bag from Country Life Naturals, which is made of a vintage tea towel with a food-safe liner:

CeramicJen has some wonderful items; I especially like her Flying Bird Teabowl:

I love the feeling of this Teapot in Blue print from Studio Lyon- it’s so unique and decorative:

This Colander Pendant Lamp by Purpose ReDesign Studio would be great in an industrial modern kitchen:

I introduced MarianneClare’s Vintage Kitchen in the Vintage edition of my Holiday Gift Guide 2009, and now I want to delve a little deeper into its fab retro offerings. Check out my picks from this adorable shop below.

Retro refrigerator dishes can be so nice, and certainly make a nice change from tupperware. This Pyrex one is pretty:

I love this set of Aluminum Pitcher and Cups Set. Just look at the gorgeous wooden handle:

There isn’t a lot of time left until Christmas, so I’d hurry up and snag these vintage Christmas cookie cutters:

A Vintage Apple Corer would make a great stocking stuffer for a pie enthusiast:

I just adore the whimsical design of this Random Harvest Cream and Sugar Set:

Something I especially took a shine to was her collection of retro kitchenware, specifically a Dansk water jug in a cheerful yellow hue. This American-owned, Danish-designed brand was huge in the 60′s and 70′s, and is still in existence today, though sadly the iconic Kobenstyle line is out of production.

Luckily we can still find it, and other great Dansk pieces, on Etsy. Here are some of my favourite Dansk finds from everyone’s favourite global marketplace.

This red Kobenstyle Paella Pan sold by Uncommon Eye is just lovely, and in great condition:

The classic Casserole in that gorgeous yellow, from modapple:

I love the colour of this Enamelware Percolator, from LemonLimeVintage:

Fondue parties may be lost to the ages, but maybe whoever buys this adorable Fondue Pot and Stand from Bettyninja Finds can bring them back:

These White Teacups and Saucers look more modern to me, but just as covetable. From ravenna Girls Vintage:

Equal Measure is the product that opened my eyes to this brand. At its simplest, it’s just a large glass measuring jug- but it’s also fun, educational, and makes you think:

Another measuring product, M-Cups is based on Russian matryoshka dolls. Not only are they adorable, but the idea is practical and space-saving, too:

I know this looks a little far-out, but trust me: I have a silicone brush, and I use it all the time. Twiggy just looks more fun:

The only thing I don’t like about Snap-a-Party is that it’s a one-time-use item. How fun for a picnic, though- there’s even chopsticks in there!

It might be difficult to clean, but I love the sculptural quality of the Spilt Milk cereal bowl:

Another fun container, Unzipped could work for a lot of things. I can even see it as a lovely vase with some fresh flowers:

So I was happy to see, when browsing Dezeen this morning, that one of my favourite kitchen product companies, Joseph Joseph, has come up with an alternative. Elevate by Gillian Westley is a line of silicone cooking utensils with central pivots and weighted handles, designed to keep mess off your work surface. While I love the idea, I’m not too crazy about the colours, so here’s hoping Joseph Joseph expands this range in the future. 

Check out the full post at Dezeen for more info and photos.

A little research taught me that Royal KVB is a branch of the 200+ year-old Dutch company, Koninklijke Van Kempen & Begeer. They make beautiful and innovative kitchen- and food-related products, so I’m not sure why I’ve overlooked the brand until now. These are my picks from their webshop. 

The product that first caught my eye, this simple Squeeze Bottle would be perfect for storing and serving vinaigrette. Translucent plastic on the bottom, the top half (which twists off) is either coloured polypropylene or chic stainless steel:

This award-winning Slowcooker is defnitely unlike others I’ve seen! I love the terracotta colour and simple lines:

The curved surface of this dual-sided Cutting Board allows for less mess and an easier chopping experience: 

This is clever- a set of various Jar Tops made to fit on standard jar sizes the world over. Use them to turn any jar, plain or decorative, into a jug, shaker or storage:

I like how this streamlined Herb Garden has an integrated pocket for scissors- so practical:

I try not to get too carried away with the cute kiddie products (there are a lot out there!), but I couldn’t resist this fun Puzzle Dinner Tray: