Smart storage

Every home needs more storage. It is an ongoing quest. Look no further, Housefish has made the solution easy. This awesome little furniture start-up has developed "a highly modular storage system that ships flat and assembles easily- the only tool you need is a hammer. The parts are cleverly joined into an exceptionally strong structure by machined aluminum tenon keys. The wood is sustainably harvested, FSC certified maple or walnut plywood, finished with a zero VOC finish. Key is our effort to redefine what sustainable, green, modern furniture can be. Available with optional sliding powdercoated metal doors in a wide variety of colors. Key packaging is 100% paper-based and contains no plastic." WOW! And it is all manufactured in Denver, Colorado, not to mention great looking.
P.S. Shipping is free to the US. You've GOT to love these guys.

DWELL guest blog: BACK TO SCHOOL

As seen on dwell.com!!

With the lazy days of summer coming to an end, lots of us have to trudge out to the same old stores for pencils, binders, maybe even a protractor or two. May I suggest you avoid the crowds and shop from home, while doing a little good for the economy? Buy American! There's quite a bit of stuff on your list that is made stateside, and made tastefully I might add.

Duluth Pack's Child's Packs are timeless, guaranteed for life, and come in 12 nifty colors. They are made in Duluth, Minnesota by a company that has a history dating back to 1882. If you find yourself green with envy at your kid's cool new bag, don't fret. Duluth Packs makes these great bags, and many more, for adults too!

These 3-ring binders by ReBinder have so much going for them. They are a great neutral canvas for doodles,  made in the USA, Seattle to be exact, priced right, and they are made completely from recycled materials. ReBinder is "the only true zero waste office supply manufacturer" and has some other products that are probably on your list like folders and notebooks.

There is no doubt that lots of schools are embracing technology these days. If your shopping list includes something to protect your kid's iPad or Kindle, look no further than stash bags. A one woman endeavor where all products are handmade from start to finish in Omaha, Nebraska "using quality materials and attention to detail" no matter what gadget you need to keep safe.

Since 1887, Roaring Spring Blank Book Company has been making school and office paper products. Through five generations, the company has retained its roots in Pennsylvania and its commitments to quality and community; they are one of the few paper companies that has kept manufacturing stateside. Not only do they make the classics, like this old-fashioned composition book, but they have a line of recycled paper products called Environotes as well.

Another American company with a long history of proudly making quality products in the US, General Pencil Company, in Jersey City, New Jersey, has been making writing and art supplies for more than a century. Their Cedar Pencil is the required #2 all students need, made from sustained yield California incense cedar wood.

Brook Farm General Store carries classic, stylish products with a farm-fresh yet modern feel, both on their shelves in Williamsburg, Brooklyn and online. They also make their own line of goods called Tourne which includes this natural gum eraser made in America.

On their website, Rebel Green explains their philosophy simply by writing,  "we love good design and we care about the environment. You should never need to sacrifice one for the other." Part of caring about the environment for them means keeping their carbon-footprint to a minimum and manufacturing all of their products in America with sustainable, low impact materials. This gem of a company is headed up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Just about everyone knows about Nalgene's great products. You may not know, however, about their  Grip 'n Gulp, a virtually indestructible, reusable, leak-proof, spill-proof BPA-free water bottle made for littler hands. Not to mention it's guaranteed for life and made in the Empire State. Need we say more?

Hold on to your hat

Stormy Kromer is more than a hat company. It is also the name of the founder of that company. He was a semi-pro baseball player who born in 1876 in Wisconsin. In 1903, he asked his wife, Ida, to modify an old baseball cap to help keep it on in windy weather. The all-cloth cap with the soft, canvas visor was a departure from the traditional fedoras of the day, but it was more comfortable and because of it's six-panel fit, it stayed put. As the story goes, soon other railroad workers wanted one of Stormy Kromer's caps for themselves, and when Ida could no longer keep up with demand, they hired a few employees and the business was born. They are still in business today, making the original classics hand-stitched in Wisconsin, as well as some outerwear and some variations on the cap.

Getting in the swing of things

An old-fashioned tree swing is a thing of beauty. Timeless, fun, simple. Who needs video games when you can feel the breeze as you glide through the air? The Original Tree Swing is a family owned and operated company that makes these classic swings as well as hand-crafted wooden toys in Minnesota. All their toys are made from reclaimed wood and finished in beeswax or mineral oil.

Down at the General Store

The Brook Farm General Store is a small store in Williamsburg, Brooklyn filled to the brim with exceedingly tasteful and simple goods in the tradition of old-fashioned general stores, but with a modern twist. They're online store has made it possible for people all over the world to enjoy the old-timey general store feeling no matter where our may be. Not so long ago, they came out with their own line of products, called Tourne and their classic-yet-modern ceramics are all made in the USA and have a great handmade feel. You can get them in white or cream, or my personal favorite, a combo of both.

AFFORDABLE FRIDAY: Sock it to me

Goodhew Socks is a leader in premium lifestyle socks made in the US. Headed up out of Chattanooga, TN, they're line spans from athletic, outdoor, to modern everyday pairs. They "spin fresh design, natural performance yarns and the heritage of American craftmanship to create high performance socks for the everyday world." I gotta say, the designs I've seen are pretty forward thinking and downright cute.  Check their site for a brick & mortar or online retailer near you.

Tote-riffic

Who doesn't love a good tote? Especially if you have kids. I would much rather carry a classic tote than a diaper bag any day. And totes are versatile.  From farmer's market shopping bag to soccer practice ball-bag to day-at-the-beach bag, totes do it all. And a good heavy-duty, well-made one like those from Artifact Bag Co. in Omaha, NE. They are made "using a combination of hand tools and vintage industrial equipment [and] the finest American sourced waxed canvas and leather." All that and a lifetime guarantee. You really can't go wrong.