It’s that time of the year again. The Ice Hotel, just outside Quebec City, Canada, is almost ready to open for business. Every year a group of talented artists, ice sculptors, and designers create The Ice Hotel—which covers over 30,000 square feet, is made up of 400 tons of ice and 12,000 tons of snow, and features a new design each year. Visitors sleep on plush animal-hide beds bundled up under down comforters. If they’re feeling in a partying mood they can go to the N’ice club or to the ABSOLUT Ice Bar. There is also an Ice Chapel for fiancées wishing to marry in an enchanting (and almost fairy-tale-like!) setting. Don’t worry though, it’s not all icy cold—the hotel has hot tubs, a sauna, and plenty of hot cocoa to get you through an exciting weekend adventure.

Fly-Pitcher was started in Milan in 2002 with a goal to produce limited edition products, one-offs, and small batches of lighting, furniture, and accessories. They’re interested in applying new materials and techniques to the design process and we were pleased when we saw they reinvented the cuckoo clock. The traditional clock ‘went a little cuckoo’ here. The Digital Stag is made of laser-cut veneered composite board and features a digital clock in the center of its face—a fun and modern interpretation of a well-known classic form.

On the plane and need a to catch some Zzzz’s? Who wants to wear one of those goofy and always uncomfortable airline edition eye masks? Not us! Finally there is a company making masks with extra soft, plush interiors and great designs on the outside. Strawberry Jim makes every design we can imagine: Light switches, sheep, cucumbers, chocolate hearts, and even creepy doll eyes. If you can’t find a design that suits your fancy in their product line, they’ll also make a custom mask from your a personal submission.

The Mini-Wishbone Level earrings designed by LeeAnn Herreid are a finely crafted balance of function and design. The Massachusetts-born designer found her passion for metalwork at the young age of 14 and went on to recieve a BFA in Jewelry & Light Metals at Rhode Island School of Design in 1991. The result of this passion is a series of Individual Icons combining clean sterling silver design and irresistible necessities for travelers and the easily lost alike . . . from compasses and levels to thermometers and metal rulers, you can be sure never to lose your way. She also makes custom work and one-of-a-kind pieces out of stainless steel, 18-karat gold, and platinum. Take a look at her gallery for some unique custom work.

OZOcar is Marie’s favorite car service in NYC — it’s the first and only eco-luxury car service ever. Their fleet is entirely compromised of hybrid cars which use 70% less fuel than the regular (and boring) Lincoln Towncars and yellow cabs. The company is committed to minimizing its impact on the environment while helping to reduce the dependence on imported oil. It’s about time a company took a stand like this, and we’re glad it’s someone in NYC. Their fleet is made up of the ultra quiet Prius, Lexus 400h, and the new Toyota Highlander. Next time your in the city maybe it’s time you make an eco-choice for transportation.

Eiei-o Studio is just like the name: quirky, cute, and fun. It’s run by two friends who wanted to do something new for the world, and this beautiful paper is their creation. They think the paper which wraps a gift is its skin– and a package should capture the spirit of the gift, the giver, and the occasion. With that said, we’re sick of all the boring old hallmark wrapping papers and glad we found Eiei-o! Of course they have some pretty great gift cards too. They even said, “You are the paper you wrap with.”

Knock Knock is the most humorous place on the web to find great holiday gifts, stocking stuffers, greeting cards, great wrapping paper and more. Their new holiday collection is now in stock– believe it or not it’s almost time to start thinking about gifts for the holidays. Some of our favorites include the Holiday Survival Kit which they call the first ever portable kit to contain breath mints, antibacterial wipes, ear plugs, and a shot glass. Also be sure to check out the Stocking Stuffers, the checklists and “Tracking Systems for Gift Acquisition & Distribution” are a great. Wondering what Charles & Marie will recommend for the holiday gift giving season? Stay tuned…

Chuck Anderson’s collaboration with Jason Gregory of MAKR is some of the nicest custom leather work we’ve seen in a very long time. Chuck Anderson has done design work for several companies, including folks like Absolut Vodka, Citibank, Karim Rashid, and more. Jason Gregory is a young and self taught leather worker from Orlando– his products are simply beautiful. All hand sewn, and laser cut– that means no two wallets are ever alike. When talent like Anderson and Gregory get together the results are undeniably gorgeous –just like this No Pattern edition wallet above!

Japanese designer Fukasawa manifests his subtle irony elegantly in these new creations for the collection of home accessories by B&B Italia, presented at 100% design in London.

“Twist and Groove” is two pencil holders, one with a square base, the other a rectangle. Made of high-density polyuretane resin and finished with a special coating of “Soft-Touch” enamel, Twist and Groove is velvety to the touch.

The clean lines of the design are in contrast with the orderly disorder of the composition: in the rectangular version (”Groove”) the pencils are placed in an apparently casual manner, creating the effect of an interrupted game of mikado.

In the square version (”Twist”) the pencils are placed neatly in small openings forming a circle, with the surprise effect of each pencil standing at different angles.

Didn’t you want to be Alice in Wonderland at some point? Well, now you can . . . sort of. Thorsten Van Elten serves up plants in this oversized cup which make for a wonderful change from the tired terra cotta we have all seen way too much of. First presented in Milano in May, this newly available piece is another phenomenal product from Thorsten, who always makes us smile with his unique and quirky products.