You know how you’ve always secretly believed that at least some of the creations on display in the Museum of Modern Art’s hallowed halls are garbage? Well, check out the Rescued Paper Notebook available at the MoMa Design Store (www.momastore.org). These handmade books bind together discarded pieces of paper—from old artwork, to envelopes, to architectural plans—creating one-of-a-kind, eco-friendly collections of litter. The printed pages face inward, so you can even write on their backsides. Available in both large ($17) and small ($12) sizes, the notebooks are intended to promote conservation and recycling. We guess one person’s trash is literally another person’s treasure—or at least their “I’m so hip I buy garbage” must-have item.
Secret Stash
In NYC, where space is scarce and people fit their entire lives into 500 square feet (or less), your belongings and the containers in which you store them must be equally precious. Enter the PJ Pocket Pillow ($85-100, www.modern-twist.com or visit Yoyamart at 15 Gansevoort St.). Inspired by a Japanese anemone box (traditionally used to hold family heirlooms), these 13-inch hexagon boxes resemble a pillow to those not in the know, but unfold to reveal your treasure trove. Made from hand-woven cotton and silk screened with elephant, squirrel or abstract “lemon twist” designs, the pillows can be set atop the bed or tucked in a corner, where they will conceal from prying eyes your unmentionables, porn collection or stash of gold coins. For those with less resources, both cash and space wise, consider the Hide Box ($26), which, at only 3-inch big, is perfect for storing smaller, but just as valuable, items—say, condoms. (Kari Milchman)
Bust Out Of Your Shell
If your thumb’s not so green and your garden’s not so big, you’ll want to try Egglings ($9.50 each, www.eggling.com). These ceramic eggs hardly take up any room and are pretty much foolproof. Choose from basil, mint or spicy red pepper seeds, which are already sown into the peat mixture so all you have to do is crack the top and add water. Then place your eggling on its cute little terracotta tray and let time do its job. The plants will live in their shells for months, until you join a community garden or move to the ’burbs so you can replant them in roomier soil. In the meantime, they look so real your roommate may accidentally prepare himself a dirt omelette—should you place them on your refrigerator door instead of your windowsill. (Dana Haitkin)
East Meets Jest
If you’re into the whole DIY thing but your friends have been none too impressed with the pet rocks you’ve been churning out, get a little help from Keisuke Saka. Who the hell is he, you ask? Only one of Japan’s foremost paper engineers (such a cool job). His karakuri ($9.95, www.brooklyn5and10.com), mechanical devices intended to tease, trick, or surprise, are wickedly funny and yet tackle serious issues like global warming—as in Climate Change, a lone penguin balancing on a shrinking ice cap—vegetarianism—as in Doomed, a fish paired with a knife atop a cutting board—and old age—as in Hesitation, an old man poised for flight. A few moving parts yield hours of entertaining pursuit for those who love a chase. And the best part is, you can take credit for the impressive little creatures (just be sure to trash the illustrated instructions before boasting). Simply cut out the design, fold and assemble with glue. Intimidated? Don’t be, these elegant toys are recommended for ages 12 and up, so we think you can manage. (Kari Milchman)
