>> pike place lighting

We took a quick walk through Seattle's iconic Pike Place market last Friday before hopping on a Sea Plane headed for San Juan Island. I couldn't get enough of the old industrial pendant lights in that place. I wanted to rip them down and put them in my suitcase.

Filson Dog Lover Set

This is totally awesome. The Seattle store Blackbird has put together a Dog Lover Set ($73) which includes a collapsible Filson Dog Bowl, Filson Merino Fingerless Gloves and a well loved vintage bandana. How cute!

Maptotes

When I travel I always throw a few empty totes in my suitcase, and they always get use, whether for it's to schlep tennis balls, dirty shoes, picnic blankets or cameras. Some of my favorites are these from MapTote ($15-$40). They have a great selection of cities, styles and colors—and I think they make an excellent gift too.

Thomas Paul rugs

Thomas Paul has launched his "long awaited" rug collection on Velocity's website. It's pretty much what you would expect, it's his melamine plates turned into rugs. I'm going to go ahead and say I think I like his plates better, but there are a few patterns I could get behind. Above is "Damask in Ebony and Cream". Check out the entire collection right here, prices start at $150.

Urban Hardwoods

I was referred to the Seattle-based company Urban Hardwoods from a friend and really love their furniture. They reclaim urban trees and make rustic, well-designed furniture. Founder, Jim Newsom, began salvaging beached logs with his tugboat from the shores of Elliott Bay in Washington in the late 1990's. What he discovered in the process of acquiring and using urban wood is the incredible beauty of local trees. I really love their coffee tables and dining tables like the below Chestnut Dining Table ($3100) complete with ferrous stains and blackened steel legs.

New from Thomas Paul

Just saw that Thomas Paul is still producing new patterns for his melamine plates. I received his similar Aviary dinner plates for Christmas last year, which are still around if you look hard enough, and we use them all the time, they're so easy to clean and fun, I love them. Above is his new "Folk" collection, which...I don't know, I think I like his older stuff better, but maybe they'll grow on me. Get them at here at Velocity $36 for set of four dinner plates; $28 for set of four dessert plates.

PANTS

This Seattle outpost PANTS is a bit odd, but they have a couple of awesome wool pillowcases. The above two, "Love Skull" and "Foxy", are both $43. Not bad.