Just because we celebrated the holidays a month ago doesn’t mean you can’t look forward to this year’s festivities! These menorahs by Stil Novo Design are made out of recycled white oak staves from wine barrels and each one is unique since no barrels are alike. These pieces accommodate mini white porcelain holders for nine mini taper candles and they make unique candleholders for Hanukkah or for every day use. The wooden pieces are linked together by a metal hoop from the wine barrel itself.

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We will be back on Monday.

In the meantime, enjoy the first nine days of Christmas from designer Brandon Oxendine created graphic art based on The Twelve Days of Christmas. And check back on his blog each day until he completes all 12 days!

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Menorah One balances aesthetics with function — sacrificing neither for a beautiful outcome. Balancing tradition and modernity allows these ritual objects to remain relevant in a post-modern world. The art of rapid prototyping is used to create the form from a computer-generated model, which is then cast in brass and nickel plated by skilled craftsman in downtown Los Angeles.

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We don’t do gift guides here on Design Milk because, well, everyone does them. We like to be different. So we decided to go in another direction this year. Since our staff is getting larger, we thought it would be fun to ask each person what was on their wishlist this holiday season. So, every day for next 2 weeks we’ll feature a staff wishlist. Check out what Jessica’s got on her list:

1. A Treehouse
I live in Brooklyn, NY where you only have tree lined streets and some parks, but this would be incredible to have in a future backyard.

2. Micaela Greg Knitwear
Drooling over her leggings and also this knit skirt drapes so well.

3. Stilts by Julie Morstad
Fabulous piece of artwork that I think it would look amazing framed in my house. I feel like I see a lot of illustration over the internet, but her work grabs me time and time again.

4. A Porcelain Cactus
I already collect real Cacti so why not have something that will last forever and you never have to water.

5. Beetle and Flor’s Beaver Skull
Handcrafted in Brooklyn and completely original.

6. Black Starburst Booties
I have wanted something like this for a while. I love all the buckles and studs.

We don’t do gift guides here on Design Milk because, well, everyone does them. We like to be different. So we decided to go in another direction this year. Since our staff is getting larger, we thought it would be fun to ask each person what was on their wishlist this holiday season. So, every day for next 2 weeks we’ll feature a staff wishlist. Here’s what Annie’s list includes:

1. Linea Ice Oro at Gretel
Thinking that an incredibly gorgeous set of flatware will inspire me to cook more incredibly wonderful meals!

2. Bubble Chandelier by Jean Pelle
Just because it’s beautiful, do I really need a better reason?!  Oh and because I’m obsessed with lighting!

3. Mushroom Nos Da Blanket at Gretel
I love a super soft blanket and I love pattern!  Also don’t know if my tiny radiator is going to keep me warm this winter.

4. Nomadic Wonderland by Eunsuk Hur
This will look absolutely gorgeous with my new sofa…wink wink.  The fact that it’s an interchangeable modular system that I can transform is amazing!

5. Joie Refugee Lace Up Boot from Shopbop
I can’t bear to part with my perfectly worn in boots I’ve had for years, but I think it’s time.  These boots may be just what it takes to make me forget about them!  The perfect mix of combat and riding boot…gorgeous!

6. B14 Bathsystem by Boffi
Because a girl can dream, right?!

7. Alaskan Malamute puppy photo by Rigor & Samnooshka
It’s the cutest puppy in the world!  If you’re looking to adopt this holiday be sure to check your local shelters!

8. Faceted Wooden Rock by Kindling Shop
These would make the perfect centerpiece for my dining table.

9. Fuji Instax Instant Camera at Photojojo
So I can simplify just one thing in my life!

10. Sketchbook 2009 Drawing 16 of 32 by Ms. Jaime Derringer
Because it is awesome.  When and if she decides to sell this one…I’ve got first dibs!  So for now it’s just on my wishlist!

11. Boyd Sofa by Pinch Design
Really looking forward to snuggling with my new puppy on this “ultimate curl-up” sofa.  I swear he won’t chew on the legs!

K+C Sitting in a Tree is a new product line by designers, Katy and Corinne. The company was built upon a 14 year friendship and started out as simple note book doodles. This new product line consisting of notecards, postcards, posters, and rubber stamps illustrates the innocent and childlike simplicities of our youth.

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We don’t do gift guides here on Design Milk because, well, everyone does them. We like to be different. So we decided to go in another direction this year. Since our staff is getting larger, we thought it would be fun to ask each person what was on their wishlist this holiday season. So, every day for next 2 weeks we’ll feature a staff wishlist. Here’s what Catrina wants, although something tells me those last ones might not be available…

1. Attack of Literacy Print by Joshua Kemble
I fell in love with this illustration when I saw it on Society6 while I was browsing applicants’ work for the Design Milk Mini-Interview and Post opportunity. It isn’t available as a print (although I would really love that, so maybe I’ll put in a little hint for him), but it is available as a graphic tee on Threadless. It’s sold out at the moment, unfortunately. I can definitely see why.

2. Super Secret Spy Lens from Photojojo
Somehow, people have a sixth sense for knowing when the camera lens is on them, which isn’t helpful when I’m trying to capture some good candids! These “spy lens” from Photojojo can help eliminate that little problem I have by attaching to the lens of my Nikon DSLR camera.

3. A History Of The World In Six Glasses by Tom Standage
This book explains the significance of six different beverages (beer, wine, spirits, coffee, tea, and cola) and how they helped shape human history. I find it an interesting approach to giving insight from the Stone Age to today.

4. An endless supply of Cheddar Cheese Popcorn from Popcorn Palace
I love gourmet popcorn. I’d really like to have a gigantic tin on the floor in my room for the popcorn along with endless refills of popcorn being sent to me every month.

5. Mix Tape USB Drive from Fred Flare
I’ve seen a lot of different USB drives out there, but this one by far is my most favorite in the bunch. It isn’t as compact as the small USB stick I have on hand already, but it has 512 megabytes of space and it speaks volumes about how much I love stuff inspired by mixtapes

6. Reverse alarm clock
This actually doesn’t exist, but I wish it did. It would do the opposite of a morning alarm clock. I have a habit of sleeping really late, so I think an alarm clock that somehow tells me to go to sleep would be perfect.

7. My own personal sushi chef
Because I find myself wanting sushi almost all the time, so why not?

8. Two panda bears
They’d be best friends. I’d name them after Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart.

We don’t do gift guides here on Design Milk because, well, everyone does them. We like to be different. So we decided to go in another direction this year. Since our staff is getting larger, we thought it would be fun to ask each person what was on their wishlist this holiday season. So, every day for next 2 weeks we’ll feature a staff wishlist. Here’s what Erin hopes to get:

1. Fair Isle Bootie at Urban Outfitters
Because the truth is, I spend 99% of my time in pajamas and slippers. And mine are sorta starting to smell.

2. Crystal Counterpart Decanter at Anthropologie
I collect white things, because for some reason, I feel a bit more Scandinavian that way. This would make the loveliest addition to my collection… ever.

3. Herringbone Throw at Auto
Do I need a reason to love this?

4. Beechwood Kitchen Utensils at A+R
I just bought a fixer-upper and can’t wait to display these in my newly renovated kitchen! Eek!

5. Covo Teapot at DeDeCe
Because this is the prettiest teapot I’ve ever seen in my entire life.

6. I Love Your Style: How to Define and Refine Your Personal Style by Amanda Brooks at Amazon
I re-invent my wardrobe entirely too often and am hoping that one day, I’ll finally get my act together and achieve the ultimate in style definition. Until then, I’m riding the coattails of Amanda Brooks.

We don’t do gift guides here on Design Milk because, well, everyone does them. We like to be different. So we decided to go in another direction this year. Since our staff is getting larger, we thought it would be fun to ask each person what was on their wishlist this holiday season. So, every day for next 2 weeks we’ll feature a staff wishlist. Here’s what Crystal is crossing her fingers for.

1. Color Masking Tape Set 2. Brand Puzzle 3. Sky Planter 4. Hamster Bank 5. Vitra Uten Silo Large Wall Organizer or 6. This one 7. Typeface 8. Made in Bunch Book 9. Moustache Pencils 10. Wooden Letters

We don’t do gift guides here on Design Milk because, well, everyone does them. We like to be different. So we decided to go in another direction this year. Since our staff is getting larger, we thought it would be fun to ask each person what was on their wishlist this holiday season. So, every day for next 2 weeks we’ll feature a staff wishlist.

Part practical, part pipe dream, here are the five items on my holiday wishlist:

1. Leica Digital Camera
My parents always carried big bulky bulletproof 35mm shooters on our travels, whether it be to the beach down the street, or across country destinations. It might be nostalgia that makes me drool over the M9, but nostalgia has purchased me far less cool merchandise in the past.

2. Kindle
The latest edition of the Kindle has gone global, and I want it. I did contemplate the Barnes & Noble Nook, which looks pretty appealing; alas, I had a poor customer service experience with them once and vowed never to shop there again. If I’ve learned anything from that traditional paper and pulp, its principles.

3. Dita Eyeglasses
I have something like, better than 20/20 vision, but since transitioning from a wannabe-popular to an overt nerd, I’ve been told I have a face for glasses. I even head to the optometrist twice a year in hopes there’s a clouding of my vision that I just haven’t caught on to yet. If I were in the market, I’d lay down a few bones for these babies in Burnt Brown or Honey Tortoise.

4. A Tattoo
I’ve never taken the plunge, but I think about it so often that it feels as though I should just get it over with. There’s something to be said for the badassery that is a full-sleeve on a fully-feminine lady. Image source: Inked

5. Coast Outta Brooklyn Bike
The other day I walked into my living room and noticed a stock pile of five bicycles, not one of them belonging to be. This is startling because I live with two other people. Although I won’t be able to purchase a custom frame anytime soon, when I have the dough it’s going to Coast Outta Brooklyn, in a borough I rarely want to leave.