Deirdre Kelly
From Tuesday's Globe and Mail Published on Monday, Nov. 30, 2009 6:49PM EST Last updated on Friday, Dec. 11, 2009 4:38PM EST
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MuffyMade Holiday Coffee Mug ($12.95) Various retailers; muffymade.com
HIGH
Balcons Du Guadalquivir Coffee Mug ($140) Hermès; hermes.com
Blame it on early-morning starts or even fluorescent lights: Canadians need their java. So giving co-workers a mug is thoughtful and on trend, given our reduce, reuse, recycle times. Cheaper than a week's worth of lattes is Toronto artist Meredith Shaw's hand-drawn white ceramic mug boasting a whimsical winter scene. More luxurious is the Hermès take, inspired by Spain and so ay! caramba hot it would improve the taste of any drink – even water.
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“Bullet” Space Pen Matte Black ($26.50) Lee Valley Tools; leevalley.com
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Fjader Pen with Stand ($56.95) Art Gallery of Ontario; ago.net
In this digital age, handwriting is becoming obsolete. Buck the trend with a ballpoint beauty and make the office a bastion of cursive. With the Space Pen, created for upside-down writing, colleagues can ask for a raise while standing on their heads (that may be what it takes, after all). Then the boss can sign off using the Fjader (Swedish for feather), a stylish accoutrement for any desk.
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Juggling Balls ($7.99) Various retailers; World Wonders, 1-800-661-8186
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Tangle The Infinite Sculpture ($109.95) Art Gallery of Ontario; ago.net
With smiles missing from many businesses these days, the hour calls for some enforced workplace levity. Let the fun begin with these juggling balls, guaranteed to relieve stress while improving the hand-eye co-ordination of cubicle dwellers looking for new talents to highlight in the yearly performance review. The Tangle is more of a brain thing, featuring 18 interconnected pieces that can be moved transformed and changed – much like your job description.
Charla Jones/THE GLOBE AND MAIL
Nov 26, 2009 -Laptop case, Fabric Belkin for Gift Guide.
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Belkin Neoprene Notebook Sleeve ($39.99) Various retailers; belkin.com
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Bree Punch 49 Messenger Bag ($182) Taschen; taschen.ca
Free your colleagues from their boring black laptop cases by giving the gift of colour. Available in four water-resistant shades, the eminently affordable Belkin features foam padding and an asymmetrical zipper for vertical or horizontal access. The pricier German-made Bree comes in both matte and glossy graphic colorations, with an adjustable shoulder strap, back zip pocket and padded compartment. Either way, fashion meets function.
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