Hunting and gathering, i.e. shopping for the new, artistic, interesting, beautiful, fun, smart, sweet, sensational and functional is no easy task, however a challenge we are more than eager to accept. We found all that and more this month at the AmericasMart Home and Gift show. Outfitted for the hunt in flats, a badge and a big bag we went in. Here are some of our favorite finds…

THURSTON REED. Pillows please! Each pillow is hand-finished, no two exactly alike featuring a lot of artisanal details. All are ethically sourced, made in India using luxurious fabrics—deep pile silk velvet, 100% silk and 100% raw silk, soft linens and cottons. Stopped us all right in our tracks, these are stunning. Katelyn has her eye on a couple already.

ADDISON WEEKS. Jewelry for you and your home too! Makes total sense to us. Two southern designers, Lee Addison Lesley and Katherine Weeks Mulford’s love of gemstones and statement jewelry prompted them to launch their company. Hand crafted, these luxurious creations are ever evolving into collections that are both classic and modern. The most recent  and very exciting additions to the line include a collection of gemstone hardware. We circled back around for a second look.

SELAMAT. Interestingly, this company started by using leftover wood cut-offs to make stylish home and office accessories. Now at the helm are Thatcher and Shannon Davis, who continue to  source sustainable timbers of mahogany and teak, then combine them with exotic materials such as rattan, leather, metal, bamboo and stone, creating a diverse array of furniture and accessories. Their unique style of casual yet elegant pieces mix well in residential and commercial settings. These sweet pieces are from the Lucia collection, indoor or outdoor.

IMAGE REPUBLIC DESIGNS. Design should always include a sense of humor. These images celebrate a certain era or moment in time that will make you think, smile, or remember. These images depict pop culture icons, high-profile personalities, labels, creative advertising, legendary TV series, and emotional moments. We all agreed that a grouping of them would be super fun.

BARLOGA STUDIOS. These are beautiful photographs printed on intriguing papers. The combination adds the most unique “old world” look.  Each sheet differs slightly in weight, color, and squareness ensuring that no two pieces are the same.  Printed in color, black and white, or toned. Also available is an english watercolor paper – that has a “weighted”  presence, texture, with beautifully water-deckled edges.  The bright white is a good way to bridge the gap between traditional and modern.

MAILEG. How cute are these guys? We had to indulge ourselves with a few moments of whimsey. Created by a well known graphic artist in Denmark, these sweet bunnies and mice now capture the hearts of children and “designing women ” around the world.

LOUIS SHERRY. It’s 2:30, bring on the chocolate! These bright tins initially caught our eye but the truffles were ah-mazing! Incidentally, the tin is a recast of the original now more than 100 years old. A good design lasts forever. Great gift, great truffles, great keepsake tin to repurpose.

We are definitely inspired by all the incredible design finds, thanks to all of the creative designers, merchants and artisans we met at the AmericasMart.

Credits go to Thurston Reed, Addison Weeks, Selamat, Image Republic Designs, Barloga Studios, Maileg, and Louis Sherry for images and content.