But even though I consider myself an interwebs search jedi, I wasn’t finding enough face value (or cheap enough), unused stamps, even on eBay. This how-to from 100 Layer Cake was helpful, but didn’t quite get me there. And then I stumbled on the vintage stamp secret! Search by sheet. There are zillions of stamps on eBay, but it’s significantly easier and faster to search by sheet. Stamps used to come in sheets of 50, 40, or sometimes 20. So if you’re buying nearly face-value, intact sheets, they’ll be unused and you’ll have lots to pick from. Jackpot.

Then you’ll see that many or most have “Scott Numbers” listed. For those of you who aren’t stamp geeks, that’s the catalog number. When you find a design you like (even if it’s not at a price you like), go to the main stamp sheet page here and then plug in its Scott number and search. Bingo. You’ll usually get lots of results with varying prices and are almost sure to find a deal. (For instance, here are a bunch of listings that vary widely in price for one of my fave stamps, botanical congress.) Just one warning: Once you figure out how to find them, it’s hard to stop. If you’re on a vintage stamp quest, I hope this helps!

YUM. We went a little crazy at Union Square.

More products to love! Today I seriously fancy this glass piggy bank from Roost at Velocity, originally spotted at Oh Joy. Isn’t he charming? The best part is that—unlike some of their much pricier goods—if I bought this guy, at $24 I’d actually have some pennies left over to put in the pig.

Currently loving the budget cuts piggy bank and matryoshka measuring cups. (Seriously, why didn’t I think of this? And just in time for the matryoshka craze, too.) Oh Fred, you’re so good.

I may have done a little oohing and aahing when I spotted these Alphabet Drawers from Kent and London. When I first glanced at the photos I thought it was some kind of vintage printing block, and it turns out that was the inspiration. They’re a mix of so many of my favorite things: typography, vintage, wood, little card-catalog type cabinets… Sigh. If I had £2700 plus the cash to ship it from England, you bet I’d be snapping one of these babies up.

Spotted at WhyMeDesign.

By Katie Baum on 20×200.

If you’re in New York and you want to score a TweeCard for your mamma, it’s not too late! Head to Williamsburg anytime between now and Saturday to 303GRAND’s Thanks, Mom popup shop. My “Dear Mom” card is for sale in three lovely colors (as seen in the photo thanks to my Perez Hilton-style photoshopping skillz). They also have other cool handmade gifts, so it’s definitely worth a stop! It’s at 303 Grand Street in Williamsburg, and they’re open from 3pm to 8pm during the week and noon to 8pm Saturday.

(Spotted on Modish)

Fred & Friends is one of my favorite companies. They just make the funniest, most well-designed, quirkiest stuff that’s perfect for gifts. So it was like Christmas this morning when I noticed Fred had recently updated their site with a whole new line of stuff to drool over. My faves, above.