You know how I love my group exercise classes at the gym?  Well, one of the reasons is that I always meet such nice and interesting people there.  One really wonderful woman who I met in yoga class (she is also a fellow member of Rachel’s cycle groupies) is the owner and designer of her own gift-ware business called Ore’ Originals. They make happy products for good people and pets.

I love creative people, so when someone mentions that they are a designer, I always want to know more.  Lisa really did start this business in her garage.  Now she has this awesome facility with light-filled offices and her warehouse on site. 

Lisa has this beautiful energy, it’s like practicing yoga next to a sunny day.  I think that she infuses that energy into her products, I mean, I’ve never had such a happy feeling looking at baby teethers before.

She is always working on new ideas and making sure that her products are safe as well as attractive and useful.  When I visited her, she showed me some new products that they were just coming out with and some concepts that were still in development.  She also told me about how they send samples for testing to make sure that there aren’t any dangerous chemicals.

Ore’ Originals has three lines:

Sugarbooger

Sugarbooger is the kids line.  The core product line – sippy cups, divided plates, suction cup bowls, lunch boxes and accessories, etc. come in so many super adorable patterns that Lisa created.  Of course my favorites are “Go Kitty Go!” (because what is better than kitties and bicycles?) and “Flamingo.”

Ore’ Pet

Ore’ Pet is the pet line (surprise!).  I know Lisa as a fellow cat lady, but it seems that the pet line started when she had a pet dog (that’s ok, I won’t hold it against her).  Now, they carry almost as many cat products as dog products.

As a new baby kitten present, Lisa gave Anabel and Sally a set of these beautiful kitty dishes.  I had been feeding them out of tea saucers but Anabel would step, then sprawl onto her dish (she was a slob).  These precious little dishes solved the problem and helped her learn proper table manners.  I love the aqua with the pretty, orange rim.  I also love how the pattern on the dish is textured, it’s a lovely touch.

These “Wish You Were Here” toys are so beyond cute.  They would make really pretty Christmas tree ornaments, don’t you think?

Living Goods

Living Goods is the original line which encompasses all sorts of fun around-the-house-type things.  It’s the stuff for grown-ups and the products are all based on the idea of eclectic home organization. 

There are three styles of mugs: “Pop of Color”, “Cuppa This Cuppa That,” and “Cuppa Color.”  All the designs are really cute, I would hate to have to pick a favorite.  My neighbor had one of her mugs that he really loved, I would see him running out to catch his ride to work with his Ore’ coffee mug in hand.  He said that it had a “great mouth feel” as opposed to that coffee mug that I had once that would trick me into dribbling coffee down the front of my shirt pretty much every time I used it (I’m not kidding!  I thought it was me, but my drinking problem stopped when I switched mugs).

There are fun tabletop things like placemats and coasters.  And how brilliant are these chalkboard placecards?  I feel the sudden urge to plan a party.

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