Edition 47: An Elusive Countertop Easel
Let's do some math! Plus: a silly cat pen, and where to get custom bookmarks
Greetings, friends! And welcome to Caroline Finds It: my weekly newsletter where I reply to submissions from YOU for objects and products you need recommendations for.
When I first started this newsletter, it was because I’d become notorious for good recommendations, but also because I like the challenge of finding things that seem impossible. Some submissions are easier than others, and this week I’ve got a doozy because the first step was just to find out what Heather in San Antonio is even talking about. She says:
“I am looking for an attractive (but mainly functional) countertop easel to support a beloved framed black and white family photo (23 h x 17 w x 1 1/2 d) The difficulty is the frame will sit on a very shallow counter that is only 14 in. deep. The easels we have found are either too deep, too massive, or too flimsy. Help us find the goldilocks of easels!”
Dear Heather,
What first comes to mind is a tiny version of a painter’s easel, or the book stand that my mom used on her counter to hold her favorite cookbook. After a little research, I’ve found that what you’re looking for is somewhere between the two. A way to display a framed photo on a stand, atop on a narrow counter. We can do that! Before I get into what I’ve found, let’s think about some important criteria:
Must have a substantial lip on the front or some way to fasten it so it doesn’t topple over, considering it will likely be more upright than is typically ideal
Must have a substantial base on which to support the picture since it’s quite large
Made of materials that will last and not warp over time
The very first thing we need to do is brush up on our high school geometry. If the frame is 23” tall and the counter is only 14” deep, what angle does the easel need to be set to in order to comfortably contain the frame in the allotted space? I’m going to make the assumption that so the frame doesn’t look too large for the space, it needs to be set back about 3-4” from the edge of the counter, and with that considered, you have about 10” of working space. I used this Right Triangle Calculator to help me do the math (sorry, Mrs. Jenkins!) with this result:
According to this calculation, the angle on which you are resting your frame can be no less than 64 degrees.
For a task like this, we have to get a little creative with our search terms. Using “countertop easel” isn’t going to yield anything that’s useful for such a specific scenario, so I tweaked the search terms to “small tabletop easel” with the hopes of getting something nice, wood, and made for painting atop a table. This is the best one I found:
From U.S. Art Supply for $27, this easel is made of German beechwood and is 9.5” deep and 13.5” wide. It’ll support the large size of your frame and be shallow enough to fit your space, with a little room to spare. Art easels are especially handy because they’re adjustable. This one goes up to a 75 degree incline, which is about as upright as you can go without your frame falling over. And if the natural wood isn’t your style, stain it or paint it to better suit your environs.
As I kept rooting around the net, I changed my search terms to “upright book stand” which yielded this adjustable book stand from Hightide for $18. It’s powder coated steel and though it has a decidedly industrial look, it at least comes in a plethora of colors to choose from. Like the wooden easel, it’s adjustable so you can get the upright angle you need:
With the desired angle in mind, it became easier to find suitable stands as I just plugged in the dimensions to the calculator to see if they’d work. I found two great non-adjustable options:
This metal stand is $34 and is larger and sturdier than most I’ve seen in similarly simple styles. At 9.5” wide, its legs will cradle your frame securely.
As long as you’re okay with the aesthetic, this option is most likely your best bet. The Lucite Galerie Easel ($67) from Alice Lane Home measures 13” wide, 5” deep and 9” high. The frame shown in the product image is not too far off from your dimensions and it appears to be well supported.
In this case, just sorting out my criteria and doing the math ahead of time made a world of difference! For difficult-to-find things, I’d also recommend doing this exercise before searching: write down all of the nouns that might be used to describe your item. In a separate column, write down all of the adjectives that might be relevant, in addition to any other descriptors such as specific dimensions, eras, designers etc. Try out each combination until something hits. Sometimes just tweaking your search terms yields totally different results.
QUICK ANSWER
Rosalie Kicks in Philadelphia: I am looking for a place to have bookmarks printed. Would you be able to assist?
Uprinting.com is my favorite online print shop! I originally found them during an exhaustive search for heavy uncoated postcards. Most affordable printers have matte and glossy options, but nothing that’s just a nice, heavy uncoated stock. In my opinion, printed matter looks most sophisticated (and more expensive!) this way. I’ve had just about every type of thing printed here and can attest to the quality, efficiency and value. It’s also a top not source for cheap custom wrapping paper sheets!
FAVORITE PRODUCT OF THE WEEK
Somehow, in the past several months, I’ve been gifted the same cat pen twice. It’s a thin barreled 0.5mm black gel pen with a little plastic cat stuck on the end. The clicker is the cat’s tail, which brings me endless joy to use, and the pen itself is smooth, fine and Muji-esque. Even in my house, which is full of writing tools, I find myself gravitating towards the silly cats, which are a perfect balance of fun and functional. My favorite scenario in which to use them is to take notes during Italian class, because using a novelty pen for study takes me right back to high school in the best way possible. I’ve seen them recently at the checkout line at Blick and Paper Source, but then can also be found here for $2.50.
Is there a product you’re looking for? Submit your request here. See you next week for a fresh recommendations. xo Caroline
There is a whole genre of these among rabbinic students called table shtenders, that have a heavier more polished design (mainly for heavy Talmudic tomes)