YOUR PLACE BUILD YOUR OWN MOSAIC.

The history of civilizations can be found in mosaics, often the last thing left of an ancient culture. Chips of glass, tile or stone come together to tell stories through portraiture, scenery or design.

Learn to make a mosaic of your own in ``The Complete Pebble Mosaic'' (Firefly; $25) by Maggy Howarth, an expert in the field who, for the last 20 years, has produced hundreds of pebble mosaics.

Howarth shares the basic principles of laying out a design - which in the case of pebbles, are often in a walkway or garden - including site selection, pattern planning, materials, site prepping and grouting. She offers advice on what kind of stones to use and where to find them.

Many pages of the book are devoted to how-to information. It makes many of the projects in the book seem possible.

Benefit from Howarth's experiences as she shares methods that have succeeded and failed. She also gives her special cement recipe.

- Linda Hutchinson

CLEAN, NATURALLY: In an age of germ-fighting, anti-bacterial soaps, the Organic Sudz Co. preaches a kinder, gentler form of cleansing. Sudz makes its bar soaps with certified organic palm oil and a cornucopia of other ingredients - they vary according to skin types and needs - including parsley, grapefruit, eucalyptus and honey. Body washes come packaged in sporty water bottles, perfect for toting to the gym. Prices range from $6.95 to $7.95. Visit www.organicsudz.com for more information.

- Mariko Thompson

BREATHABLE STORAGE: Handy canvas containers expand when you need them and shrink when you don't. Umbra's Crunch Cans are laminated with vinyl liners so they hold their shape and are easy to clean. The round containers come in three sizes and an array of vibrant colors. Use them to store toys, gardening tools, magazines, towels and more. For homes where every square foot counts, the Crunch collection offers rectangular and oval laundry baskets, as well as an over-the-door hamper. The Crunch Can is available at most Bed, Bath & Beyond stores.

- M.T.

CLEAN, CHIC, DESIGNER UTENSILS: Want to clean up the kitchen with a sponge that has a fun, new design? Pick up the Forks & Knives pattern on the O-Cel-O Sponge Scrubbers With Fun Designs. Designed by Zaki Kammandy, a 22-year-old New York Parsons School of Design student from Colorado, it was the first-place winner in a home care design contest sponsored by 3M. Kammandy was awarded a $15,000 scholarship - and has had a chance to see his design manufactured and sold at retail. The design depicts forks, knives and spoons under soap suds on the bottom of a sink. The outlines of the utensils are against a light blue background with white and darker blue polka dots. Look for the sponges (they're terrific; we have used several of the other designs) with suggested retail of $1 each at supermarkets and mass merchandisers.

- Natalie Haughton

CAPTION(S):

3 photos

Photo:

(1) no caption (book: ``The Complete Pebble Mosaic Handbook'')

(2) no caption (Organic Sudz Co. soaps)

(3) no caption (Forks and Knives O-Cel-O Sponge)