Few things can beat handmade gift-wrapping. It may not have the perfect lines or super-crisp edges that come with machine-made paper, but it’s overflowing with the sort of love and character that can only come from something that’s handmade. This hand-screenprinted wrapping paper from Darbie at Field Guide Design on Etsy caught my eye this…
Whew! It has been a crazy week full of holiday projects and gift guides and tonight, Amy and I are hopping on a plane to Atlanta to speak at this weekend’s Lavish conference (our panels are at 11am on Saturday and 9am Sunday). I hope we run into some of you down there! We’ll also…
Food blogger Mowie K wrote earlier this year about unearthing his grandmother’s notebook of recipes. Since he comes from a long line of bakers, I could only imagine Mowie’s excitement at discovering such a treasure. I also thought it might be a great opportunity to find something fantastic for In the Kitchen With readers. Instead…
We are in the thick of the holiday season and it is definitely time for a drink! Our tree is trimmed (*sort of*), we have been streaming the Christmas station from Pandora for days and have found ourselves enjoying several cups of Wassail Punch as we try to stay warm at night. Yesterday we took…
Happy holidays, D*S readers! We are taking a little break from going around the world and bringing you our own homespun take on holiday festivities. This past year when designing our events, we fell head over heels in love with wooden flowers, vintage medicine bottles, eucalyptus leaves, cotton ribbons and twine, felt crafts, paper garlands,…
Happy holidays, lovely readers! This gift guide is geared to the flower lover in your life. I included implements on the practical side (like the amazing Felco pruners and Hunter Wellies), as well as more fanciful gifts like vases and candles. If you’re looking to inspire the green thumb in your family, Michael Pollan’s book,…
Brrr!!! I don’t know where you are, but here in the mountains of western North Carolina, it’s cold. Seriously cold. Dangerously cold. And while I can layer up in wool and flannel, bracing most of my body from the ravages of dry, frigid weather, I can’t hide my face. My face takes it straight on,…
When it comes to calendars, I tend to enjoy both extremes: those purely about function (it doesn’t get more practical than this bad boy) and those that turn calendars into a piece of artwork. This new calendar from Kim at The Wild Unknown falls into the second category and feels like a beautiful art print…
For nearly a year and a half now, I’ve called Paris home. So it seemed fitting to put together a holiday guide to help you — or your loved one — channel your inner Francophile. Since Parisian apartments are notoriously petite, I wanted to pick out some simple (and easy to ship) items that would…
Chalkboard paint is just plain fun in a can. I mean, who wouldn’t want a whole wall to write sassy notes on, a chest of drawers that can change on a whim or a little table that says “lovely” on top? My hand is raised, folks! I love the options that chalkboard paint offers, and…
I was so excited to see so many great shop makeovers in my inbox. I often find myself fantasizing about what it would be like to open a shop, especially when I see so many lovely shops opening up all around the country. It seems like the current fragile state of retail has come with…
I know this might be a controversial makeover because unlike many of the kitchens we see, this “before” is actually kind of good looking. I’m not speaking about its functionality of course, which could be sub-par. However, if someone wants a completely different look, I’m the last person to stop them — especially if they…
It seems clear to me that retail is making a comeback, because we have three amazing shop makeovers coming your way today. This first store overhaul is clearly a labor of love, and the results are incredible. Emma recently opened up a vintage/handmade/cupcakes business with her sister Elsie in southern Missouri. According to Emma, they…
This might sound weird, but sometimes I think I was a rugged, carpentry-loving, plaid-wearing man in another life. I can’t find any other explanation for my obsession with, and instinctive gravitation toward, anything that reminds me of a wood shop or old-school L.L. Bean-style outdoorsy-ness. So when I saw these pieces for sale at Kaufmann…
Design*Sponge was featured on the December 6th, 2010 episode of The Nate Berkus Show. Nate Berkus interviewed founder Grace Bonney on air and called the site one of his favorites, announcing it as the day’s featured “Nate’s Find”. Click here and here to view additional videos behind the scenes.
I know that the novelty of owning items with my name on them probably should have worn off by adulthood, but I have to admit that I still love giving and receiving monogrammed gifts, and I don’t see myself tiring of it anytime soon. There are many great reasons to love personalized objects. Not only…
Our mother (the original BBB) set the bar pretty high with her gift wrapping each season and forever influenced the way that we paper, tape and top our presents. We admit to a little bit of (friendly) Blessing sister rivalry on the morning of December 25 when we eye each other’s creations under the tree,…
Hi everyone! I wanted to post a reminder about the 2010 D*S Scholarship! Today is the final day to turn in applications, which are due tonight at 11:59pm EST. This year, there are $10,000 in awards being given to both undergraduate and graduate students (international students are welcome). To read the full details and apply,…
Deck your halls DIY-style this year with an easy handmade tree skirt! In this post, I’ll show you the basics of sewing a simple round skirt, which you can adapt to any custom size to fit your tree — from a majestic 12-foot fir to an NYC-apartment-sized mini-tree like mine. The fabric you choose will…
Growing up, I kept a daily journal. I always enjoyed looking back at previous entries to see what had changed over the course of a year. These days, I can’t seem to find the time to journal, but I do try to jot down a little note from each day on my perpetual calendar/journal. The…
