Every year we save the best shoe, shirt and jewelry boxes from the holidays and recycle them to hold craft supplies, store photos or use as gift boxes for the next giving season. Our stockpiles were getting unruly, as were our drawers full of scrap ribbon and wrapping paper, so we came up with a…
Kim Krans of The Wild Unknown is one of my favorite artists, so I was super excited when she wanted to share a holiday DIY with us. Kim has created a lovely chickadee design that you can simply print, fold, embellish and hang, either as a tree topper or an ornament. I often struggle with how…
A few months ago, we were asked to contribute some holiday gift DIY projects to the December/January issue of Ladies’ Home Journal. The magazine has just hit stands, and our projects are now available to view on their website! Some of these are variations on past projects, while others — like the vintage book tablet…
I’ve been obsessed with spherical shapes lately, and I can’t stop buying them in all forms. Wood, metal, glass . . . I even bought a pair of cement “pearl” earrings that I’m very excited about. With spheres on the brain, it’s no wonder I couldn’t resist sharing this super-easy tutorial for a hanging glass…
With Halloween over, the holiday season is technically in full swing. I know I am not alone in saying that I feel like fall and thanksgiving always come so quickly. This year, we are bringing the holiday festivities here. With a baby due in December, I have to stay put, but am lucky enough to…
We grew up in a family of readers, and our mother saves every book she’s ever read. She has bookshelves everywhere, books stacked on the floor and a constant towering pile next to her bed. We got inspired to start organizing our own book collections, and came up with this idea when we found old…
I don’t know what it’s like in your neighborhood, but when I step outside here in Oakland, I sense it right away: Fall is in the air! I’m lucky enough to have a few turning trees on my street, so I don’t miss out entirely on the brilliant autumn colors I remember from growing up…
I was talking with our DIY editor Kate about this project, and since this month’s theme is academia, she threw out the idea of an old-fashioned book strap. I immediately thought it sounded interesting and wondered what I could do with it. Also, the sun isn’t going to shine forever, and when it dies and…
As you may know, I have a weakness for tech accessories — especially ones that you can DIY — so it should come as no surprise that when Aimee of SwellMayde offered to share this tutorial, I immediately said yes. Aimee was even kind of enough to make a leather case in the signature D*S…
Summer is waning, and since I am a diehard autumnal girl, I’d usually be very excited by now. But I have to be honest — this lush and vibrant pallet vertical garden is making me want to stay in summer for another month or two. There have been many pallet projects and many vertical garden…
After seeing this perforated brass pendant lamp by Holly Rose, I decided I must take a class in metalsmithing — it seems so cool! I’ve just come around to brass recently, and now I love it! Holly has given simple brass sheets a whole new look by cutting out a fun polka dot pattern and…
In the world of internet and cell phone communication, information and feelings are shared quickly and impulsively. I prefer face-to-face communication to the phone or email, but I’ve had several good friends move away over the past year. Writing a letter to a friend requires a sacrifice of your time and requires you to really…
A couple weeks ago, Daniel submitted a living room redesign, and it was a huge hit, especially the work he did to transform the plain windows into this beautiful paned version. Daniel was kind enough to offer a tutorial on how to recreate the wooden panes. As it turns out, with just a little patience…
Try as I might, I cannot seem to grasp even the most basic of feminine beauty rituals. I’m constantly struggling to master rudimentary hair and makeup techniques, and my one-time foray into the “subtle” art of perfume left everyone in the room with burning nostrils. This DIY solid perfume locket from artisanal perfumer Mandy Aftel…
Not that long ago, I replaced a standard light fixture in my home with a custom pendant. It wasn’t until that moment that I realized how significantly great light fixtures can change a room. The initial intimidation of working with electricity is starting to lessen with some great pointers from my dad, and now I…
While working on today’s Treasure Hunting hangers post, I realized that one of my favorite ideas was the very simple clothes hanger lamp from Droog. Designed by Hector Serrano, the clothes hanger lamp is a plastic hanger with a very low-watt bulb attached, allowing you to create a light fixture out of your own wardrobe….
When the day comes to a close during winter, I find myself inside with my laptop, but that changes as the days get longer and the nights get warmer. There aren’t many things more relaxing than watching the sun set from the view of my front porch on a warm summer night. Candle light flickering…
When April showers come to an end and May flowers start blooming, I know estate & garage sale season will be in full force soon. The combination of beautiful weather and lots of people wanting to get rid of their “junk” just makes me giddy. After scouring numerous estate sales and flea markets, I consistently…
I love clothespins; they’re one of the few simple tools with a design that hasn’t needed improvement. Inspired by the starburst mirrors from Ballard Designs, D*S reader Diane Henkler decided to create a similar style using wooden clothespins, which she then customized in a number of different ways. Anyone looking for a super-easy weekend project…
The days are getting longer, and the sun is shining more; I can’t think of a better time to get my hands into soil and play around with some fun plant experiments for spring! I’ve seen kokedama — Japanese moss balls — looking great hanging in homes, but I never realized how easy they are…
