I love learning about holiday customs from other countries, and this is one that I could easily see myself including in seasons to come. Kate Petty of Mini-Eco sent over this easy, modern version of Christmas crackers, a popular holiday tradition in countries like Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland and the United Kingdom, where Kate…
I always wrestle with giving handmade gifts. I enjoy receiving them and cherish the extra thought and personal touch that comes with them. There is something about a handmade gift that is more treasured than a store-bought item, but what if the recipient isn’t so crazy about the gift? I want to be able to…
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…
DIY lovers are some of my favorite people to shop for, and it’s not just because they sometimes give me the things they make :) It’s because most of the avid DIYers I know are always looking to learn a new skill, try a new craft or experiment with a new tool, and this makes them…
Today we have another guest DIY project from Neal Whittington. In addition to being an accomplished graphic designer, Neal runs the online shop Present & Correct, which he stocks to the brim with the awesomest vintage desk supplies and designy paper goods I’ve ever seen. I hope you caught his mitten gift tag DIY a…
I’ve always loved having an advent calendar to help me get into the holiday spirit. I adore that it counts down to Christmas day and inadvertently reminds me how many shopping days are left. But more importantly, I love a hefty infusion of holiday sparkle through chocolate. However, the store-bought variety left me wondering how…
Today I am thrilled to post an exciting update about this weekend’s Portland Bazaar that I’m organizing along with my friends and Bazaar-buddies, Matt and Greg. For weeks I’ve been calling and emailing to organize the second biggest component of the Bazaar- events! While the shopping alone will be enough to keep people busy, I…
Grace’s shopping-free gift guide really resonated with me, and I felt a surge of excitement at the prospect of actually following through on making all my gifts this year. I think handmade gifts have the potential to be loved and cherished far longer than any store-bought present. This is not to say that everyone wants…
I’m sure you’ve seen plenty of wayward western belts at vintage shops and thrift stores. Judging that most seem to be recent (early 80s) vintage, we can probably thank Kenny and Dolly for their previous popularity. So, what to do with this surplus if you’re not ready to reenact the look of Urban Cowboy? Why…
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…
The delight of making a gift for someone often extends to the finishing touches; in fact, sometimes the packaging can be the most fun part of all :) If you’re looking for a fast, easy way to recycle materials and make your holiday gifts look adorable, I think you’ll love this cross-stitch mitten gift tag…
I have no idea how it can be Thanksgiving already, but apparently it almost is, so it’s time to think about pretty tables (and big, delicious dinners!). Here’s a quick and easy runner project that’s perfect for adding a little handmade flair to your table (or to bring along as a hostess gift). It’s easy…
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…
Lately we’ve been getting more requests for furniture DIY projects. Luckily this awesome tutorial from Sarah Torrence of 508 Restoration & Design for a salvaged barnwood headboard landed in my inbox, and was just too pretty to pass up. Due to their size and the amount of use they receive, headboards can be intimidating, even…
I am excited to share the new DIY book, DIY Furniture: A Step-by-Step Guide, for three reasons. For starters, this book was authored by one of our D*S scholarship winners: the extremely talented Christopher Stuart, founder of LUUR design. Second, this book features projects from some of my favorite emerging designers, including Lindsey Adelman, Uhuru and…
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…
One thing I’m typically seen lugging around is a camera. Most camera bags are overkill, especially when you just want a bit of protection walking around, or you’re packing a camera in another bag for a short trip. I picked up a nice looking, heavy wool remnant from the Pendleton outlet last weekend, so I…
The history of tramp art woodworking has its mysteries. Some say it’s the work of self-taught hobos; others say it’s the work of detail-oriented craftsmen. The main method of wood carving used in this art form is called chip carving. Chip carving creates notches and pyramid shapes into your wood material. I am a huge…
Finding a simple, modular piece of furniture that is reasonably priced but also well made can be hard sometimes. IKEA provides some decent options, but sometimes you just want something made out of beautiful, sturdy, solid wood. Thankfully, designer Silvia Song has created a great tutorial for a simple wood side table with a sliding…
