We are on the precipice of holiday season, so I figured a round-up of our best entertaining DIY projects might prepare us for the impending slew of gatherings and dinners in the months ahead. Looking through our archives, I discovered tons of quick, easy projects perfect for hostess gifts, cocktail parties and general dining room…
Add a little autumnal flair to your fall wardrobe with this rustic tree branch tote! This sturdy piece is great for carting daily necessities on your commute or for more outdoorsy tasks like packing a picnic or carrying camping supplies. The bag itself features a basic construction that can be adapted and used with any…
Halloween is without a doubt my favorite holiday. It’s funny, it’s creative, it’s mischievous, it’s full of crafts . . . what’s not to like? While I haven’t done much decorating of my own for this holiday in many years, I do appreciate a clever display, and these masked vintage portraits by Danielle Thompson might…
How kind of you to join me again for Upholstery Basics as we wrap up this sweet little chair! As you’ve seen from Parts One and Two, coil springs are quite a labor of love but are responsible for seats worthy of lingering. When I finished this chair, I decided it had to come home with…
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…
It’s been rainy in Oakland of late; I forgot how cool and crisp it can get here during the fall and winter rainy season. I’ve been breaking out the extra layers and lighting candles the past few days, and I’ve been wanting to find a fun and cozy project I could work on indoors while…
The air is turning brisk, the leaves are changing colors and the sleeping bags are ready to be packed! Fall is here, and I can’t wait to sit around a campfire, roasting dinner and dessert with family and friends. When I grew up, we stretched out metal hangers for our camping skewers. They worked pretty…
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 love the warmth and softness of cork. The rolls of caramel-y cork shelf liner scream at me every time I pass them in the store, so this time, I gave in to their pleas for purchase. And with fall quickly approaching, it seems like a great time to bring in the warmth and natural,…
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…
This project couldn’t come at a better time for me; just this week, I decided to toss out my crummy old plastic cutting boards and exchange them with more durable wood ones. Kate of Centsational Girl has created a fantastic, easy tutorial for how to make your own custom cutting boards of any size and…
Looking at this picture, can you tell which of these books are actually hardbound? I’m not super fussy over the books on my shelves, but I will admit that sometimes a really garish or unattractive book spine will jump out from the bunch and irritate me every time I walk by. I don’t think…
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…
It’s really starting to feel like fall, and whether or not that means back to school for you, fall always seems to mean new supplies. Don’t forget your electronics this season, so you can whip up a cozy little wool sleeve for your laptop or tablet! In this project, you’ll learn how to install a…
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…
I’ll bet that whether you’re at work or home, you’re willing to linger a little longer if your seat is soft. There’s no telling what you found while stripping your piece of furniture. How about some horse hair, pig hair, hay, even old t-shirts to pad your seat? I kid you not . . ….
I’m not usually anxious for fall weather, but the extreme heat this year has me ready to snuggle under a blanket with hot chocolate. When fall approaches, I like to get out my growing collection of vintage thermoses. The plaid designs feel very academic and seem to celebrate the start of another school year. Typically,…
It feels like every year, from Labor Day onward, the days and weeks fly by, and suddenly, the very busy holiday season is upon us! Feeling inspired by memories of back-to-school shopping, getting our supplies organized and anticipating the jam-packed months ahead, we made this very simple greeting card organizer. So many times in the…
A while back, we received an awesome before & after — in video form, no less — from Jaime Morrison Curtis of Prudent Baby. Jaime transformed her empty porch into a stylish, eclectic gathering spot by creatively revamping salvaged items and throwing in a few well-chosen accessories. If anyone is interested in creating a similar…
September is my favorite month in northern California; the weather gets warm and sunny (no fog!), and we actually get to experience a taste of summer before heading into rainy season :( These adorable cocktail napkins from Kirsten Gentry at Kojo Designs remind me of the best part of late summer: squeezing every last minute…
