The mighty ampersand takes two things and celebrates how they come together. “You & Me,” “Bread & Butter,” “Sugar & Spice.” Not only does the ampersand combine things, it also stands alone as a beautiful symbol. This year I made my valentine a card that celebrates being together. It is completed with a missing…
There’s a strong link between romance and the written word, making literary gifts — love letters, novels, poetry — a fitting choice for Valentine’s Day. We’re big fans of Juniper Books and its creative founder, Thatcher Wine, and we were excited to see that he has released several new book collections just in time for Valentine’s Day….
After tossing all the holiday wrapping and boxes and looking sadly at my overflowing recycle bin, I am not embarrassed to admit that I dumpster dove in my own trash. I had this idea to create a much more affordable version of Vitra’s Uten.Silo organizer using the boxes that had served their purpose and been…
Is this the one-millionth time I’ve mentioned my love of small things? Sorry folks! I can’t seem to help myself. It’s an obsession that has persisted since my youth, and I can’t seem to shake it. Luckily, the holiday season is the perfect time to revel in a the whimsy of miniatures. With that in…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
Due to my husband’s profession, we have a constant influx of absurdly enormous books. While some are aesthetically acceptable enough not to disturb the visual flow I have going on our bookshelves, others are obtrusive in color or design. Since our built-in bookshelves are open to the living room, I like to have a clean…
A recent house clean-out yielded many items we had a hard time parting with, even though their very existence has become obsolete in the last few years. One of the most noticeable of the bunch: road maps. As our ever-advancing phones and computers take over our lives, we find what was once useful is now…
You know those DIY projects that cause you to slap your forehead and think: of course! These personalized paper cups from the folks at Sticky Cake Inspirations are just that. The execution is simple and clean but also extremely versatile. I’m picturing the hundreds of fun variations you could use — different shapes, photographs, fabric,…
With the rush of technological methods helping us find our way, paper maps and Thomas Guides are quickly becoming obsolete, but their contouring graphics will always remain timeless. Use your dusty glove-compartment maps to make travel-inspired stationery for some good old-fashioned correspondence. A simple dividing line, address and stamp transform a map-backed note card into…
For this project, a mix of ethnic patterns and bold colors inspired me. John Robshaw comes to mind when I think of the perfect pattern mix; his block-printed linens and patterned textiles display a fantastic combination of intricate and bold shapes and forms. My abundance of saved magazines constantly call me to reuse them for…
We love having outdoor parties in the summer. During long summer days, it is great to have friends over to enjoy the warm evenings. One of my favorite party motifs is a fiesta. With plenty of make-your-own tacos and endless margaritas, guests can help themselves, creating a low-maintenance but very festive get-together. To add some…
If you see more than a few Thomas Paul designs pop up on my gift guides this (and every) year, don’t be surprised. I have been coveting various Thomas Paul pillows for years now, and every time he comes out with a new collection I fall in love all over again. I’m particularly obsessed with…
Every year I look forward to making a wreath for our house. I use whatever materials are around me. Sometimes it is natural… using some branches or leaves from the backyard. Sometimes our wreath is warm and fuzzy… using fabric and yarn. It is always different. This year, given the abundance of paper grocery bags…
