Every winter, my cat, JFK, who is usually an outdoor cat, gets a little bit crankier . . . well, a lot crankier. When he’s not sleeping directly in front of the heater or scarfing food, he’s begging me for attention. On my last trip to New York, I learned a lot of great tips from…
This is the fourth installment of Brittany Watson Jepsen’s summer DIY series. Check out her previous projects here, here and here. I love how simple and minimal these projects are, creating awesome results with only a few materials. Thanks for sharing, Brittany! — Kate For those of us lucky enough to have minimal living space, creative space planning is…
Reverse applique may sound fancy, but it’s actually a crazy-easy sewing technique that allows you to add tons of color, texture and pattern to your projects with very little effort. In this technique, two or more fabrics are layered and stitched together, then sections of the fabric are strategically cut away to reveal the color(s)…
There are so many great things happening in the embroidery world these days. Gone are the old-fashioned needlepoint projects of yesteryear, replaced with a new crop of fantastic modern stitchery that ranges from quick, trendy patterns available for purchase on sites like Etsy to some amazing fine art pieces by a new generation of textile…
With all the attention we’ve been giving to rope and pendant lights, this DIY tutorial from stylist Raina Kattelson couldn’t have come at a better time. We featured Raina’s gorgeous Hudson Valley home a couple years ago, and we loved the palette so much that we also created a Simply Color inspired by Raina’s kitchen….
One of my favorite aspects of working for D*S is meeting such open, friendly and immensely creative people. I’m constantly blown away by the design community’s talent and warmth. I met Heather Davidson while I was with Grace and Amy Merrick at the Portland Bazaar last December. She was teaching a DIY class as well,…
Rope is one of our current obsessions, but it’s also one of those items that will never leave my love list. It’s just a fantastic material, one of humanity’s greatest inventions. Rope owes all of its strength, durability and beauty to its structure. One simple knot can look as beautiful and graceful as many intricate…
Brrrr . . . it’s been beautifully sunny in Brooklyn lately, but still a bit too chilly for my West Coast sensibilities. I’ve scoured our archives and pulled our best cozy textile DIY projects this morning in the hopes that they will warm me up. One thing I love about winter is the prevalence of…
I’m constantly getting into silly arguments with my partner about my DIY projects. Whenever I turn to him for advice, ever the left-brainer, he gives me the practical answer, which I hate. Shouldn’t you be able to carry it this way? Wouldn’t this shape make it sturdier? What’s this extra piece for? Excellent questions, all….
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…
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 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,…
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…
It’s a challenge for me to send out timely thank-you notes, or any kind of note for that matter — birthday cards, holiday greetings, you name it. I think if I had the notes all ready to go, pre-stamped and piled in the top drawer of my desk, then I might be able to master…
There are few more dramatic pieces of art for your wall than the bold, brilliant traditional feather headdresses from Cameroon. Unfortunately, the price for these intricately woven, handmade pieces can be quite high, which is why I’m thrilled to share this “faux” feather hat DIY from graphic designer and blogger Rosa Pearson. She’s not only…
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…
Valentine’s Day is approaching so quickly! In previous years, I haven’t able to organize myself beyond a little note taped to a PayDay — they are my boyfriend’s favorite, but still. There are so many great projects trickling in, and I want to get a head start so I can make them all! First on…
Thanksgiving dinner may be just hours away, but there’s still time to add some last-minute DIY details to your table. If you find yourself with a few free moments tonight or tomorrow morning, that’s all the time you need to whip up these super-quick place cards. In this project, we’re sewing directly onto paper, which…
I’m excited about the Land’s End FeelGood Campaign for several reasons. First, I love the idea of hard-working volunteer knitters turning 5,000 pounds of yarn into blankets for those in need. Second, I’m dying to learn how to crochet and I think a video tutorial might be my golden ticket. And last, I love looking…
I believe I’ve compiled enough anecdotal evidence to prove that all artists and designers share a love of discovering new materials; I can say from personal experience that I enjoy dabbling in other artistic fields to fuel my creativity. So it doesn’t surprise me that Maja and Tess, the ladies behind Polli handmade jewelry, are…
