One great way to personalize a gift during the holiday season is by creating unique gift cards. I recently found a cute, easy tutorial for doing just that. You start out with a simple shipping tag, like the one seen above.
What You'll Need
shipping tags
small fabric scraps
glue or thread and needle
twine, yarn, or ribbon
letter stamps, or calligraphy markers or other nice pens
Thanksgiving is approaching and I've been looking around for some festive Fall napkin rings to add a little oomph to my dinner table. The holiday of course calls for cloth napkins (paper would be a total sin), and since I'll be all dolled up, I can't allow them to go undressed. Napkin rings with a leaf motif are cute but also a little kitschy, so I find myself gravitating toward rings with a seasonal palette of warm tones that don't necessarily have a Fall themed pattern. The Red Batik Wood Napkin Ring Set ($17.94 for six) from World Market, for example, has a geometric batik pattern in shades of red and brown. To see what other Fall napkin rings I've rounded up, read more
Anne E. Collins, editor of PointClickHome , recently refurbished some antique furniture finds. She says, "I tend to fall in love with run-down objects. I look right past the chipping paint and wobbly frame and see (with rose-colored glasses) a decorating project." Anne picked these pieces up at the Old Country Store outside Rhinebeck, NY, and she and her husband spent a frantic few days stripping, painting, drilling, and repairing. For the whole story, check out her blog. Get started on her journey with this slideshow, and hear what Anne has to say about the process! Source
Perhaps it's just because I love chrysanthemums, but I simply adore the CB2 Burst Rug ($499, reduced from $599). Its design may be a bit pared down, but its cheerful and lively petals make up for it; they're nearly bursting off the rug itself. The brick orange color is also perfect for the Fall season. I'd love to mix it with some dark textured grays, and perhaps some warm greens. Of course, the color may not work in all homes, but I think we can all appreciate a great design — and a great price — when we see one.
I spotted this photo on AT:SF, and I think it's such a clever, cute idea. AT:SF recommends using alphabet blocks as drawer pulls in a child's room, though I think it would be fun to spell out a cheeky word or phrase on an adult's dresser, too. Source
I just got an email introducing me to a shop called Spectrum West that sells "post modern acrylic furniture and accessories for the modern home decor enthusiast." As you know, I'm an enthusiast of both acrylic furniture and modern décor, so it sounded right up my alley. Spectrum West is a new venture by Spectrum Limited, a company that's been manufacturing high quality acrylic furniture for 25 years. The vast collection includes acrylic dining tables, console tables, coffee tables, chairs, as well as acrylic accessories and pedestals.
To find out more about this company and its furniture, read more
In these tough economic times, we all have to do a little penny-pinching. For some, that means cooking at home instead of dining out, steering clear of the shopping mall, doing DIY projects on the weekends, or even making your own firestarters. But even DIY projects cost money sometimes. So, how do you make something from nothing? You look in your kid's toy box, of course. Instead of shopping for accents, Evil Mad Scientist made some kitchen accents like bowls, napkin holders, vases, and utensil holders out of Legos! Resourceful, huh? As grown-up kid, who loves Legos, Playmobil, and Barbies as much as she did when she was 6, I can't get enough of this project.
Theory
Anna Sui
Sessun