Creative wrapping paper

images via Martha Stewart

I think homemade gift wrap is the bomb! I love using old newspaper or brown craft paper tied with yarn. I think I might even attempt this diy bow I saw on www.howaboutorange.blogspot.com, so cool!


via www.howaboutorange.blogspot.com

Wet Paint

Sorry for the lack of posts, I've been swamped with orders and I've been preparing for Bazaar Bizarre, which is next Sunday, ahhh!!.

My hands are smeared with paint from coating my mobiles. I was trying out different color combinations today, and it took so long to get a nice mix of colors. These photo's don't do them justice, I'll take more in the day light.

UPCOMING EVENTS (help support local artists)

Dec. 6th:
Bazaar Bizarre is approaching! Check out the over 80 vendors here. I'll be at table 6, please come down and say hi! Admission is $1, and it's located in the BCA Cyclorama on 539 Tremont St. Also if your interested in a particular print please let me know now, so I can have it for you at the show.



Dec 11th:
If you're not really into the crazy crowds of Bazaar bizarre, I suggest you attend Design Nearby. It's more of a smaller gallery setting where you can view the artists framed work and also purchase it as well. Check out images below from years past. I'm not sure If I will be attending this, it's probably a no, but I'll try.

I hope your thanksgiving will be entertaining!

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Guest room

I was at HomeGoods yesterday, which I never really shop at. I was in the mood and, well, it's next to my grocery store. Anyway, I found some cute white lamps on clearance that I thought would look good in my guest room. Then I remembered the bedding from U.O. that I really wanted, which just happened to be on sale. I took a look at them again, and saw that they'd been marked down yet again! It was a sign - I needed to pounce! (I hope they get here soon.)


Now, there is a lot of blue and green in this room, so I'm thinking about making a tall, padded, white headboard to help break it up. I'm actually really excited about making the headboard; I found a blogger who did one here. I'm not sure how to get or make fabric buttons, does anyone know how that works?

Free shipping on all orders over $85

Free shipping on all orders over $85! Offer Ends December 31st. Your shipping costs will be refunded back to you after your purchase. (U.S. orders only) This does not apply to my vintage store.

Yummy

Have you ever looked into an old cookbook before and wondered "who would eat that?!" Well, I'm starting to warm up to the idea; it would make a great conversation starter for a party!

spakleenly on flickr has a Mid-Century Supper Club which she hosts every now and again, and it looks like so much fun. She finds old recipes and recreates these (sometimes hideous-looking, by today's standards) dishes for her friends.

http://curly-wurly.blogspot.com/ has a lot of great old recipes to choose from. Is it just me, or were there a lot of gelatin dishes back then? Mmmm... Maybe that's what's wrong with the world today - not enough gelatin!

I love this kitchen!

I saw this kitchen featured on Apartment Therapy last month and I love it! I keep staring at it dreaming of a new kitchen.

For my own kitchen I'd keep the light grayish blue tones and that beautiful walnut woodgrain, but I think I would add in a lemongrass color and other green shades instead of the orange. Don't get me wrong, I love the orange, but I have enough of it in my living room already.

Dogs and cats

For the last week or two, I have been working non-stop to get these cat and dog illustrations done. It was kind of stressful, since I really shy away from making anything too true-to-life (my comfort zone is making abstract patterns), but I'm so glad I did them.

I'm still making some tiny changes with color here and there but I should have them for sale in my Etsy shop soon (individuals breeds and all of them grouped together). See more on my Flickr page.

Home Inspiration

I love looking at organized homes, makes me wish I had one! Check out more beautiful pictures of Amanda's home on Flickr.

Freebie Friday!

I love getting things in the mail, don't you?

Food
Free $10 Coupons from Organic Valley (US)
Dunkin' Donuts coffee sample (US)
Free Sample of Hazelnut or Mocha Splenda Sweetener (US)
Free Taster's Choice Stick Pack Sample (US)

Baby
Huggies Free Sample of Pure & Natural Diapers (US)
Parent's Choice sample of Gentle Baby Formula (US)
Costco: Free Kirkland Supreme Diaper Sample (US)
HUGGIES Little Movers Sample (US)

Beauty and heath
Free Sample of Garnier Nutritioniste Eye Cream (US)
Nick Chavez Haircare Sample (US)
Emergen-C Samples (US & Canada)

Coupon sites
Smart Source
Red Plum
Coupons.com

Design Research is Back in Cambridge, MA … Temporarily

Found via Apartment Therapy

"Fans of modern design who lived in Boston in the 70's will fondly remember the revolutionary Design Research store in Harvard Square. In fact, the floor-to-ceiling glass building that Crate & Barrel just vacated was originally designed and built for "D/R" — the store that introduced modern designs by Marimekko, Hans Wegner, Alvar Aalto, Joe Columbo and more to the US. For the next few months, Design Research is back in its original space … as an installation." Click here for more info from Apartment Therapy

"The iconic five-story glass building at 48 Brattle St. was originally built in 1969 by architect Ben Thompson to house his legendary store Design Research. Over the years, Thompson and D/R had introduced shoppers to bold modernist furnishings and interior designs by Marcel Breuer, Hans Wegner, Alvar Aalto, and Joe Colombo, as well the splashy graphic fabrics of Marimekko. The pioneering retailer would influence American design tastes and sensibilities in ways that are still evident today." Click here to read the original Boston Globe article

OOOoo I hope I catch this before it's gone!

Design Research is located at 48 Brattle Street Cambridge, MA 02138

T.I.N.I. This is not Ikea

515 S. Fairfax Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90036
3239389230
Tues-Thurs 11-7 & Fri-Sun 10-7
www.thisisnotikea.com

TINI or This is Not Ikea, sells vintage accessories like old fans, chrome lamps, pop art posters along with chairs and tables. Shop online or if you're in LA you can stop by the store.

Via Apartment Therapy

Felt trees from CB2

Sometimes it much safer to have soft decor during the holiday season. Check out more simple decorations at CB2.

paperdoll woodshop

Magazine racks by Paperdoll Woodshop

New Chairs

Many months before

I think a simple, geometic black and white rug would really look nice in here. I also really want to grab the OLUNDA print and have it hang on the tan wall to the left.

I want to many things...

The perfect gift: Jonathan Adler Ceramics (under $50)

whale salt and pepper $48.00

muse votive holder $28.00

utopia williamsburg vase $38.00

vidalia bud vase $28.00

Urban Outfitters-sale items

I've been oogling many of these items at U.O., and now they're on sale! I really like the Queen bedding set, but I need it in a king size, ah poo!

Lava Glaze Spindle Vase (was $24 now $9.99)

Stepped Round Wall Shelf (was $28 now $19.99)

Freeform Accordion Hook (was $38 now $19.99)

Apothecary Desk Lamp (was $38 now $24.99)

Floral Fields Duvet Cover (was $68 now $49.99)
Floral Fields Shams (was $30 now $19.99)

Vioski furniture

I love love love love these chairs! I posted about Jeff Vioski's chairs one year ago and I still adore them just the same, maybe even more! Check out more furniture designs at vioski.com.

Check out Eric Meeks new adventure, In store Designer, it is definitely worth a watch. The second episode is with architect and designer Jeff Vioski. Jeff explains some of the methods behind his madness or in other words his killer modern furniture.

video via plastolux.com

The perfect gift: Mid Century Modern 2010 Calendar

This is a cute little calender! I think any mid century lover would adore one of these as a gift. Snag one over at Etsy shop Ps Paper Goods for only $15.00!

Plonka Home

Plonka Home Pillows
Warm up your home with patterns and bright colors for the upcoming cold winter months with pillows from Plonka Home. The shop has some beautiful pillows at affordable prices. I'm a sucker for retro/scandinavian patterned pillows, I do collect vintage fabrics but I hate to sew, so these are perfect for me!

Yay or Nay

Foyer
I spotted these two cute chairs on Craigslist and I'm debating if I should pick them up. I think they would look great in the foyer against the iron wall, and I have two cute orange pillows that would look great on them! Ok, as I write this, I'm now convinced that I have to have them! Now I just need to convince my husband to drive out with me to get them. If your reading this Al...I love you!