Making your own brooch bouquet

image via The Ritzy Rose
image via fantasyfloraldesigns.com

On my online hunts for flower brooches, I keep seeing more and more brooch bouquets for sale. They go for around $350 and up and are great for brides that want that vintage look and a sweet memento to remember that special day. If you are feeling adventurous these are pretty easy to make ahead of time, but you will need to start collecting asap! Start hitting up thrift shops, flea markets even relatives. You will need anywhere from 50-90 pieces, depending how big you want it.

image via fancypantsweddings.com
image via offbeatbride.com

There are lots of sites that offer tutorials, some are better than others. I've seen people bundle them together with twisted wire or stick them into styrofoam forms for that rounded shape. www.fancypantsweddings.com had a nice step by step tutorial. Below are more yummy images for inspiration.

Gift idea No. 1

Wood + resin boxes $14.00 – $22.00

My tree & Me

My Tree and Me designs and customized modern genealogy charts. Choose a design, fill out their form and your chart is made. Fun and simple!

via thesomedayblog.com

Home Accessories Under $20

Rainbow coat rack $14.00

Pleasant Pour-celain Cup in Foliage $13.99

Whale Tail Hook $10

Stalagmite Vase $16

LED Dynamo Torch $10

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

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!

The perfect gift: Sara Paloma Pottery

So cute! This is the perfect gift for me, I would love one of these rotund stoneware bottles, I sooo need one :P (Hint hint Al!)
On sale! $25 each!

Sublime Stitching

Sick of all those traditional/county stich patterns? Well now over at Sublime Stitching you can snag some swanky retro embroidery patterns. Makes a great gift for someone crafty!

Stitchy McYarnpants

Debbie is the curator of the Museum of Kitschy Stitches, an on-line (and now in print) gallery of notorious knits. Debbie also has an Etsy shop Stitchy McYarnpants, where she takes old magazines and vintage fabrics and gives them new life.

I found these on Debbie's Myspace page, what a hoot!

Gifts From Your Own Hands (Brini Style)

Dust Design Co

How beautiful are these! When I showed my husband the cufflinks I saw a bit of drool. Check out more upcycled jewelry at Dust Design Co on Esty.

Tote bags

I finally got around to taking some nice pictures of my new eco friendly tote bag. It is now for sale at my website. Yes that is snow behind me.

Boston Events (help support local artists)

New England Open Markets is very proud to announce the opening of their new market, the Prudential Center Artisan Market. Open every Sunday, starting November 9th through December 21st! The market will offer an ever-changing group of New England and Boston-area artisans, providing residents and visitors of Boston a unique and exciting holiday shopping experience!


The Boston Bazaar Bizarre is December 7th, Noon-7pm at The Castle at Park Plaza. Be prepared to be packed in like a sardine, but it's totally worth it. Check out images from my trip to it last year.


The annual Design Nearby show at pinkcomma gallery kickstarts the holiday shopping season with “Cloth, Paper, Scissors." This year’s show focuses on printed, sliced and stitched works by Boston-area artists and designers. Whether on paper, canvas, t-shirts, or textiles, the sixteen featured artists display a variety and breadth of design sensibilities. Each designer will present two to six pieces, with editions available for sale. This event will be held December 12th, from 6pm to 11pm at the Pinkcomma Gallery 81B Wareham Street. I will be part of this event!

Julie Lake contemporary jewelry

I have fallen in LOVE with Julie Lake's jewelry!
Those umbellet studs pictured above are so on my wish list.

Cute gift ideas

Check out the cute gift ideas I found on Urban Outfitters!

Fawn Wall Art by Lisa DeJohn $60.00
Feather Jewelry stand $24.00
Elephants Salt and Pepper Shakers $14.00
Gold Edition Ant Farm $20.00

And for the Star Trek fans get them the Star Trek Pez Set $32.00

Mid-century messy

I love this sign! You can purchase this at www.pamelabarsky.com

Found via inspiration bubble
image found on flickr

Ceramics by Ninainvorm

Etsy shop Ninainvorm
Nina sells handmade screen printed ceramics, collages and some vintage 'redecorated' ceramics (vintage items with handmade screenprints).

Breath Spray from Blue Q

Check out the vintagey goodness in these breath spray packages from Blue Q.

Holiday crafts from Martha Stewart

Floating Ornaments

Nearly weightless ornaments seem to hover rather than hang. The honeycomb paper, cut into curvy forms, opens into translucent layers. Vintage metallic beads are used as accents.

Ornament How-To


3-D Ornament and Tree Topper

A far cry from Charlie Brown's sad sapling, this snow-white tree is meant to be trim. The original base was replaced with a shapely, sand-filled lacquer vase; the homemade 3-D ornaments are made from bits of fabric stitched together and stuffed with quilt batting.

Learn more about this project.


Felt Dreidel Bag

Within a small felt pouch or coin purse, nestle a silver dreidel and some foil-wrapped sweets. A dreidel such as this, finely crafted of precious material, makes a wonderful keepsake.


Candy-Cane Place Card

What could be sweeter? Cut out 3-inch ovals from colorful card stock. Using a hole punch, make a hole at each end, and then neatly write your guests' names on the ovals with black ink. Thread ribbon scraps, each about 6 inches long and 1 1/2 inches wide, through the backs of the place cards. Notch the ribbon ends, and set a card at each place setting.


Candy Coins

Quarters come in handy at the newsstand, campus laundries, and video arcades; transit tokens are appreciated by commuters. Cover their utilitarian wrappers with candy cane hues.

Candy Coin How-To

Tinsel Tape

Tinsel Tape