Faceted Finds

January 10, 2013
Decor, DIY Home, Everyday Crafts, Gifts

Can you call faceted a trend? Or maybe it’s called the facet trend. However you say, I’ve been seeing it everywhere for a while and I love it! Here’s a mix of some DIY and products I’ve spotted…

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What a gorgeous way to display place cards for a daytime wedding! Via Design is Mine.

Facet-cookie-jewels-of-new-yorkI love the unpredictable colors of these gem-shaped holiday cookies. Via The Jewels of New York.

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There’s nothing wrong with a little bling inspiration in the kitchen. These are too cute to keep in a drawer! Via Design*Sponge.

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This vase is made out of paper. For real. Via Curbly.

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How elegant is this faceted clock? As the light changes during the day, the tones on the facets will transform. It’s a shape-shifting clock. Via RawDezign on Etsy.

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I heart the jewel tones of these ceramic magnets. Get it? Jewel tones? By Pigeon Toe.

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If you have a budget of $12,000 for a chandelier, then here you go. This is just beyond. Via Matter Matters.

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Fun for kids to hold, these Crystal Crayons come in a set of 6 for $10 at Kikkerland.


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Play Under the Table

January 9, 2013
Decor, Everyday Crafts, Preschool, Toddler, Toys

Now that I have a toddler, I am starting to experience the “everything-is-a-toy/playspace” concept. Shoeboxes, bubble wrap, paper towel tubes…all viable objects to play with. We spent a week with friends in New Hampshire over the holidays and the space under the dining room table became an ant home. So the kids (and adults) cozied up with pillows down there (as all ants do, naturally). That empty space has so much potential, as exhibited by these amazing ideas…

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I don’t even know where to begin with this amazing table by Dennis Drouet. Children can hide under the table and pull the strings, which creates a moving pattern on the table’s surface above. Found via Inhabitat.

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This is beyond the beyond! Who wouldn’t love a little R&R time in an under-the-table DIY hammock? Found via Handimania, by Joyful Abode.

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I saw this DIY idea in Country Living years ago, and it has stayed with me since. Decorate some cheap roller shades with windows and doors and install them underneath your table. If your table has a lip that over 2″ tall, it will hide the rollers nicely. It’s an instant play house, and a retractable one at that! (I can no longer find the CL link, but here it is on Pinterest.)


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Getting Ahead for Valentine’s Day

January 7, 2013
Everyday Crafts, Holidays, Valentine's Day

I always feel like I’m behind the 8-ball when it comes to Valentine’s Day. I guess I find myself in a craft coma post-holiday and Valentine’s Day creeps up on me. So this year, I vow to plan ahead to share something sweet.

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I love this free download from Sweet Muffin Suite because it suits boths kids and adults. For an added treat, you could switch out the pencil for a pixie stick.

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One of the best gifts I ever gave my husband was custom-made match boxes. Here’s a quick way to get a little flirty when you light candles for a romantic dinner. Download and print at Camille Styles.

The talented Corinne Gill made these snowflake valentines for my Parents mag Valentine story this year. Here’s a video (of yours truly) of how to make them.

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This origami XO garland pretty much blew my mind when I spotted it on How About Orange.


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An Illustrated Family Portrait

January 4, 2013
Decor, DIY Home, Gifts, Holidays

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On the gift-giving spectrum of “easy-peasy” to “deep thinking”, my husband leans heavily to the “deep thinking” side of the scale. Basically, this means that walking into a retail store is virtually impossible (unless it’s Kiosk) when I need to get him a present.

This past Hanukkah, I had this amazing illustrated family portrait made by the uber-talented (old college friend of mine) Alessandra Olanow. I emailed her a bunch of photos of the four of us, and she interpreted them (with a few back and forth questions) into singular portraits. I absolutely love the way it came out!

(In case you are wondering, “watermelon” is something Michael and I used to say to each other in our early dating days. I wanted the drawing to feel like a gift from me to him, so I had Alessandra add the talk bubble.) Here is Alessandra’s portfolio site in case you want to see more of her work.


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