Think beyond the spoon windchimes…

I love this simple little vase. By Beach House Living, found via From Me to You.

Aren’t these fork hooks just beautiful? By Forkometry.

Label your kitchen garden with these hammered spoons. By Hammerman.

If I saw this from a distance, I would never think “dinnertime”. Found via Inhabitat.

Just saw this adorable craft on Design Mom that Jennifer from Cup of Coco made for her child’s room. It’s made totally from wool felt and the little pieces are stick to the board with velcro.

Her details are incredible…don’t miss the little airplanes flying above! What a fun way for kids to learn geography!

I’m so excited to be participating in Ikea’s Organize Your Living, Organize Your Life public exhibit! If you live in the New York area, come check out the FREE two-day public exhibit to showcase surprising new ways to improve life at home with inspirational organizational solutions that are smart, easy and affordable.

I’m giving a seminar on Friday, July 16th at 11am about how to decorate and organize the master bedroom. Hope to see you there!

You can find location and address here.

There was a sadness in the house yesterday when the 2010 World Cup ended, but a great joy that Spain won (my husband Michael won his pool!!). His niece and nephew were in town and helped generate a playful (and crafty) spirit!

Quinn (age 10) had an idea of making a robot-like Spain mascot, so we cobbled together some materials for Alejandro (Jordan, age 12, named him that).

Head and body = cardboard boxes, hat = jar lid, eyes = corks, mouth = round box top, arms = twisted grocery bags, talk bubble = paper on a piece of garden wire, legs = golf clubs, feet = Michael’s soccer cleats.

Alejandro was a hit at our small World Cup gathering, and I swear, Spain couldn’t have won without him.

I served gazpacho in my alphabet cups, and our friends brought over a delicious tortilla espanol and gambas al ajillo (garlic shrimp). A bueno time was had by all!

World Cup, we’ll see you in four years!

Every kid loves a good puppet—hand puppets, finger puppets, puppet theaters.

I made this little finger puppet from a paper coin roll. Her skirt is a wide ribbon bunched and glued at the waist, and her shirt and face are just cut paper. And her feet, my favorite part, are jellybellies. I know, there is not longevity in sugar as feet, but I had them on hand and they make me laugh. (This would be a really fun birthday party craft!)

Every puppeteer needs a theater. Use a cereal or cracker box as the structure and download the curtains and characters from Bloesum Kids.

Every time I see these hand puppets by Cate & Levi at the gift shows, I fall in love. They are made from reclaimed sweaters and no two are alike.