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.

Last week I was at ABC Carpet and Home, one of the best, most magical, stores ever, and found this awesome yarn light fixture. I loved the idea of hanging a lightweight fixture in the baby’s room—something as soft as he is. So as I attempt to make it, I’ll post photos. For now, here are some other cool DIY light fixtures!

I love the soft glow of the light through the white yarn.

Yes, this chandelier is made from rock candy. Def not a permanent fixture, but fun for a party. Found on Once Wed.

These two lights are upcycling at their best! On the left, the pendant lamp is made from plastic bags, and the wall light fixture on the right is made from plastic bottles. By then Yale student Tyler Velton, found via MSLK Reactions.

I love the frilliness of this wedding cake chandelier by Laurie Cinotto of La La Laurie. Found on The Bride’s Cafe.

It doesn’t get easier than this! Pearl River has great rice paper parasols if you are in the mood. Found on Zedomax.

I love how rich and expensive this homemade bubble fixture looks. Via Apartment Therapy.

Believe it or not, this light is made from zip ties. Found via Jennifer Adams.

I loved making dioramas as a kid. It was like a tiny world where I could be the decorator, landscaper, architect, and resident all in one.

Gregory Euclide’s diorama-like sculptures are a bit different from the sweet, whimsical ones I made from shoe boxes.

About his work, he says:

When we are in nature we experience the world through all of our senses in a dynamic way, but at the same time we are framing what we see through the cultural expectations we have absorbed through representational systems such as landscape painting, wildlife documentary, and travel guides. It is impossible, then, to have a true, non-mediated experience of nature even though we may long for it. My work explores the contradictions between the projection of idealized, picturesque views of landscape and our desire to have an authentic experience in nature.

Found via The Craft Begins.