As a lover of Paris and a resident of New York, I have great appreciation for this well designed comparison. Via Charlotte’s Fancy. Check out the blog Paris Vs. New York for more.

I’ve blogged about Made by Joel before…he’s one of my absolute faves! Here, he made the simplest toy: he gathered sticks and twigs with his kids and then drilled a few holes in a sanded piece of wood. The kids inserted the twigs in the holes and voila, insta-forest! It doesn’t beep, light up, or move. But it does entertain, in the simplest way.

When I saw this adorable knitted record player on All The Beautiful Things I Want, I realized that my son Oliver will never know what a record player is. Or a cassette tape. Or even a compact disk for that matter. It got me thinking of other passé technology that he’ll never know and how I can introduce it to him in a toy version. Just trying to keep the nostalgia alive.

And then there’s the rotary phone. Or honestly, just a phone with a cord will be foreign to him! You can make your own with Caffa Knitted’s Rotary Dial Telephone knitting pattern.

Oh, and the typewriter. No screen. No backspace. No iTunes. Felt typewriter found on Double Takes.

Oliver will never see a dude walking down the street with a 15-pound boom box on his shoulder. This felt boombox by Sewn by Blythe is really a work of art.

Just a little crafty thought as you head into a night of boozin’…here are some lovely uses for your wine bottles, saving them from the recycling bin.

Happy New Year from The Violet Hours! xxoo

How gorgeous are these wine bottle torches? Find the how-to on Design Sponge.

I love this frosted look, like these bottles have been sitting out in the snow. Found on Style Files.

Turn a wine bottle into a mini terrarium. Here’s a how-to on cutting the bottle. Love the fiddlehead ferns! Found on Wedding Bee.

How’s this for an amazing reuse? Instead of buying those blown glass balls to automatically water your plants, use a wine bottle! Found on Chica and Jo.

And of course, the bottle chandelier. For sale on Pottery Barn.

You’d have to be a brave soul to load this shelf up. Found on DeTnk.

And the corks? Well that’s a post for next year. Here’s to safe, happy, and healthy New Year!

My standard baby gift for years has been Ida Pearle’s name print (see below). The world of personalized prints has expanded before my very eyes. Here are my current faves…

When I saw these prints, I had one of those “why didn’t I think of that” moments. Brilliant idea No. 1:  numbers mark the child’s birthday. Brilliant idea No. 2: the intersecting circles have mom and dad on top and bottom with baby in the middle. By Ruka-Ruka. Found via All the Beautiful Things I Want.

The primary colors in this alphabet print spell out the child’s name. So crisp and graphic. By Made by Girl.

English Muffin Shop‘s name prints are punctuated with cute little animals. So sweet.

And of course here are Ida Pearle‘s name prints. A classic in my household.