before we jump into today’s gift guide i wanted to share some more pretty things that would make excellent holiday gifts. first up, this beautiful zipper bag from lina rennell. her spring 2010 collection is called “triangle gardens” and is full of beautiful triangle based designs. click here to contact lisa about purchasing.
next up- a pretty new print from dan funderburgh for working proof. 15% of each print sold is donated to transportation alternatives, a nyc non-profit dedicated to advocating for bicycling, walking and public transit. click here to check out dan’s print and shop online.
*dan was october’s d*s desktop calendar artist, stay tuned for a new calendar tomorrow from jen corace! 
last but not least, i’m really enjoying cabin + cub’s new 2010 desk calendar. each month has a cheerful mixed media collage printed on heavy archival matte paper. each calendar comes with a mini easel stand and is available right here on etsy for $18.
December 3rd, 2009 - 11:00am 
today’s before & afters are starting off with a backyard transformation from designer kristen james. kristen and her husband made over the yard behind their 1950s lakewood, california home with their own two hands. i love the way they created a covered seating area and pergola to cover it- it’s going to look so beautiful when all the plants start to mature. thanks to kristen for sharing!
[have a before & after you'd like to share on d*s? just shoot me an email right here with your (low res, please!) images] *quick note: before & afters have been a little slow/light over the past 2 weeks, but i hope to have them pick back up next week. 
CLICK HERE for kristi’s cat bed conversion and michelle’s jewelry frame makeover after the jump! read more … December 3rd, 2009 - 10:00am 
in a sea of animal-themed products, it’s nice to see a relatively new motif pop up. and if it happens to be one of my favorite types of plants, all the better! this great new collection of posters, wallpaper, pillowcases and tea towels from makelike in portland is all based around a cactus theme. i was immediately drawn to the wallpaper and all that green, but the printed pieces are really lovely as well. the posters, pillowcases and tea towels range from $24-$32 (affordable gifts!) and the wallpaper is $150 per roll. click here to check out and shop the new collection! thanks, amery!
December 3rd, 2009 - 09:00am 
good morning! i thought i’d start things off today with some gorgeous eye candy, courtesy of artist kate forrester. kate just finished an illustrated/paper-cut campaign for british department store john lewis and it’s beautiful. it’s been so fun to see larger stores and brand embrace handmade artwork and paper-cutting. click here to read more about the project. thanks for sharing, kate!
over at the d*s guest blog erin has a beautiful post about young photographer adelaide rose, click here to check out her work!
December 3rd, 2009 - 08:00am 
today the budget-friendly gift guides continue with a roundup of 40 great gift ideas under $50! yesterday we focused on gifts under $25, and today we’ll up the budget, but just a tiny bit. each of these ideas will set you back $50 or less and will still provide plenty of chances for you to customize the gift or add something homemade to it to make it even more special. i hope you’ll enjoy the roundup and are able to find something for someone on your holiday list this year!
[image above, clockwise from top left: hidden storage book boxes $44, frame placemats $36 for 4, wire drop shelf $36, wine tote $12 (fill with a nice bottle for a budget-friendly gift), kate spade thermos $30 (call store to order), cast metal animals $26 (can be used at cute desktop bookends), snake trivet $38, furturtle gomez print $28, handmade oval wire basket $34, magic potion perfume bottle $32, kate spade bow studs $46 (call store to order), granit salt and pepper shakers $38, set of five "fairest" mirrors $30, ferm living mug $33, corky boy $29, cutlery candlesticks $28, black glass sake cup $30 (combine with a nice bottle of sake to complete the gift)] 
[image above, clockwise from top left: one of my favorite gift ideas is to pick up a demijohn (like this one from ballard, $39) and turn it into a lamp with this easy lamp converter kit ($29). combine them with a shade as a finished gift, or gift the kit and let your recipient customize the shade. (there's a cheaper cork lamp kit right here)]
[image above, clockwise from top left: saipua candle $38 (they smell SO good), doca pet bowl $30+, round terrine $46, set of 24 rainbow colored chopsticks $35, jen corace 2010 calendar $32 (stay tuned for her free d*s desktop calendar this friday!), pictorial webster's dictionary $35, metal basket shelf $39]
CLICK HERE for the rest of the 40 product guide after the jump! read more … December 2nd, 2009 - 01:00pm 
i just want to say that i envy all of you out there with a working fireplace. i have very fond memories of sitting around a crackling fire in maine, and watching my dad place freshly chopped firewood in a huge pile outside. that being said (anyone else watch curb your enthusiasm?), i am glad i can bring wood projects into my home on a smaller scale while i enjoy the mild california winter. the month of december will feature wood projects for decorating and gift giving, and they are all fairly easy projects requiring few tools. this first project is very special to me because i have always loved miniatures, and now i have a nice homemade display jar for all of my little treasures. these would make a charming hostess gift, or great holiday table decor; i can see a cluster of them with fresh pinecones and sprigs of winter greens tucked inside. all you need is a saw, and you could even skip the wood-burned indentation ring if you were in a hurry, but i think it adds a nice touch. plus that way i get the brief nostalgic experience of smelling burning wood! have fun! – kate
CLICK HERE for the full how-to after the jump! read more … December 2nd, 2009 - 12:00pm 
[i was so excited to see erica of p.s. i made this' wreath on the cover of readymade magazine and was so excited to hear from her about the project. the full steps weren't run in the magazine so she was kind enough to share them here today. thanks, erica!]
I love making holiday decor items out of things I have laying around the house, as I’m always trying to reuse and re-purpose items from my kitchen to my craft closet. This Rope Wreath was created for Readymade Magazine’s Holiday cover and in-book feature that shows my other holiday DIY ideas for Hanukkah and Christmas. Have fun getting ready for the holidays… tiz the season! -Erica *ReadyMade image by Kathryn Gamble and Rick Lozier CLICK HERE for the full how-to after the jump! read more … December 2nd, 2009 - 11:00am 
this fun diy project comes from jacinda at prudent baby. she whipped up this last-minute advent calendar using common office supplies, and created something that the whole family could enjoy. whether you fill your bags with presents and sweets, it’s always fun to have a little something special with which to start your day. thanks so much to jacinda for sharing her project with us!
CLICK HERE for the full how-to after the jump! read more … December 2nd, 2009 - 10:00am 
this fun holiday decoration project comes from alison fonseca of five months in paris. after moving into her new dorm room, alison found herself with a ton of blank wall space and a limited cash flow. so to add some budget-friendly holiday decor she decided to add slowflakes to an existing piece of cork board. it’s such a simple idea, but one that would be fun to do while watching holiday movies or on a snowy afternoon. when the holiday is over, just unpin them from your board and your normal day-to-day look is back. thanks to alison for sharing!
CLICK HERE for the full how-to after the jump! read more …  December 2nd, 2009 - 09:00am | 
