with the new year approaching, it’s time for some decluttering. i’m taking the next two days to reorganize and clear out my living space, working space and head space. i love starting a new year with a clean, fresh slate. so i’ll return next year (well, next tuesday) with fresh thoughts and a fresh approach to d*s, as well as some exciting changes that are coming in the next month.

in the meantime, how does everyone out there plan to celebrate the new year? any fun plans? here’s wishing you all a happy and prosperous new year. see you in 2006. xo, d*s

designer kim markegÃ¥rd’s beautiful felt designs are inspired by “the stoicism an icy and snowbound world”. the minimalism in her work is really beautiful and these pieces she designed (available at virgin threads) are lovely (and perfect for protecting hands from the frosty winter air). each piece is created from natural fibers including sheep, alpaca, and llama fleece as well as silk, hemp, and flax among others. you can find more of kim’s work right here.

san francisco based artist, shayla su designs products that marry simplicity and modern design perfectly. after graduating from uc berkeley where she studied art and architecture, su set up shop in san francisco where she produces her signature works. her “ripple bowl set” is one of my favorites, and is available online right here. you can find more information on ms. su and her work right here. enjoy!

i’ll skip the cutesy puns because these are cute enough. black heart tacks ($5 for 24) at fred flare. these will be gracing up my office cork board for sure.

d*s reader, dustin passed along this design team based in san francisco. founded in 2001 by designer david goldenberg, sens furniture specializes in “creating beautiful, functional pieces of custom-made furniture”. i like the way they pay a lot of attention to using quality materials and i think a lot of people will like the unusual shapes they use in their designs. you can find more information on sens furniture right here.

mark from sparkability always trades the best links with me- this time he passed along the stockholm based team of svenskt tenn. d*s reader my berglund was kind enough to write a bit about them on d*s a while back, but i wanted to add a bit more. svenskt tenn produces beautiful textiles, furniture and accessories for the home, as well as carrying a great selection of antiques. wonderfully modern with plenty of bright, colorful patterns and prints, svenskt tenn’s collection is a must-see. for those of us in the us, they’re a window-shopping deal (unless you can afford shipping from stockholm or london) but for those of you near stockholm (or liberty in london where svenskt tenn is carried), i highly suggest checking them out or ordering online (the acorn door stop and colored trays are gorgeous).