i couldn’t resist posting these incredible wood and felt rugs from designer monika jarg of tekstiil ruumis. based in estonia, monika designs “carpets of wood” by drilling holes into wood and weaving directly into the surface with fibers. the result is nothing short of stunning. click here to have your socks officially knocked off by more of her work. [thanks to raina for the tip!]

i have a real weakness for milk bottles. i love them filled with farm-fresh milk, or emptied and filled with branches and flowers. so naturally i’m loving alyssa ettinger’s cast porcelain milk bottles on etsy. these bottles, cast using vintage milk bottles from grandview dairy in brooklyn ny (established in 1901), are a half-pint size and are available for $25. they would look so sweet filled with a fall-inspired bouquet and placed bedside. click here for more info and to buy online…

it’s been such a treat to have erin and nicole from bird and banner at the d*s guest blog this week. their ideas for anniversary gifts have covered paper, cotton, leather, fruit/floral and today will cover both wood and tin/aluminum. even if you’re not celebrating an anniversary, their selections are too lovely to miss. click here and here to check out their final posts on wood and metals. thanks, erin and nicole!

One of the best things about writing this column is now we have an excuse to get to know some of our favorite artists better. Patty Benson of Papaver Vert is a great example: Jill first stumbled upon Patty’s felted wool bowls a few years ago and instantly fell for the amazing quality and beautiful texture of her work. These vessels and bowls are a perfect display when cold weather rolls around, lending an instant cozy feel to whatever is placed inside them. And with Halloween and Thanksgiving fast approaching, we thought Patty’s newest round vessel (she’s been a bit obsessed with pods and seeds lately) would make a playful substitute for a pumpkin with the addition of some pretty vines!

On a little island across from San Francisco we were lucky enough to meet up with Patty at her Alameda home/workshop. Up until a few years ago Patty was paying her bills the old-fashioned way: a nine-to-five job that left her feeling less than fulfilled. Although she has a background in fashion and has worked creatively at both Old Navy and Crate & Barrel, the corporate life was not agreeing with her. It was only when a friend taught her how to crochet that things clicked in to place and she found herself wondering if there wasn’t a better way to make a living. A few experiments with wool felting were inspirational, and she took the plunge.

CLICK HERE for the rest of the papaver vert post after the jump!

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