Gorgeous New (Loose-Fit) Slipcovers for IKEA Furniture

I'm not really a slipcover person, but I'm loving this relaxed look from Bemz' new “The Loose Fit –Urban” 100% washed linen slipcovers for IKEA furniture.  The new line which is available in January 2012 was just released I have a sneak peek (about 20 slides) I posted on Family Style today if you're interested.  I have to say - they look gorgeous!  They aren't online yet, but you can check them out here.

Mini Holiday DIY Round-Up!

Pretty Gift Wrapping Ideas from Time of the Aquarius (via Aesthetic Outburst)

Paperbag Wreath at Bloesem Kids viai You Are My Fave

DIY Tinsel Wreath from The Sweetest Ocassion

Cool Decorating Trick No. 25

How stunning is this wall of doors by Dutch designer Piet Hein Eek for an Amsterdam residential project?  Eek adorned the lofty foyer walls entirely with old timber doors, bathroom doors, office doors, front doors and back doors to preserve the memory of the buildings that were torn down, to make way for a residential development.  The result is a jaw-dropping foyer installation and a visual reminder of what once was.  Via Azure Magazine. (Photos by Thomas Mayer).

Tame that Tiger: Little Bit of Everything Cookies

By Jeannette Ordas of Everybody likes Sandwiches


Last week was totally stressful. And while I'm sure going to the gym is a fantastic stress reliever, I thought that baking might help soothe my frazzled nerves. Because there is nothing like a little butter and brown sugar to caramelize those jitters into a puddle of sweet calm.

I used an old tried and true recipe and went a little nuts on the mix-ins. Normally, I love this recipe because it's simple and if you choose your ingredients correctly (like dairy-free chocolate chips and vegan sugar and vegan margarine) you can whip up a batch that will please vegan and non-vegan cookie lovers alike! These cookies are egg-less which makes them perfect for days when your fridge is nearing empty or you just never buy eggs for whatever reason.


Like I said, I went a bit crazy and in went the half empty bag of butterscotch chips, some mocha chips (seriously, I can't remember even buying this bag), and some good old-fashioned semi-sweet chocolate chips to keep things real. If I had cinnamon chips you can bet I would have added in a big ol' handful here. But I also added in some chopped salted peanuts which were like a godsend of cookie baking. Seriously, the salted peanuts thing is a bit genius.


I know it seems odd to mix in some boiling water with a bit of baking soda. You'll have to trust me here. I've made this recipe no less than 10 times in the past 8 years and these cookies always turn out perfect.

Little Bit of Everything Cookies
1 cup butter (or vegan margarine)
1 cup brown sugar, lightly packed
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup boiling water
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 3/4 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cup oats
2 1/2 cups mix-ins (your call: chocolate chips, nuts, toffee chips, salted peanuts, coconut, sunflower seeds, raisins, etc.)

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Cream the butter with the sugar until well mixed.

2. Dissolve the baking soda in the boiling water and add it to the butter/sugar mix, followed by vanilla.

3. Stir together the dry ingredients and add it slowly to the creamed mixture. Mix well.

4. Stir in the mix-ins and combine. Form small balls, flatten a little, and bake at 350 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes. Let cool on wire racks.

Mini Holiday DIY Round-Up

Mini wreath holiday cards from {frolic!} and Joke of Tokketok.  (Photographed by Lisa Warninger).

Molly's Felted Wool Wristwarmers from Purlbee

Washi Tape Gift Wrap Ideas from The Sweetest Occasion

Contributors 2011 Holiday Gift Guide Series: Gift Guide to Four Great Books for Collectors

Contributor post by Lisa Congdon

 

1. Collection a Day, Lisa Congdon, $35 (Amazon.com)
2. In Flagrante Collecto (Caught in the Act of Collecting), Marilynn Gelfman Karp, $60 (Museum of Arts and Design)
3) Collecting: An Unruly Passion: Psychological Perspectives, Dr. Werner Muensterberger, $45 (Amazon.com)
4) To Have and to Hold: An Intimate History of Collectors and Collecting, Phillipp Blom, $18.45 (Amazon.com)

Inspiration: Holiday Decorating Idea No. 8

I love this tree hanging out so casually in this large glass vessel.  Reminds me of Charlie Brown. From Fryd + Design.

Sharing the Process : Zoe Garred of Fleet Objects

Guest Contributor Post by Heather Smith Jones of Blue Sparrow Press.

Hello and welcome to another installment of Sharing the Process! Today we hear from Zoe Garred of Fleet Objects. Zoe moves fluidly from one media to another, working in clay, leather, and wood. In all these media she says she is inspired by the lines and colors of the ocean and developed Fleet Objects on that idea. I appreciate her sharing her lovely work here today and hope you will too. Thank you Zoe!

. . . . . . .

I’ve always loved ceramics. The idea of turning earth into something beautiful and useful is amazing to me. I still can’t believe what I see every time I open my kiln. I started doing pottery when I was little but didn’t pick it up seriously until I was in university doing an industrial design degree. I did a slip cast piece as my final project and never turned back.

That school project was a modular vase. Pieces could stack to make a tall vase or be clustered together to hold lots of different flowers. This instigated a series of work all based on the idea of making objects that can be usable in many ways. The Pools collection is the most successful result of this endeavor. It is a collection of ceramic vessels and lids. The shapes are very simple and are modular, so can be mixed and matched for multiple purposes. For example the same couple of pieces combined differently could become a bud vase, a toothbrush holder, a jewelry box, a tea cup or an olive bowl.

The majority of what I make is ceramic but I do work with other natural materials like wood and leather too. Since making ceramics is such a drawn out process I find it refreshing to have some instant gratification from more immediate materials. On a typical day in the studio I will spend much of the day working on the ceramic pieces. This could include casting liquid clay into molds, glazing pieces or firing them in the kiln. Between the stages of making the ceramics I will work on other pieces like braiding leather or preparing wood to be laser cut.

Most of the things I make are inspired by the ocean. Both what lives in it and on it. I like fluid lines and soft colors. The Pools collection is glazed only on the inside so that the contrast between the rough stoneware and the glossy blue tones is reminiscent of tidal pools. My leather jewelry is braided like round marine ropes. The lamps are based on shapes of shells, anemones and fishing floats. The name of my company Fleet Objects is even based on the idea of a fleet of ships, both because my pieces are inspired by the ocean and because they are made in repetitive shapes like my own little fleet of objects.

Website/Shop : www.fleetobjects.com
Facebook: www.facebook/fleetobjects
Twitter: @fleetobjects

. . . . . . .

Heather Smith Jones M.F.A., is a multi-media artist, arts instructor, and author. She lives with her husband in Lawrence, Kansas and loves painting, printing, and drawing in the studio that he built. Find out more about what Heather does here:

Website : http://www.heathersmithjones.com
Blue Sparrow Press : http://www.bluesparrowpress.com
Poppytalk Handmade : http://www.poppytalkhandmade.com/table84

Contributor Holiday Gift Guide Series from Pinecone Camp

Contributor post by Janis of Pinecone Camp

Hi Everyone! Janis here, from Pinecone Camp. I'm happy, once again, to participate in Poppytalk's gift guide. It forces me to start thinking about Christmas shopping, way sooner than I would. Thank you for that, Jan! This year, it seems I'm attracted to all things warm - wood, gold, brass, and presents that just make you feel warm. Hope you like them!

I have one of these pastry cutters (above), made by Herriot Grace, and I know someone else that would love one. Beautifully made, and you'll have it forever. $70 each

Love these brass cage lights found at Old Faithful. I think they'd be a perfect bedside light. $159. 

Sweet hair pins from Woodland Belle. These would fit nicely into a Christmas cracker! $18.50

I know a pretty new baby, who could use this in her bedroom. This is a custom collage of cuteness, for only $38, is from Tiny Fawn

The Etch candle holder by Tom Dixon. I love how they look on mass, but may have to settle for one or two. About $70.

"Chelsea" earrings by Henderson Dry Goods. Simply pretty. $85

A lovely handcrafted oak tray by Gallant and Jones. $140

The Peanut Butter Project through Plan Canada or Plan International. Locally made peanut butter, gives kids desperately needed protein. It also supports women's peanut butter cooperative. This project is just one of many through Plan. Just $35.

Homestead candlesticks at Ladies and Gentlemen. $58

I wouldn't mind a pair of these myself! They'd be perfect for cold weather photo shoots ;)

Found online at Room 6 for $42

That's my list! Is there something on it that works for you or a certain someone? 

The Art of the Display: Things Piled Un-Neatly

I'm liking things piled un-neatly into shelves lately.  There's a sort of casual look about it that I'm liking; something refreshing –rather than stored neatly.  Hard to explain, but here's a few pictures of what I mean.  Above a loft in Florence where architect, Alessandro Capellaro used vintage found boxes to create this modular bookcase which is filled with different sizes of reclaimed wood from Marie Claire Maison, photo by Nicolas Mathéus .

Club Monaco, Toronto - Photo: Margot Austin

Or this display of books at the newly revamped Club Monaco on Bloor Street in Toronto.  Love that they are displayed not showing the spines as one usually sees books, and then piled as they are. One could easily replicate this at home. Stylist and magazine editor Margot Austin spotted it on a recent visit and shared it on her blog.  Also from Club Monaco (in the two images below) the stored firewood in this entrance way (or vestibule as she called it - don't you love that word), and more books in the fireplace.  See more photo's at Margot's blog here.

Photo: Margot Austin

Photo: Margot Austin

Elina Dahl

Love these newspapers folded un-neatly in this rack. From the beautiful Swedish blog of Elina Dahl.

I know we've seen something similar piles with magazines (either wrapped in bundles and then piled or with belts) - but I'm liking the books best.  Such an easy thing to do and the look appeals to my aesthetic right now!  Do you like it?  Yay or nay?

It's Cyber Monday!

Scabby Robot

It's Cyber Monday folks and we are holding the most amazing handmade Cyber Monday list of deals right here!  From leather handbags like these (above) from  Scabby Robot (who's offering free shipping) to Wolfie and the Sneak below (who's offering 40% off her prints) - this list is as handmade awesome as they come!  Click on the "continue reading" button below to check them all out!

Today at Poppytalk Handmade

d. sharp	sweet eventide	bobbi lewin
pink bathtub	parkside harmony	fleet objects
myan soffia	steel petal press	jill bent