>> the foodinista's champagne caps

above photo by The Foodinista

I can not really deal with how awesome this is: My friend Heather has been collecting her champagne caps for years and recently decided to use them for design purposes. Read her post here, and then, like me, you'll probably start your own collection. Obsessed!!!

>> current obsession: crafting community

I know I'm not the key demographic for this as I am neither a child nor a mother, but, I'm totally and completely obsessed with Crafting Community, a weekend of hip arty and good old fashioned family fun hosted by Kimmel Kids and Kid Concierge. This time (and don't worry they happen throughout the year) 75 families headed for The Ace Hotel in Palm Springs for fun events, pool time, and plenty of activities to keep the little ones (and big ones) muy occupado.

Splendid, the weekend's main sponsor, set up a pop-up shop at the hotel where kids (and...ahem, grown-ups) could design their own scarves! You pick four fabrics, staple them to a sheet and the seamstress gets cracking on it. I'm wearing mine right now.



The schedule of activities and classes is massive and includes DJ-ing 101, spin art on old LPs, fort building classes (OMG!), Skate-Or-Dioramas, underwater photography, garland making, succulent assembly, friendship bracelet classes and good old macrame.

This is literally too cool for school. For more info: click here!

>> patio perfect

We revamped our patio last weekend with the help of some grey Ikea pots ($15) and succulents from Anawalt. Morning coffee with the scent of lavender = heaven.

>> classic pegboard

Our office was feeling a little blah, so Matt came up with the genius idea to put in a giant pegboard. We got a 8' x 4' slab at Anawalt Lumber for $30, painted it, installed a back support (so you can have room between the wall and the pegboard for hooks, etc.), and ta da...new office!

Feather boutonnieres

I'm planning to do a big wedding post detailing some of the design elements and vendors we used once the big day is behind us, but, I'm so excited about these boutonnieres that my florist, Danielle Rowe Zunt, and I made last night out of feathers that I had to post about them today. All it took was a quick trip to Necromance on Melrose to get a few 80-cent guinea feathers and a delicious Peruvian seafood meal at Mario's, and ta da, feather idea becomes reality. I showed it to Matt last night and he loves it.

Sawhorse table legs

I haven't been able to really wrap my brain around decorating our new apartment yet as I've been busy stress-eating and pacing, but I started to get slightly into the idea of working on it when I came across these classic angular iron table legs ($38). I love the vintage-inspired olive paint job. And we can get a great little tabletop of our choosing (the legs come with pre-drilled holes at the supports for easy affixing to any table surface). This seems like the perfect project for Matt. And guess what? It's from Urban Outfitters (huh?)--where by the way they're waiving the shipping fee for everything over $75 until October 5th.

Goose Greese Cake Toppers

How absolutely necessary are these little wooden wedding cake toppers ($35-$90) from Goose Greese!? They even make blank ones for those DIYers out there.

Feelings about postcards

Matt and I are a little bit in limbo as far as our living situation goes. We're waiting on a few key details of our lives before we settle in a neighborhood of L.A.—especially since it's a commuter town and minimizing freeway time maximizes life time. I've got my temporary office set up which is great, but I'm missing all my paperweights, cork boards, clocks and numerous post cards that are still in a box marked "LG office". Right now I just have the one postcard that my friend Ashley recently sent me and it's neatly resting on my computer. The guy behind the postcard is her friend Justin Kerr of DIY or else. I don't know about you guys, but I personally have solid emotions about calculator watches, I'm for them!

Zub Zen Watch by Matthew Waldman ($100).

Blank nesting dolls

Growing up I had three Golden Retrievers over the years, all of them varying in degrees of obeseness. I've have had Harrison, a little 35 pound mutt, who looks like she may have had a golden grandfather or grandmother in there somewhere, for two years. So to pay tribute to these wonderful pets of all different sizes, I just ordered blank nesting dolls ($12-$15) from Reform School and I'm going to paint these golden beasts on them as soon as they arrive! What would you paint on yours? Extra credit: The nesting dolls are imported by traders who work directly with talented Russian artisans from the former Soviet republics. In other words, they're From Russia With Love.

Ponoko Pollen Pendant

This small pendant lamp by the indie design collective, Ponoko, caught my eye this morning. What's interesting about the Ponoko Pollen Pendant lamp ($245), is the DIY element involved. They supply the pollen-shaped pendant and then you wrap the yarn (or other string material of your choice) around it, to add you're own personal flavor. Kinda cool that you can immediately change the color of the lamp just by going out an buying a different color string or twine or shoelace. It's like a blank canvas lamp for people who love string.

Japanese coasters

When I was in Tokyo a few weeks ago I really had to limit myself when shopping. Not only because of the weakness in the dollar, but also because I didn't really leave extra room in my suitcase. One thing I brought home that I'm in love with is this set of mismatched coasters I bought off a kiosk in the Omotesando Hills Mall. I especially love the pattern with the cat that's holding an orange rat in its mouth! I imagine making coasters like this wouldn't be too difficult, and would make a great DIY Christmas gift.

Marimekko Cambridge

Yesterday afternoon I walked over the Longfellow Bridge to meet Maryam in Cambridge to check out the only US Marimekko store! But before we went design hunting, she took me on a tour of the Google office, where she works. I'm not allowed to post photos, but just trust that it completely blew me away! The first person I met was her massage therapist and the first thing I saw was a Google sign made out of Jello boxes—to say nothing of the giant chess set and indoor jungle gym. I reluctantly left the office to trek deeper into Cambridge to the Marimekko store that opened last year, but honestly all I remember about Marimekko was my interior monologue of "must find way to get Google to hire me...must find way to get Google to hire me." Maryam did score some great pillows for their home office (NOT ANYTHING CLOSE TO GOOGLE OFFICE!) and we both went home with matching mouse pads. The store will also custom-make any pillow from the huge wall of fabrics they stock for only $65. Regular pillows are $40—great price point, and definitely worth a trip if you're in the Boston area. 350 Huron Ave.

Fireplace wine storage

My friend Alissa just moved into a new apartment in the South End this week and I stopped in to see the digs this afternoon. I've never been so impressed with a Victorian rehab—the closets, the bathroom, and the kitchen are all sleek and new and seamlessly abut beautiful white moldings and classic architecture. But I have to say the coolest thing about her new apartment is her fireplace wine storage! What a great idea for old non-functional fireplaces!

Paper AK-47 kit

About a year ago I wrote a post tracking the gun trend in design called When design gets deadly. I recently noticed a new addition to that trend with London-based Martin Postler's paper AK-47 kit ($42) from A+R. The idea is to "take away its original functional intent by rendering this death machine in paper, and the focus shifts to the power of form, and all that’s implied with it." Expert crafters over 18 only!

Needlepoint Maps

I was flipping through Cookie Magazine while in the check-out line at Whole Foods yesterday and this article about how to easily make needlepoint maps caught my attention. One of their contributing editors, Rory Evans, hangs needlepoint maps that represent everyone in her family. Cookie also provides a great link with full instructions—which are much easier and faster than traditional and somewhat cumbersome needlepoint methods. Also, if you're in to needlepointing already I really love Brooklyn-based AMH Design. They have pre-made stitchable journals ($22) that are perfect for the casual needlepointer— they only take about two hours to complete and would make a wonderful gift.

Chalkboard Paint

Well well well, the weekend is here once again. One thing I'm going to do this weekend is procrastinate, can't wait for that. Since it's inevitable, I've decided to plan a project to occupy the time that's much more constructive than pacing back and forth. So, Matt and I have been thinking about putting a chalk board in our kitchen for a while now, and my brother turned us on to the idea of making our own with chalkboard paint. Working with Matt is essential for me when doing anything DIY—he has the patience of Joab and I ruin everything because two minutes after painting or gluing something I say, "Let's just see if it's dry..." So we're going to go to Artists Frame Service's outlet to buy a frame then buy a piece of plywood that fits in it and paint it with chalkboard paint. I have been toying with the idea of doing the entire wall, but I'm too scared of what our landlord would do to us when he sees it. It does look really cool though—like the above photo which is part of an Ikea installation I saw on Crib Candy. Hopefully I'll have a photo to post of the finished product on Monday.

Krylon Fusion for Plastic: Modern Miracle

I acquired three rusty and rotten Eames shell chairs a couple of years ago from a friend's tag sale. I spray painted two of them cobalt blue and put them on my patio, left the other one white and put it in storage. Recently I discovered the marvel of Krylon products and decided to upgrade all three chairs by painting them with the Krylon Fusion for Plastic line of paint. It is pretty amazing, dries in 15 minutes and creates little mess to clean up. So, I taped up the legs and bases (I would have simply unscrewed the base and legs, but they were so rusty I didn't want to risk it) and applied the "honeydew" color to two and the "butter cream" to the other. I thought these colors were a little more subtle than the bright blues and a little more interesting than a dirty white. Above are the before pics and below are the after shots. You can get Krylon spray paint at any Ace Hardware or check the Krylon website for retailers. It's about $13 a bottle, and you need 1 bottle for each a chair.

Meet Twilly

I was wandering around the Hermes website this morning to check out their beach towels (just looking), and came across "Twilly". They're 33-inch (by 2-inch) silk ribbons and I can think of 100 things to do with them, hair tie, hair band, bracelet, scarf, belt, tie it around a vase or a bowl to dress up (literally) a centerpiece, etc. etc. etc. They come in five patterns/colors right now. You can snatch one up here for $115, which in Hermes dollars is pretty good. Is it wrong that I want want to tie one around my forehead Axl Rose style, and then go play tennis? Yes? Ok, well, I also love their ashtrays, like the below one in white porcelain with red pattern ($465).

Crush Pad Wine

The other day my neighbor Ben and his sommelier friend were telling me about how they just bought a barrel of wine. He showed me the logo they designed and told me all about the "adopt a barrel" program through Crush Pad Wine. I got totally inspired to do it and think I am if I can get enough family and/or friends to go in with me. So, basically Crushpad is a custom winery located in San Francisco. They provide grapes from California's top vineyards, a winemaking team and a winery focused on small lots. You choose your level of involvement and they do the rest. You can even help de-stem, crush, ferment and press the wine into the barrel if you want to. Once it is in the barrel it ages for 8-24 months at which time you can occasionally taste or make blending decisions. Then you help design the label and ta da, 25 cases of your own wine! It's about $5,000 to $9,600 per barrel ($17 to $32 per bottle) for 300 bottles. How great would it to have your own house wine on hand at all times for dinner or as gifts or whatever. I am totally into this idea and even spent a little time trying to design a label on Microsoft Word. Check out the Crush Pad website for more info. And, if you're a family member or close friend of mine: don't even try and get out of this, it's happening.

NY Public Library archive prints

I was reading the blog Style Court and remembered that the New York Public Library is an unrivaled resource not only for research and reference, but for buying your own historic prints. They have a massive digital gallery selection ranging from old maps to science illustrations to Manhattan photography, Japanese woodblock prints to 19th century fashion illustrations, basically, there is something that exists on their database to suit any interest. You can purchase prints of anything you find, and even crop it if you only want one section of a map, etc. Plus, they're only $30 unframed! I think I might buy the above Alexander Anderson print, learn how to decoupage, and then make my own John Derian knock-offs. Check out the NYPL archives for yourself right here.