By Kathy Brenzel and Mercedes Feller (owner of Tiller Digs in Corte Madera, CA; 415/927-1266)
"I especially like simple, monochromatic wreaths made entirely from one material and accented with a satin ribbon for hanging," says Feller. Fragrant bay leaves and sculptural oak branches are among her favorite indigenous materials. The effect is fresh and welcoming — seasonal decor that showcases the bounty of the landscape.
Step 1: Gather the greenery
Choose long-lasting materials that grow in your area — cedar or Douglas fir in the Northwest, spruce in the mountains, or pine in the Southwest, for example.
Feller's favorites, in order of preference: eucalyptus (it stays fresh-looking the longest), oak (for its branches), bay, and magnolia.
For subtle accents, she uses berries, seedpods, and herbs. "Rosemary grows almost wild in our area," she says.
Step 2: Bundle the foliage
Cut greenery snippets about 6 inches long, then gather them into 10 to 12 small but full bunches.
Wrap the stem ends of each bundle tightly with 24- or 26-gauge paddle wire, available at craft stores.
Step 3: Attach bundle to ring
Feller prefers 10-inch wreath frames, called clamp rings ($2.99; save-on-crafts.com or 831/768-8428); they're strong and have 10 evenly spaced clamps to hold bundles of greens in place.
Secure one bunch at a time, closing the clamp over stem ends with your hands or a pair of pliers.
Step 4: Work around the ring
Continue attaching greenery, one bunch at a time, to the ring, moving in one direction around the circle.
Each bundle should slightly overlap the previous one.
Attach ribbon or raffia for hanging the wreath.
Resources: Mercedes Feller's wreaths are available at Tiller Digs, Corte Madera, CA (415/927-1266; no mail order).
There's more in the garden blog!
How to host a wreath-making party
Find a wreath-making workshop
By Jess Chamberlain, Sunset home & design writer
Considering the mere fact that I'm a home and design writer known to produce craft projects, at a recent pumpkin-carving party the expectations for photo-worthy designs was particularly high. Of course, when I show up with a box from the office labeled "pumpkin carving tools" I'm not doing anything to help sway the assumption that we're about to make martha-stewart-style art.
Fortunately, my handy box of tricks included numerical stencils from last year's pumpkin house number story, so when asked "what should we design?" without any illustration books in sight (and embarrassed to recommend anything traditional like smiley faces; I'm supposed to have advanced style after all) I was pleased to suggest house numbers to keep my friends Eliza and Larry's doorstep aglow for the week of Halloween. They were thrilled—thank god—at the idea. I described it as pumpkin carving for adults—part utility, part craft.
First, Eliza and I gutted the pumpkins, saving the pumpkin seeds in a bowl to roast with olive oil and salt a little later.
Next, we cleaned the pumpkin’s surface and taped the numbers of Eliza’s home address to the flattest side of the pumpkin.
Then came the surprise master carver. Though I was a little concerned about how small the numbers appeared when I removed the stencils (last year's project used much larger stencils; one number per pumpkin), Eliza's boyfriend Larry (who by the way gets mad props for just being interested to partake in our project at all) was called in for precision work (first with an exacto knife; then—carefully—with a small hand saw). I have NEVER seen such craftsmanship! Larry’s an industrial engineer whose job, I imagine, necessitates attention to detail, so his expert carving skills shouldn't have been surprising at all.
What he doesn't know yet is that I'm trying to think up a creative way to pitch him the idea of working for me the next time my editor calls for October story ideas.
by Miranda Jones, Sunset style editor
This time of year we here at Sunset are always looking for new things to do with pumpkins. One idea we came up with was a no-carve stenciled pumpkin, using paint instead of a knife. After a little deliberation I turned to macabre masters Edward Gorey and Alfred Hitchcock for inspiration.
After trolling through Google results of Gorey and Hitchcock I decided on some classic Halloween images — a crow, a waning moon, and a barren tree. Spooky!
Instead of assigning one image to one pumpkin I thought it would be nice to make a scene by extending the tree over two pumpkins. What do you think?
Now, I am not going to lie. This was not as easy as I had hoped. I don't have any process shots to show you (they are all of me swearing and almost cutting my finger off with an X-acto knife) but I will tell you what I did, more or less step by step.
First, I found images that I liked online. After I printed out the images I held them up to the pumpkin to make sure that they were the correct size. It took a few tries but I finally got it right.
Next, I laid my image on a piece of cardboard and placed some durable, reusable mylar from Stencil Ease on top. Then, I taped both the image and the mylar down and began to cut with my X-acto knife.
After I had cut out my stencil I tried to glue my stencil to my pumpkin with some adhesive. The adhesive wouldn't work because the pumpkin was just too, well, round. I had to call in Jess Chamberlain to hold down the stencil while I painted. Thank you Jess. It went quickly after that.
The stencil paint that I used was terrific. It is a dry solid and it is specifically for stencils. Plus it comes in tons of colors! It doesn't run or drip and allows a lot of control. Partly because you use it with a very short bristled brush. It is less like painting and more like poking. But it works! Word of warning though — the paint never really dried on the pumpkin so I had to be very careful when moving them.
I have actually used this same brush and paint on walls and it was so easy. Plus, it actually dried. Stenciling is such a fast way to decorate!
Have you ever tried this on a pumpkin? Send me photos if you have!
by Lisa Trottier, Sunset senior editor
I'm hopeless when it comes to holiday shopping. I'm better at coming up with excuses for "opting out" than I am at thinking up with gift ideas. So, with more than two months to go, I'm happy—no, ecstatic—to say that my shopping is all done. Well, at least in my head.
Derek Fagerstorm and Lauren Smith, who own the quirky, cool Curiosity Shoppe in San Francisco, vouch for a prettily packaged gift of hot cocoa and homemade marshmallows. And for those of us (read: me) who need things spelled out for them, they made a step-by-step video recipe showing just how to make the marshmallows.
by Miranda Jones, Sunset style editor
The holidays are coming up quickly and that means the beginning of the entertaining season! In November, we at Sunset are focusing on communal dining as a way of bringing people together. With that in mind I created a cheese course as centerpiece for this month's front section.
My inspiration for the shot were Dutch still lifes, full of rich color and amazing light. I wanted it to look slightly undone but very welcoming at the same time.
I started by deciding on a color for the wall in the shoot. I wanted a rich, pigmented color that set the tone. I found what I was looking for at Restoration Hardware. Their 'dusk' color (part of their Shore Paint Collection) was perfect. It went on the wall like a dream, creating the perfect velvety backdrop that I was looking for. Here it is as Restoration Hardware intended it.....
Next I started looking for a table cloth with a woven pattern and a heavy weight. Muted colors were also important as I didn’t want it to stand out in the photo. Instead I wanted it to act as a foil for what was on top. The soft beige and white woven one I found had a good weight and a timeless feel. The prop studio at Sunset has the perfect piece of cloth.
Next step; deciding what would be the base for the cheese. When making any type of centerpiece it is a good idea to create visual interest by using a few different heights for the display. I choose mango wood discs from Roost (available at Urban Indigo, 510 419 0451) and an agate plate from Viva Terra. The shapes are similar but they are different in size and texture. Both the agate and the wood are very organic and have a ‘found’ feel, which lends itself to the classic still life tableau.
My next step was to go shopping for some cheese! My one and only stop was Cowgirl Creamy at the Embarcadero Ferry Building. I was searching for a variety of types, all different shapes and sizes and colors.
After much deliberation I chose (from left to right, below) Goat's Leap Sumi, Mimolette Extra Vieille, Cowgirl Creamery's Pierce Point, Winchester Aged Gouda and Vermont's Butter & Cheese Company's Bijou.
All but one of the cheeses are from the US and all but one of those is from the west coast. If you want to try one of these lovely cheeses but don’t have access to a terrific cheese shop you can order on line at Cowgirl Creamy.
After deciding on the cheese I added organic grapes, pears and figs to the mix. All three fruits are excellent accompaniments to cheese and available widely this time of year. I also picked up some honey comb from the farmer’s market. It goes very well with sheep's milk cheese and many blues.
To finish it off I added one my all time favorite snacks: marcona almonds. These Spanish almonds are fried in olive oil and then dusted liberally with salt. They are irresistible.
When setting up your own cheese centerpiece don't forget to provide your guests with some cheese knives! The horn handled ones used here are available at the Malibu Colony Co, 310 319 0177.
I would love to see your centerpieces this year! Send me your photos!
Thanks to photographer Jeffery Cross for making the cheese spread come across so beautifully.
By Jess Chamberlain, Sunset home & design writer
A sneak preview of a project from our November issue (on newsstands soon):
Yes, it's true. The holiday entertaining season is upon us, again.
The bad news:
You've realized you simply cannot stand the idea of hosting another Thanksgiving dinner with those dated chairs from grandma's estate. They've had nostalgic value (beige fabric and all) for long enough. Problem is, that slush fund you've been saving for that new dinning set no longer, gulp, exists.
The good news:
You can give those dated dinning chairs a modern makeover this weekend.
Our no-fail equation:
High-gloss black paint (ours: Benjamin Moore’s “Black #2132-10”) plus a graphic black fabric pattern (like "Ottoman" in Oatmeal from Britex Fabrics; $30/yard) equals a high-style look that'll have your guests begging for the name of your interior designer.
Here's what we did:
Before: Heirloom nostalgia.
Step 1: Unscrew the seat from your chair frame with a screwdriver. Set seat and screws aside.
Painting materials: plastic or canvas drop cloth, sanding sponge, tack cloth or rag, 2-in. paintbrush, paint
Other materials: screwdriver, fabric (one yard covers at least two chair seats), pencil, scissors, staple gun
Step 2: Sand the frame. Use tack cloth or a damp rag to wipe up the dust.
Step 3: Apply a base coat of paint with the paintbrush, using long, straight strokes in one direction. Let dry completely (1-2 hours in warm, dry space, preferably outside). Once dry, apply a second coat.
Step 4: While the frame dries, re-cover the seat. Pull off the old covering or apply the new fabric over it. Measure and cut a piece of fabric about 2 inches wider than the seat on all sides, first tracing an outline with a pencil.
Step 5: Wrap the fabric over a seat edge and secure with a staple. On the opposite edge, pull fabric taut and staple to secure. Repeat on remaining two sides, then staple all around the edges, pulling cloth tight. Stop 2 inches from corners.
Step 6: Fold the fabric at one corner into a neat finish by tucking the excess underneath and smoothing the top down. Secure with three or four staples, keeping the folds flat and even; avoid stapling over the screw holes. Repeat for each corner. Once the frame is dry, reattach seat with screws.
After: Same shape (remnants of nostalgia, memories of grandma), but a contemporary knock-out.
by Jess Chamberlain, Sunset home writer
What if I said you could keep your pumpkin carving tools in the craft box for another year? Or that you didn't have to wait til the end of October to display the goods you scored at the pumpkin patch? Or—are you sitting down?—that you could enjoy those fall harvest beauties through the rest of the year?
Yes. You. Can.
This year, Sunset's October issue pumpkin decorating story is about just that—celebrating pumpkins as natural works of art (knives away please), and not in your traditional round orange variety (but rather, colors that don't feel passé post-October 31).
My favorite is this organic modern vignette below. I adore how the white pumpkins pop against the wood paneled wall. With a few leaves from the backyard, and a few wooden adornments from around the house, you've got an instant still-life.
Some outtakes from the photo shoot:
Below: Dark green pumpkins pop against a red wall complimented by a bouquet of purple anemones, viburnum (tinus) berry, and fiddle head fern curls. A bowl of red vanda orchids lingers nearby.
Below: Peach color pumpkins casually reside tabletop with a vase of orchids and a small pot of succulents.
Below: Teal/grey pumpkins are propped atop a china cabinet with a few magnolia and sycamore seedpods.
More:
By Allison Arieff, Sunset editor-at-large
It seems like everyone I know is dreaming of a renovation, planning one, or is construction-dust deep in one. There are our friends who raced to finish their house before the birth of their first son back (and barely made it in time). Or the family friend who just moved her family back into their home after a near-gut renovation that kept them in a rental for over a year. We've all got these kinds of stories, and no matter the scale, budget, or aesthetic of the project, the one common theme is that it's never easy. Luckily, there's an ever-increasing number of great blogs to show us all that we're not alone. When the painter's late or there's sheetrock dust in your bed, that's pretty comforting. Design blogs aplenty such as Apartment Therapy offer this but there is something particularly special about hearing the adventures (and misadventures) straight from the source.
One of my favorites is House & Fig, created by Sarah Wert and Joe Hebenstreit who describe themselves as "newlyweds living in a construction zone." Sarah and Joe tackled their demo with gusto (see below) but things are taking a little longer than they planned.
In the process, they've become expert DIYers as evidenced by their amazing interim kitchen solution--by way of IKEA no less:
Another great blog, this one more specifically about green design and construction of a new home by a couple in Toronto is at 360 Winnett. Here's a model of what they plan to build:
As 360 Winnett homeowner Jeremy Bell explains, "From start to finish, I want to share our experience with complete transparency; finding a contractor, choosing an architect, defining our green strategies, and balancing the budget. "
Ultimately what's great about these blogs is not only that they can help us learn from others but also, equally importantly, to let us know that we're not alone in our home improvement madness! We'd love to hear about your blog (or one that you've turned to for guidance/sanity). Write to us!
It's July already. We can't believe it either.
With the "4th" just around the corner, do you find yourself desperate for an easy party idea to show off a little red, white, and blue?
Voila. This project from our July 07 issue is a quick way to tap those patriotic colors for festive outdoor decor—but without the holiday kitsch.
Do it: Combine a tablecloth, table runner, napkins, and lantern glow for an abstract interpretation of stars and stripes:
1. First, cover your table with a blue tablecloth.
2. Lay a white runner down the length of the table.
3. Fold and iron red napkins to make them about the same width as your table runner; lay them down to use as placemats, tucking each top edge just under the runner.
4. To finish the setting, float red blooms in clear bowls and add a row of lanterns to set the table aglow.
More 4th of July ideas from our archives here.
Ever wished you could buy a Sunset project right off the page? This Saturday and Sunday at our annual Sunset Celebration Weekend we're hosting our first-ever flea-market-type space where you can buy just that. At the Secondhand Sunset booth (located in the Eco Lounge area), shop girl—and Sunset executive editor—Irene Edwards will have Sunset goods priced to go: editorial crafts, gems from our prop closet, as well as some vintage scores from staff's own armoires. All proceeds benefit a local environmental organization, Friends of the Urban Forest.
Come and get it!
By Sarah Gaffney, Sunset Idea House program manager
Our Menlo Park Idea House is located in a planned development where the houses are located thisclose to one another. Window privacy is one of our main design challenges. Being that this is an Idea House, we're compelled to show privacy solutions that go beyond the standard curtain and rod. Our friends at Design Public, one of my favorite online arbiters of modern style, have come to the rescue. They just launched these plastic adhesive window coverings from British designer Emma Jeffs.
It's like wallpaper for your windows! Just add water and apply.
And, they even feature a Moroccan-style design. As I posted earlier, the look is everywhere!
Check out Design Public's blog for more of what's new and hip in home design.
By Sarah Gaffney, Sunset Idea House program manager
The pace is picking up at our Menlo Park Idea House. Tile in the bathrooms is going up fast (stay tuned for a sneak peek later this week!). In the family room, the fireplace facade is almost finished. We used a stacked stone veneer from Eldorado Stone. It looks fabulous and, seeing how quick and easy it went up, is a great DIY project. We left off the mantle and let the stone take center stage. We're having the mason come back and stack the vertical pieces horizontally for a more cohesive look. The sunny wall color is Benjamin Moore's Safari AF-335 from their eco-friendly Aura line.
By Sarah Gaffney, Sunset Idea House program manager
I went to Ohmega Salvage in Berkeley last weekend searching for vintage hooks and knobs to create a DIY coat hook project for our Menlo Park Idea House. This place is a candy land of all things old and salvaged. I found plenty of hooks, after being distracted by many treasures that I wasn't looking for, but all of the sudden had to have.
For example, I have no need for a pastel-colored toilet, tub or sink, but these look so delicious! There's a great idea waiting to happen here.
I don't need a table full of Pyrex flasks either, but this is inspiration for displaying a collection.
We are looking for old tile for a DIY table idea at the house, so I did have reason to salivate over these friendly numbered tiles. They look so sunny and Parisian to me.
I was accompanied by two eight-year-old female shopping companions who thought this magazine stand was fabulous. Since my little shoppers are about the same age of the hypothetical girl that lives in our Idea House, I gave up the ten bucks for the magazine rack. We'll probably repaint it white. Suggestions welcome!
Okay, so back to the original intent of this shopping expedition: the coat hook idea. Here's a sampling of potential hooks. We'll nail them to a piece of salvaged wood. Send us your ideas!
Our dynamic(!) Home & Garden executive editor, Irene Edwards, starred in a segment on the TODAY show this morning, demonstrating the ideas behind the "I found it on Craigslist!" makeover story in our May issue (on newsstands now).
View the segment here.
Check out the bonus chandelier project we posted earlier this month here.
(IMAGES ABOVE: Before and after shots of our side table makeover.)
By Jess Chamberlain, Sunset home & design writer
Styling by Miranda Jones and Birte Walter
Photography by Rob Brodman
Ever scanned the furniture listings on Craigslist, seen an item that looked a bit dilapidated, but that you could tell had good soul? Well, look out fancy vintage refurbishing stores—our upcoming May issue features five Craigslist castoffs that just needed a elbow grease (paint, fabric, love) to take on a whole new life.
Above is a sixth before & after transformation (that didn't see the printed page) that makes quite a statement as a living room centerpiece. Instructions below. Look for our May issue on newsstands around April 19th. And if you have your own Craigslist makeover story, tell us about it through the comments link at bottom.
Fresh take for a chandelier
CRAIGSLIST: $10
All this rusty worn lamp needed was a little TLC. First we took off all removable parts (bulbs and sheaths) and used small plastic bags and painter’s tape to carefully cover all exposed electrical parts (bulb bases and main cord). Next we hung the chandelier outside from a plant hook. After dusting with a damp cloth, we covered it with a light coat of spray paint, holding the can 10 to 12 inches away. After letting it dry (at least 10 minutes), we sprayed a second coat, ensuring that all surfaces were evenly covered. Finally we took the chandelier to a lamp repair shop for new energy-efficient, flame-shaped bulbs and candle sheaths, and found some killer mini shades at Anthropologie.
FINAL COST: $98, plus $38 per shade (optional)
By Sheila Schmitz, Sunset online editor
If standing in line at the card store doesn't appeal to you much this week, consider making your own perfect valentine. For added pizzazz (with very little effort) make it a pop-up. It's so easy. And all you need is heavy paper or card stock, scissors, and glue.
I love clashy pinks and oranges together, but of course you can choose a more tasteful combo.
To make a card that fits a standard 5 1/4 x 7 1/4 envelope:
1. Cut one piece of paper to 9 3/4 x 7. This will be the background color and the outside of your card. For the inside of your card, cut another piece of paper to a 9 x 6 rectangle. A third smaller piece of paper will become your 3-D pop-up shape.
2. Fold the two bigger pieces of paper down the center. Glue them together with rubber cement or a glue stick. Once they're stuck together, fold again to secure the center crease.
3. Cut out a heart (or other symmetrical shape) from your third piece of paper. Leave a small tab on either side. Fold the tabs against the back of the heart.
4. Add a dot of glue to each tab and press the heart onto the center of your card. The fold of your pop-up will line up with the fold of your card.
5. Press the whole thing flat under a book for a minute or two. When the glue is fairly dry, fold your card closed (the heart should pop out toward you). Press again under a book until the glue is nice and dry.
This is a great chance to play with paper. You can clash like me ...
...or use soothing pastels. Consider recycled and found papers: you can make the heart from a map to a surprise getaway or a page from your favorite Jane Austin novel.
Heartfelt thanks to my friend Camille Korsmo for showing me the magic of pop-ups!
We love this idea from Oakland designer Cynthia Warren: Hang valentines (photos, cards, and other inspiring finds) from hooks on a picture rail. Your mini art installation can easily change with the season and your mood.
It helps to first paint your wall a romantic lipstick red. See more of Warren's secrets for decorating with your favorite things.
By Kirsten Hagfors, Sunset administrative assistant
Over the holidays, my mother hosted a group of 20+ for dinner, which was a great opportunity for her to showcase her new home.
The table was set beautifully, but one element kept distracting me. The overhead lighting was great for day-to-day use, but it wasn't stepping up to the occasion. I took it upon myself to dress up the clear cone pendant fixtures. Surrounded by seasonal tidings, I grabbed a roll of wrapping paper and started my project.
Here's what I did:
1. Cut circles out of a light-colored pattern to work as a translucent layer on top of the glass shade. Cut a slit up one side and a small hole in the center.
2. Wrapped the paper around each light and secured it with a bit of clear tape (making sure the lights were off when securing the shade).
3. Trimmed the bottom.
4. Flipped the switch!
No longer detracting from the dining room ambiance, the decorated pendant lights added a shimmer to the setting and received kudos from guests.
Note: This is meant as a temporary adornment. We removed the paper shortly after the dinner, and only had the lights on at a dim level during the meal. It's important to closely attend anything flammable near heat. |
More fun with paper:
Recyclable wine charms
Lampshade with a secret
By Peter O. Whiteley, Sunset senior writer
Most place mats lie flat on a table, but I also like to stand them on end, wrapped around cylindrical glass vases. The mats add unexpected color and texture while disguising the vase.
The best types for this are made of reeds, slender pieces of bamboo, twigs, or other natural materials that roll up easily. (You can find inexpensive vases and this style of mat at many import stores or outlets like Target.)
Most place mats measure about 14 by 19 inches, so select a vase that stands 12 to 13 inches tall and are about 4 inches wide.
To make your vase:
1.Test-wrap your mat around the vase and mark where the ends overlap.
2. Cut off the extra so the ends of the mat butt together or overlap just slightly.
3. Retie any strings that may be woven through to keep your mat from unraveling.
4. Roll the mat snugly around the vase. Join the ends together here and there with pieces of slender wire.
The mat will become a tight-fitting sleeve that you can slide off when it is time to clean the vase.
By Monica Ewing, Sunset senior designer
Ever need something that you're sure exists, but once you go looking for it, you come up empty? I searched for a bin in which to toss all my paper recycling (let's face it: junk mail). And I wanted it to fit on the bottom pull-out shelf of my not-so-attractive-but-necessary microwave cart. Found zilch. So I made my own out of a cardboard box and fabric. It's not exactly pretty, but it's oh-so-handy, and it only cost me $16.
Supplies:
Cardboard moving box (I found the perfect size at The Container Store)
Craft glue (I used Aleene's Tacky Glue)
1 1/2 yards of fabric (I used cotton duck cloth)
3 1/2 yards nylon strapping
1 yard half-and-half hook-and-loop tape (one side you stick on, the other side you sew on)
Erasable fabric marker
Yard stick
Straight pins
Thread (to match fabric and straps)
Step 1: Assemble the box
First, I glued the bottom flaps in place, then glued the top flaps down against the inside. I placed heavy books on each side for a half hour while the glue dried.
Step 2: Measure & cut the fabric
I measured the box, then added 1/4 inch to all the measurements. I wanted to use just one piece of fabric to cover the sides and bottom, so the drawing of the piece looks like a plus sign. I added 1/2 an inch inseam all the way around the edges, and 4 inches height (for overlap) to each side. (Click the sketch to see it larger.) Then I measured and marked the fabric, and cut it out.
Tip #1: This fabric cover is designed to be removable and washable, so pre-wash and iron your fabric to reduce shrinkage.
Step 3: Sew the cover
I pinned and sewed each of the four sides together. Then I folded over the top edge about 5/8 inch, and sewed it down. Next I cut the hook-and-loop tape into four sections—each a few inches shorter than the corresponding side of the box where it would be placed. Then I sewed each non-sticky piece of hook-and-loop tape onto each side of the fabric cover, about 1/2 inch from the top.
Step 4: Sew on the straps
I slipped the cover over the box, then measured and pinned the straps in place. Next I removed the cover and sewed the straps on.
Step 5: Cover box & apply hook-and-loop tape
I slid the cover back on the box. Then I attached the sticky side of
the hook-and-loop tape to the sewn-on side, and removed the backing. I pulled the cover tight, and pressed down on the hook-and-loop
tape to make it stick to the box. Voilà. It's done.
Here are more ways to go green.
And here's another fabulous tote by J. Caroline Creative. So cute!
by Jess Chamberlain, Sunset home & design writer
photo by Rob D. Brodman
Last week, Grace at design*sponge posted about a driftwood hook by designer Ben Forgey and asked "I wonder if it’s the sort of thing you could make if you’re handy and have access to found driftwood?"
You betcha. I sent her the photo and directions for the driftwood rack we featured in our September 2006 issue which she posted yesterday.
Thanks for the love Grace! I'm such a huge d*s fan.
Project: driftwood rack
Turn a scavenged piece of driftwood into an organic-chic entryway rack in 30 minutes or less. (For regulations on collecting driftwood, check with your local state beach authority.)
1. Our piece of driftwood happened to lie flat against the wall; if yours doesn’t, use a band saw to cut off one-third of the driftwood lengthwise.
2. With four round hook screws (available at home improvement stores) and a handheld electric drill, drill four holes into the bottom of your driftwood, angling them forward slightly so the hooks won’t lean against the wall. Use a drill bit the width of your screw’s shank.
3. With the help of a wrench, screw the hook ends into the wood, tightening them so they all face forward.
4. Secure your driftwood to a wall using two long screws, spaced so each is secured in a wall stud.
By Jess Chamberlain, Sunset home & design writer; photo by Rob D. Brodman
We're 10 days into 2008 and I've just this afternoon become officially embarrassed that all my calendars—I can count four within view from my desk chair—still read 2007. I've been keeping a mental calendar of social events for over a week now, which has proved to be less reliant than the weather in San Francisco.
Lucky for me, the Moleskin weekly planners at the closest stationery shop are now 1/2 off.
But something that's going to take a little more time to update is this calendar I made last year with copies of nostalgic family photos (turned sepia tone at Kinkos). Senior designer Monica Ewing kindly updated our calendar template (the project ran in Sunset's January 2007 issue) with 2008 months. Think I'll see if I can't carefully paste the 08 month pages right on top of last year's project with the help of a little miracle tape (acid-free double-sided) .
To make your own calendar, see directions and download the template here.
By Jess Chamberlain, Sunset home & design writer
Unwrapping presents at my mom's house on Christmas morning is always a bit comical. It's highly encouraged (read: mandatory) that gift wrapping be salvaged as much as possible. There are four bags into which all waste must be sorted: reuse (paper), reuse (ribbon), recycle (torn or severely wrinkled paper), and trash (plastic packaging, etc). My sisters and I — barely awake and desperately sipping coffee for aid — always take a little pause after each gift opening trying to remember which bag is which. As you can imagine, the reuse bag contains paper remnants that could be reused for future wrapping projects. This year, mom took this wrapping reuse to a new level, wrapping our holiday gifts with festive fabric that can easily be re-loved next year (with some quick help from an iron). Needless to say, her teeny tiny carbon footprint was a hot topic of conversation at the dinner table. You go mom.
For dinner prep this year I was on make-wine-glass-labels-out-of-nothing duty. Stores were of course closed, but we needed a way to discriminate between stemware since we had just the right number of glasses albeit mix-matched.
Enter: reusable wrapping paper bag. I was able to make little wine glass labels out of scraps of wrapping paper and left over circular stickers I'd used to label presents. The creativity was applauded. When you're a writer for a lifestyle magazine, the pressure for aesthetic quality on home-made craft projects is high.
Quick how-to for your next cocktail party:
Materials:
- wine glasses
- paper scraps (wrapping paper shown is from Ikea)
- pencil
- coin
- scissors
- pen
- sticker labels (stickers shown are from Paper Source; you can cut little pieces from your label maker sheets if you're desperate)
Instructions:
- Position your wine glass base on a piece of scrap paper (or used wrapping paper). With pencil, trace around the base. Set wine glass aside.
- Center coin in the middle of circle and trace around with pencil.
- With scissors, cut around the outer circle and inner circle so there's a cut through the ring (see lower left image).
- Pen guest name on sticker. Wrap paper ring around wine base and secure with sticker.
- Repeat.
By Monica Ewing, Sunset senior designer
For those of you who aren't in a rush to decorate for Christmas, give your pumpkins one last hurrah before everything becomes tinsel and snowflakes. Remember: Fall isn't over until Dec. 22, and pumpkins aren't just for Halloween.
Pumpkin vases
I carved out two medium-sized pumpkins just big enough to fit a medium-sized wide-mouth canning jar inside. Then I placed the jars, and filled them with water, plant food, and long-lasting mini carnations (from Safeway). When it's time to decorate for Christmas, mix the carnations in one big vase, and you're ready for the holidays. Here are some tips to extend vase life.
Candle holders
I used squat pumpkins and 2 1/4-inch-wide pillar candles. I carved out a hole that was just big enough to hold the candle. When carving the hole, err on the smaller side and adjust as needed.
Mini menagerie
I arranged a variety of small pumpkins and gourds in a glass cylinder. (All the pumpkins and gourds that I used are from Farmer John's in Half Moon Bay).
Here's another great tabletop idea from Jess Chamberlain: Make your own menorah.
By Monica Ewing, Sunset senior designer
Last July, I wrote about flowers and foliage that have longer vase life. One of the flowers I mentioned was alstroemeria. Honestly, I had no idea what alstroemeria looked like in person. The online photos I found didn't help much. Then last month Sunset had some flowers leftover from a photo shoot. Among them were alstroemeria. I grabbed a bunch of reddish and coral-color blooms and decided to put them to the test.
The photo above was taken the day after I brought them home. I had trimmed the stems, stripped the leaves from the bottom part, and placed them in water mixed with a plant food packet that they came with.
Two weeks later, I took this photo. They opened up more; the leaves were a little droopy, but overall they looked great. (The pinker color in this image is because of different lighting.) That's the last photo I took because someone (ahem, me) accidentally let them go dry one day. Despite that, they continued to look beautiful for a few more days. I'm convinced they could have lasted a month with proper care.
So, I'm a big fan of alstroemeria. They're not roses, but they're gorgeous—and they stay gorgeous for much longer.
By Monica Ewing, Sunset senior designer
Confession All my photos are still in photo boxes or on my hard drive.
Excuse #1 Scrapbooking isn't for me. It's too time consuming. Plus, I want my photos to take center stage, not some pretty paper cutouts.
Excuse #2 I’ve never liked the idea of a collection of mismatched photo albums, which is what happens when you buy new albums over time.
Solution I made my own albums out of 3-ring binders.
10 reasons I love these
1. I can make more with matching or coordinating fabric
2. All my albums will be the same size
3. Minimal sewing is required
4. The cover is washable
5. They hold up to 200 pages (100 front and back)
6. They accommodate regular photos or digital printouts—no cutting required
7. They’re expandable and editable
8. The sleeves protect photos from fingerprints
9. They’ll last forever because I’ve used all archival-quality materials
10. I can make and fill five of these in the time it takes to fill one scrapbook
Supplies
Standard 3-inch, 3-ring binder (had on hand)
100 pack heavyweight acid-free, archival-quality sheet protectors (Staples, $13)
100 pack acid-free black card stock (McWhorter’s, $11.50)
Heavyweight photo-quality printer paper (had on hand)
Photo-safe removable double-sided tape (Staples, $4)
1 1/2 yards of heavyweight fabric (Joann’s, $9)
Black fountain pen (had on hand)
White “Gelly Roll” pen (McWhorter’s, $2)
Step 1 Make the cover
This is basically made the same way we folded paper-bag book covers in school. I started by cutting a piece of fabric that was 14 x 49 inches.
Then I folded the two short sides 5/8 inch, pressed, and sewed them. Next I folded and pressed the top and bottom sides 1 inch each. Then I folded over each side 11 inches, pinned, and sewed all the way across the top and bottom of the cover about ¼ inch from the edge.
Finally I slid the binder into the cover by turning the binder inside out.
Step 2 Fill the pages
Here are two ways to do this: You can tape your photos onto sheets of black card stock and slide them into the sheet protectors, or use a graphics program to print your digital photos onto a sheet of photo paper and slide that into the sheet protectors. I did both. I also left space to label each photo by hand (white pen on black paper, black pen on white paper).
It’s that easy. Did I mention these make great recipe books and gifts too? The only drawback: They're heavy.
In two weeks: Amazing alstroemeria
By Monica Ewing, Sunset senior designer
I know. It's still October. Why a Christmas wreath? But if you attempt this project, you'll be glad you shopped for supplies now. Avoid crowds. Get a better selection. So here's how I made this wreath...
Step 1 Buy supplies
I bought just two things: A 12" metal ring and 24 yards of 1 1/2" wired ribbon
(8 yards of each pattern). I found both items at Joann's.
Step 2 Tie bows
36 of them to be exact. If you don't know how to tie a good bow, you'll be a pro at it by the time you're done. It took me about an hour and a half.
Tip #1 Tie each bow before cutting the ribbon. That way, you can cut the tail to exactly the right length.
Tip #2 Use one, three, or more different ribbons. Two ribbons looks a bit stripey.
Step 3 Shape, trim & hang
After evenly spacing the bows, I shaped each loop into a circle and pulled them to the front. Then I trimmed any over-long tails and loose threads. I hung the wreath using a Command Adhesive hook and arranged one of the bows to cover the hook.
Voilà—the easiest project I've done so far. Admittedly, it looks candy caney. But that's the beauty of this project: You can choose any ribbons you want.
In two weeks: Easy handmade photo album.
By Jess Chamberlain, Sunset home & design writer
Who doesn’t love finding new uses for Ikea products? I’m thinking of submitting this to Ikea Hacker.
This memory box tabletop project appears in our November issue (on newsstands—or your mail box—soon).
Though it doesn’t quite feel like fall in San Francisco—I almost needed SPF yesterday—it’s a perfect time to make beautiful use of mementos from your summer travels. Or, where it does already feel like fall, start collecting those curbside leaves and celebrate, and frame, nature.
The story features the following instructions and the final photo at left, but I took some process shots while I was making it, and thought they’d be helpful:
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Turn a basic side table and a picture frame into a living-room accent worth remembering.
1. Choose a picture frame that's at least 1 3/4 inches deep and just smaller than your tabletop, preferably of the same color and material. Replace glass with abrasion-resistant plastic. 
2. Center the frame on your table. With a pencil, mark where the corners of the frame meet the tabletop. Set frame aside. 
3. Carefully adhere one sticky-back piece of Velcro (rougher half) a few inches inside each marked corner on the tabletop.
4. Adhere the opposing strips at corresponding points on the frame backing.
5. Remove backing and set frame aside. Secure mementos or seasonal elements to backing with glue dots or tape.
Special kudos here to fellow crafter (and senior designer) Monica Ewing who partnered with me to style this, and often is kind enough to let me use some of her serene desk space to spread out Jess-projecting.
6. Carefully resecure backing into frame (keeping frame right side up) and position onto tabletop so Velcro strips align. Use plastic cleaner or dish soap with cotton towels to clean frame top as needed.
Resources: Ribba extra-deep 19-inch square frame ($20) and Lack side table ($13) from Ikea (ikea.com or 800/434-4532). Velcro sticky-back strips (velcro.com) available at hardware stores. Abrasion-resistant 1/8-inch plastic for tabletop from TAP Plastics ($12 per square foot; tapplastics.com or 800/246-5055).
By Molly Watson, Sunset food writer
Most people are afraid to fry. I understand. It can be messy. The food can turn out greasy. It seems unhealthy in our low-fat, low-cal, no-trans-fat times.
And yet some foods demand a hot oil bath. (And, when done at the right temperature and with proper draining, the food absorbs very little oil.) It is difficult (if not impossible) to replicate the crunchy exterior and moist flesh of properly fried fish--the batter acts as a protective coating while the heat from the oil cooks the fish without drying it out.
And doughnuts. As we learned while working on our Halloween doughnuts story for the October issue, a freshly made doughnut can make a person swoon with delight. Our recipes usually go through three or four rounds of cooking in our test kitchen--once or twice by the recipe developer/writer and then two times by our retesters (accomplished home cooks who come in and cook our recipes as if they were readers at home following the recipe to the letter).
The Rich Refrigerator Doughnuts recipe went through six rounds of retesting to make sure our frying directions were clear enough for even the most inexperienced fryer to follow and end up with perfectly fried, not-at-all greasy, wonderfully homemade doughnuts. As one retester said: "As much as I'm afraid of frying, I really learned a lot. You have to get a feel for cooking stuff in oil and learn to use your eyes and ears to sense when the food is done. It was fun to get it right."
Funny, no one on staff objected to the many rounds of doughnut testing. And we didn't have to tell anyone to eat them while they were still warm--they flew off the kitchen counter as soon as we put them out. We even had to hide some to eat later and make sure they really are at their best when warm. Trust us, they are.
By Monica Ewing, Sunset senior designer
You’ve seen them, right? They’re everywhere. Sunburst mirrors have made a comeback in a big way. They’re usually gold or silver, and pricey.
Clockwise from top left: Treadway Gallery, BJ's Home Accents, CB2, Colee Hammock Home, Chiasso,