Have a super-duper crafty friend you are shopping for this year?
This adorable scissor necklace really works (!) and will charm any member of the craft nation.
Made by Swedish artist Karin Hagen and available from online Portland-based boutique Makool Loves You, this brass necklace is $42 (shipping is free!)
This necklace would look terrific layered with a locket or a heart charm, don't you think?
Or perhaps even the mustache comb necklace.....
How adorable is this? A personalized pillow for the sofa of all your friends with expanding families, or your mom (who will certainly tear up with a flood of nostalgia), or your husband (who's not yet sure about the kiddos but who really wants a dog).
Pillows are made to order through our heroically sustainable friends at Branch, and customized to feature a cast of characters reflective of the giftee.
Info: Personalized family pillow by K Studio, from Branch. Shell of 100% organically grown hemp; filling of natural feathers (90%) and down (10%). Also available in brown. 14” square pillows start at $134.00. Ships within 10-14 days.
by Allison Arieff, Sunset editor-at-large
I'm headed to Portland early next month and am eager to check out what looks to be an amazing show at the Museum of Contemporary Craft called Manufactured: The conspicuous transformation of everyday objects. I love how Regis Mayot magically turns the cast-off containers that once held substances like laundry detergent, bleach, hair products, and motor oil into sinewy, colorful sculptures:
And as someone who certainly wears down her lipsticks in a unique fashion, I'm particularly drawn to Livia Marin's curve of over two thousand lipsticks, which was inspired by such patterns of use.
I'm also looking forward to staying in a place full of beautiful objects, Portland's Ace Hotel, where no two rooms look alike. I'll report back soon on all the other cool things I know I'll see up there!
By Sarah Gaffney, Sunset Idea House program manager
I spend more time than usual in the craft stores this time of year. I'm always inspired by the aisles of faux branches, berries, leaves, and flowers, just waiting to be skillfully arranged into fabulous holiday decor. But alas I just can't bring myself to buy fake greenery. It is convenient, but not nearly as pretty as the real thing.
The trend-spotters at Daily Candy just blogged about Nettleton Hollow, an online source for au naturel branches, leaves, flowers, pods, and more. Check out their blog for some great DIY projects. Their stuff is beautiful and inspiring. I'm ready to create a Manzanita branch Christmas tree now!
How about a grouping of chile peppers on your mantel? A unique way to bring red into your holiday decor.
No, they're not pine cones. They are Thika pods. Great for display or adorning gifts.
Okay, not really anything holiday-ish here, but aren't these Ram's Head pods cool! Add some white paint and glitter and you've got a great gift topper.
For more holiday decor ideas, check out myhomeideas.
by Miranda Jones, Sunset style editor
Last week, home writer Jess Chamberlain and I went Farmer John's in Half Moon Bay to stock pile pumpkins for upcoming fall stories. I was amazed how many varieties Farmer John and his wife, Eda grow. Have a look......
I am a little obsessed with the gray ones. They look like they came straight out of black and white photo. Aren't they amazing? If you are lucky enough to live in the Bay Area I highly suggest a visit to Farmer John's. If you are extra lucky & happen to have a plot of land you can buy some seeds of your own and see how they grow.
Slide show: See how to make a beautiful pumpkin display (with no carving)
By Miranda Jones, Sunset style editor
Just in time for Thanksgiving entertaining, Ferm Living is offering their 'falling leaves' wall stickers for $40 (they normally retail for $64). The wall stickers come in a packet of 12 and in a variety of sizes. You can attach the decals to walls, tables, mirrors, windows and vases for a simple (and non permanent) seasonal decoration. Don't they look beautiful applied to the white wall? It seems as though they just fell out of the tree!
The leaves come in black, silver or gold. It would be fun to mix gold and silver for a more dressed up feel.
Just type 'THANKS" in the notes section at check out between 11/4 and 11/21 - your discount will be processed as a refund within 48 hours of placing your order. Then sit back and wait for the compliments to roll in. Tres chic AND easy! How very Sunset.
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
With the eco-boom of the last few years the ultimate kick-start motivator for consumers’ green marketplace decisions is a simple relationship: The choices we make to preserve the environment affect our personal health.
Case and point: Because we spend one-third of our day head nestled in a pillow, it’s in our best interest to choose the most natural bed products possible—ones whose materials and manufacturing processes are as light on the planet as they are on our skin.
Personally, I've never been as affected by research for an article as I was when reporting for our story about "the green bed" which appears in our December issue (on newsstands later this month).
Yes, bedding products can be pricey, but fortunately the marketplace has caught up with consumer interest in a greener lifestyle, so choosing bed linens, mattresses, pillows, and even bed frames made of organic, sustainable, and environmentally-friendly materials (good for you and good for the environment) doesn't have to cost more than your standard, conventional options.
Now, you may gawk at my suggestion of a $1300 mattress; but take a look at prices at major retailers (some super cheap; some upwards of $5000), consider the toxicity of things like flame retardants—bad for you and bad for the environment—which come standard in many conventional mattresses, and you're sure to be an eco-bedding convert.
You may say, "But I sleep great" or "My health is fine" or "Why would I change what works?" The thing is, if your bed has always been made up of conventional materials, you have no idea that you could be sleeping better than you do.
Your homework: Find an eco-home store near you, talk to their knowledgeable sales people, and take a little nap. Then, rave to me about it by clicking on the comments link below.
(Linens pictured in shot above: Raksha Bella (blue print pillow), Indika Organics (printed sheet), Loop (green sheet), Plover Organic (blue quilt and lilac pillow), Under the Canopy (blanket))
A special shout-out:
Amenity's gorgeous products (organic cotton linens and reclaimed douglass fir bedframe pictured) didn't fit into our printed article, but we love them!
And they just so happen to be offering 30% off their entire home collection for the month of November. Enter "season" at checkout.
And a list of some of our favorite shops. Email me to tell me about a favorite near you.
San Francisco area
Green Fusion Design Center
Earthsake
Reclaim
Branch (online only)
Eco Boutique
Spring
Seattle area
Greener Lifestyles
One Earth One Design
Los Angeles area
Green and Greener
Kelly Green
by Allison Arieff, Sunset, editor-at-large
I received such a beautiful little gem of a publication in the mail the other day that I wanted to share it with all of you--and send you over to their wonderful site so you can check it for yourselves. It's called Growers and Nomads and is devoted to "unfolding the meaning of home."
Though the focus of the website is on home improvement, Growers and Nomads isn't going to feel like the DIY websites you're probably more used to. There's an wonderful emotive quality to Growers and Nomads especially in print. (The short story by Ann Hood had me crying in my coffee.) But it provides tons of practical information as well, on everything from window cleaning to how the economy is effecting home improvement plans to a country cabin renovation. Users can join the Growers and Nomads community to subscribe to the print edition, to share information and get answers from experts on home-related questions; they can even start blogs of their own within the site. This may not be the only place to get this sort of information but it undoubtedly one of the most poetic!
By Jennie Nunn, Sunset associate editor
I'm always on the lookout for a good, sturdy tote, which is exactly why I love West Elm's new reusable canvas bag. For $10, the "Give The Way You Live" tote is a steal. And, it's all for a good cause. ($5 of each sale goes to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital).
Now there's really no excuse not to go shopping. Available in stores only nationwide, westelm.com.
