February 2008
26 February 2008
Crafty Butterfly Project
This collage was created by Nathalie Goldberg of capture.create using a Martha Stewart butterfly punch
and a variety of different scraps of paper: junk mail, scrapbook paper,
pages from old books, etc. Her white sheet of background cardstock was
cut to 10x8 to fit into the mat of the black frame. She used tiny foam dots as adhesive. Very nice.
24 February 2008
Pretty Prints
Beautiful prints and original watercolors from Geninne's Art Store. Originals are under $100 and prints are around $30. Very affordable for a kid's room!
Creative Kid's Utensils
These should help kids eat their vegetables! From The Spoon Sisters. Bulldozers, airplanes and dinosaurs.
Kid Art + Collections
The Nesting blog has some great photos and creative tips for corralling all those trinkets and displaying artwork in your home. A few are shown below...
21 February 2008
Vintage Library Card Catalogs
People have found a new use for these cool, old library card catalogs. They are great for housing crafts and other little things. Check craigslist and ebay to see if you can snatch one up.
Linen Pin-Pocket Boards
These pretty organization boards are from
Shim + Sons, a small design studio based in Portland, Oregon. You can get these on their Etsy shop. Everything is one-of-a-kind and made by hand.
18 February 2008
Birch Birdhouse
A nice, natural little birdhouse for your backyard friends. Available here for $40.
17 February 2008
Three Potato Four
Sister Tootie introduced me to the wonders of Three Potato Four, a cute online shop featuring many unique collectible items for the home. Kid items, accessories, artwork - you name it. Always rotating with lots of vintage items.
16 February 2008
15 February 2008
Dry Erase / Magnetic Fridge
Every kid's dream refrigerator...the finish on the Amana Jot refrigerator door panel allows you to write on it with dry erase
markers (it comes with two from Crayola). It is also magnetic
to hang more permanent reminders and works of art - $549 Found on Nesting Blog.
Prepara's Herb Savor
This cool contraption solves the dilemma of what to do with all those herbs you picked in your backyard (or bought at the store). The herb stems sit slightly submerged in the water of the water-well,
keeping them fresh and prolonging their life for up to three weeks. Available here for $34.
Famous Chefs - Calories and Costs
If you're a serious Foodie, then turn away. Turn away. Click that red X button and just move along. This website rocked my world. I love the Food Network and have many of these cookbooks. Thing is...you never really know how many calories you're ingesting or money you're spending with these recipes. I practically wept when I witnessed the nutritional information for Ina Garten's (The Barefoot Contessa - LOVE her) "grown up mac and cheese". I won't stop cooking these delicious meals, but I sure will remember moderation now. Especially with Emeril's homemade egg nog. Whoa.
Songza:Musical Search Engine
This is THE coolest thing ever. It's a musical search engine called Songza. Simply type in your favorite song and it will play it for you (and possibly even link you to the video). I punched in "Safety Dance", "Livin On A Prayer", "Total Eclipse of the Heart", and Outfield's "Your Love" and had myself a little 80s party. We can dance if you want to, we can leave your friends behind, 'cause your friends don't dance and if they don't dance well they're no friends of mine.
Update: Upon closer examination, it appears this website was founded by Aza Raskin, son of Apple founder Jef Raskin. Genius runs in the genes...
13 February 2008
Agate Bookends
These are beautiful, hefty, and the price is amazing ($36 - $54). Ebay store Joe's Rock Shop has some beautiful Agate bookends. We got a set for the little one's bookcase (since she is a massive rock hound), and we were SO impressed. Love these.
The Biblio Chair
I know a few people who would love this. Designed by Spazio Rossana Orlandi and debuted in Milan in 2006.
10 February 2008
Macessity's LowKey Stand
You like things tidy, you don't like wires and clutter everywhere...you know who you are (Type-A neat freak). Available for $59.99 from Macessity.
Found via Design Milk.
Barnacle Shelves
Plodes Studio designed these unusual barnacle shelves. I guess if you're working an "Under the Sea" theme in your kid's room, this would be perfect. You know a kid would love to stuff these full of acorns and rocks they found at school. Or maybe for a beach house? Definitely a conversation piece. Set of 3 for $220.
Sumo Fortune Cookies
Giant fortune cookies rock. We got one from my BFF for Christmas and it was huge, personalized, and actually tasted GOOD. Sumo Cookies make enormous gourmet fortune cookies with personalized messages. They even provide some stuffed with candy. Another great alternative for Valentine's Day.
09 February 2008
Something Different
Instead of chocolates, why not these great cookies from Eleni's? Beautiful, hand-iced sugar cookies for around $60 a tin.
08 February 2008
A $35 Plycycle
Architect Andrew Maynard has designed a structural plywood/alloy/recycled plastic $35 bike. "The OLC bike is a very simple, cheap, 'one size fits all' plywood
bicycle for the mass market. The materials are all cheap and easily
available and the materials are all recyclable or
recycled. OLC is quickly assembled through the use of CNC technology.
The majority of elements are glued rather than mechanically fixed,
providing the bike with incredible strength from modest materials." OLC is for 'one less car'.
I just know how many times my kid has left her (metal) bike outside in the rain, so I wonder if the plywood can take the elements. And will I get splinters? Regardless, an interesting and affordable take - I hope he gets that Ikea contract.
07 February 2008
Art2Heart
This is a wonderful idea...Nance Miller, a teacher in Mill Valley, California, has created an art-exchange project called Art2Heart, which brings art to orphans around the world and then helps them create their own masterpieces. It's sole purpose is to connect underprivileged children with someone
else in the world who cares. Draw a picture, send it to 559 Marin
Ave, Mill Valley, CA 94941, and they will get it to a child who will send
one back to you!
Milking It
Is it just me, or is there an unusually large assortment of recycled milk bottle chandeliers these days? Here are just a few...I did not realize these were sweeping the nation!
Unique Valentine's Bouquets
These unusual and beautiful bouquets from Portland shop Ink & Peat would be a nice change from pink carnations and baby's breath this Valentine's Day!
06 February 2008
Handmade Wreaths
These beautiful wreaths from artist haru on etsy are made from old sheet music, catalogs, and gift wrap. These 13" indoor wreaths can be hung from a green satin ribbon (included) and cost $80.
03 February 2008
Make Yourself Some PomPons
My sisters and I used to make tons of Pompons at my grandmother's house. I have no idea what became of them and I couldn't make a pompon now if my life depended on it. Luckily, there are kits!They are super easy to make. What you do with them afterwards is up to you...although Decor 8 had a nice photo of a pompon bedspread.
02 February 2008
Steak Au Poivre Recipe
Steak Au Poivre
Gourmet Magazine, 1955...a classic!
Serves 4
4 (3/4- to 1-inch-thick) boneless beef top-loin (strip) steaks (8 to 10 oz each)
1 tablespoon kosher salt
2 tablespoons whole black peppercorns
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/3 cup finely chopped shallots
1/2 stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter, cut into 4 pieces
1/2 cup Cognac or other brandy
3/4 cup heavy cream
Pat steaks dry and season both sides with kosher salt.
Coarsely crush peppercorns in a sealed plastic bag with a meat pounder or bottom of a heavy skillet, then press pepper evenly onto both sides of steaks.
Heat a 12-inch heavy skillet (preferably cast-iron) over moderately high heat until hot, about 3 minutes, then add oil, swirling skillet, and sauté steaks in 2 batches, turning over once, about 6 minutes per batch for medium-rare.
Transfer steaks as cooked to a heatproof platter and keep warm in oven while making sauce.
Pour off fat from skillet, then add shallots and half of butter (2 tablespoons) to skillet and cook over moderately low heat, stirring and scraping up brown bits, until shallots are well-browned all over, 3 to 5 minutes.
Add Cognac (use caution; it may ignite) and boil, stirring, until liquid is reduced to a glaze, 2 to 3 minutes. Add cream and any meat juices accumulated on platter and boil sauce, stirring occasionally, until reduced by half, 3 to 5 minutes. Add remaining 2 tablespoons butter and cook over low heat, swirling skillet, until butter is incorporated. Serve sauce with steaks.
Super Bowl Menu
At Home with Kim Vallee has a great Super Bowl Menu with recipes from chefs around the country...braised short rib meatballs with wild mushroom Sunday gravy, Florida shrimp with mango curry...yum. Definitely would fancy up the typical food on game day.
01 February 2008
Valentine's Pink
Some cute pink gifts for Valentine's Day from Robin's Egg Blue. Felt cupcakes, English Garden Gift Set, and Valentine's Bird Seed Scarf.
Smarin Design Living Stones
Created by French designer Stephanie Marin and available in both indoor and outdoor versions. Very unusual...like a modern beanbag.
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