Shameless Plugs: My House on design*sponge

Hi everyone, just quickly popping in from my poolside perch in Palm Springs to link over to a "Sneak Peek" of our home that's up on the fabulous design*sponge. A huge thanks to Grace and Anne for deeming our place *sponge-worthy!

(If you want to see more, there's a complete flickr set with lots more pix and info about paint colors and what came from where, as well as my series of "House in Progress" posts on this blog.)

Hope you're having a fantastic holiday week! Now, back to sunning ...

Over and Out

Photo by johnhmai

We're loading up the car and heading off to spend time with family in Palm Springs and L.A. during the remaining days of 2008, so I wanted to bid you all adieu for now. I hope that everyone has a peaceful and restful holiday filled with good friends, loved ones, yummy food, and maybe a shiny new bauble or two.

And thank you so much for all of your comments, emails, tips, links, and support this past year. Being a part of this worldwide blogging community has truly been one of the highlights of the last twelve months for me.

Happy Holidays to you all! I'll see you back here in the New Year.

House Voyeur: Bright and Bold in Berkeley

So many of the emails I get from readers whose homes wind up being featured here as part of my "House Voyeur" series start the same way: "I don't know if my place is 'blog-worthy' ... " followed by a few sample snapshots that sometimes literally take my breath away.

I think it's safe to say that many of you have fantastic homes – really! And also that we all deserve to take more pride in our accomplishments on the home front. It's pointless to hold our houses and apartments up against the places we see in glossy magazines or on interior designers' sites (although I would argue that many of your digs are just as good-looking and creative). We need to remind ourselves that those homes are typically put together with truckloads of cash and an army of highly paid professionals – architects, builders, and designers all work their magic, and then stylists run around fluffing pillows and arranging flowers before an expert photographer starts snapping away.

Our homes, on the other hand, exist in the real world – where cash is usually tight, where we make occasional missteps with paint colors, where children create messes, where furniture hangs around long after its prime, and where happy clutter often sneaks in when we're not looking. In short, our homes exist in a realm where actual living takes place. And that, dear readers, is beautiful.

Anyway, the first email I got from today's "House Voyeur" subject, Jackie Kersh, started like so many others – with an expression of doubt about whether her home would pass muster. Personally, I think that Jackie's abode is totally blog-worthy, and quite possibly even magazine-worthy. I'm delighted by her bold use of color and sense of playfulness, by her wonderful art collection, by the surprising little touches throughout, by her amazing curbside finds, and most of all by the sense that a real, live family lives here, and that they're probably having a lot of fun doing so.

Alright, my soapbox speech is over. Let's let Jackie take us on a virtual tour of the sweet North Berkeley bungalow she shares with her husband, Gabriel, and young sons, Graham and baby Simon:

"We moved to Berkeley two years ago from a small flat in San Francisco. Our house was built in 1926 and is best described as 'Craftsman Lite' – it has some Craftsman details, mainly on the windows, but overall it’s a blank slate.

We had very little furniture and a fairly modest budget. I didn't have a master plan for the space, but was inspired by the trees that you can see from the windows in every room, by the natural light that pours into the house, and by the colors of our growing art collection. Our style is part vintage, part midcentury, part bargain basement – we love to collect affordable art and mix it up with new and vintage furniture, fresh flowers and plants, and toddler-proof knickknacks. Our goal was a family friendly yet sophisticated home.

The paint we used in our entryway is Benjamin Moore's Pale Avocado. The console table is from Pottery Barn; the framed artwork on top of it is by C. Tan and the small work above the plant is by Robert Gutierrez. The doormat is from Anthropologie, and we found the white Eames chair on the street.

These vintage wooden shoe lasts are from the flea market, and the little wood table was another street find. The wall color is Oakwood Manor by Benjamin Moore.

My favorite thing about this house is the light. It’s amazing. The green bird pillow on the sofa is from Joom.

With two small children, we’re always looking for furniture that’s comfortable, cleanable, and durable. The living room was the most intimidating space to furnish because it’s so big – practically the size of our entire flat in North Beach! Our vintage brown Knoll sofa looked dinky in the space, so we splurged on a dark gray Room & Board couch that’s long enough for Gabriel (who’s over six feet tall) to take a nap on and that fits three people comfortably. Later, we added the red chair, also from Room & Board, to round out the seating area.

Gabriel made the coffee table for my birthday. It perfectly marries form and function, and even has slots for the kids' puzzles and books. The white shag rug is from Pottery Barn. It’s always a bit of a gamble to have white in a house with small kids, but it seems to be holding up somehow. The throw pillows are from IKEA, Anthropologie, and Shelter, the lamp is from West Elm, and most of the accessories are from flea markets.

The gorgeous artwork above the chair is by my friend Amanda Hughen, and it's the most prized piece in my collection. When it comes to decorating, I'm definitely influenced by my kids, so I try to integrate playful elements like vintage toy cars, wind-up toys, and wooden blocks around the house to compliment the décor. The red car was Gabriel's when he was a boy, and the vintage books are from the flea market.

Our biggest challenge is keeping things clean, organized, and 'grown-up' while accommodating the needs of two small children (and a husband who isn’t always fond of putting his toys – I mean shoes – away). We found the metal chair at a flea market.

One of our son Graham's drawings as well as a snapshot of him flank work by a graduate student at the San Francisco Art Institute.

We began collecting art five or six years ago, starting with these fruit paintings that Gabriel found at the Alameda flea market. I worked in the art world for about ten years, but never really had the budget to buy anything from galleries. Over the years, we’ve found a slew of smaller-scale art auctions and student art sales that feature amazing work by emerging artists at prices that are in line with our budget. Our favorites: the San Francisco Art Institute Winter Sale, the San Francisco Arts Commission Gallery's annual fundraiser, The Lab's annual art auction, Southern Exposure's Monster Drawing Rally, and Visual Aid's Big Deal. Along the way, I discovered Etsy, which has been an economical and fun (though highly addicting) way to round out our collection.

The dining room table is from Copenhagen and the chairs from the Alameda flea market. We got the George Nelson Saucer Lamp from Velocity Art and Design. The walls are Benjamin Moore's Amherst Gray.

Gabriel is a building contractor (his company is called One Man Working), so everything is DIY around here. One of the first projects he tackled was the kitchen. It's kind of an odd room, with all the cabinets and appliances along one wall and a lot of random floor space. To freshen it up without doing a major remodel, he replaced the super-Seventies Formica countertop with dark gray concrete, and we bought new stainless steel appliances and added new pulls and knobs from Restoration Hardware to the circa-1960 cabinets.

Our home, which is nearly 1,600 square feet, is the biggest I've ever lived in as an adult, and I was excited by the opportunity to have so much space in which to experiment with color. In the kitchen, we decided on Benjamin Moore's Rhine River, which compliments the cabinets and countertop nicely, and added a red accent wall (Benjamin Moore's Habanero Pepper) to balance out the room. The clock is from IKEA, the light fixture from Restoration Hardware, and the black-and-white photograph ('Cecco') by John Pareno.

Instead of a traditional kitchen table, we built a 'sushi-style' counter to make the kitchen feel more contemporary and to maximize the floor space. We paired it with these colorful chairs from IKEA that are easy for kids to climb into and even easier to wipe up after messy baking activities. The Svan high chair was purchased from Giggle, the vintage lamp is from the Alameda flea market, and the paintings are by Owen Takabayashi.

Graham's room was the most fun to decorate. I love the combination of brown, blue, and orange – they work so well together. The wall color is Benjamin Moore's Robin's Nest. I wanted his room to be playful and comfortable, but also to have a sense of style that ties in with the rest of the house. Gabriel built the twin bed, which I topped with polka-dot bedding from DwellStudio. The bird decals are from Elly Nelly, the orange dresser from a secondhand store, the brown window shades from JC Penney, the 'G' from the flea market, and the small green chair was found on the street.

The green Eames chair was another curbside freebie. The photograph above the chair is by Nina Zurier, the fox pillow on it is from Urban Outfitters, the orange clock from Berkeley's Ohmega Salvage, and the small suitcases on the bookshelf from the Land of Nod.

Our bedding is from Anthropologie and the window shade is from JC Penney. We found the Tansu chest at a shop in San Francisco's Japantown and the mirror on it at Ohmega Salvage. The print to the left of the dresser is "Many Mountains" by Ky Anderson, purchased via 20x200, and the vintage portrait to the right of the window is from the flea market.

The ‘map room’ is a combination office, den, and family room. The color scheme was inspired by the 1964 map wallpaper (as seen at top), which was here when we bought the house. We painted the walls Benjamin Moore’s Golden Lab to tie in with the faded colors of the map. The rug is from Urban Outfitters, the couch (the cover zips off for easy washing – a big plus when you have kids) and fabric for the pillows from IKEA, the window shades from JC Penney, the lamp from Target, the desk and chair from the flea market, and the orange desk organizer from the Container Store.

The artwork in the room is black and white , since we figured the map was color enough, and includes photos of our kids, Gabriel’s prized W. Eugene Smith photograph (to the right of the couch), a vintage snapshot from the flea market, and a little piece called 'Two Skiers' by Brenda Rose (to the left of the door).

Gabriel remodeled our home's only bathroom in record time, wanting to both update the space and make it more family friendly. He nearly doubled the size of the previously tiny, wood-paneled bathroom and added beautiful traditional touches. He chose white subway tiles (from Daltile in San Francisco) for the walls and paired them with gray/white carrera marble laid in a herringbone pattern for the floors.

Choosing the paint color for the bathroom was the hardest. I wanted a pumpkin color, but every shade we tried looked like bad foundation or pantyhose. We also tried green, which looked equally horrible. Finally, I decided to go bold and try a chocolate brown (Saddle Soap by Benjamin Moore). It really pops when paired with the blue bath mat and towels. The shelf, towel rack, and TP holder are from Pottery Barn, and the metal basket is from the flea market. The painting is by Brandi Strickland.

We turned a dank basement into a playroom and arts-and-crafts studio for the kids. The paint is Pear Green by Benjamin Moore. The blue circle rugs, the drawers, the rail above the desk, and the track lighting are all from IKEA. Gabriel made the desktop, and we found the chairs and the vintage blue tins at the flea market. The red bird print is by Wayne Pate, and the two small prints to the right of the wall rack are from Yellow Canoe.

This pair of bird prints is by Maria Janosko via Etsy.

Gabriel built this table, which we paired with green plastic chairs from IKEA and a canary yellow umbrella from Patio Umbrellas. My advice: Don’t be afraid of color!"

(And yes, folks, I'm pretty sure this photo was taken just last week. Apologies if you're freezing your butt off right now; that's just the way we roll here in Cali!)

Thanks so much for sharing your truly wonderful home with us, Jackie!

P.S. Want to see more? Click here for a look inside other readers' homes.

Deal of the Day: DwellStudio Clover Blossom Crib Set

Have you heard about undrgrnd?

Every day, the San Francisco-based site features deep, deep discounts on one or more items -- mostly bedding and wallpaper -- from hip companies such as DwellStudio, Inhabit, Area, Unison, and Graham & Brown. The discounted items are floor samples, overstocks, and like-new returns. The deals last one day only, and only while supplies last.

Today's score is DwellStudio's really lovely Clover Blossom Crib Set. Normally retailing for $350, it's $140. If there's a baby girl in your future, get on this.

For heads up on future deals, subscribe to undrgrnd's newsfeed.

The Artful Home: State Motto Prints by Emily Wick

I spotted these on the lovely Hannah's Printer & Piemaker blog recently, and couldn't resist sharing them here, too.

Oakland artist, archaeologist, and documentary filmmaker Emily Wick has created a set of fifty state prints, each bearing its bailiwick's official motto -- some undeniably corny, others enigmatic, and still others unexpectedly poignant.

Normally, I'd be tempted to snap up the print bearing the exuberant exclamation of my home state, but I must confess that in the wake of last month's election, I'm running a little short on California pride at the moment.

Hopefully, you're feeling a bit better about your favorite state. If so, one of these would make an awfully sweet proclamation of regional pride, or a great gift for loved ones back home.

Each linoleum block-mounted state motto print is $35, while a 20-by-30-inch fine art digital poster bearing the mottos of every member of the union (top) is $150.

See the entire collection right here -- and check out more of Wick's work here.

Etsy Find of the Day: Elisabeth Bentz Linens

I just can't get enough natural linen lately, so I'm swooning over these beautiful hand-drawn and -printed textiles from Portland, Oregon's Elisabeth Bentz. Above: Leaf Apron, $36

Colander Market Bag, $36

Leaf Pillow, $68

Colander Tea Towel, $11

Leaf Napkin, $18 for two

Colander Napkin, $18 for two

See all of Bentz's Etsy offerings right here.

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Cool Stuff: Chris Duncan Calendar at Little Otsu

Can you believe that I still don't have a usable 2009 calendar? There are a million great calendars out there, of course. (Etsy, for instance, has dozens of them.) But we need a calendar we can really use -- for recording dentist appointments, carpool duty, the kids' school holidays, work due dates ... In other words, the kind of calendar we can stick on the fridge and start marking up with our busy, complicated, ever-changing family schedule. (I'm old-school, too, and simply refuse to keep our calendar online or transfer it to a handheld.)

Sadly, I haven't had any luck finding a calendar like that -- well, at least one that doesn't feature month after month of kittens "hanging in there" or New England's covered bridges. But my search did lead me to this awesome two-year calendar by Oakland artist Chris Duncan (see more of his work here).

While it's not a stick-on-the-fridge-and-check-every-morning-to-see-where-the-heck-we're-all-supposed-to-be-today type calendar, it is a gorgeous, year-at-a-glance style planner and two pieces of art rolled into one. It's double-sided, too, so when you sing "Auld Lang Syne" to 2009, simply flip it over for 2010.

Two Years of the Youniverse measures roughly 11 by 15 inches and is just $9 from San Francisco-based print shop Little Otsu. I may just have to snap one up.

Meanwhile, I'm still hunting for that practical refrigerator calendar with an arty edge. Any ideas? Anyone, anyone?

House Voyeur: Viva Glam in Venice Beach

Many of you have seen interior designer Vanessa De Vargas's Venice Beach, California home before: It's been featured in Sunset magazine and made appearances on several blogs (including this one). But Vanessa recently made over her 1920s-era bungalow from top to bottom. "When you're a designer, you can't stop," she laughs.

Here, Vanessa gives us a virtual tour of her recently refreshed home:

"The architecture here is relatively plain, and when I moved in ten years ago the house was sort of a blank canvas, but with a bit of that vintage character. Luckily, my landlady lets me do whatever I want! My style is a mix of vintage and modern. I'm really drawn to Chinoiserie -- I just can't let go of it! It's more of a glam-y look, but it's pretty eclectic, too. I have bamboo, wood, ceramic, painted, and gold and silver finishes. Somehow, it all works together.

For the last few years, I was in my 'dark period' (the photo above is of my living room before the redesign). I had dramatic chocolate and charcoal walls and intense wallpapers. This time, I just wanted something new and fresh. I was going for a 'beachy Chinoiserie' feel, and wanted to make my space more cozy and bring in more color.

I really challenged myself to play with color, so you see more greens, cool blues, turquoise, and yellow in my home now. Painting the walls a warm off-white (Benjamin Moore's Swiss Coffee) allowed me use more vivid color in the furnishings and accent pieces. Before, the darkness of the walls sort of forced me to choose lighter furniture. I moved almost everything in the house to my retail business, and started from scratch. I lacquered these vintage cabinets in Benjamin Moore's Traffic Light Green. I've noticed that a lot of the colors in my furnishings are also in my clothes. For awhile there, every piece of clothing I bought was emerald green!

When you live in a small space -- my home is only 550 square feet -- you have to think about the scale of the things you have, and what furniture will compliment the room and not overwhelm it. It really helps to measure your space -- the floors, walls, windows, doorways -- and take those measurements with you when you go shopping so you don't fall in love with something before realizing that it won't work.

I tend to choose smaller-scale pieces: occasional chairs instead of bigger armchairs in the living room, for instance, and the petite lamps above, which aren't out of scale with relatively small cabinets they're on. By the way, these lamps are from JCPenney. You'd be amazed at the great stuff they have there. But don't tell anyone -- it's my secret source." (Sorry, Vanessa. I guess the cat's out of the bag now!)

"The living room looks luxurious, but the materials I used are actually really durable: The couch is upholstered in microsuede, the chairs in a zebra-print vinyl, and the rug (from Pottery Barn) is seagrass. The drapes are from IKEA; I added Greek key trim to give them a more finished look. The black pillow is vintage, and the fabric on the blue pillow is from Lewis & Sharon. I didn't want to wallpaper the whole room, so I used black and white wallpaper from Ferm Living as an accent on either side of the window.

Because it's a smaller space, I was looking for see-through, breathable furniture. I didn't want anything boxy or bulky. The Lucite side tables are by Jordan Cappella, and the glass nesting tables are really versatile. They originally had a gold-toned finish, and I just spray-painted it silver.

This is the dining area in my kitchen. I painted the floor (which had been black) white and used stools around my vintage Burke table instead of chairs. They're great -- they slip under the table when they're not in use and help maintain an open, airy look in the room.

As you can tell, most of my furniture is vintage. Professional reupholstering and refinishing can be pricey. But if you see something at the flea market or a garage sale that has great lines and that you can make over yourself -- doing basic sanding, staining, or painting, or perhaps recovering seat cushions -- you'll save a lot and end up with some great pieces.

I got the throw blanket on my bed at Old Navy ages ago. The seagrass rug is from Pier 1, the zebra-print rug from Urban Outfitters, and the bedding and curtains from IKEA. I painted the walls China Blue from Benjamin Moore.

To get a more custom look, I covered a basic headboard in Alexander Henry fabric. The throw pillows are made with fabric from Lulu DK. The lamps are vintage; to find similar ones, search 'Blanc de Chine' on eBay.

This was a basic IKEA cabinet that I painted black and added simple molding and crystal knobs to create a paneled look.

My advice: When you have a decorating project of your own, do your research. If you don't know what your style is, pull images that appeal to you from blogs and magazines -- and be sure to check out international design magazines, too. Take photos of things that catch your eye when you're out. Then create a binder or file of your collected images. You'll discover when you look through it that you're drawn to certain things over and over, and your style will become clear. Most importantly, fill your home with things that you love."

Thanks so much for sharing your incredible house with us, Vanessa! (Click here to see more of her design work.) I, for one, am totally inspired by the way Vanessa has created such a luxe space with relatively bargain materials. Who says you can't live large on a budget?

Etsy Finds of the Day: Tag It

Now that you've got the holiday cards sent, the ornaments hung, the garlands strung, and the gifts wrapped, it's time to tag them and slip them under the tree. Above: Santa Obama Gift Tags, $3.75 for twelve from time2cre8

Clockwise from top left: Letterpress Hang Tags, $3.50 for three from amyb13; Mittens Tags, $3 for three from Christina Williams Designs; Spirograph Gift Tag, $5 for six from Blackbird Letterpress; Letterpress Gift Tags, $8 for eight from Heather Smith Jones

Clockwise from top left: Jigsaw/Sky Gift Tags, $4 for four from RiffeRaff; Porcelain Gift Tag Stars, $3.75 for three from Summers Studio Etc.; Green and Brown Letterpress Gift Tags, $10 for nine from Sycamore Street Press

Clockwise from top left: Letterpress Hangtags, $12 for twelve from Lucky Bee Press; Snowflake Christmas Gift Tags, $6 for five from Little Glowing Lights; Christmas Berry Letterpress Gift Tags, $8 for six from Old Tom Foolery; Tag It and Box It Up Tags, $3 for five from B.B. Vintage

Clockwise from top left: Do Not Open Until December 25 Tags, $3 for five from The Hollister 25; Letterpress Gift Tags, $8 for twelve from With Love Designs; Holiday Wooden Gift Tags, $14 for six from Paloma's Nest; Naughty or Nice Gift Tags, $9 for six from Design des Troy

Clockwise from top left: Deer Holiday Gift Tag, $10 for six from Small Square Design; Bottle Brush Christmas Tree Tags, $3 for two from Petite Pear Paperie; Wallpaper Hex Gift Tags, $5 for five from Ladies & Gentlemen; Holiday Gift Tag Assortment, $12 for five from Astulabee

The clock's a-tickin', though -- so if you want any of these in time for Christmas, I'd order them pronto.

Over and Out

Photo by Zayneegirl

Have a delicious weekend!

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Etsy Finds of the Day: Wrap It Up

The holiday juggernaut continues, today with a selection of pretty handmade wrapping papers and other gift containers from those busy Etsy elves. (Note: I tried to choose several papers and vessels that weren't specifically holiday-themed, so that they'd be just as useful the rest of the year.) Above: XO Limited Edition Gift Wrap, $8 for two sheets from RiffeRaff

Push/Pull Gift Wrap Set, $4 from Sarah Marie

Pavilion Recycled Paper Gift Wrap, $16 for four sheets from Smock Letterpress

Original Gift Wrap, $9 for two sheets from Wolfie and the Sneak

Tori Gift Wrap Set, $4.50 from Erin Ruth

Grape Vendome Gift Wrap, $8 for two sheets from The Market by Feterie

Jigsaw Bead Gift Wrap $8 for two sheets from RiffeRaff

You're Nuts Paper, $6 for three sheets from Fact & Fancy

Merry Christmas Gift Bag, $6 from Paloma's Nest

Gift Bag Sets, $10 for four from Things by Bubbo-Tubbo

Tiny Gocco Gift Bags, $3.75 for six from Mothball Charlie

Origami Gift Boxes, $9 for three from Paper Red Shoes

Bianco e Rosso Twine, $16 per spool from Carta, Inc.

Mark Your Calendar: Art and Handmade Holiday Events

Since a majority of the respondents to my poll on local events posts seem to enjoy -- or at least not mind -- reading about Bay Area happenings, here's another roundup of weekend shopping and art events:

French-flavored Old Oakland boutique Mignonne (that's the shop's beautiful window display at top) is holding its third annual Holiday Party and Sale this evening -- Thursday, December 11 -- from 5 to 9 p.m. There will be wine, music, and raffle prizes. Plus, everything in the store except original art will be 30 percent off during the shindig, and gift-wrapping is free. Local fine-art photographer Valerie J. Cochran (above) and ceramist Whitney Smith will be in attendance to show off their work. Mignonne is located at 1000 Jefferson St.

Whitney is one busy party girl tonight, because she's also making an appearance at the Fourth & Clay Holiday Party alongside Diana Fayt, Rae Dunn, Christa Assad, and Josie Jurczenia. The celebration and sale runs from 6 to 11 p.m. at 2390 "C" Fourth St. in Berkeley. (If you can't make it, the clay babes will be holding another Studio Sale -- details here -- this Saturday and Sunday.)

Friday evening, December 12, from 5 to 9 p.m., West Berkeley's Relish at Home hosts a Holiday Trunk Show for jewelry designer Molly M. I'm not normally big on jewelry, but Molly's laser-cut designs are gorgeous, aren't they? Maybe she'll introduce a line of housewares at some point ... What's more, everything in the shop is 10 percent off during the event. Relish at Home is located at 2703 Seventh St. #112.

On Saturday, December 13, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Feria Urbana takes place at Oakland's Pizzaiolo restaurant (5008 Telegraph Ave. in the Temescal District). On offer will be clothing, jewelry, ceramics, home accessories, artwork, fashion accessories, baby items, and more from dozens of local designers. (While you're there, grab a slice of Pizzaiolo's fresh buttered toast with Blue Chair jam and a steaming mug of Blue Bottle Coffee. Yum!)

On Saturday and Sunday, December 13 and 14, from noon to 4 p.m., Emeryville potter Sara Paloma is holding a Holiday Studio Sale in her space at 4333 Holden St. #54. She'll have fresh stock of her iconic stoneware bottles as well as her fabulous new nesting bowls (above). And don't miss Paloma's "seconds" shelf for budget-friendly deals on slightly less-than-perfect pottery.

Also Saturday and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., West Oakland's 56,000-square-foot Crucible holds its annual Holiday Gifty Art Sale & Open House. The sale features housewares, pottery, sculpture, art glass, clothing, jewelry, and other giftable items from more than 70 local artisans. There will be fire performers, stiltwalkers, circus clowns, a visit from Santa, refreshments and assorted holiday treats, as well as glass blowing, metal casting, and blacksmithing demonstrations, too. The Crucible is located at 1260 Seventh St.

Saturday evening, from 5 to 10 p.m., swing by Rowan Morrison Gallery for the RoMoLoCo Show. There will be affordable original works and prints from more than 30 local artists, plus 10 to 40 percent off Rowan Morrison's stock of art books and papergoods. If you can't make the RoMoLoCo opening party, available works will be on display through December 24. (Pssst -- Sunday, December 14 will also see the release of a new, limited-edition stencil print from Adam5100, available exclusively at Rowan Morrison.) The shop and gallery is located at 330 40th St. in Oakland.

Also Saturday night, from 6 to 9 p.m.: The opening reception for FiveTen Studio's Bailout, a "recession-proof" exhibit featuring work from 18 established and emerging local artists, all priced under $400. Bailout will be up in the gallery through December 30. FiveTen Studio is located at 831 Broadway in Old Oakland.

Finally, on Sunday night, December 14, Uptown Oakland's favorite punk rock dive bar, the Stork Club, hosts the Holi-DIY bash starting at 8 p.m. Indie vendors will be on hand, and live music and a burlesque show round out the offerings. The Stork Club is located at 2330 Telegraph Ave.

Enjoy!

(P.S. If you're on the other side of the Bay, there are a bunch of fun weekend events happening in San Francisco as well, including Trish Grantham at Rare Device, Christine Schmidt at Candystore, and the Mission District Holiday Block Party. Head on over to sfgirlbybay to get the deets on those from Ms. Victoria.)

Wanderlust: Palm Springs Recommendations?

Because I am a not-so-closeted Scrooge and want to make Christmas as un-Christmasy as possible (just, you know, so my kids have plenty of fodder for their future psychotherapy sessions), we decided to plan a getaway to balmy Palm Springs over the holiday break. We're staying at the house above, which was once owned by Fifties fitness guru Jack LaLanne (really!).

We've never been to Palm Springs before, and I want to be sure not to miss any of the fabulousity. For those of you who know the area, any advice on what to do there -- where to shop, eat, drink, see the scenery? We'll definitely be making a pit-stop for cocktails and dinner at the Parker Hotel, but other than that our calendar is wide open.

If you have any Palm Springs recommendations to share, please let me know!

Etsy Finds of the Day: Garlands Galore

Whether you're in the market for holiday decorations or simply looking for pretty, wintry adornments for your home, these handmade garlands will look magical twined around the tree, draped over the mantle, or strung across a window or wall. Above: Dogwood Flower Garland, $32 from Middleburg Folk Art Studio

Starry White Sparkle Garland, $32 from Marilyn Healy

Snowflake Garland, $17 from The Looks

Let it Snow Garland, $20 from Sugar Britches Company

Extra Long Snowflake Garland made from vintage book pages, $8.50 from Geek Details

Silver Oak Garland, $16 from Royal Buffet

Antique Mercury Glass Christmas Garland, $70 from Ruby Fig Atelier

Winter Garland, $18 from Cat and Fiddle

Snow Flurries Banner, $22.50 from Cottage in the Sun

Blue Snowflake Garland, $7 from Little Glowing Lights

Icy Winter Garland, $15 from Miesmama

Snowflake Garland, $13 from Lemon Tree Studio

The Artful Home: Mark Warren Jacques at Life + Limb

Portland's wonderful Life + Limb has a new show featuring work from Oregon artist Mark Warren Jacques. If you can't make it to see these stunning pieces in person (they'll be up through the end of the month), check 'em out in the Life + Limb webstore, where they're available for purchase. 

I am a Leaf in the Wind acrylic and ink on panel, $150

Perfect Little World acrylic and ink on paper, $600

Plants Are Beautiful People screenprint edition of five, $75 unframed, $100 framed (This one is going on my holiday wish list right now.)

Mister Lonely Tree acrylic and ink on paper, $300 framed

See more of Jacques's artwork right here.

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House Voyeur: Cozy and Classic in Cambridge

More Ways to Waste Time reader Kate Flaim (who writes an awesome food blog called Kate F____, Girl Reporter) recently wrote in to share her lovely 1,200-square-foot Edwardian apartment in Cambridge, Massachusetts. I instantly fell for the classic architecture and comfortable ambiance of the place, not to mention Kate's skill at putting together interesting assemblages of art and found objects.

And though I'm a California girl at heart, seeing the photos of Kate's home looking so cozy and welcoming -- as well as the blustery New England weather glimpsed through the windows -- makes me miss the holiday season back East.

Here, Kate takes us on a virtual tour of the charming home she shares with her husband, Ben:

"Our building was built in 1901 and was always meant to be apartments, which we liked after seeing lots of strangely subdivided former single-family homes. It’s pretty classic: Lots of detailed moldings, an ornate fireplace mantle with lovely tile and a patterned cast-iron liner, and formal entertaining spaces. There’s a clear distinction between the front of the house and the servants’ quarters in back -- the butler’s pantry, pantry, kitchen and my tiny office (once the maid’s room) have simpler flooring and very basic trimwork compared to the rest of the apartment.

My style is a cleaned-up flea market/traditional mash-up. I was really inspired by the elaborate moldings and formal architecture of our living room, which drove me to reach for a comfortable but traditional style that wouldn’t clash with all that detail! In a place with simpler lines, I would probably have veered in a slightly more modern direction, but I do love to be surrounded by interesting things.

I've learned to accept that it’s OK to love stuff, and that there’s a middle ground between straight-up midcentury modern and 'Anthropologie chic.' The spools of silk thread are from the Paris flea market, the clothespins are from the Brimfield Antique Show and a shop in London, and the pewter cup is a local flea market find.

I think it's important to take your time and have fun moving things around. It took three tries to get the furniture placement just right in the living room.

Our furniture is mostly antique or vintage. The midcentury chairs in front of the window, the round walnut occasional table, and the red firewood bin, for instance, are from the Time-Life Building in New York, where I used to work. Before the building was renovated a few years ago, I had a chance to scavenge from the emptied floors -- totally legal, thank you very much! The paint color we used in the living room is Benjamin Moore's Silver Fox.

Last winter I was in Paris for work, and Ben joined me for the weekend. We made our first real art purchase there: a small 19th-century painting (above right) that we both fell in love with. I can stare at it for hours. The porcelain mushrooms are from Velocity Art and Design.

I found these rocks in Maine this past summer. The coral is from a trip we took to Puerto Rico.

I love making new tableaux on the mantle, usually when the seasons are changing and I want new colors in the space. Most of the accessories are from flea markets or family. I had some great Thrift Karma on a trip to my home state of Oregon last month -- I scored an awesome little lamp for $5 and a bunch of cool tiny brass candlesticks, which I’ll use on the mantle for Christmas, for 50 cents each.

We love all the vintage details in our home: stuff like the old intercom and call-button from the dining room -- sadly, neither works anymore! The downside to all that vintage character is that a lot of things are just harder to do. Hanging the chandelier (which is from Restoration Hardware) took several visits from the electrician because the old gas-pipe in the ceiling came down too low for the cap to fit over it, so he had to order a new one. And we couldn’t get dimmers because the box in the wall was too shallow. We painted the dining room Puritan Gray, also from Benjamin Moore.

The dining table is from Pottery Barn, and the bookshelves are from IKEA. We added height-extensions so they go almost all the way up to the crown molding and have a more built-in look. We’re midway through a refinishing project on the chairs, which we bought at Brimfield; they were our best bargain so far. And a couple months ago we bought a piano for my husband, who's a great musician. It was a splurge, but I am rewarded every night when he plays while I cook dinner.

I’m totally obsessed with our butler’s pantry/pantry storage combo; I am so spoiled and never want to go back to storing everything in regular kitchen cupboards. The original drawings are by Kate Bingaman-Burt, and the espresso cups are Wedgwood Black Basalt.

We did the kitchen almost entirely ourselves: I really love to cook, so we decided to get great appliances and save on IKEA cabinets, sink, and butcher-block counters. (I say, skip granite counters! They’re hard and noisy and will chip your dishes.) My white enamel Viking stove makes me happy every time I use it, plus it echoes the original white enamel stove that was in the kitchen but that we weren’t able to keep. The dishwasher is from Bosch, and the cabinet-depth, French door fridge is from Jenn-Air.

We had the electrician and plumber rough in the new lines, then designed and assembled the cabinets and built the fridge surround with the help of my talented brother. God bless IKEA, but putting together their kitchens is a pretty advanced task. Still, the cabinets, counters, and sink were an amazing deal compared to everywhere else we looked, and I think they look great. The cabinet knobs are from Restoration Hardware.

Hanging the shelf in the kitchen took a whole weekend, because we were trying so hard not to pull down the horsehair plaster walls. Speaking of horsehair plaster, let’s just say I’m really, really grateful for the picture rails in many of the rooms, and there isn’t much on the walls in the rooms without it! The paint is Benjamin Moore's Beacon Hill Damask, the 'Manshroom' print is by Amy Ross, and the Tea Revives You print is from the Keep Calm Gallery.

We’re framing loads of family photos and gradually want the hall to be salon-style with several layers of pictures. We’re using wood frames from Target’s Home Collection. The paint color is Benjamin Moore's Revere Pewter.

This is my home office. We created a magnetic chalkboard with 5 or 6 coats of Rust-Oleum magnetic paint primer, one layer of regular primer, and one layer of chalkboard paint. The Hello, Stranger print is by Dan-ah Kim, Lola is by Andrea Marshall, and the Oregon print is by Ryan Jacob Smith.

The paint in our bedroom (and also the office) is Woodlawn Blue from Benjamin Moore. The custom wood blinds are from Smith + Noble.

My advice: Instead of stocking up on accessories at generic home stores, buy something that you really love whenever you’re somewhere new. That way, your home will always remind you of the experiences you’ve had and the people you love."

Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful home with us, Kate! Now, what time should we plan to arrive on Christmas Eve?

P.S. Want to see more? Click here for a peek inside other readers' homes.

How To: Make a Holiday Wreath from Vintage Books

Blog reader Mary-Ellen Kelly (she of last week's snowflakes-and-pinecones window hanging) was kind enough to share another super-simple holiday craft project with us:

You’ll need:
• Wire hanger
• Old book pages in various sizes
• Stapler
• Hole punch
• Ribbon

Instructions:
• Unwind the handle of the wire hanger so that you have an opening, but be sure to leave the top of the hanger in a hook shape. Carefully bend the body of the hanger into a circle, rounding out the corners as best as possible.

• Tear 50 or 60 pages (total) from a variety of books; pages of slightly different shapes and sizes work best.

• Roll a single page in half from top to bottom (not left to right).

• Staple the edges together where the top and bottom of the page meet.

• Punch a hole through the center of the rolled-and-stapled page. Tip: Once you get going on the pages, try hole-punching purposefully left or right of center to slightly vary the pages’ position on the wreath.

• Thread the open end of the wire hanger through the hole you've punched in one of the rolled book pages. Repeat with a second rolled page.

• Secure the two pages by stapling them together. (Staple from the underside of the top page so the staple doesn't show.)

• Repeat until the wire circle is full.

• Bring the first page and last page together at the top of the circle with your last staple. Make sure that the hanger hook is hidden behind the rolled book pages.

• Re-twist the open end of the hanger around the base of the hook to close your circle.

* Hang the wreath on a small nail or tack. If you wish, you can mount a decorative ribbon above the wreath so it appears to be suspended from that.

Finis!

Thank you so much for sharing this fun project, Mary-Ellen!

(Readers: If you have a simple DIY project to share, send me photos and instructions and I'll be happy to feature it here.)

Over and Out

Photo by Jo Sand-Mann

Have a lovely weekend!

That's Random: Tagged

Drey from the lovely Bijou Kaliedescope out of Melbourne, Australia just tagged me with an "I Love Your Blog" Award. Thank you so much, Drey -- the feeling is mutual!

Here are the rules:
1. The nominated is allowed to put the picture on their blogs.
2. Link to the person who awarded you.
3. Nominate seven other people and link to them.
4. Leave a message on those people's blog to make them aware that they're nominated.

So now it's my turn to share the award with other bloggers I admire. My list of bookmarked blogs is embarrassingly long, and there are literally dozens that I read regularly. (Seriously -- I think I may need a blog intervention.) But I'm going to focus here on some beautiful blogs that may be new to many of you, and that I haven't already given a shout-out to in one way or another. Check them out when you get a chance:

1. Automatism

2. Eye Spy

3. Hidden in France

4. Ill Seen, Ill Said

5. Please Sir

6. Roadside Scholar

7. Whorange

If you're in the mood for still more great blogs (and have several hours to kill), don't miss my blogroll to the left!

The Artful Home: Jennifer Sanchez at 20x200

A bit of affordable art to brighten your day: New York City painter Jennifer Sanchez has two new prints available at 20x200. Sanchez's pieces "are best described as exploding optimism ... unabashedly happy and full of bright colors, circles and swirls. She's passionate about depicting emerging spaces that explore the intangibility of space."

NY.08.#06 (top) and NY.08.#14 (above) are $20 each for 8-by-11.5-inch prints, or $50 each for 11-by-14-inch prints.

Jen Z. ad

More eBay Finds

(RSS users, you know the drill.)

Mark Your Calendar: Art Openings and Holiday Sales

Lots of opportunities around the Bay this weekend to find unique holiday gifts, affordable original art, and other fresh pieces for your home:

For the next three weekends, San Francisco decorative painter Daniel Gundlach hosts his annual Language of Cloth Textile Bazaar. The trunk show and sale features fine handmade textiles from Southeast Asia (such as the gorgeous piece above), all at wholesale prices. Language of Cloth is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday through December 21 at 650-B Guerrero St. in the Mission District.

Over here on the sunny side of the Bay, super newsstand/art gallery Issues, at 20 Glen Ave. just off Oakland's Piedmont Avenue, hosts an opening reception this evening from 5 to 9 p.m. for artist Olivia Allums's Oakland Signage show. The exhibit features 30 small paintings of some of the city's more modest, but no less iconic, landmarks. Oakland Signage will be up at Issues through the end of the month.

Staring tonight at 6 p.m., neighboring Oakland art galleries Blankspace and The Compound Gallery join forces for the third annual Holidayland Gift Sale. More than 50 local artists will be selling original artwork, handmade crafts, accessories, papergoods, holiday ornaments, tote bags, jewelery, and more. (I just looked over the list of participants, and it's not the same dozen or so artists and crafters who -- fabulous as they are -- seem to rent booths at every other Bay Area art fair and craft event, so I'm excited to see some fresh new goodies at this shindig.) There will also be music, food, and seasonal libations.

If you don't make it this evening, the galleries will host another reception next Sunday, December 14, from 4 to 7 p.m. You can also visit the Holidayland Sale during regular gallery hours, noon to 7 p.m. Saturdays through Mondays until December 15. Blankspace is located at 6608 San Pablo Ave., and The Compound at 6602-6604 San Pablo Ave., both in North Oakland.

Also tonight from 5:30 to 8 p.m., Uptown Oakland's Creative Growth Art Center will hold its Holiday 2008 Studio Sale, featuring original art, prints, and artisan-produced ceramics, wood sculpture, rugs, glassware, bags, and T-shirts. A portion of every purchase helps support Creative Growth's program for artists with disabilities. If you miss the opening party, you can still shop the sale from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays December 6, 13, and 20. Creative Growth is located at 355 24th St.

Nearby, Uptown's Rock Paper Scissors Collective hosts an opening reception from 6 to 9 p.m. this evening for its group show Second Coming, featuring "ingenious reincarnations of discarded items into truly unique and inspired artwork." Also available will be 100 percent recycled gifts handmade through RPSC's Community Collaborations Project, in which local artist Chelsea Fadda worked with low-income and homeless adults at St. Vincent De Paul's found arts studio. The exhibit as well as the recycled gifts will be on display at RPSC through December 27. The shop and gallery is located at 2278 Telegraph Ave.

The ceramic artists at Berkeley's Fourth & Clay Studios -- Rae Dunn, Christa Assad, and Josie Jurczenia -- open their doors for Holiday Sales the next three weekends in December (that is, December 6 and 7, 13 and 14, and 20 and 21). On offer from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday are wares from the in-house ceramists as well as textiles, papergoods, jewelry, art, and pottery from a rotating cast of their distinguished friends, including Diana Fayt, Whitney Smith, Susannah Schnick, Aliza Cohen, Linea Carta, and others. The studio is located at 2390 C Fourth St. near Clay in West Berkeley.

Speaking of Whitney Smith and Diana Fayt, they're having studio sales of their own this weekend. Smith's Holiday Studio Sale takes place 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. December 6 and 7 in her workspace at 539 Athol Ave. in Oakland. In addition to bargain-priced seconds, Smith will be selling first-quality items and several new designs.

Over in San Francisco, Fayt's Holiday Sale, which runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, December 6, will feature her gorgeous new red-and-black designs, plus lots of affordable wares for those feeling the economic pinch. Fayt's studio is located at 1044 Revere Ave., Unit 5-29 in the Bayview district.

From 6 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, online gallery Red Cake celebrates its first birthday with a live event called Shiny Brite, featuring work from Daniel Ross and Lissa Ivy Tiegel. The art will also be on display Sunday, December 7, and Saturday, December 13, by appointment at 4209 Howe St. in Oakland.

Back in San Francisco on Sunday, don't miss the annual Rhode Island School of Design Holiday Sale at Fort Mason. More than 30 RISD grads will be selling jewelry, home accents, glass, prints, paintings, photographs, drawings, sculpture, papergoods, and textiles. The sale runs from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. December 7 in Fort Mason Building A, Marina Boulevard at Buchanan Street.

Whew!

How To: A Snowflake Window Hanging Variation

More Ways to Waste Time reader Mary-Ellen from Memphis, Tennessee, just wrote in to show me the window hanging she was inspired to make after reading yesterday's tutorial on creating a snowflakes-and-oranges hanging.

I love the petite pine cones in place of the dried orange slices, and think the results are absolutely beautiful. Well done, Mary-Ellen!

Objects of Lust: Glaze Study Vases

Never mind the tattooed-but-sensitive alterna-boyfriend type shown here -- I'm really lusting after these colorful vases from Anthropologie.

They're clearly modeled on midcentury Italian pottery (the one on the left is a bit Bitossi-like, don't you think?) and they're not cheap, ranging from $98 to $168 apiece.

At prices like that, I think I'd rather search out original, vintage models. I'll let you know if I turn up anything similar on eBay.

In the meantime, though, I don't mind looking at these one bit -- and the guy's not bad, either.

Etsy Finds of the Day: Hang It

More than ever, I'm craving a really simple Christmas. I'm drawn less to "traditional" holiday imagery and bright colors and much more to a limited, wintry color palette, naturalistic forms, and handcrafted adornments.

This year we'll be doing more paring down than stocking up, but if I was in the market for some new ornaments for the tree, these would be at the top of my list. Above: Birdcage Ornaments, $8 for three from Tabitha Emma

Snowflake No. 3, $2.50 from LJoker55

Falling Flurries 2, $4.60 for three from RiffRaff Designs

Handcut Black Paper Snowflakes, $9 for three from Joyeux Noel

Modern Snowflakes Origami Ornaments, $20 for two from Sweet Thoughts

Canvas Heart Ornament, $14 for two from Stiksel

Bilingual Clove-Scented Ornaments, $15 for six from La Pomme

Wooden Snowflake Ornaments, $2.50 for three from Maka Le Wakan

Wooden Ornaments Variety Pack, $28 for five from Sub-Studio

Glittered Pinecone Ornament, $6.50 for two from Birch Hill Crafts


Paper Mache Ornaments, $18 for four from Things by Bubbo-Tubbo

Oh, Christmas Tree No. 1, $5 from Windy Designs

Linen Christmas Trees, $16 for two from Strawberries and Cream

Holiday Bird Ornament 6, $8 from Astulabee

Twinkle Bird Ornaments, $16 for four from Royal Buffet

Peace Dove Ornaments, $27 for three from Ooshkapah

Hot Pink Bird, $10 from Stelabird

Birdcage Papercuts, $19 for two from Tamara Designs

Peace Ornament, $12 from Rae Dunn

Medallion Ornaments, $86 for six from Paloma's Nest

Porcelain Snowflake Ornament, $14 from Shoshona Snow Ceramics

Christmas Ornament, $15 from Leaping Lizards Designs (100 percent of the proceeds will benefit Living Water International)

Trumpet Christmas Bell, $15 from Jennifer Orme Ceramics

Cool Stuff: Pukapuka Sea Sponge Mobile

I'm digging this grown-up mobile from Pukapuka, inspired by the groovy, organic forms of natural sea sponges and crafted from plantation-harvested Australian plywood.

It's 32 inches long and 22 inches wide, and is $165 at Supermarket.

How to: Make a Snowflakes-and-Oranges Window Hanging

I'm off to run a bunch of errands this morning. (Ugh -- DMV, anyone?) In the meantime, I'll leave you with a rerun of a fun and simple holiday craft project from last year, in case any of you missed it:

Atomic Garden, one of my favorite shops here in Oakland, has the prettiest window displays. Just like the store itself, they're simple, natural, and lovely.

The eco-friendly housewares-and-clothing boutique's current window candy is a clever and beautiful assemblage of crocheted snowflakes, yarn pom-poms, and dried oranges hung from a gently gnarled tree branch.

Here's how to make one of your own -- perfect for dressing a window for the holidays or simply brightening up the view during the dreary winter days ahead.

You'll need:
* A tree branch measuring three-quarters of an inch or more in diameter and about the width of the window you want to hang it in. (Pick up a fallen branch the next time you're out for a walk or a hike, save one when you trim your trees, or buy one from a floral-supply shop or online.)

* Two to three ceiling hooks for suspending the branch. (You could also slip the branch into wall-mounted curtain brackets.)

* A spool of fine twine, waxed cord, or fishing line.

* A large, sturdy needle, such as an embroidery or darning needle.

* A selection of crocheted snowflakes. (You can create your own if you're especially crafty or simply use cloth doilies -- I spotted several for a couple bucks apiece at my local fabric store yesterday -- paper snowflakes made from medium- to heavyweight paper, or snowflake-shaped ornaments.)

* Fabric starch or craft glue.

* A section of golfball- to tennis-ball-sized pom-poms. (Make your own with yarn, craft them from tissue paper, pick up a bag of fuzzy pom-poms at a craft store, or simply substitute a few white ball ornaments.)

* Dried orange slices. (They're easy to make at home, or you can buy them from a specialty grocer. Dried pineapple slices would also work.)

Instructions:
* Screw the hooks into the ceiling, making sure they're anchored well. Loop lengths of twine, cord, or fishing line over the hooks, tying them securely. Tie the other ends around the tree branch so that it hangs across the top of your window. (Or simply remove the curtain rod from the window and slip the ends of the branch into the curtain brackets.)

* Depending on the width of your branch and how many snowflakes, pom-poms, and oranges you want to hang, tie several lengths of cord around the branch with the ends trailing down. Vary the lengths randomly so that the longest hits the bottom of the window and the others are shorter.

* If you're using cloth snowflakes or doilies, douse them with laundry starch or dab them with craft glue mixed with a bit of water and pin them flat so that they dry stiff.

* Once they're dry, tie the snowflakes onto the cord at varying heights.

* Using your sturdy needle with the cord threaded through, hang the pom-poms at varying heights. If your window is wider than it is tall, one pom-pom per length of cord is fine. If the window is tall and narrow, hang a few pom-poms from each cord, spacing them out randomly and tying the cord beneath each to keep it in place. (If you're using ball ornaments, simply thread the cord through the loop at the top of the ornament and tie it securely.)

* Finally, thread the remaining lengths of cord with orange slices. Poke the threaded needle through the flesh of the orange near the top and tie the cord to hold the orange slices in place.

Enjoy!

(Thanks to Jamie and Erin at Atomic Garden for walking me through this.)

Readers: If you have a simple DIY project to share, send me photos and instructions and I'll be happy to feature it here!

Object of Lust: Urchin Chandelier by HelenBilt

Created by Helen Gifford of HelenBilt, the Urchin Light Sculpture is composed of hundreds of crystal clear bulbs, but illuminated by just one. The others are repurposed bulbs put to use forming the body of this delicate sphere. Heavenly.

The lights are made to order in a variety of sizes, but pricing is not for the faint of heart. (FYI: Gwynie owns one, so you do the math.)

The 18-inch version, for instance, is $3,200 from YLighting. Sigh ...

Cool Stuff: Aida Dirse Ceramic Bowls

So yesterday was my birthday. (And no, I'm not going to tell you which one. OK, fine: 29. ;-)

I told my mother not to get me anything, because she was taking us all out to a nice dinner (here, for any of you locals reading). She's an inveterate shopper, though, and I secretly knew there was really no stopping her. But what kills me is that she drove an hour into San Francisco to go to a little shop I'd once mentioned in passing that I liked, and picked up something there that I'd been pining over for months but probably never would have splurged on for myself.

This petite bowl, hand-built in Lithuania by ceramic artist Aida Dirse, is just exquisite. I adore its texture and imperfection and its cheerful pattern. But most of all, I love that it's now mine. Thank you, Mom!

(If you're tempted to get one of your own, they're $72 to $87 from Rare Device.)

More eBay Finds

OK, it looks like eBay has reverted to the original, better-functioning widget. So let's try this again, shall we? Please let me know how it works for you.

(As always, RSS readers click here to see my latest eBay picks.)

Cool Stuff: Matryoshka Measuring Cups

I'm not normally into super-girly home decor, but am charmed nonetheless by these sweet (and practical!) stoneware Matryoshka Measuring Cups from Anthropologie.

They just might be the perfect thing for those ultra-feminine, newly-minted-college-grads-decorating-their-first-apartments on your holiday list.

The set of three is $28 right here.

Etsy Finds of the Day: Send It

Do you send out holiday cards? I must confess that we've fallen out of the habit. If we really have our act together, we may throw together a silly e-card to send out on December 24. (Above and below are a couple of my favorites from years past.)

Hopefully, you're much more organized than I am. In that case, Etsy has a bevvy of beautiful, handmade holiday cards to choose from:

Clockwise: Ornamental Holiday Cards, $12 for four from Earmark; Peace and Joy Letter Press Postcards, $12 for five from Parrott Design Studio; Christmas Blossoms Greeting Cards, $11 for four from Tsk Tsk; Letterpress Holiday Snowflakes Card, $4 from amyb13

Clockwise: Two Turtle Doves Folded Card, $5 from Foxy & Winston; Jolly Snowman Card, $6 (or $18 for four) from Paired Hearts; Peace on Earth Deer Card, $11 for eight from Ink Drop Design; Peace Dove Card Set, $13 for eight from Sparrow + Belle

Clockwise: Golden Pine Tree Screenprinted Holiday Cards, $16 for six from Modern Printed Matter; Pine Needles Letterpress Card, $3.50 from Pie Bird Press; Holiday Birds Letterpress Card, $4 from Lucky Bee Press; Partridge in a Pear Tree Wooden Postcard, $5 from Paper Schmaper

Clockwise: Feliz Navidad Letterpress Greeting Card, $4.25 from Oddball Press; Christmas Joy Folding Cards, $13 for eight from Scotia Made; Happy Holidays Gocco Art Card, $22 for ten from Two Guitars; Tag You're It Card, $3.60 from Heidi Burton

Clockwise: Peace on Earth Letterpress Cards, $14.50 for six from Anemone Letterpress; Silver Snowflakes Notecard Set, $10 for ten from Katie Blair Designs; Happy Holiday Letterpress Stationery Set, $16 for six from Shimmer Studio; Zombie Loves Santa Christmas Card, $14 for ten from Tina Seamonster

Clockwise: Hand Sewn Hanukkah Card, $10 from King Popcorn; Hand Painted Hanukkah Notecards, $25 for six from Graceful Studio; Chappy Chanukah Blind Impression Letterpress Cards $12 for six from Old Tom Foolery; Mini Happy Hanukkah Card, $14 for twenty from Yee Haw

Cool Stuff: Flat-Pack Pine and Fir Trees

Made from flat-packed birch veneer, these laser-cut tree silhouettes -- each measuring more than 18 inches tall -- will add a natural, modern touch to your holiday decor. Left to right: Jack Pine Tree, Suba Fir Tree, and Mexican Pine Tree.

They're $52 to $58 each, including shipping, from Jayson Home & Garden.

Psst -- for a more affordable option, check out Cardboard Safari's 24-inch recycled cardboard Alpine Tree, $28.

eBay Find of the Day: 20th Century 5 Charity Auction

Hey there! I hope everyone who's reading this Stateside had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and everyone abroad had a lovely autumn week. I didn't get nearly as much done as I needed to, but it was nice to play hookie for a couple of days. Anyway, it seems that the new eBay widget isn't working very well (sorry about that!). So until I figure something else out, I guess I'll do this the old-fashioned way ...

The big news on eBay this week is Winnipeg, Canada-based online gallery Modern Love's fifth annual 20th Century Design + Decorative Arts Auction. The auction, which benefits the Canadian Cancer Society, features iconic, pedigreed midcentury designs, all in pristine condition.

Some of the items I'm lusting after:

George Nakashima Four-Drawer Chest for Widdicomb. Current bid: $510

Eames DAR Shell Chair for Herman Miller. Current bid: $610

Charlotte Perriand Low Wooden Stool. Current bid: $760

Four Herman Miller Eames Shell Chairs. Current bid: $295

Hans Wegner Chair for Knoll. Current bid: $510

Anna Castelli RoundUp Storage Unit for Kartell. Current bid: $51

Eero Saarinen Tulip Task Chair for Knoll. Current bid: $103

Ettore Sottsass Valentine Typewriter for Olivetti. Current bid: $200

Eames Rocker Chair T-Shirt. Buy it Now for $28

Check out the entire auction selection right here; bidding ends the evening of Monday, December 8. Even if you don't bid -- and most of these items are way out of my league, too -- pop over just to drool over the stunning photographs and to read up on your 20th century design history.