How To: Make a Knitted Pouf

I am totally going to make one of these.

Go here for step-by-step instructions. If you can knit and purl, it actually looks incredibly easy. And even though it requires 18 skeins of super-fat yarn plus stuffing, it'll still cost a heck of a lot less than the $800-$1,600 Flocks Poufs at DWR.

There's a smaller version, too.

(From Norway's Pickles blog -- don't worry, the instructions are in English -- via Tikoli's Twitter, via Craft, via CasaSugar.)

Etsy Find of the Day: Atelier Afra Poufs

Handmade in Istanbul, Turkey, these colorful poufs from Etsy seller Atelier Afra would provide fun and practical extra seating or an inviting place to throw up your feet. I especially love the crocheted, concentric-circle pattern on top.

Blue Pouf, $395

Pink Pouf, $395

Check out all of Atelier Afra's Etsy offerings right here.

eBay Find of the Day: Candy Colored Poufs

I want to get three or four of these brightly hued Moroccan leather poufs to scatter around the living room floor, where they'll invite lounging, provide extra seating for a crowd, and add pops of brilliant color to the room.

The 20-inch poufs, in ten fun colors, are $95 each with Buy It Now from the eBay store Moroccan Fantasia.

P.S. Click here for more on colorful Moroccan poufs.

Cool Stuff: Danish Bohemia

When Nick, the kids, and I were visiting my amazingly creative friend Catherine and her family in Western Massachusetts last Autumn, Catherine was in the midst of making a felted wool blanket out of Salvation Army sweaters. It sounds kind of weird, but the fuzzy squares that resulted from her throwing the wool sweaters in the washer and dryer were sinfully yummy and soft to the touch -- and I so coveted the blanket that Catherine was assembling from them.

So as Fall starts to fall around here, I'm determined to have a felted wool blanket of my own to snuggle up under. Since I don't have a crafty bone in my entire body and don't even own a sewing machine, I'm resigned to buying rather than making one. Anyway, as I surfed around on the hunt this evening I stumbled upon Danish Bohemia.

The online arm of the St. Paul, Minnesota boutique features some really lovely Danish designs from the likes of En Gry og Sif, Mulle Moth, and Knud Hoi -- including, yes, felted wool (like the blankets above, $159 each).

A few of my favorites:
Embroidered Floor Cushions, $114 each

Lime Basket with Flowers, $55

Felt Bird on a Stick, $20

Round Basket with Pom-Poms, $75

Turquoise Cushion Cover with Flowers, $65

Multi Color Cushion Covers, $55 each

Big Flowers Floor Cushion, $75

Floor Cushions with Diamonds, $75 each

Check out the entire Danish Bohemia selection right here.