Everyone loves fun kitchen gadgets and for this weeks post I thought I would put together an inspirational board of all the modern ones I’ve found in the last couple of months. Some will fit as stocking stuffer’s and some won’t, but everyone receiving any of these gifts will be more than just pleased. Happy Weekend!
Credits: Fitzsu, Bodum, Chiasso, Kershaw, Poketo, Chefs Planet
This is the beginnings of a Christmas dinner table setting for ones that love the outdoors. Creating an ambiance filled with bark and the smell of evergreen trees will help solidify the experience that I’m going for. Here are my ideas for all the details:
Colors: Stark whites, soft greys, evergreen greens, dark woods
Dining Table: My rustic World Market dining table and bench (see here)
Chairs: All white Ikea chairs (see here)
Glasses: Target wine glasses shown above (currently sold out)
Plates: Gwendolyn China (see here)
Table Decor: JL Designs small cedars shown above (see here)
Napkin Rings: Z Galleries snow bursts (see here)
Place-markers: Cutarts silhouettes of each person layed on each white charger (see here)
Candle: Williams Sonoma’s Winter Forest (see here)
Coley!
For this week’s stocking stuffer I thought I would focus on calendars and notebooks. Everyone needs a new calendar at the beginning of the year and if you are like me and like to write down ideas as you think of them a notebook is a great gift as well. While researching for this post earlier this week I received an email from San Francisco Designer and Design Director for Pottery Barn, Richelle Goodloe about her new website Pretty Chic SF. Pretty Chic SF has recently launched their new collection of notebooks and calendars and they are superb! Her Etsy shop can be found here.
Knowing that I’m looking for a graphic black and white calendar here are my favorites:
Pretty Chic SF
*Pretty Chic SF Inside Calendar
Check out some other options that are in other colors here and here and here. Happy Weekend and don’t forget to check out my guest post on Style Notes.
“A good time-saver is to wrap all your gifts in similar paper, then add flourishes that reflect each recipient’s personality,” says Shane Powers, deputy style and home editor for Martha Stewart
As Powers said above, keeping a consistent look and feel with wrappings can one, put money back into your pocket and two create a chic ambiance under the tree. Heidi’s shop has a great assortment of fun wrapping paper that can be used for Christmas as long as it is paired with sparkly letters, red bows and/or tulle.
Heidi Gift Wrapping
I must say I’m not the biggest fan of stick on labels for Christmas presents, but I do LOVE the peel off letters that you can get at Target and Michaels. This is a great way to personalize each gift! Another idea is one that I found on Bugs and Fishes by Lupin. Using a magazine clip, newspaper or metallic paper Lupin has shown that each and every name can be its own decorative element. My advice … on bright pink or red wrapping paper, cut out a name from newspaper to add a different and fun dimension to your gift.
Earlier this week Sara, from Drink Me Tags, sent me an email letting me know about their new wine bottles labels. I must say they are really clever and a great simple addition to any hostess gift! Founded by mother-daughter team, Val and Sara Rossi, Drink Me Tags launched its product line and website just in time for the holidays! My favorites: “Merci”, “It’s 5pm somewhere” and “I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus” … check them out here.
Coley!
For our first Twos-day post I thought I would bring out something that I would like to apply for my next home; acrylic candelabras and gray wall paint. These are definitely two things that go together, which will be the theme for these posts. After a couple of years of really looking around trying to find my niche I have come the the conclusion that I would like to get back to the basics and start decorating for a “life time” versus in the moment of trends. One this will help with my budget and two I can always find things that are trend friendly that can act as accents.
Not sure I agree with all of the quote below but I do agree with the fact that gray paired with white has a cleanness to it as well as sharpens all your colors. Black to brown to orange and pink, gray goes with it all … especially my white couch!
“Pavilion Gray is for people rebelling against years of taupe. It’s a warm, pretty gray that you could pair with white for that Swedish look, or it could go more urban and industrial with inky black, marble, and stainless steel. It has a cleanness to it that most of the yellow-based neutrals don’t have. It sharpens things up a bit.” —SARAH COLE: FARROW & BALL PAVILION GRAY 242
Austin Motel North View $75
This weekend after looking around Austin I was pleased to come upon Austin Art Garage via Apartment Therapy. After reading all about Jake Bryer and Joel Ganucheau, co-founders of Austin Art Garage, I became really excited about the possibility of purchasing more Art for our house. Austin Art Garage are just “two guys that wanted to make it easier to find and purchase original art without entering a world of debt. More specifically, by infusing common sense business and marketing practices, they aim to expose emerging artists while giving customers a no-hassle system to find and purchase a variety of affordable one-of-a-kind art works.” For more information about Austin Art Garage click here.
360 Bridge Altered $75
Several years ago my goal in life was to start a local art gallery that accommodated to people of all socio-economic walks of life. I never intended to become an artist myself. However, being surrounded by art everyday, I couldn’t help myself and I started seeking a vehicle for my own creativity. With a background in graphic design I chose photography, especially because I haven’t graduated from finger painting and stick figure drawing yet. My work is a combination of digital mixed media photography and digitally altered photography. – Jake Bryer
Congress Bridge Lights $65
After looking through all the artisti on the website I definitely like Jake Bryer’s photography the best. He showcases different parts of Austin in a “different light”. He allows you to see the beauty of a city (or abroad) through his eyes. Below you’ll see his a couple of shots from his Europe series that I absolutely LOVE. Enjoy!
Cafe Chairs, San Marcos Square Venice, Italy $75
London Taxis $75
For more Jake Bryer visit Austin Art Garage here. Happy Monday!
For this week’s countdown gift guide I choose to go with a little personalization; monogramming. Making a gift that is so personalized doesn’t have to cost a ton, but it does require being a head of schedule. So start thinking now and order your gifts and add a little touch of love!
Left: Anthropologie $7.95: Middle: PotteryBarn $19; Right: Anthropologie $6
From paperweights to mugs each gift above is one that everyone can use for multiple occasions. For example, paperweights do indeed look great on a desk, but could also add a great touch to any coffee table and or used as seating labels at the Christmas table. Secondly, who doesn’t need a new travel bag just in time for Christmas! And lastly, everyone can add a new latte mug to their collection, but used as pencil holder or a bedside table vase would be the way to go in my book.
Gadabout Crisp Fall
Gadabout Devil In The Details
Gadabout Avant garde
I LOVE these personalized stationary ideas. Great way to add a little spice with your name!
Left: Neiman Marcus $49; Middle: PotteryBarn $39 for 2; Right: PotteryBarn $24
These simple yet perfect gifts for any hostess is a great way to help with whomever you’re visiting for Christmas. Able to be used at once this gift will be one that can be helpful and chic at the same time.
Happy Holidays Everyone and thanks for your patience this week, I’ve needed some regrouping time! Next week we’ll have a great week of fun finds, “Twodays” (and new weekly post for One Simple Addition) as well as our Friday stocking stuffer finds. Also if you haven’t seen my guest post on Style Notes hop on over and check it out!
Credits: Anthropologie Letters, Pottery Barn Monogramming, Gadabout Stationary, Neiman Marcus Personalized Coasters (seen coco+kelley)
Kendra Scott Sample Sale
HOLIDAY SAMPLE SALE
THURS, DEC 3RD, 10AM-7PM, FRI, DEC 4TH, 10AM-6PM, SAT, DEC 5TH, 11AM-3PM
KENDRA SCOTT DESIGN @ THE PENN FIELD DESIGN CENTER
3601 S. CONGRESS AVE., SUITE B201, AUSTIN, TX 78704
BRING A CANNED FOOD DONATION AND RECEIVE $5 OFF YOUR SAMPLE SALE PURCHASE
LIMIT ONE PER CUSTOMER PER DAY.
See you there!
1. Bridesmaid Vintage Gloves – Jonathan Canlas Photography via The Knot
2. Piece of Art – Secret Language 1 by Valerie Roybal via 20×200
3. New Cake Idea – Lucida Photography via The Knot
4. Piece of Art – Secret Language 3 by Valerie Roybal via 20×200
About Valerie Roybal: “Much of my work frequently consists of layered surfaces: bits and pieces from discarded books and magazines, found ephemera, antique postcards, handwritten letters and recipes, obsolete reference material, thrift store textiles, my own prints and drawings, and mysterious random objects. Order, association, and reverence emerges from the collecting, sorting, arranging, shaping, and placement of each piece into a whole.”
Coley!
