Ornamental

Vertical Row 1: Porcelain Santa // Sentimental Ceramic Gift Tag Set // Agate Ornament // Woodland Bronze Creatures
Vertical Row 2: Dip-Dyed Apple Green Ball // Natural Himmeli Ornaments // Origami Cub // Mercury Glass Monogram // Sputnik Ornament
Vertical Row 3: Porcelain Woodland Animal Set // Golden Nugget // Sequin Bow // Birds of a Feather Set of 7

I put my tree up earlier this year than ever, the Monday before Thanksgiving (I blame it on a thing called “Blog Time”). The dogs stared at it like I was completely messing with their minds, while the cats couldn’t wait to nap under it and chew on the lower branches. This was the first year where I didn’t have to use what I refer to as filler ornaments, cheap boxes of bulbs to fill in the empty spots between the ornaments I actually like. I finally have enough baubles for my silver, clear, pink, and blue glass tree – it was sort of momentous. The only new additions were a shiny silver starburst, a big white metal feather, a silver owl, and a mercury glass K (like the monogram above). Oh, and a silver-gold star for the tippy-top.

So, is your tree up and twinkling yet? Do you always put it up on the same day every year or just play it by ear?

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Super Duper Christmas Card Roundup

1. Pine Ornament Card by Rifle Paper Co.
2. Alpine Holiday Cards by Avie Design
3. Where The Treetops Glisten Holiday Card by The Nimbus Factory
4. Evergreen Card Set by Darling Clementine
5. Chalkboard A2 Holiday Cards from Paper Source
6. Blackbird Wreath Card by Red Cap Cards
7. Blustery Brownstone by Rocket Ink
8. Animal Sweaters Holiday Card by Hello! Lucky
9. Figgy Pudding Holiday Postcards by Wit & Whistle

 

10. A Scandinavian Christmas by Karte Design Fabrik
11. Holiday Ombre Letterpress Cards by Flora and Fauna
12. Peace Card by Design des Troy
13. Christmas Joy Wreath by one/lantern
14. Reindeer in People Sweater by Man vs George
15. ‘Tis The Season To Be Jolly by Prickle Press
16. Triangle Trees Card by Pearenthetical Press
17. Letterpress Notecard Set by Thimble Press
18. Merry and Bright Letterpress Holiday Card by Dear Lola Letterpress

 

19. Christmas Pudding Holiday Card by nane press
20. Constellation Holiday Card by nane press
21. Merry Christmas You’re Awesome by Hello Small World
22. May Your Christmas Be Merry & Bright by Stone and Feather Paper
23. Snow Crystal Holiday Cards by rendij
24. Merry Merry Letterpress Printed Card by Tabletop Made
25. Peace on Earth Holiday Card by Two Pooch Paperie
26. Letterpress Happy Holidays Card by Foglio Press
27. Winter Wonderland Holiday 2012 by Spring Olive

 

28. Merry Merry Letterpress Card by Parrott Design Studio
29. Couple Bringing Home the Tree with Dog by Moontree Letterpress
30. Pop Fizz Letterpress Card by Anemone Letterpress
31. Holiday Cards by Studio255
32. Happy Holidays Card by Downtime Collective
33. Paper Cut Out Card by Red Cap Cards
34. Holiday Lamp Post by Kate & Birdie Paper Co.
35. Merry & Bright! Mini by Lindsay Letters
36. Season’s Greetings Rabbit Note Card by Banquet Atelier & Workshop

 

37. Merry and Bright Confetti by Sugar Paper
38. Tis the Season by Sent Well
39. Santa Card by Quill & Fox
40. Fizzy Bubbles by Fig. 2 Design Studio
41. Merry Christmas by hartland brooklyn card co.
42. 101 Ornaments by Mr. Boddington’s Studio
43. Mistletoe & Holly Card by Shanna Murray
44. Happy Happy Holidays Card by Molly Jacques Illustration & Design
45. Tis the Season Card by Maple and Belmont

 

46. Winter Wishes Note Card by Letter & Lark
47. Christmas Cards by Ink Drop Design
48. Warmest Wishes Holiday Cards by Jack and Ella Paper
49. Falling Stars Christmas Cards by Sweet Bella Stationery
50. Christmas Holiday Card by Pearenthetical Press
51. Baby It’s Cold Outside by Foreign Spell
52. Twelve Days of Christmas Greeting Cards by Crafted By Lindy
53. Merry and Bright Illustrated Holiday Cards by Bubby and Bean
54. Christmas Tangled Lights Card Pack by Hen Pen Designs

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Monthlies + Quarterlies

Clockwise from top left: Art in a Box, BarkBox, Dollar Shave Club, Craft Coffee, Quarterly, For the Makers, Birchbox, Umba Box

Have you noticed the hot new(ish) kid on the block? Monthly and quarterly subscription services that deliver everything from letterpress cards to razor blades to dog toys right to your doorstep. If you’re anything like me you forget almost every Amazon order you place, and the delivery is a nice little surprise. It’s just like that, but better.

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Dream Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving planning is in full swing! Notes are being made, grocery lists compiled, and the stress is building. We all know there’s no such thing as a stress-free holiday. But all of this got me thinking, if I had a group of fairies or elves or something magical that could cook, this is the sort of Thanksgiving I would like. Nothing terribly fancy, just a lot of good food and good company and a little decor to keep things festive. In other words, my dream Thanksgiving. (Links follow at the end.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE APPETIZERS
Cranberry Pecan Goat Cheese Roll – Boulder Locavore
Orange Sweet Potato Baked Chips with Thyme – Cooking Melangery
Cranberry Cream Cheese Crostini – What’s Cooking With Ruthie

THE COCKTAILS
Bomb Collins – The Boys’ Club
Autumn Apple Cider & Champagne Sangria – Kiran Tarun
Honeycrisp Bourbon Spiced Cider – Spoon Fork Bacon

THE TABLE
Aero Flatware – Crate & Barrel
Hand-Drawn Menus – Chris Silas Neal
Metallic Diamond Napkins – West Elm
DIY Neon Pinecone Placecard Holder – Camille Styles
Sarjaton Glasses – Verket Interior
Blueprint Paper Placemats – West Elm

THE EATS
Parmesan Polenta – GOOP
Clementine Ginger Almond Rice – Tasty Yummies
Spicy Honey Cranberry Sauce – Boulder Locavore
Maple Bacon Braised Brussels Sprouts – Authentic Suburban Gourmet
Kale Dressing – Bon Appetit
Nikki’s Sweet Potatoes – 101 Cookbooks
Sweet Tea & Citrus Brined Turkey – Confections of a Foodie Bride

THE DESSERTS
Warm Apple Pie Pots – Roost
Top Secret Chocolate Mousse – French Fridays With Dorie
Sweet Potato Souffles – A Spicy Perspective

THE DETAILS
DIY Bottle Hurricanes – Apartment Therapy
Give Thanks Banner – House of Earnest
Contemporary Wheat – Create Like Crazy

 

OTHER TIPS FOR A FABULOUS DAY
5 Tips For Setting a Tabletop Feast – A Subtle Revelry
Tips For Autumn Floral Arrangements – A Beautiful Mess
7 Secrets to the Juiciest Thanksgiving Turkey – Design Mom

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Dually Toted

 

Totes are everywhere nowadays, but you can’t deny that some are above and beyond the norm. Here are nine that won’t be given away at a convention any time soon.

Clockwise from top left: Colorblock Sweater Tote from Anthropologie, Waxed Canvas Tote from Bexar Goods Co., Quintessence Tote from knife in the water, Ohlala Cotton Tote from oelwein, ladies ladies ladies bag from Monica Ramos, Letters for Literacy Tote from Jana Feifer, Steve Mono Simple Bag from Opening Ceremony, Arrow Foldover Tote from Red Sail,

 

 

 

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2013 Calendars – Part 2

1. 2013 Stendig Calendar from Vetted  2. 2013 Wall Calendar by Hillary Bird from Little Paper Planes  3. Calendar Wall Art 2013 by bookhou  4. Idiom 2013 Calendar by Serious Whims  5. Limited Edition Honduras 2013 Canvas Wall Calendar by Khristiana Howell  6. Kalender Sterne 2013 by Minu Design  7. 2013 Jaunty Animals Calendar by Hello Small World  8. 2013 Floral Calendar by Lisa Rupp Design  9. 2013 Food Photography Calendar by Sweet Fine Day  10. 2013 Tissue Calendar by russell+hazel

Have you signed up for the 2013 Calendar Swap yet? You know you wanna.

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Skulls

Hello, my name is Megan and I’ve had the site Not Martha for 11 years. I create DIY projects and collect links to things all over the place. I have a background in theater design, so of course my favorite holiday is Halloween.

Each Halloween I find myself seeking out skull objects that are life-sized (or almost). Here is what I am currently a bit obsessed with.

 

A 3-D printed sculpture by Joshua Harker that was the number one most funded sculpture project on Kickstarter, you can read more about how these came to be in this Etsy Short Story.

 

Life sized chocolate skulls cast from a real human skull. Each one is unique and comes in dark chocolate or her own Bone Chocolate, a mixture of white and milk chocolates.

 

A lamp made of bone china by Alex Garnett.

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Ten Takes On the Modern Farmhouse

I’m not exactly sure how to define farmhouse except that I know one when I see it. They’ll often have a pitched roof, and are usually located on rural farmland, but not always. To me, the word farmhouse evokes nostalgia for an era and lifestyle I’ve only ever dreamed of (my “Dream House” board on Pinterest is nothing but variations on the classic farmhouse), but it’s certainly not a term limited to vintage buildings. Here, some modern takes on the traditional farmhouse, from barn conversions to new construction to sleek additions.

 

Black Barn House in Roxbury, New York by Derek Sanders.

 

Yum Yum Farmhouse in Wellman, Iowa by DeForest Architects.

 

“Stealth Barn” Guest Cottage in Norfolk County, England by Carl Turner.

 

Belk Farmhouse in Chester, South Carolina by Pursley Dixon Architecture.

 

Summer House in Southern Burgenland, Austria by Judith Benzer Architektur.

 

Modern T Farmhouse in Three Oaks, Michigan by FGH Architects.

 

Blue Ridge Farmhouse in Washington, Virginia by Robert Gurney.

 

Zinc Farmhouse by Simon Winstanley Architects.

 

Wilde Hair Ranch in Austin, Texas by Mell Lawrence Architects.

 

Wagner Residence in Ferrisburgh, Vermont by H. Keith Wagner Partnership, Birdseye Building Company.

 

Kathryn Storke Grady is the founder and editor of Snippet & Ink, where she brings together two of her favorite things: love stories and pretty parties. She is known for her inspiration boards, her editorial eye, and her buttermilk chocolate chip scones. She lives near San Francisco with her handsome husband, a sassy kitty, and a wiggly puppy dog.

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