Happy Weekend

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01/ April Dauscha‘s explorations of lacework and her body are beautiful.
02/ This water-filled chair contains all of the tears cried in a human lifetime.
03/ Exactly how you think famous artists would rearrange Thanksgiving meals.
04/ Tower Bridge in London now features a class floor on its high-level walkways.
05/ Ai WeiWei transforms Alcatraz bathrooms into massive flower installations.
06/ Fifteen photos that will convince you Iceland belongs on another planet.
07/ Iconic Portland statues get the festive yarn bombing treatment.
08/ If only all nail salons could look as good as Missy Lui does.
09/ Would you stay in this KLM airplane Airbnb apartment? (I would.)
10/ Zhenya Aerohockey documents the corners he finds in life through photography.

This week on Design Crush:
Drop what you’re doing and go enter to win a handwoven rug just like the one in my living room!
Here are 12 advent calendars to get you prepped for December 1st.
Checking in on the colorful abstract work of Jeremy Rabus.
Take a peek at part 1 of our holiday card roundups.
Leaf Beast reimagines nature’s drying fall leaves.
Dinosaur Designs’ Atelier collection is so happy and bright!
Carolina Mizrahi‘s underwater photography series is not for those with a fear of H2O.
Twelve more calendars for your 2015!

Design Crush elsewhere:
Talking about colorful clawfoot tubs – are you for or against them?
Graphic black + white rugs are some of my favorite floor coverings.

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Design Crush The Marketplace

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I’m three shades of excited to share something that’s been in the works for months – Design Crush The Marketplace has opened! I’ve teamed up with the newly launched GREAT.LY to bring you some of my favorite handmade goods from all sorts of talented makers. The shop is set up much like Design Crush the site, full of fantastic art and design that you can decorate your home and yourself with. I’ll be keeping it stocked with fresh and exciting things that get updated frequently, so I hope you’ll pop over and take a look for yourself. In the meantime, here are a few of my favorites from each category!

 

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Pink Block Cushion by Ellie Bradley // Extreme Handknitted Woolen Cabled Throw by Jacqui Fink

 

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Madison Rocks Cup by Keith Kreeger // Hand-Painted Hot Pink Linen Table Runner by Sensible Habit

 

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Folded Paper Furoshiki Japanese Eco Wrapping Scarf by Kyoko Bowskill // Geometric Lucite + Brass Bead Necklace 02 by Adelia Mae

 

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Coral Kokeshi Doll by Sketch Inc // Gold Star Cloud by Jahje Ives

 

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Fading Lake Day by Lisa Golightly // Desire Fine Art Giclée by Kristi Kohut

 

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Beet Root + Hibiscus Lip Stain by Erin Hammond // Hand-Painted Zipper Bag by Kelly Zellers

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Tips&Tricks: Beauty

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I’m sort of a beauty product junky. I can’t pinpoint exactly when it happened, but it eventually got out of control and I had to put myself on a bit of a spending hiatus from the stuff. Thankfully I’ve learned to rein it all in, and one of the ways I’ve done so is by relying on a little DIY. I have all of the fantastic links below bookmarked for use in the near future! What’s your go-to home beauty remedy?

Yummy pumpkin pie lip balm and lip scrub.

Mix up dry shampoo for light hair and dark hair for about $2 a jar!

Homemade coconut vanilla body butter.

Homemade natural deodorant with baking soda coconut oil, and rosemary oil.

Tingly peppermint rose lip balm.

Or fresh lemon rosemary lip balm.

Make your own tinted lip gloss for a pretty pucker.

All-natural aftershave for the dude(s) in your life.

Edible ginger snap lip scrub to get rid of the flaky stuff.

Or coconut mint lip scrub.

Five bath scrubs you can make in your kitchen.

Feel smooth and smell amazing with this rose body scrub.

An all-natural beauty mask made from flowers.

Four easy ways to help your face overnight.

Get ready for sandal season with this strawberry salt foot scrub.

Gentle rose water toner.

A rose and chamomile facial scrub that will made washing your face incredible.

A bevy of DIYs to elevate your winter skin woes in a snap.

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Tips&Tricks: Winter Remedies

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If you’ve made it past the halfway point this winter without a major cold or a case of the flu let me be the first to salute you. I was taken down for the first half of January with an upper respiratory infection, and I’m crossing everything that that will be all. Here’s a bevy of tips and tricks for everything winter has to throw at you!

Ten holistic remedies for everyday ailments.

Make your own all-natural herbal vapor rub.

Homemade Vicks Vapor shower disks.

DIY Kool-Aid lip balm.

A DIY lip peel for your flaky pucker.

DIY first-aid antiseptic ointment.

Make a homemade decongestant.

This home remedy cuts through a sore throat, hacking cough, and the croup.

Try this flu season ginger honey lemon tonic.

Another option is this lemon cold remedy.

Cocktail recipes that can help cure the common cold. Ahem.

Five things you must clean during flu season.

Ten natural cold remedies.

Let’s not forget wintery skin, the 10 best winter beauty recipes.

DIY orange coconut whipped body butter and 5 winter skin care tips.

DIY cuticle cream.

Luxurious eucalyptus mint whipped body butter.

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Happy Hearts Day Gifts + Treats

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DIY Concrete Love Hearts Necklace // Skip a Beat Tea Towel // Candy Buttons // DIY Cupid’s Arrow Piñata // Heartstring Garland // DIY Heart & Arrow Headband // DIY Leather Conversation Hearts // Heart Backdrop // Darling Dearest Frame

 

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Heartbeat Necklace // DIY Floating Heart Backdrop // DIY Fabric Valentine // Heart Lips Graphic Tee // iceDrops heart Ceramic Beverage Chillers // Besties Floral iPhone 5 Case // Makes Outs Foil Stamped Print // Love Necklace // Black Triangular Wall Hearts

 

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Baked Chocolate Cherry Doughnut Hearts // DIY Valentine’s Pillows // Linzer Cookies // Marbled Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies // Heart Hole Punch // Heart Pattern Friendship Bracelets // Heart Shaped Mini Cookies // Not Soap, Radio Body Wash // DIY Copper Arrows

 

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A Few of My Favorite Things

I’m playing Oprah today! Hundreds of products cross my screen on a daily basis as I search out the best to share with you, and a girl can’t help but have a few favorites! And while I wish I had one of each of these fantastic pieces to give to every one of you a la Oprah, I hope my opinion will hold its weight in salt for you. Because these are all shops and creators whose things I own, that decorate my home and my self each and every day.

 

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Splendid Orlando Oxford. These shoes are a new addition to my wardrobe for winter and I love their sleek look (no laces!). Splendid‘s entire lifestyle collection is ultra-comfortable and effortlessly chic, which is perfect for my every day and mixes with existing pieces easily.

American Giant Womens Heavyweight Full Zip Hooded Sweatshirt. I’ve been a hoodie aficionado since junior high, but it’s tough to find one that doesn’t resemble a garbage bag on a woman’s body. This zip up from American Giant is not only sturdy, but made especially for us ladies. If I’m home I usually have it on over whatever I’m wearing, it’s that good.

Emily McDowell’s Foods of the World New York City Tea Towel. Emily McDowell just might be one of the funniest people I know, and her humor translates seamlessly onto her illustrated line of cards, dish towels, and other miscellaneous goods. This towel featuring a recipe that actually involves zero cooking is just the tip of the iceberg.

Warby Parker’s Durand Eyeglasses in Woodland Tortoise. Warby Parker has had my poor vision and my heart in its grasp for several years now. I just recently snapped up this pair from their winter collection, the round-ish lenses are super flattering and their buy 1/give 1 model is tough to beat.

Bloggers Love Cats + Bloggers Love Dogs 13-Month Calendars. Shameless plug alert! I teamed up with other well-known bloggers who are animal lovers to create these two calendar downloads featuring our pets. All proceeds go directly to the Humane Society of the United States and all of the little critters in need.

See Scout Sleep’s Nice Grill Cream + Vermillion Brass Buckle Collar. Both of my pups wear this collar and it stands up to their rough and tumble lifestyles like no other. All of the pet goods See Scout Sleep offers are high quality, environmentally-friendly, and handmade in Louisiana.

Cursive Design’s Apex Studs. Cursive Design is one of my favorite jewelry shops by far, I just love Sarah’s eye for detail. These studs, along with much of the fall/winter 2013 collection, were inspired by a project we collaborated on together for NYFW 2012. They’re molded from vintage glass and cast in yellow bronze.

Jaime Derringer’s Untitled 3. I’m the proud, happy owner of three works of art by Jaime Derringer. Her bold use of color and constant exploration of shape and space never leave me bored. And both Jaime’s original pieces and prints are super affordable.

 

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Pencil Shavings Studio’s Gold Lucite Tray in Palm Springs. Pencil Shavings‘ designer Rachel Shingleton has a great way with both color and pattern. It’s reflected in her shop’s incredible line of phone cases, trays, paper goods, and more!

Alexa Chung’s It. There’s no denying she’s the darling of the fashion world, but after ready through this pink linen-covered book filled with short musings and photos she seems down-to-earth as well.

Paloma’s Nest Custom Monogram Tiny Text Bowl. Paloma’s Nest creates some of the best heirloom-quality ceramics I’ve seen. I own one of these plates and have gifted numerous others over the past few years. You just can’t go wrong with a piece that’s lovingly personalized like these.

Gingiber’s Deer Tea Towel. I love shop owner Stacie’s whimsical, geometric illustration style used on all of her animal characters! Gingiber‘s prints, pillows, towels (and more) are always the highest of quality and meticulously checked over.

Whimsy & Spice’s Chocolate Orange Cardamom Shortbread Cookies. Whimsy & Spice‘s tasty baked goods make the perfect gift for just about any occasion. Now’s a great time to stock up on hostess gifts, snacks for overnight guests, and of course a little something for yourself.

Miró Watches from Urbantrait. Among an incredible selection of modern watches from Urbantrait, Miró definitely stands out. Made from stainless steel, hardened mineral crystal, and calf leather it’s sure to stand up to wear and tear for years to come. Mine has made me a watch wearer again after years of depending on my cell! Find your favorite from tons of men’s watches and women’s watches.

Meow Meow Tweet’s Grapefruit Rosemary Body Oil. Come winter, lotions just don’t cut it for me. I coat myself in Meow Meow Tweet‘s body oil before I get out of the shower and don’t need to re-moisturize until right before bed. Each amazing scent if filled with natural ingredients and infused with botanicals.

strawberryluna’s Morrissey Pittsburgh Poster PETA Donation. My favorite stop for gig posters, and it doesn’t hurt that strawberryluna is based in my hometown either! Allison and Craig do stellar silkscreening work for more bands than I can think to name, and on more posters than I can count that I own.

 

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Skin & Bones

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I first shared Skin & Bones waaay back in 2010 (wow, that really does feel like ages ago!). It’s always fun to follow up on people/shops/etc after a few years, so when founder Heidi touched base with me a few weeks ago I couldn’t wait to see the evolution.

Skin & Bones has grown from one magical oil to four incredible-smelling organic unisex products. There’s the cleanser and moisturizer, both meant to be used on both face and body. The salve that can act as everything from lip balm to dry spot remedy to solid cologne. There’s even a candle. All of Skin & Bone’s products smell delicious thanks to a finely tuned mix of ylang yang, rosewood, lemon, frankincense, myrrh, sandalwood, jasmine, grapefruit, and cedarwood essential oils. I love that in a world full of white bottles they went with a super sleek black glass for everything. Seriously, it’s all just so good. Find a retailer in your area.

 

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