Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Treat yourself to the wishlist items you didn't get!

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! Mine was full of yummy food and catching up with family. I got lots of lovely gifts, but I'm sure that like me, there are a few things on your list that you didn't get. Lucky for us, post-holiday sales are even more enticing than pre-holiday sales, because stores are trying to clean house before the New Year.

Now, as some of you may know, I have a weakness for those "flash sale" sites. I'm not really a big shopping fan, but I love to virtually curate my home and wardrobe from a few of these sites. Here are my latest fave's on my post-holiday shopping list:



From Joss and Main,  the chronic home decorators playground:
I've wanted these pillows for my bedroom since last year.



And 4 of these for my antique Duncan Phyfe table.






One of my all-time favorite flash sale sites is Ideeli. They always have a wide variety of apparel and home decor.

I store baking ingredients, rice, and beans in hermetic glass canisters, and I always find myself wishing I had a couple more!

I've been wanting a classic gold watch for about a year now.

How cool are these mugs - and maybe I wouldn't be perpetually drinking cold coffee.

I've also been wanting a green or yellow handbag.

Another old favorite - Rue La La, has some great post-holiday sales

I have a lot of upcoming business trips, and this blouse would be a cute and comfortable way to look professional.
Rue La La also has a good variety of home decor.

Friday, December 21, 2012

All my wishes for a beautiful holiday to all of you!

Sadly, this holiday season is tainted with the tragedy that took place in Connecticut.  All of my deepest, DEEPEST condolences go out to the families, friends, and neighbors or the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.  In all of the chaos of the holidays, be sure to take at the very least a moment to bask in the warmth of family, old and young, close and not so close, human and furry.  It is our relationships with one another that are the true gifts.

I am so thankful for all of my readers, and I wish you all a healthy, safe, and beautiful holiday!
I plan on taking off next week, so I will be back with you after the New Year.




1. Sweet Paul, 2.-3., House of Fifty

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Beautiful interior eye-candy from across the pond

I need a little Christmas decor detox today, so I though I'd share some lovely spaces from British e-glossy, Heart Home Mag. Enjoy!




I really like this - but I'm confused by the TV placement...

 Love


 Gorgeous dining room - the block printed table cloth adds warmth.


What do you guys think?

All images via Heart Home Mag

Friday, December 14, 2012

Announcing the winner of the Novica $100 gift code!

Jessica - Congratulations to Jessica!  Jessica has her eye on the fab Paracas Princess handbag.  Looks like someone will be having a VERY Merry Christmas!  Thanks to all who entered - I will be announcing new giveaways shortly!


Thursday, December 13, 2012

Only a few hours left to enter to win $100 from Novica!!

Get your tushies over to this Decorology post to enter to win a $100 gift code to use at Novica!!! You must enter by 12 AM, Dec 14th for a chance to win!!   Artisan apparel, jewelry, home decor, and much, more.

Beaded basket by Wayan. Click here to see it.

Mirror by Edmundo. Click here.

Quilt by the Artisans of Tilonia.  Click here.


Hurry over to this Decorology post to enter!

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

My Christmas Wreath, other people's gorgeous wreaths, and Christmas mantel decorating ideas

Yup - another Christmas decorating inspiration post!  I've gathered up a bunch of wreath and mantel eye candy for you to enjoy!

Love this wreath of Noble Fir and Eucalyptus.  Love this one.
DIY here.


A pretty glittery option - great if you're theme is white and metallics.



  The above is my first stab at wreath decorating.  After seeing the ones above, I can see I need a little practice, but I love the fuchsia ornaments! I also strung some fake pearls of various sizes together in little clusters, added some battery operated lights, and pinned on a few feathers I found at my parent's farm.  Yes - the greenery is fake, but it's from FMIL, so I had to make sure it was displayed...you know how that goes.

The Holiday Mantel, Demystified
from Eddie Ross for Country Living

The photo below has corresponding numbers with the tips for


1. Work what you've got. Ross started with the accessories that always sit on this ledge: the 1940s clock in the center and the matched pair of hurricanes at either end. 

2. Embrace asymmetrical symmetry. Moving inward from the hurricanes, he added objects that mimic each other, sort of.Note how the candlestick holding the textured gold ball is roughly the same height as the standing reindeer, though their shapes differ. Ditto the prone deer and the brass cup of paperwhites. 

3. Throw a major curveball. Next, Ross introduced items—the framed portrait and loving cup—that don't even pretend to parallel each other. The purpose: Infusing the whole scene with energy 

4. Fill in the blanks. The designer tucked gold garland throughout the arrangement. For a final stroke of genius, he draped glass beads from elk antlers hung on high. "The silver and gold strands help the mixed metals seem intentional," Ross says. 

 In the above photo: Ross purchased the silver-plate hurricanes at Costco, the deer figurines at Michaels, and the stockings on Etsy. The elk antlers are over 100 years old.



Love these canvases on the mantel , especially the one with the lights behind it!
via The Lovely Cupboard


via BHG

via HGTV


Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Really cute DIY Christmas gifts

I have a lot of hard-to-shop-for people on my list, and I always want to give my friends and family something they will genuinely like. I thought these DIY Christmas gifts and ornaments were really cute, easy to make, and best of all one-of-a-kind.

 It's the wrapping that make these soaps so precious!
To make:

A goat's-milk formula and a beguiling bird mold—along with thoughtful packaging—result in bars that seem like they cost a fortune. First, melt the soap according to package instructions ($3.30 for 1-pound M&P base; brambleberry.com). Pour the mixture into the silicone mold ($18.85; vendio.com/stores/chaseho). Let it set for four hours, then pop out your bar. To wrap these soaps, we used unbleached coffee filters, rectangular cardboard boxes ($4.50 for 25; 2¾"W x 3¾"L x 1¼"H;sunshinecontainer.com), and paper color-copied from a vintage bird guide.

Tip: Enclose each oval soap in a coffee filter before boxing—the ruffles gather neatly around curves.


See on Country Living >>

Absolutely ADORABLE gloves:


To make:

Bring a bit of earnest irony to a pair of gloves with this hilariously tender riff on tough knuckle tattoos. Borrow our intentionally sweet phrases above, or come up with your own eight-letter expressions. We chose wool-blend gloves ($24; carolinaamato.com), but any knit version will work.

Step 1: Slide one glove onto your hand. Using a pastel chalk pencil ($5.59 for four; joann.com), mark each knuckle with a horizontal line at the bottom of each finger (the first joint) and another just below the second joint. Remove the glove, then repeat for the other hand. If needed, enlist a friend to mark your dominant hand.

Step 2: Lay the gloves, marked sides up, on a flat surface. Working within the horizontal lines, and using the chalk pencil, spell out the phrase you plan to stitch across both gloves. Try the gloves on to check that your letters are positioned to satisfaction.

Step 3: Using six-strand embroidery thread that contrasts with the color of your glovessew directly over the chalk letters with a basic stem stitch, making sure to sew through the top layer only. (Get a quick stem-stitch tutorial here.) Remove any stray chalk with a damp cotton swab—and spread the word!


See on Country Living >>

It's all about gold and metallics these days, so some gilt found-objects would be chic and sentimental!


To make:

This time of year, pinecones and acorns are free for the taking. And in less than an hour, you can cast your findings in 18-karat gold — spray paint, that is.

 Step 1: Gather or purchase acorns and hemlock pinecones (acorns, $8.75 for bag of 40; amazon.com; pinecones, $4.99 for three quarts; save-on-crafts.com)

Step 2: Use hot glue to affix a jump ring ($2.99 per 120 pack; joann.comto the top of each acorn or pinecone, near the back.

Step 3:  After the glue dries, carefully spray the objects with one coat of Krylon's 18-karat gold paint ($3.99 for eight-ounce can; dickblick.com)

Step 4: Let paint dry for 20 minutes, then spray the charm with clear finish (Krylon Make It Last Clear Sealer, $3.63; misterart.com) allow 10 minutes to dry.

Step 5: String the charms onto gold chains.

See on Country Living >>

These lace ornaments have a vintage, Victorian charm:





See the original article in Covet Garden

Do you ever make your own Christmas gifts or ornaments?  Do you have any handmade Christmas traditions?

Monday, December 10, 2012

Gorgeous Christmas Decor Inspiration

Is it just me, or was there no real "lead up" to Thanksgiving and Christmas.  I feel like Thanksgiving just popped up out of nowhere, and now I can't believe Christmas is so close.  I guess time just goes by faster, but I'm feeling so behind with my Christmas shopping and decorating!

I tend to go for more subtle holiday decor, dramatic singular springs, etc.


What do you think about the lit branches used in this space?


Just one gorgeous and dramatic wreath makes a lot of impact.

LOVE these driftwood ornaments dipped in metallic silver paint!


Are you prepared for Christmas this year, or will it be a mad scramble til the end?

1. West Elm, 2. Crate and Barrel, 3.,4.,5. Rue Magazine, 6.,7. Sweet Paul

Friday, December 7, 2012

A fantastic $100 gift code giveaway to use at Novica!

If you're an armchair traveller, artisan lover, have an eclectic style, you are going to love this giveaway!! One lucky winner will be awarded a $100 gift code to use at Novica!!! To enter the contest, peruse the amazing, artistan made goods at Novica, then leave a comment on the post naming what item(s) you would get.

About Novica

We want to give artists and artisans around the world a global platform to express their true artistic talents and to spur their creativity. And, we want to provide you with access to unique, hard-to-find items at great values that only the Internet infrastructure can allow. At the deepest essence of our philosophy, we want to create a bridge between you and the many talented artisans across the globe. We want you to know about who you're buying from. We want you to feel that attachment to the product and to the hands that created it.

I recently received two beautiful Novica items, one from Peru, and one from Mexico. From Mexico I got the Blown glass planters crafted by Javier Gutiérrez and Efrén Canteras. Since it's too cold to put anything out on my balcony right now, I used the large planter as a vase, and the second as a planter for a house plant. I think they are really beautiful.



The other item I got is a pure strip of heaven, a gorgeous scarf of baby alpaca from Raquel Iriarte of the Peruvian Andes.



 It even comes adorably wrapped!



There are so many goodies at Novica!  It also always feels good buying from an artisan whose story is told along with the product.

Here are some of my Novica favorites.  The site is brimming with a large selection of silver chandelier earrings, lush wraps and ruanas from peru, and some really special and unique home decor items.





Balinese silversmith Kenari fashioned these gorgeous silver earrings. See them here.


This looks so soft and warm and comfortable, I would probably end up living in this wrap by Peruvian artist Alfredo Falcon.  See it here.



Kahlil Ahmed's wool rug from India. Click here to see.

I could find so many ways to use a $100 gift code at Novica!  For your chance to win, pick out a favorite item from Novica, and leave a comment on this post (instructions below) sharing that item.  Entry closes Friday the 14th at 12:00 AM EST.  The code expires 1/13/2013, and is a one time use only code.

Good luck!


* To comment on this post (scroll to the bottom of this post and right above "Labels" you will see a number followed by the word "comments." Click on the word "Comments." Or, you will see a link, "Post a Comment," which you click on to comment.

Or, you can email me at ashley [at] decorologyblog [dot] com to enter and with your favorite.